Journal & Topics Media Group

Local Metal Bands Draw Over 150 Music Fans To Downtown Des Plaines


Des Plaines native Felipe Rodela of the band Luca plays guitar during the Feb. 3 show in downtown Des Plaines.

Crowds steadily grew throughout the night Saturday (Feb. 2) at Leela Performing Arts Center in downtown Des Plaines for a multi-band concert and album release party for hometown metal band Luca.

According to Facebook, at least 176 people attended the show, which ran from 6 to 10:30 p.m.

Following time spent touring the country, the show marked the first time Luca played in Des Plaines since releasing their first EP “Very Corda” during a similar concert in 2016. This time, the band debuted “Sink or Swim”, a collection of six original songs.

“It’s been a long time since then and it’s fun to come back,” said Nick Hopp, a guitar player in the band.

One major change since Luca’s last show at Leela was the addition of Adrian Dabu, a new lead singer.

“Last time I was hanging out, and now…” said Dabu, who made it out to Luca’s last local show as an audience member.

Apart from Dabu’s vocals, Luca has also become more experimental over the past few years, said Maine West High School graduate Alex Pfister, the band’s bass player.

“We’re playing with different sounds,” he said. “We’ve all grown as musicians, as people,” added guitar player Felipe Rodela, also a Maine West graduate.

Luca was joined by Burn the Remains, another Des Plaines-area metal band, celebrating a 15-year reunion. Before they went on, four other local bands played: When We Was Kids, Westgate, Erabella and Paper Hero.

In addition to promoting the new Luca EP, event organizers Jeffrey Krause and Kelly Greenan of Red Letter Booking hoped the show would help promote a growing music community in the Northwest suburbs.

Luca also plans to continue to support the local music scene as they gain more experience.

“That’s how you get that nervous 12-year-old kid to get up on that stage,” said Andy Bisceglie, Luca’s drummer and a Prospect High School graduate. “I’d rather see a lot of younger kids at these shows…because that means it’s going to continue.”

Luca’s new album is available on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Nick Hopp, Felipe Rodela, Alex Pfister, Adrian Dabu and Andy Bisceglie of the Des Plaines-based band Luca.

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