Stray Bolts
Blending vintage aesthetics with contemporary sensibilities.
The Stray Bolts perform original music drawn from a melting pot of influences ranging from blues, jazz, and folk to vintage rock and roll. The band has recorded two full length albums at Electrical Audio Studio in Chicago following the quintessential American musical traditions from New Orleans to Chicago with a myriad of explorations along the way. The band also sprinkles into each live set unique interpretations of familiar songs by seminal American artists.
Performing together since 2017, the Stray Bolts is a trio of musicians who brings genuine perspective and emotion to their performances, connecting sincerely with audiences through over a century of performance experience. Al Camus (electric guitars and vocals), Christopher Kondrath (bass), and John Roche (drums and vocals) are the Stray Bolts.
Moth in the Glue is available on vinyl and on multiple streaming platforms
Full length album, Moth in the Glue, is available now on sites such as iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube and Spotify.
“Across 10 cuts, three Chicagoans with Blues bearing prove understatement's benefit. They convey redoubtable aptitudes without once raising voices or amplification. In calmness, messages can enjoy particular impact, and instrumental adeptness rise for recognition. Quietude has special potency.” - DC Larson’s Jukebox Jury
Moth in the Glue, was recorded at Electrical Audio studio in Chicago with engineer Jon San Paolo in July 2022. The tracks were mastered by Saff Mastering and released on various streaming platforms in October 2022 with the help of DistroKid.
Contact us.
For booking, contact John Roche at straybolts.booking@gmail.com
or reach out via social media
News and Notes
At the end of September, we played a record release show at Robert's Westside in downtown Forest Park, Illinois in celebration of our vinyl release of Moth in the Glue. Thanks to everyone who came out!! Also thank you Momma Jen and the J-Tones for opening the show with a hot set! We’ll have albums available for purchase at all of our live shows going forward until they are sold out.
In 2024, we wrote and arranged several new songs. It was a creative flurry resulting in enough new material for a second album. To that end, we returned to Electrical Audio in March to lay the basic framework for our second album, L.A.Noir and completed tracking and mixing all the songs at the end of May. We thank Jon and the rest of the crew at Electrical Audio who, while being extremely professional, were so kind and dedicated to helping us bring the best out of our music despite the sad circumstances of losing one of the great ones in May. The album was mastered by Carl Saff Mastering and is currently in line to be pressed by Chicago's Smashed Plastic.
We're continuing to add new venues and settings in which to perform our music and are always on the lookout for performance opportunities. If you have any suggestions, we’re all ears! Please use the booking link on this page to contact us.
If you have an account on Facebook or Instagram, PLEASE stop by our social pages and like us there so that we can share info, pictures, art, alerts, etc. about the band with you. Our social media links are at the bottom of this page .
Meet the Band
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AL CAMUS
Al (Discreta/The Streems) is a songwriter and recording artist with an international background and an eclectic style. Performing a variety of musical forms from rock and roll to free-form composition, he once lead an avant-garde musical ensemble in a conceptual operetta of Mozart’s Starling in performances across Europe. He began playing music at an early age in his family's band. Al eventually settled in the Chicago area where he’s resided for the last 20 plus years. His previous band, The Streems, was a Chicago-based high-power blues rock band, combining elements of alternative, punk and noise rock. The band, which began in 2008, produced 3 albums and played at many venues around Chicago and beyond.
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CHRISTOPHER KONDRATH
Christopher (Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, Buddy Miles, Elmore James Jr, Drama Junkies, Earl Hooker, Commander Cody) is a classically trained bassist who's career spans five decades in which he’s performed with many world renowned characters in music. He spent time as a LA session musician for Capitol Records and also performed as a session musician for ABC Specials. These days, when he’s not performing with the Stray Bolts, he performs as a symphony orchestra bassist. Though he's a trained orchestral musician who continues to perform with area orchestras, Chris also enjoys playing many other styles including jazz, fusion, rock, and rhythm and blues.
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JOHN ROCHE
John (The Gyps, Great Plains Gypsies) is the drummer and began performing music in the 1980’s. Moving to Wicker Park in Chicago in 1993, he drummed for folk rockers A Horse Named Bill for a few years. Beginning in 1995 and continuing for the next 20 years, John drummed with the Chicago based Americana folk-blues band Great Plains Gypsies (later truncated in name and personnel to The Gyps) on six full length albums and played hundreds of shows in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. John also frequently sat in on drums with West Side Chicago blues legend Smilin’ Bobby Smith until his passing in June 2023. John loves Irish music too and currently plays the bodhran (Irish hand drum) in Irish folk band Ar Ais Aris.
Upcoming Dates
Saturday November 23rd, 2024 - 9:30pm Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL 60622
Previous 100+ Shows…
October 26th, 2024 - 9:30pm Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL 60622
September 28th 8:00 pm - Vinyl Release Party at Robert’s Westside, 7321 Madison Street, Forest Park, IL June 29th, 2024 with friends Momma Jen & the J-Tones. Tickets available at:
August 31st, 2024 - 6:00 - 10:00pm Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, 1920 S. 37th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215 Outdoor Patio Show with Western Grand
August 30th, 2024 - 9:30pm Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL 60622
July 20th, 2024 -9:30pm Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL 60622
July 4th, 2024 2PM Fourth of July Extravaganza at Phyllis in the Courtyard, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL 60622
June 29th, 2024 Hometown Sports Bar and Grill, 241 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb IL 60513 with friends Tall Grass Captains 8pm to Midnight
June 15th, 2024 -9:30pm Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL 60622
April 27th, 2024 - 9:30 Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622
April 20th, 2024 - 8:30pm-12:00pm - Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, 1920 S. 37th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215 with friends Frequency Maintenance Service
March 30th, 2024 - 9:30 Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622
February 9th, 2024 - 9:00pm - Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago, IL 60622 with SSD’s Springa
January 13th, 2024 - 9:30pm - Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago, IL 6062
December 9th, 2023 - 9:30pm - Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago, IL 60622
November 25th, 2023 - 8:00pm - OuttaSpace, 6840 32nd Street, Berwyn IL 60402
November 18th, 2023 - 9:30pm - Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago, IL 60622
October 7th, 2023 - 9:00pm-11:30pm - Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, 1920 S. 37th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215
September 30th, 2023 - Noon to 1pm - Brookfield Fine Arts Festival, Kiwanis Park, 8820 Brookfield Ave, Brookfield IL 60513
September 16th, 2023 - 9:30pm - Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago, IL 60622
August 31st, 2023 - 10pm - Montrose Saloon, 2933 W. Montrose, Chicago IL 60601 773-463-7663 with Belladonna Road/EMBASSIES/Dig Engines
August 26th - 2pm-3:30pm - Music on Grand Outdoor Music Fest - Stage locate at the corner of Grand Ave and Prairie Ave, Brookfield IL 60513
August 18, 2023 - 6:30pm - La Grange Area Historical Society Benefit, 444 South LaGrange Road, LaGrange IL 60525
July 15th, 2023 - 9:30pm Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622
June 17, 2023 - 9:30pm Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W Division St., Chicago, IL 60622
May 18, 2023 - Ballydoyle 5157 Main Street Downers Grove, IL 60515 (630)969.0600
May 13, 2023 - Phyllis Musical Inn, 1800 W Division St., Chicago, IL 60622
March 31, 2023 - Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
March 25, 2023 - Brauer House, 1000 N. Rohlwing Rd #13, Lombard, IL 60148
February 18, 2023 - Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
January 20th, 2023 - 8:00pm Outta Space, 6840 32nd Street, Berwyn IL. 60402 with Cody Lee’s Last Detail
January 1st, 2023 - 5pm with Smilin’ Bobby and the ClemTones Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
December 31st, 2022 - NEW YEARS EVE SHOW - 9:00pm until past Midnight Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
November 21st, 2022 - 7:30-10:30pm Lizard’s Liquid Lounge, 3058 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago IL 60618
November 19th, 2022 - 9:30pm Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
October 7th, 2022 - 8pm - 11pm - Club Belmont, 7844 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60131
September 30th, 2022 - 9pm - Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
September 24th, 2022 - 12pm-1pm - Music on Grand, 3700 block of Grand Boulevard, Brookfield IL 60513
August 27th, 2022 - 9pm Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
July 21st, 2022 - 6pm-9pm - Mackey’s Hideout, 2601 S. River Road, McHenry, IL 60051
July 16th, 2022 - 4pm-6pm Fitzgerald’s 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn IL 60402 - Outdoor Patio Stage
July 4th, 2022 -7pm - Phyllis’ Fourth of July Extravaganza - 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622
June 18th, 2022 - 9-10pm Montrose Saloon, 2933 W. Montrose Avenue, Chicago IL 60618 with Uncle Pigeon and Vulgar Commons
June 16th, 2022 - 6:30pm Misanthrope Green Room, 4218 W. Haddon, Chicago IL with Dan Whitaker Trio, Western Grand, Jay and the Gypsies, Carpenter John, and Rambling Jack Regan
June 5th, 2022 -6pm- Phyllis’ Musical Inn - 1800 W. Division, Chicago IL 60622 with the Dan Whitaker Trio
June 4th, 2022 - 7-bb10pm BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
May 6th, 2022 - 8-11pm Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St., Chicago IL 60622
March 25th, 2022 - 8-11pm Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St., Chicago IL 60622 with Michelle Shafer
February 26th, 2022 - 8p-9pm. Outta Space, 6840 32nd Street, Berwyn IL. 60402 with Blue Lincolns
January 1st, 2022 - Phyllis' Musical Inn New Years Celebration, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL (Canceled due to COVID)
November 26th, 2021 - 9pm-11pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Western Grand
November 12th, 2021 - 8pm-10pm Montrose Saloon 2933 W. Montrose Avenue, Chicago IL 60618 with Thomas Comerford and Lemon Knife
October 31st, 2021 - 1pm-3pm Fitzgerald’s Outdoor Patio Stage 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn IL 60402
October 29th, 2021 - 9pm-11pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL
September 4th, 2021 - 9pm-11pm Fitzgerald’s Sidebar 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn IL 60402.
October 29th, 2021 - 9pm to 11pm Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Max Cherry and the Invisible Hand
October 22nd, 2021 - 8pm-9pm Outtaspace, 6840 32nd Street, Berwyn, IL 60402.
August 29th, 2021 - 1pm - Stray Bolts at PorchFest Roscoe Village, Chicago, IL. Email us at info@straybolts.com for exact location.
August 6th, 2021 - 7pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Jeff and Mario
July 4th, 2021 - 7pm - Phyllis' 4th of July Extravaganza, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Dan Whitaker, Smiln’ Bobby, Chicken Dolphin and others
July 3rd, 2021 - 9pm - Sugar Skull, 9743 Franklin Ave., Franklin Park, IL with Jeff and Mario
June 12th, 2021 - 8pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL
May 16th, 2021 - 1pm - Outtaspace, 6840 32nd Street, Berwyn, IL 60402 with the New Heartaches
October 17th, 2020 - 3pm-5pm Montrose Saloon 2933 W. Montrose Avenue, Chicago IL 60618
October 2nd, 2020 - 7pm - Outtaspace, 6840 32nd Street, Berwyn, IL 60402 with Woolly Rhinos
September 27th, 2020 - 1pm - Stray Bolts at PorchJams Lakeview, Chicago, IL 60657. Email us at info@straybolts.com for exact location.
May 29th, 2020 - 8pm - Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W Division St., Chicago IL (Canceled due to Covid)
April 4th, 2020 - 8pm - Moe’s Tavern, 2937 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago IL 60618 (Canceled due to Covid)
March 28th, 2020 - BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534 (Canceled due to Covid)
March 27th, 2020 - Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St., Chicago IL with Dan Whitaker (Canceled due to Covid)
March 21 2020 - 8pm -, Montrose Saloon, 2933 W Montrose Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618 with Decoy Prayer Meeting and Echo & Ransom (Canceled due to Covid)
January 24, 2020 - 9pm to 11pm - Outtaspace, 6840 32nd Street, Berwyn, IL 60402. With The Ions
January 11, 2020 - 9pm to 1am - Mackey’s Hideout, 2601 S. River Road, McHenry, IL 60051
January 4th, 2020 - 9:30pm -Doors 8:30 - Tonic Room 2447 N. Halsted in Chicago with Chaos In Creation and Lime Forest.
December 13, 2019- 8pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Jeff and Mario
November 30, 2019 - 8pm - BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
October 11th, 2019 - Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 - With 6 Odd Rats
September 28th, 2019 - Rock to Fight Suicide-Suicide Awareness Concert, Ziggy’s Bar and Grill, 278 Main Street, Marseilles, IL 61341
July 26-27, 2019 - 8pm - Three Flat Fest, 8249 Buckwheat Ridge Rd, Lancaster, WI
July 20th, 2019 - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Max Cherry and Friends
July 13, 2019 - 8pm - BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
June 02, 2019 - 1-5pm - Porch Fest Lakeview
June 01, 2019 - 8pm - Bremen Cafe, Milwaukee WI with Western Grand and Ruckus Bucket
May 18, 2019 - Kelli’s Cuckoo’s Nest, Beer Palace, Wedding Chapel, and Chinese Laundry At 100 Crystal St. Cary, IL 60013
May 04, 2019- 8pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Otter River
April 20, 2019 - 8pm - Drunken Donut, 821 Plainfield Rd, Joliet, IL 60435
March 30, 2019 - 8pm - BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
March 22, 2019 - 8pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Birdgangs
January 26, 2019 - 8pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Western Grand
January 19, 2019 - 8pm - Drunken Donut, 821 Plainfield Rd, Joliet, IL 60435
December 28, 2018- 8pm - Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division St. Chicago IL with Ramblin’ Jack Regan
December 22, 2018 - 8pm - BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
November 28, 2018 - 8pm - Doors 7:30 Tonic Room 2447 N. Halsted in Chicago with Kaldi Jones.
November 9th, 2018 - 9pm - Phyllis’ Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago with special guest Jeff & Mario
August 4, 2018: Bremen Cafe, Milwaukee, WI with Western Grand
August 3, 2018: Phyllis' Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago, IL
July 7, 2018: Phyllis' Musical Inn, Chicago at 1800 W. Division in Chicago, IL with Stereoactive
July 6th, 2018: BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534 - with Bart Attacks
May 25, 2018: Phyllis' Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago, Chicago
May 18, 2018: The House Café, 263 E Lincoln Ave., DeKalb, IL with Dr. Unk and Alabaster
April 28, 2018: BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
April 7, 2018: Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division in Chicago, IL with special guest Jeff & Mario
February 17, 2018: BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
February 16, 2018: Phyllis' Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago, IL
January 27, 2018: Phyllis' Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago, IL
December 30, 2017: Phyllis' Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago, IL with Kaldi Jones
November 17, 2017: Phyllis' Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago with The Streems
October 14th, 2017: 9pm The Burlington Bar, 3425 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 with Western Automatic and Owen and the Ghosts
September 7th, 2017: 9pm Phyllis Musical Inn at 1800 W. Division in Chicago, IL
August 25th, 2017: BuckleDown Brewing, 8700 47th St., Lyons IL 60534
July 27-28, 2017: 3 Flat Fest 8249 Buckwheat Ridge Rd., Lancaster WI 53813
July 8th, 2017: 9pm Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W Division St., Chicago IL - with Secret Means of Escape (Mark Shippy and Richard Syska)
May 18, 2017: 9pm Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W Division, Chicago IL with New Zeitgeist (Jen Reilly and Ed Bluma)