Elise McLearen, powerhouse vocalist of My Metal Heart and former frontwoman of Sabatha Chicago (an all-female Black Sabbath tribute), joins the HOGPOD Chicago Local Music Scene Podcast to share her story. From holding Dio-level notes to getting bit by a pit bull at her first metal audition, Elise unpacks her musical evolution, performance growth, and what it takes to front a metal band in today’s scene.Hosted by:🎙️ Mike Orfanos (Misquitos Jam Band)🎙️ Mike Dermont (Coterie co-founder)🎙️ Pete Jansons (Editor/Producer)🎵 Special guests: Rhodesy (Chris Rhodes), Bongo Mike📅 Guest booking by Beth Miller – thank you for making it happen!🎧 Follow Elise's channel:    / @ronniejamesdva  💥 Support the Podcast:   / hogpodsupporters  🎯 TOPICS DISCUSSED🎸 Elise’s start with Pedal to the Metal & leap to Sabatha Chicago🐕 Getting bit by a dog at her first metal audition🎤 Leaving Sabatha Chicago to push vocal boundaries with My Metal Heart🥁 Audition styles, chemistry, and jamming with new bands🎶 Her love for everything from Dio to Donny Osmond🕺 Being a frontwoman: working the crowd, pushing past nerves🎧 Challenges of in-ear monitors & hearing yourself on stage📢 The need for better venue support and band promotionKey Moments:0:006:05 Wolfgang Paul is the new drummer for ARRA https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1...6:44 ARRA upcoming shows https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1...8:34 Elise McLearen introduction   / 35173elise   (Personal Page)   / mymetalheartband   (Band Page)   / ronniejamesdiva     / sabbathachicago  22:33 Dan Volpe is a band poacher :)28:01 Band auditions — rhyme or reason?31:19 Female drummers are hard to come by41:55 What do you do on stage when unplanned things happen?44:18 In-ear monitors46:28 It's cool when people record your performance—and it sucks when venues say don't record51:30 Was the live music scene better in past generations?52:40 Are posters in bars still a good way to market your band?54:00 Thoughts on Joan Jett54:29 Ann Wilson from Heart?56:15 Bon Jovi hate58:25 Mike Orfanos’ thoughts on best singer ever1:04:27 Catch My Metal Heart at the Broken Oar May 10   / 18fp7qjcte  1:05:50 Mike Orfanos' Sphere experience1:09:35 Check out Elise’s YouTube page    / @ronniejamesdiva  🔖 Hashtags:#EliseMcLearen, #MyMetalHeart, #SabathaChicago, #RonnieJamesDiva, #HOGPODPodcast, #PeteJansons, #MikeOrfanos, #MikeDermont, #Rhodesy, #BongoMike, #BethMiller, #ChicagoMusicScene, #FemaleMetalVocalist, #BlackSabbathTribute, #LocalBands, #HeavyMetal