The Future Laureates

Artist Information

Biography

For The Future Laureates' featured music video and featured live footage, check out the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvsqMaT-M3o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=egdImilEbI8

With a successful presence at SXSW 2012, plus airplay on 140 college radio stations, The Future Laureates are celebrating with unabashed energy and triumph. Offering positive punk-rock energy with folk/pop musicianship, their sonic champagne is frothing and bubbling with the release of their third studio album, “Fortress Sessions”. It is seriously full of fun.

They’ve established connections with fans over shared interests. The bleakness of current events or dynamics of interpersonal relationships faced by college-age crowds (most of them singing along) can’t be downtrodden as the pure sunshine of radio-ready pop comes through in every millisecond. Soaring harmonies glide through serious matters of the head and heart, along with major jamming by guitar, bass, drums- and ukulele.

2011’s “Rethink the Recession” led to reviews of “Kingston Blues,” the EP’s single, as “a fresh and fun melody led by a lively rhythm, brisk percussion, and warm, spirited vocals.” (Chicagoist.com) and “…it’s not just a gimmicky thing; he jams the livin’ crap outta that uke!” (DailyLimerick.net). The same year, the album won licensing deals with a variety of shows on MTV, Showtime, and Discovery Networks via Tinderbox music.

Touring has brought together even more fans through numerous Midwest and East Coast journeys as well as hometown venues including Chicago’s House of Blues, DC’s Rock and Roll Hotel, and the Congress Theater for the 3rd and 4th annual Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festivals. They’ve shared crowds with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Drive-By Truckers, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, hellogoodbye, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, and Dawes.

Through it all, they keep it smart, fun and rhythmic.

In 2012, The Future Laureates have added “the fifth Beatle” with Chicago’s CAUDog Records. Working with accomplished producer Ellis Clark (Nikki Sudden with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden), the recent album is their strongest effort to date. “We’ve treated it as a separate entity and process than our live shows, with additional organ, piano, horns, percussion, and most notably, violin,” says Danny Surico, primary songwriter for The Future Laureates.

“Fortress Sessions” sees TFL’s three founding members (Danny Surico (guitar/vocals), James Hyde (bass/vocals) and Matthew Daigler (ukulele/vocals) polish 12 gems with an unprecedented level of honesty about the songwriting and arrangements. Also contributing are special guests Ellis Clark on keys and organ, Mike Scheiman on guitar, Aaron Apter on drums and percussion, Kristina Priceman on violin, and Emily Claire Palmer on vocals. The album gained its unique title from the band’s practice space and songwriting hub, a coach house fondly nicknamed “The Fortress” tucked away in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood.

Following their SXSW appearances in Austin, TX this March, the band is gearing up for its Chicago album release show in May 2012. This summer adds some hot festivals, including Summerfest, followed by an East Coast Fall Tour to promote the new album. Spontaneous, professional and passionate, TFL is dedicated to bringing their latest effort to radio and online distribution. In June, the band is teaming up again with Tinderbox Music for a 300-city North American college radio campaign. Most importantly, they’re bringing their music to the fans that keep dancing and singing along.

For booking, press, and other inquiries, please contact the band directly at thefuturelaureates@gmail.com

Instrumentation

Danny Surico - Rhythm Guitar and Vocals
Matthew Daigler - Ukulele and Vocals
James Hyde - Bass and Vocals
Joe Haggenjos - Lead Guitar
Aaron Apter - Drums

Discography

Both of The Future Laureates' albums can be downloaded for the price of your choosing (even free): http://thefuturelaureates.bandcamp.com/

COMING MAY 12, 2012: OUR NEW LP "FORTRESS SESSIONS"
Track Listing:
1.) Galahad’s Song
2.) For Debbie
3.) Carry Me Away
4.) Lovely
5.) Crooked Third Wheel
6.) Serenity
7.) Song for My Grandchild
8.) Witchcraft and Imagery
9.) My Friend, the Guarded Wall
10.) Escape from the Shadows
11.) Convert Them in Convertibles
12.) Lines

EP (released March of 2011): "Rethink the Recession"
Track Listing:
1.) Creative Differences
2.) Kingston Blues
3.) Metro Detroit in a Recession

LP (released May of 2008): "Your Mom Would Like Us"
Track Listing:
1.) Hanging
2.) Hit it and Quit it
3.) Santiago
4.) Polyphemus
5.) Halfway Home
6.) FYI
7.) Park Bench
8.) Salt in the Wound (Our Country)
9.) What You're Doing to Me

A laureate (lor'-ee-it), defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, is: the recipient of honor or recognition for achievement in an art or science

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Youtube
• Bandcamp (name your own price)

Audio

• For Debbie
  Listen  
• Lovely
  Listen  
• Serenity
  Listen  
• Kingston Blues
  Listen  

Lyrics

• For Debbie
• Lovely
• Serenity
• Kingston Blues

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• College Testimonials [+ Show ]
  

  “If I was able to secure funding for such a performance, The Future Laureates would be on top of my ...“If I was able to secure funding for such a performance, The Future Laureates would be on top of my wish list…”
  --Kevin O’Leary, Illinois Institute of Technology alumnus (class of 2011)
  Former SGA Finance Board Chair and WIIT Technical Director
  
  "The Future Laureates are the quintessential college band. I’ve heard them play at university fundraisers, concerts, local bars, and I even saw them (for the first time) in a crowded, unfinished basement packed with a cornucopia of college kids, all singing and dancing along to the tunes of this friendly band. My favorite part about working with The Future Laureates is their collective humor: I love to watch them interact with each other and the crowd. Once we threw a benefit concert the night of the presidential election. Needless to say, the turnout was less than substantial. But those who remained on campus and wandered through the student union became immediately captivated by the stage presence of this great group of guys. The Future Laureates were our saviors that night, and responsible for over half of our audience!"
  --Nicki Shamel, Loyola University Chicago alumna (class of 2010)
  Former Gannon Scholar and current International Marketing Assistant at Sony Music Entertainment
  
  "The Future Laureates are truly a Midwest band. I think they have a sound that would really appeal to students and would be a band that we would want to come back for years to come. They are easy to relate to and they will always try to make their next show their best show. The Future Laureates have always been extremely professional to work with and are extremely helpful. I love them and I would highly suggest booking them in the future!"
  --David Mattingly, University of Dayton graduate school alumnus (class of 2011)
  Former President of UD’s Campus Activities Board
  
  "I’ve had the pleasure of working with The Future Laureates several times in the past for benefit shows I have organized for my student organization, Invisible Conflicts. The band was consistently punctual, helpful, and accommodating. They always draw a crowd and are successful in keeping the crowd active throughout their set. The Future Laureates have all of the beneficial qualities that are difficult to find in most bands when navigating the booking/event planning process, and they are always the first band I contact when planning a new event."
  --Erin Pophal, Loyola University Chicago alumna (class of 2011)
  Founding member of Invisible Conflicts (www.invisibleconflicts.org)
  

• Press and Praise for The Future Laureates [+ Show ]
  

  “My experience working with Danny and The Future Laureates has been 110% positive. They are a smart ...“My experience working with Danny and The Future Laureates has been 110% positive. They are a smart group of people that care about not only being good musicians, but being good professionals. They have a desire to share their knowledge and experiences with their fellow musicians, and it’s great to see musicians that care strongly about their community.” --Tess Cychosz, Member Relations, Sonicbids
  
  “‘Kingston Blues” is a fresh and fun melody led by a lively rhythm, brisk percussion, and warm, spirited vocals” (CHICAGOIST.COM)
  
  “Infectious sing along choruses and a strong melodic core” (DAYTON DAILY NEWS)
  
  "The Future Laureates bring an energetic and thirsty crowd to their energetic and dynamic set each time they play. I've had a great time working with these guys, as they certainly bring a level of professionalism and focus to the game that I don't see with many emerging bands. And have I mentioned how damn good they are at selling tickets!?" --Mike Raspatello, Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Fest Producer
  
  “Rockin’, in a toe-tapping, melodic way. It’s not just a gimmicky thing; he jams the livin’ crap outta that uke!” (DAILYLIMERICK.NET)

• The boys are back in town: Loyola alumni to play at House of Blues [+ Show ]
  

  Only a few years ago, a Loyola student might have walked down Winthrop Avenue and heard the basement...Only a few years ago, a Loyola student might have walked down Winthrop Avenue and heard the basement rehearsals of student band, The Future Laureates. Now, only a few years after graduating, Loyola alumni James Hyde, Matthew Daigler, Danny Surico and Steve Minogue are taking their independent pop/folk group to one of Chicago's most famous venues - the House of Blues.
  
  The Future Laureates will be playing a 17+ show Friday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m. The band is opening for The Giving Tree Band, a bluegrass group who is having a CD release party that night. Other performers will include How Far to Austin and JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound. Tickets can be bought for affordable presale prices online or from the bands.
  
  "The best explanation [of our music] we've heard is ‘fun, but aggressive,'" Daigler, who plays guitar and sings for the band, said. The Future Laureates' sound can change from show to show as the instrumentation is rearranged between mandolin, ukulele, electric and acoustic guitars, drums, bass and multiple layers of vocal harmonies.
  
  "The goal is to tour eventually, but lately we are focusing a lot on music in our lives," Surico said. Lately, the band has been writing more music than ever and plans to record their next full-length album in December.
  
  Since the May 2008 release of their first album, Your Mom Would Like Us, The Future Laureates have performed at local clubs like The Double Door and Lincoln Hall. Playing the House of Blues this weekend shows how far the band has come from their Lake Shore campus roots, where they performed at events like Ramblerfest, Gannon Scholars fundraisers and the Invisible Conflicts benefit concert.
  
  The band formed during most of the members' junior year at Loyola in the winter of 2006. "It was kind of spontaneous. It all happened quickly," Surico said.
  
  As Loyola musicians, they were all individually asked to perform at the Loyola's Got Talent fundraiser for Hunger Week and decided to perform together instead.
  
  "What I remember about open mics at Loyola is the smaller circles. It's really easy to meet people and everybody is really into it," said Hyde, the band's bass player and vocalist.
  
  "There are so many opportunities to play on campus," Daigler said.
  
  "So many people come out, Loyola is great about that. We want to stay a part of things (at Loyola)," Surico added.
  
  The Future Laureates will also be playing at the Red Line Tap on Wednesday, Oct. 6. The band will perform at the Rogers Park bar with Mapmaker, another Loyola student band.
  
  The Future Laureates are also founding members of the Chicago Roots Collective, a support group for local musicians trying to connect, share music and land gigs.
  
  The group encourages fans to reach out via email at TheFutureLaureates@gmail.com
  
  Article by William Maxwell Kellerman
  Published: Wednesday, September 8, 2010
  
  
  
  

• The Future Laureates Rethink The Recession [+ Show ]
  

  It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything new from The Future Laureates (not to be confused with ...It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything new from The Future Laureates (not to be confused with The Laureates). While the local band played the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival a few months ago and the Chicago Roots Festival just before that, they haven’t released any new material since their promising debut album, Your Mom Would Like Us, back in summer of 2008. Now, nearly three years later, they’re preparing to drop a new EP, Rethink the Recession.
  
  The EP is short and sweet - a 3-track collection of endearing folk-pop that proves the band hasn’t lost its soulful energy. “Kingston Blues,” for example, is a fresh and fun melody led by a lively rhythm, brisk percussion, and warm, spirited vocals. On the other hand, the album’s closer “Metro Detroit in a Recession” slows things down to narrate the distress of a father who finds himself down and out in the current economic climate. Though the lyrics are at times underwhelming and awkwardly delivered, the band manages to tackle a somber issue with refreshing and engaging passion.
  
  While the album is entertaining, The Future Laureates are really best experienced live, when their soulful vigor is entirely unfiltered. You can catch the band perform live at the Rethink the Recession release show this Friday, March 11 at the Mayne Stage. Also playing will be Kingsley Flood, How Far to Austin, and Nelken. For now, you can stream the album's opening track, “Creative Differences” over at The Future Laureates official site or download their debut album for the price of your choosing (including free) over at the band’s Bandcamp site.
  
  The Future Laureates play Friday, March 11 at the Mayne Stage, 1328 W Morse, 8:30 p.m., $10 in advance or $12 at the door, All Ages

• Spare a Few Dollars for Streetwise [+ Show ]
  

  The Future Laureates Headline the StreetWise Benefit Show Like its vendors, StreetWise has made it ...The Future Laureates Headline the StreetWise Benefit Show
  Like its vendors, StreetWise has made it through some tough times - the organization was in imminent danger of going out of business back in 2009, but quickly received more than enough donations to keep it afloat. In a continued effort to keep the non-for-profit healthily funded, a few local bands and House Call Entertainment are teaming up to host a benefit show.
  The show will take place this Friday at the Beat Kitchen. Headlining will be eager folk-pop-rockers The Future Laureates, who just returned from an East Coast tour. Preceding them will be Detroit rockers The Hand Grenades, as well as local folk pop acts Bassel and the Supernaturals and Tree. Fifty percent of the night’s proceeds will go straight to the non-for-profit.
  
  For those of you who’ve been stuck under a rock, StreetWise is a locally-focused magazine that was founded in 1992. Aside from the publishing aspect of the business, it provides job training, social services and a source of income for the homeless. The vendors you see on the street pay 90 cents for each magazine, sell it for $2, and keep the profit.
  
  Maybe you do business with your neighborhood vendor, and maybe you just pass by and avoid eye contact. We’re not judging, jerk. Either way, Friday’s show is a good opportunity to take in some tunes while contributing to a worthy cause. And if you can’t make it out to support the organization this time around, keep in mind that the StreetWise Gala is also just around the corner.
  
  The StreetWise benefit show is Friday, August 19 at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W Belmont, 9 p.m., $8, 21+
  
  Contact the author of this article or email tips@chicagoist.com with further questions, comments or tips.
  Filed in Arts & Events and tagged Bassel and the Supernaturals, beat kitchen, benefit, music, streetwise, The Future Laureates, The Hand Grenades

• The Chicago Roots Collective Showcase 11/18/11 [+ Show ]
  

  Over the weekend I had the opportunity to check out one of the great events Chicago has offered this...Over the weekend I had the opportunity to check out one of the great events Chicago has offered this year, The Chicago Roots Collective’s 3rd Annual Showcase. There were over 75 featured performers over two nights at The Elbo Room, and each of them shared a singular vision of a music-based community that is self-sustaining and effectively promotes all those involved. Before the show I had the chance to chat with some of the bands, and I found them all to be very gracious and focused, wanting to share the reasons why they are a part of the CRC.
  
  After the interview, we went down to the bar area where the acoustic sets were going to be held. The Elbo Room is a cool, funky place. This area we were in was all jammed up with people either getting drinks or trying to stay close to the action. Andy Metz started playing right after we got there, and he was rocking it pretty hard despite many in the crowd still getting settled in and talking loudly. A couple songs in he announced a tune called “Achilles,” which is his take on Homer’s Iliad. This was my favorite song from his set. Afterward I was talking to him and he told me that he wrote the song when he was about 18, and that it’s become his go-to number.
  
  After we finished watching Andy, we headed downstairs to catch Mike Mangione and The Union do their thing. This was the only group was involved in the interview that I had not seen live. I checked out some YouTube videos, and I thought they sounded pretty good. The videos didn’t do the band justice, and I can honestly say they are a great live band.
  
  
  
  Even without their guitarist, this band brought the house down. If you’re unfamiliar, they play a kind of Celtic folk/rock and blues fusion with a lot of soul and funk for good measure. The band includes a cellist and violinist on top of the regular drum/bass/guitar/vocal. They are technically based out of Milwaukee, but they seem to be a very “Chicago” group. I loved the way Mike and strings/vocalist Tina (?) played off each other. Especially on the super-jammed out version of “Somewhere Between.” They’re playing in Evanston January 19th, and I plan on being there. You should, too.
  
  We headed back upstairs so we could catch Glendenning’s set after that. When we got up there, The Western was finishing up a set that had the crowd bouncing up and down. After they finished up, The Ewing Theory took to the stage. They started out with a cover of “Bell Bottom Blues” that was marred by technical difficulties. I thought the guy playing electric guitar was pretty good, but the vocals were not coming off that great.
  
  Glendenning came up and, not surprisingly, had a hard time fitting everyone on the small stage. This set also featured some technical problems. I chalk that up to so many different bands coming and going with different equipment.
  
  This band has only been together about a year, so they have some things to work on, but overall I liked what I heard. I caught part of their set at Lincoln Hall earlier this year, but they had the unfortunate problem of playing before Republic Of Lights (a band that I love live). In their performance for the CRC Showcase, the band seemed tighter and more in step with one another. The only issue I had was that the vocals were mostly drowned out. Most of the problem was due to some feedback coming from the speaker behind them, I think. There were times, though, that Jake (the lead singer) was really projecting and it sounded great.
  
  Back downstairs The Future Laureates were getting ready to start their set, and the crowd was getting pretty excited. They opened their set with a new song called “Kingston Blues,” and shit just got crazy after that. The thing I was most surprised by was how good their guitarist, Joe, is live. On record you can hear that there’s a guy who knows what he’s doing, but when you stand in front of him, you can just see him shred. It’s pretty impressive.
  
  I think a lot of the set embodied what the Chicago Roots Collective is all about, which is a bunch of people having a good time and enjoying good music. Matt and Danny did a good job of keeping the crowd invigorated, and their fast-paced folk/pop was hitting the spot for the people in the front where I was standing. I could see the people all around sweating, and you can see in a lot of the pictures from the show that the band were giving it their all.
  
  There are certain nights that stick out in my mind as being great all-around nights for music. This year there have been a couple of those nights: the first was Neutral Uke Hotel at Schubas with The Michael J Epstein Memorial Library and Golden Bloom. This was the second.
  
  I’m a sucker for any group or collection of groups trying to create a sense of community, in music or otherwise. As such, The Chicago Roots Collective is one of my new favorite things to check out whenever I get the chance. On their own, a lot of the bands in the collective are awesome. Together they’re something even better.
  

Setlist

The Future Laureates can play up to 2 hours of original music.

Basic Requirements

Calendar