June

Chicago, Illinois, the windy city. It may be the most competitive indie and punk scene in the Midwest unleashing some of the best bands of the last few decades. Although a band is meant to be a collective effort, it is rare that you find a group of guys writing music based on their individual influences as opposed to what's selling this week. One might question what a band that listens to such a wide variety as The Blood Brothers and Nelly Mckay might sound like... rightfully so. The answer? Probably not a midpoint between the two at all.

June, Mark Sutor, Tim Brennan, Mark Palacz, and AJ Brown basically started the band as a joke, says Sutor, and realized we had a pretty good thing going. After recording an early four-song demo and playing around the local Chicago scene and effectively building a loyal following, this joke began to catch on. The band independently released The June EP in mid-summer of 2004. Soon after, the band signed with Chicagos Victory Records. Having people we work with that share the same vision as us is an awesome situation, having those same people be in Chicago is amazing, says Sutor.

Junes new music is reminiscent of Chicagos scene while portraying more down to earth interests. The band is a delicate balance between a power pop collaboration combining melodic guitar hooks and vocal harmonies and a rock band lyrically straying away from typical avenues. With a very active year ahead of them and a debut full length produced by Brian Mcternan(Thrice, Hot Water Music) due out on Victory records in summer, theyre coming to a town near you to sleep on your floor. The band will be keeping a relentless touring schedule and they have no plans of slowing it down after 2005. Although the average age in the band is 20 and some of the boys liquor licenses are newly acquired, they are happy to report that none have become full-time alcoholics yet. Don't worry gentlemen. You'll get there.