Illinois

Riding on a tractor of six strings, banjo samples and a metaphor comes Illinois, a band from Bucks County, Pennsylvania whose music conveys the Hopper/Rockwell-esque imagery of their home, a timeless place of raw emotion, where little league children still ride their bicycles in the street and the first girl you kissed is now your wife.

In 2001, Chris Archibald began recording ideas so he wouldn’t forget them, oddly enough they turned into the songs we love and were kept as they are, one take beauties. He’d been playing in bands with serial bass cabinet-smasher Martin Hoeger for some time, but had never put together the ideal group to play his hundred-plus song catalog. The two convinced long time friend JP Kuyper to drop what he was doing and get on the bus. He did, and now he drives it. Dru Lee was picked up off the side of the road and he adds a lot of ambiotic space and air to the sound of Illinois. Although over a thousand miles away, the four found themselves in Illinois.

Music snobs who care, have put the group in hallowed company. “The lyrical depth of the Kinks sauteed with the music tones of the Flaming Lips and John Spencer Blues Explosion reduction!” said one. “Sorry, its more Beta Band meets GBV” countered another. Regardless of your leanings, and whether you are happy, mellow, drunk or confused, Illinois plays beautiful music that makes old loves new and the green grass grow.

See you on the stereo.