If you’ve ever wanted to discover your new favorite song on the radio and know it came from right here, you should meet Patrick Rule - better known on-air as DJ Trick. He’s the voice behind Hot Wax Radio, an internet station that's been quietly connecting music lovers to hidden indie gems for nearly 16 years.
Patrick landed back in the Peoria area just over a year ago, helping out with his family’s business, Ogborn Plumbing. By day, he keeps calls answered and schedules in order so they can keep the pipes of our city running. In his free time, he’s all about the music. He’s ready to pour more energy into Hot Wax Radio and wants local musicians and listeners to be a bigger part of it.
Hot Wax Radio isn’t a playlist built by an algorithm. It’s a station curated by someone with decades of music industry experience. Patrick (aka DJ Trick) has promoted artists since the ‘80s, including helping launch Tracy Chapman’s breakout hit “Fast Car” to college radio. (It’s a great story. See the included clip.)
He’s toured with bands, run his own promotions company, DJ’d to tens of thousands at Burning Man, and created a space in the online world of Second Life where Hot Wax Radio broadcasts daily.
His original intention was simply to play music from bands he believed in—many of them longtime friends—and now that he's in Peoria, he’s hoping to do the same for local artists.
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DJ Trick spins everything from alt-rock to Americana, roots, blues, and indie. His Morning Mix covers the twangier side of things. The weekends bring some late-night Technotronica. But at the top and bottom of every hour, you'll hear new music - and that’s where he wants Peoria artists to start showing up first.
The station already has an international following (a lot of listeners tune in from Second Life), but now he’s hoping to grow his presence locally. If you’re from the Peoria area and have original music, he wants to hear it.
Trick has been in the industry long enough to recognize potential. And if he thinks it has potential, he’ll play it. “Even if it’s borderline,” he said, “I leave it to the listeners. They’re the ultimate judges.”
One thing he’s especially excited about is a daily show called Afternoon Tricks - his drive-time block from 3–5 p.m. CST that could become a home for even more new music. DJ Trick is open to collaboration and would love to team up with Peoria Music Live to help spotlight local artists. If you’ve ever wanted your song played on a legit indie radio station - this could be your shot.
Times listed in graphics are EST, so that’s 3-5pm for us!
And if you’re a listener? This is your chance to help lift up the local scene while hearing truly great music from around the world. DJ Trick isn’t chasing trends. He’s curating with heart—and with 16 years of history, a deep catalog, and a global network of indie musicians and labels, he knows how to spot a great track.
So whether you're an artist ready to share your sound, or a listener looking for something different and fantastic, tune in. Discover something new. And know you’re helping make Peoria louder.
📬 Artists: You can submit music directly through the site
It was great to meet Trick and continue to help turn up the volume on what’s happening in the central Illinois music scene! Hear his next live radio show, celebrating the station’s 16th anniversary, 3-5pm on Friday, June 20th.
We’ll plan to keep in touch and share more about HotWaxRadio’s collaborations with Peoria-area musicians!