Dan Alcantara

Hailing from South Elgin, Illinois, Dan Alcantara has been writing and performing since the age of 14. But it wasn't until December in 2005 that he began to record and perform his own songs.

But that was under the name of Thistledown. After a year of trying to make a name for himself, he realized that maybe it would be better to use his own name. It was this occurrence that spawned the solo project. With songs ranging in topic from a writer working late into the night (Novelists) to micro-epic about a man that can only be seen by the homeless(Vegas), one can only imagine what goes on in his mind.

Citing David Bazan(ex-Pedro The Lion), Colin Meloy(The Decemberists), and Sam Beam(Iron & Wine) as his primary influences, it can only be assumed that the lyrics are going to be narratives. Musically, he is treading diverse territory, with influences ranging from the aforementioned Pedro the Lion, Eisley, Aaron Sprinkle, Kevin Max, Flogging Molly, and Giant Drag. Yet, he manages to retain an aural distance from his influences that keeps the music uniquely his.