Four-song EP
Fall, Habit, Senses Lost and Solitude remain available on Apple Music.
The other half of RockNLoan
Live Music.
Near You.
Looking for live music in Chicago? Search upcoming concerts by ZIP code and radius, then explore Alex Ilich's music: Black Lantern, his current Chicago metal band; 5 Step Drop, his former Chicago hard-rock band; and Under the Grapevine, a live series with local artists.
CurrentBlack Lantern
Archive5 Step Drop
Original music2011 EP + solo work
Past billsDope • Soil
Live & Loud
Find Chicago Concerts & Live Music
Find upcoming concerts around Chicago, nearby suburbs, or anywhere you enter a ZIP code. Search by ZIP code and radius with Ticketmaster results, plus Bandsintown as another discovery path for smaller and grassroots shows.
RockNLoan concert searchExplore Bandsintown ↗
Enter a ZIP to see upcoming shows.
Current project
Black Lantern
Heavy guitars, big grooves and a modern metal edge. Black Lantern is Alex's current Chicago metal band and the home for the original music he is writing and performing now.
Influences run through Pantera, Killswitch Engage, Sevendust, Metallica, Tool and the heavier side of modern hard rock. The focus here is photography, original music and the current chapter of the band. Video will be added when the band has clips worth featuring.
Groove metalMetalcoreHard rockOriginal music
BLACK LANTERNCurrent photos, shows and original music
Original live series
Under the Grapevine
An intimate live-music series from Alex's home in Chicago, built around friends, local artists and special guests. The idea is simple: great players, a relaxed setting and a reason to keep bringing people together.
EPISODE 01
Frank Orrall • “Bury Me Deep”
Alex sits in with Frank Orrall of Poi Dog Pondering for “Bury Me Deep.” Under the Grapevine is planned as a recurring series with Frank and other local artists as schedules allow.
Live in Chicago • Under the Grapevine
From the vault
5 Step Drop
Before Black Lantern, there was 5 Step Drop — a Chicago hard-rock band built around melodic hooks, heavy guitars and a real grassroots following.
Alex co-wrote and played guitar in the band. 5 Step Drop shared stages with national acts including Dope and Soil, released a four-song EP in 2011, and had music placed in Thunderstruck Films.
National bills
5 Step Drop shared stages with bands including Dope and Soil while building its Chicago following.
Thunderstruck
Solitude and Senses Lost were featured in Thunderstruck Films' TS10 soundtrack.
Chicago rooms
The archive includes performances at the Double Door and the band's EP release party at Abbey Pub.
Solo original
Footprints in my Soul
Written and recorded by Alex for Tracy, “Footprints in my Soul” became the first-dance song at their wedding — a personal solo recording that shows a different side of Alex’s music.
Original recording • streamed directly from RockNLoan.
ORIGINAL RECORDINGFootprints in my SoulWritten & recorded by Alex Ilich • First dance for Alex & Tracy
Alex, the musician
This history predates the brand.
Music has been a parallel track throughout Alex's adult life: guitarist, songwriter, live performer and gear obsessive. 5 Step Drop had original music, significant Chicago shows and national-act bills; Black Lantern is the current chapter.
Music inquiries
Shows, collaborations, media.
Have a venue, event, collaboration or music idea? Reach Alex directly.
Also from Alex
Need mortgage guidance, too?
Alex is a Chicago mortgage loan officer and Branch Manager with New American Funding. If a home purchase, refinance, or another mortgage scenario is on your mind, start with a conversation.