John O' Drums
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johnodrums.bsky.social
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
My Stray Bolts band is heading to Nashville for the first time in June 21st. Dee's Lounge 102 E Palestine Ave, Nashville, TN 37115. 6pm
June 14, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Friday Night!
May 28, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Stray Bolts return to Broken Hearts on May 10 in Chicago's West Loop at 1009 West Lake Street. Doors at 7pm. No Cover.

In a little over a year, Broken Hearts has become a hub of Americana, Honkey Tonk, and Roots music in Chicago, and it's emerging as a real community-driven venue in the West Loop.
April 27, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Celebrating(?) our 60th show at Phyllis Musical Inn this Saturday. Come join us! 1800 W Division St., Chicago.
March 15, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Thanks to everyone who came out for the Broken Hearts show on Sunday. We really appreciate all the support!!
March 13, 2026 at 5:15 PM
This is a studio outtake of the Bob Dylan song Gotta Serve Somebody recorded at Electrical Audio Studio in the Fall of 2025. Engineer is Jon San Paolo, guest guitarist is Steve Doyle from the Hoyle Brothers, and the videographer is Stan Miskiewicz. Full video available on our YouTube channel.
February 13, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Stray Bolts
2026 Album- Almost Alive at Electrical Audio.
Track - Rebel Heart
Guitar, Vocals, and Lyrics - AI Camus Bass - Christopher Kondrath
Drums - John Roche
Guest Guitarist - Steve Doyle
Recorded August 24th and 25th, 2025 in studio B Full video available on the Stray Bolts' YouTube channel.
February 2, 2026 at 1:08 AM
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 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.
December 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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
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
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
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!
September 4, 2025 at 3:11 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!!
August 27, 2025 at 10:32 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."
July 27, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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