Early 2020, after playing the run of “Tootsie The Musical” on Broadway in NYC, longtime Bucktown resident and guitar player Steve Roberts, returned to Chicago. A few weeks later, in the middle of rehearsals with the Chicago Symphony, Covid hit. Just like that, Steve and all his colleagues found themselves out of work.

Steve’s moping around the house, sharing in global misery, led to action. His wife Julie recognized the need for people to hear live music as much as he needed to play it. “She told me to take my guitar outside and play,” laughs Steve.

He called a few of his favorite and most talented musician friends, decided on a bunch of familiar-(but not overplayed) songs from the 70’s-90’s… and “The Porchmen” were born.

People Are Strange
The Porchmen

The Porchmen

  • Jim Widlowski

    DRUMMER

  • Robert Kassinger

    BASSIST

  • PHIL ANGOTTI

    VOCALIST & GUITARIST

  • STEVE ROBERTS

    GUITARIST

  • Drummer

    Recently finished playing the entire 4 year run of Hamilton Chicago! Other long run engagements have included Book of Mormon, Lion King, Wicked, Frozen and numerous performances with the Chicago Symphony including Bernstein’s Mass and Melissa Etheridge.

  • Bassist

    Can be found at his regular gig in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra bass section, where he has performed with every major conductor and soloist of the last 30 years. His expertise on electric and acoustic bass also enables him to keep a busy schedule in the jazz and rock free lance world.

  • Vocalist & Guitarist

    A legendary Chicago Beatles authority, has opened for dozens of national acts (including The Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw and Mathew Sweet and Eddie Money), performing his own music and recreations of classic albums. He currently continues that busy schedule along with playing in “Material Reissue” and promoting his recent album of original songs “Once Around Again”.

  • Guitarist

    Currently a member of Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble, has performed in numerous “popular and not so popular bands” Broadway and Chicago pit orchestras (Sting’s Last Ship, Rent, Lion King, Sponge Bob Musical, to name a few), The Lyric Opera (Wozzeck, Jesus Christ Superstar) and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (where he has performed with Stewart Copeland, Melissa Etheridge and countless others.