Midwestern Underground

Apologies

2007-07-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Due to current circumstances, I won't be able to update this thing for a while. Just a lot of stuff is going on right now that I would rather not, but at this point it's unavoidable. Perhaps we'll be back up and running at the end of the month.

Aglet

2007-06-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

Aglet is the brain-child of singer/songwriter/guitarist Nick Schraml. Although it started as a solo project, Nick found the stage to be a lonely place. And with that, came a writing and performing partnership with one Joe Smith. The band claims that to be his real name, but one can never be sure... Uhh... Anyways, work was taken up immediately. New songs were birthed, old songs were edited or even re-written. Some were even thrown out. But let us assure you, the ones that have stayed in the repertoire are absolutely amazing.
From the acoustic pop of Dancin' to the perfect combination of Dashboard Confessional and Jimmy Eat World that is Jona and Carey, you will not be disappointed. Simply put, this is good music.

Now, Now Every Children

2007-06-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know that they aren't a Chicago-land band, but I can't help but post about them. And they're from the Midwest so it works. The Minnesota two-piece formerly known as Lone has added two new members and a changed name. Right now, they're in the studio recording songs and that should make you happy because even the stuff that they've had on their MySpace for a long time now is absolutely breath-taking. All I can do is tell you to go listen. The songs speak for themselves. Just click the banner.

Dan Alcantara

2007-06-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

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.