John O' Drums
@johnodrums.bsky.social
Drummer and Booking Contact for Chicago area band Stray Bolts. *Vintage Aesthetics, Contemporary Sensibilities* Also long suffering Chicago Bears/Bulls/White Sox/NIU Huskies enthusiast. Zone 6 gardener/birder/ponder. Prefer not receiving DM's
Stray Bolts are back at Phyllis' for the 59th time performing two sets of original music inspired by influences ranging from blues, jazz, and folk to classic country and vintage rock and roll as well as unique interpretations of familiar songs by seminal American artists.
December 22, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Stray Bolts are back at Phyllis' for the 59th time performing two sets of original music inspired by influences ranging from blues, jazz, and folk to classic country and vintage rock and roll as well as unique interpretations of familiar songs by seminal American artists.
Stray Bolts Almost Alive at Electrical Audio
Studio.
Memories of the Future
Guitar, Vocals, and Lyrics - Al Camus Bass - Christopher Kondrath Drums - Johnny Roche Guest Guitarist - Steve Doyle
Recorded Aug 24th and 25th, 2025 in Studio B Full video available on the Stray Bolts' YouTube channel.
Studio.
Memories of the Future
Guitar, Vocals, and Lyrics - Al Camus Bass - Christopher Kondrath Drums - Johnny Roche Guest Guitarist - Steve Doyle
Recorded Aug 24th and 25th, 2025 in Studio B Full video available on the Stray Bolts' YouTube channel.
December 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Stray Bolts Almost Alive at Electrical Audio
Studio.
Memories of the Future
Guitar, Vocals, and Lyrics - Al Camus Bass - Christopher Kondrath Drums - Johnny Roche Guest Guitarist - Steve Doyle
Recorded Aug 24th and 25th, 2025 in Studio B Full video available on the Stray Bolts' YouTube channel.
Studio.
Memories of the Future
Guitar, Vocals, and Lyrics - Al Camus Bass - Christopher Kondrath Drums - Johnny Roche Guest Guitarist - Steve Doyle
Recorded Aug 24th and 25th, 2025 in Studio B Full video available on the Stray Bolts' YouTube channel.
In a city still thick with the spirits of the season, Stray Bolts rise out of their local pumpkin patch and return to their old haunt, Phyllis Musical Inn on Sat night Nov 1st as the veils between the corporeal and the spectral dissolve on the dance floor and blend the tangible with the eternal.
October 30, 2025 at 4:21 AM
In a city still thick with the spirits of the season, Stray Bolts rise out of their local pumpkin patch and return to their old haunt, Phyllis Musical Inn on Sat night Nov 1st as the veils between the corporeal and the spectral dissolve on the dance floor and blend the tangible with the eternal.
I'm going back with the Stray Bolts to play a Sunday evening Oct. 5th, 8pm at Broken Hearts in Chicago's west loop. WIth each performance, we aim to weave together threads of blues, jazz, classic country, and vintage rock and roll into a unique, American tapestry through covers and originals.
September 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I'm going back with the Stray Bolts to play a Sunday evening Oct. 5th, 8pm at Broken Hearts in Chicago's west loop. WIth each performance, we aim to weave together threads of blues, jazz, classic country, and vintage rock and roll into a unique, American tapestry through covers and originals.
My band, Stray Bolts, returns to Phyllis Musical Inn for another round. No cover, two sets at a cash only bar that’s been hosting music on the corner of Division and Wood in Chicago since 1954.
September 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
My band, Stray Bolts, returns to Phyllis Musical Inn for another round. No cover, two sets at a cash only bar that’s been hosting music on the corner of Division and Wood in Chicago since 1954.
Stray Bolts will be playing a benefit concert Friday. Join us in the Vial House Museum Park at 47th & La Grange Rd. at
6:30 pm on Sept 5th. Take some time to enjoy this year's new permanent exhibit in the museum too! All donations & tips will go The La Grange Area Historical Society!
6:30 pm on Sept 5th. Take some time to enjoy this year's new permanent exhibit in the museum too! All donations & tips will go The La Grange Area Historical Society!
September 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Stray Bolts will be playing a benefit concert Friday. Join us in the Vial House Museum Park at 47th & La Grange Rd. at
6:30 pm on Sept 5th. Take some time to enjoy this year's new permanent exhibit in the museum too! All donations & tips will go The La Grange Area Historical Society!
6:30 pm on Sept 5th. Take some time to enjoy this year's new permanent exhibit in the museum too! All donations & tips will go The La Grange Area Historical Society!
My Stray Bolts have returned to the studio for a new project and brought a couple friends and kindred spirits with us for a day! We knocked out some audio and video tracks over the weekend at Electrical Audio. Stay tuned!!
August 27, 2025 at 10:32 PM
My Stray Bolts have returned to the studio for a new project and brought a couple friends and kindred spirits with us for a day! We knocked out some audio and video tracks over the weekend at Electrical Audio. Stay tuned!!
"Stray Bolts return to Robert's Westside to celebrate the release of their second album, "LA Noir". Eleven new original songs that weave together the band's signature blend of blues, jazz, folk, and vintage rock and roll, carrying on the spirit of iconic American musical journeys."
July 27, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"Stray Bolts return to Robert's Westside to celebrate the release of their second album, "LA Noir". Eleven new original songs that weave together the band's signature blend of blues, jazz, folk, and vintage rock and roll, carrying on the spirit of iconic American musical journeys."
Got roped in to another Fourth of July show at Phyllis' Musical Inn, Clem's 39th Annual All Star Jam. If you're in the Wicker Park Area, the band's playing about 45 minutes and goes on at 7ish. Outside in the courtyard, loads of live music, food, drink and no cover. Stay hydrated!
July 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Got roped in to another Fourth of July show at Phyllis' Musical Inn, Clem's 39th Annual All Star Jam. If you're in the Wicker Park Area, the band's playing about 45 minutes and goes on at 7ish. Outside in the courtyard, loads of live music, food, drink and no cover. Stay hydrated!
Stray Bolts will be performing for the first time at Broken Hearts in Chicago on Friday, June 20, 2025 opening for Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters. Broken Hearts, a new live music venue with a rustic vintage vibe, opened in 2024 and is located located in Chicago's West Loop at 1009 W. Lake Street.
June 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Stray Bolts will be performing for the first time at Broken Hearts in Chicago on Friday, June 20, 2025 opening for Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters. Broken Hearts, a new live music venue with a rustic vintage vibe, opened in 2024 and is located located in Chicago's West Loop at 1009 W. Lake Street.
This Saturday, if you're wandering Wicker Park looking for an iconic venue to watch a local band play lots of original music, we have just the joint!
April 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
This Saturday, if you're wandering Wicker Park looking for an iconic venue to watch a local band play lots of original music, we have just the joint!
DeKalb, IL holds a special place in my heart as I lived there for 6 years and my bassist Christopher attended grad school at NIU. My band Stray Bolts is excited to return to DeKalb's Stage Left presented by Hometown Dekalb with our good friends Talk Grass Captains for a night of original music.
April 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
DeKalb, IL holds a special place in my heart as I lived there for 6 years and my bassist Christopher attended grad school at NIU. My band Stray Bolts is excited to return to DeKalb's Stage Left presented by Hometown Dekalb with our good friends Talk Grass Captains for a night of original music.
My Irish folk band Ar Ais Aris played at the Galena IL Center for the Arts over St. Patrick's Day weekend. Super hospitable venue and engaged audience. We couldn't have had a better time and hope to return some day. This video is from our grand finale, The Wild Rover.
March 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
My Irish folk band Ar Ais Aris played at the Galena IL Center for the Arts over St. Patrick's Day weekend. Super hospitable venue and engaged audience. We couldn't have had a better time and hope to return some day. This video is from our grand finale, The Wild Rover.
Reposted by John O' Drums
In 2025, corporate America is diving headfirst into modern segregation, hiding behind “business decisions” while actively dismantling inclusion. Jim Crow didn’t disappear—it got a corporate rebrand. Discrimination isn’t just tolerated; it’s now a selling point. And too many are fine with it.
March 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
In 2025, corporate America is diving headfirst into modern segregation, hiding behind “business decisions” while actively dismantling inclusion. Jim Crow didn’t disappear—it got a corporate rebrand. Discrimination isn’t just tolerated; it’s now a selling point. And too many are fine with it.
This is a snippet of my band Stray Bolts' 2025 semi-acoustic entry into NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Love is Just a Game We Play was written by Al Camus and the Stray Bolts and videoed in February in Brookfield IL. #tinydesk #tinydeskconcert #tinydeskcontest #npr #nprtinydeskconcert
February 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
This is a snippet of my band Stray Bolts' 2025 semi-acoustic entry into NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Love is Just a Game We Play was written by Al Camus and the Stray Bolts and videoed in February in Brookfield IL. #tinydesk #tinydeskconcert #tinydeskcontest #npr #nprtinydeskconcert
A little snippet of the Irish band I'm in, Ar Ais Aris' 2024 St. Patrick's Day set from The (now defunct) OuttaSpace. We had recently started playing the song As I Roved Out so any help we received from the audience during the refrain was much appreciated. OuttaSpace was a great venue in Berwyn IL.
February 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
A little snippet of the Irish band I'm in, Ar Ais Aris' 2024 St. Patrick's Day set from The (now defunct) OuttaSpace. We had recently started playing the song As I Roved Out so any help we received from the audience during the refrain was much appreciated. OuttaSpace was a great venue in Berwyn IL.
A clip from our fall show at @robertswestside.bsky.social in Forest Park. The show was in support of Stray Bolts first album, and the song, It's So Easy, is slated for a future release. A+ venue with great sound and a great variety of musical styles.
January 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A clip from our fall show at @robertswestside.bsky.social in Forest Park. The show was in support of Stray Bolts first album, and the song, It's So Easy, is slated for a future release. A+ venue with great sound and a great variety of musical styles.
m.soundcloud.com/user-2810369... Came across a 2021 performance of our band playing Bob Dylan's Love Sick (Time Out of Mind). Great song and fun to play too!
Love Sick 7:21:2021
Stream Love Sick 7:21:2021 by Stray Bolts on desktop and mobile. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud.
m.soundcloud.com
January 23, 2025 at 8:37 AM
m.soundcloud.com/user-2810369... Came across a 2021 performance of our band playing Bob Dylan's Love Sick (Time Out of Mind). Great song and fun to play too!
Hi friends! I'm proud to announce my band's second album L.A. Noir is now available on vinyl as well as on various streaming services! Eleven new songs by the Stray Bolts recorded in March of 2024 at Electrical Audio, mastered by Saff Mastering, and pressed at Smashed Plastic Record Pressing.
January 21, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Hi friends! I'm proud to announce my band's second album L.A. Noir is now available on vinyl as well as on various streaming services! Eleven new songs by the Stray Bolts recorded in March of 2024 at Electrical Audio, mastered by Saff Mastering, and pressed at Smashed Plastic Record Pressing.
Hi BlueSky folk. If you find yourself wandering Wicker Park on the Saturday before the holidays, my band will be playing Phyllis Musical Inn. Phyllis hosts all sorts of music and events and is one of the oldest live music venues in Chicago. No cover! Stop in and say hello if you're nearby!
December 9, 2024 at 11:34 PM
Hi BlueSky folk. If you find yourself wandering Wicker Park on the Saturday before the holidays, my band will be playing Phyllis Musical Inn. Phyllis hosts all sorts of music and events and is one of the oldest live music venues in Chicago. No cover! Stop in and say hello if you're nearby!
Reposted by John O' Drums
They love when we see politics as left vs right instead of bottom vs top.
November 21, 2024 at 7:46 PM
They love when we see politics as left vs right instead of bottom vs top.
Hi everyone! I'm enjoying the new platform immensely. I'm in a rootsy Americana rock trio based in Chicago. We recorded our first album at Steve Albini's studio Electrical Audio in 2022. It's now available at Bandcamp: straybolts2.bandcamp.com/album/moth-i...
Moth In the Glue, by Stray Bolts
10 track album
straybolts2.bandcamp.com
November 15, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Hi everyone! I'm enjoying the new platform immensely. I'm in a rootsy Americana rock trio based in Chicago. We recorded our first album at Steve Albini's studio Electrical Audio in 2022. It's now available at Bandcamp: straybolts2.bandcamp.com/album/moth-i...