Nick Cox (7th Heaven), Zach Avery & Todd Lazar (Revelator) | HOGPOD Chicago Local Music Scene

This week on the HOGPOD Chicago Local Music Scene Podcast, we’re joined by three powerhouse talents making waves across the Midwest:
✅ Nick Cox, guitarist and vocalist from the legendary 7th Heaven
✅ Zach Avery, blues-rock-soul phenom with deep Chicago roots
✅ Todd Lazar, bassist for both Revelator (Tedeschi Trucks tribute) and Black Diamond Sessions

We dig into the 40-year legacy of 7th Heaven — from charting Billboard hits and opening for Bon Jovi at Soldier Field, to rocking 200 shows a year including cruise ships and international gigs. Nick drops insight on band turnover, selling out (or not), and their famous "30 Songs in 30 Minutes" medley.

Zach Avery shares his journey from Minneapolis bars at age 13 to opening for Buddy Guy and launching the Revelator tribute project with Soundtracks of a Generation. We talk live EPs, band chemistry, Chicago Music Exchange, and what it means to groove with soul.

Todd Lazar joins to talk about building Revelator and navigating the local scene while laying down the low end in multiple projects.

✅ Shoutouts to Mojo Mike, Tony Ocean, Chicago Music Cruise, Richie Hofherr, and Michael Mooshey
✅ Behind the scenes on how Revelator formed
✅ Stories from First Avenue and the Prince estate at Paisley Park
✅ Upcoming shows from 7th Heaven, Zach Avery Band, Revelator, and Mosquitos Jam Band

Key Moments:
0:00
4:43 Derrick Procell Clip • Derrick Procell: Chicago's Blues & Am... https://www.derrickprocellmusic.com/
5:23 Mojo Mike Clip • Mojo Mike O'Brien Joins Voyage | Hogp...
5:35 Nick Cox Guitars/Vocals 7th Heaven Band https://7thheavenband.com
7:11 Chicago Music Cruise https://www.chicagomusiccruise.com/
8:05 Tony Ocean https://www.tonyoceanmusic.com/
8:31 Tony Ocean Podcast https://www.tonyoceanmusic.com/podcast/
9:06 Revelator Band Debut https://www.revelatortribute.com/
9:15 Soul Commitments / soulicons
9:36 Zach Avery Upcoming Shows https://www.zachaveryband.com/shows
9:42 Nick Bell Band https://www.nickbellband.com/
10:04 Todd Lazar Introduction
13:38 How did Revelator get started, Todd Lazar?
19:30 Revelator performs "Gravity"
26:10 Chicago Music Exchange https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/
26:43 Upcoming Shows – 7th Heaven https://www.7thheavenband.com/tour.html
28:17 Is the Casino Gig all it's cracked up to be?
30:04 Zach Avery arrives – Zach Avery Band https://www.zachaveryband.com/
31:37 Zach Avery Introduction
34:35 Shout Out to Richie Hofherr (7th Heaven Band Founder) and Michael Mooshey
34:44 Where did the band 7th Heaven get its name?
37:27 "Monster" performed by Nick Cox and 7th Heaven • 7th heaven Monster
43:20 Josh Henderson – Quive Queen Tribute / jjhenderson86
44:32 Davey Knowles Shout Out / davyknowles
49:45 Zach Avery Influences
52:36 What is Zach Avery's vision?
56:52 What are some of the growing pains Nick Cox has dealt with in his tenure with 7th Heaven Band?
59:48 Dealing with band turnover
1:04:50 Eventually a band is going to have to sell out and make money
1:07:15 How do you keep everyone happy in a band—creative process, getting paid, etc.?
1:07:39 How do you tell a band member their idea is crappy?
1:09:40 First Avenue, Minneapolis https://first-avenue.com/shows
1:09:48 Paisley Park (Prince Home Tour) https://www.paisleypark.com/tickets
1:10:48 Revelator's debut show / 2071081200035615 – The Lyric Theater, Blue Island
1:11:40 Mosquitos Upcoming Show – Sundance Saloon, Saturday 4/19 / 1989222538571201 http://www.mosquitosjamband.com/
1:12:18 7th Heaven Website https://www.7thheavenband.com
1:13:31 Black Diamond Sessions https://blackdiamondsessions.com/
1:15:11 Dino Show Clip • 🚨 Hogpod Chicagoland Music Scene Podc...
1:16:50 Friction Reunion
1:17:10 zachaveryband.com website with upcoming shows
1:17:33 Revelator Website https://www.revelatortribute.com/ https://www.revelatortribute.com/shows

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More at: https://www.7thheavenband.com | https://www.zachaveryband.com | https://www.revelatortribute.com