Music
Press
"They call it 'acoustic rock and soul,' but Down the Line's rollicking material also incorporates elements of bluegrass, jam and a little country rock á la the Eagles. Their daredevil playing achieves some blistering grooves and their stacked harmonies call to mind both Barenaked Ladies (though not as goofy) and Crosby, Stills & Nash (though not as self-important). This is the new wave of college rock--a blend of jam aesthetics and focused arrangement and feel-good subject matter. Their instrumentation, which ranges from typical rock outfit gear to accordion, mandolin, banjo and djembe, adds even more textures and more sonic surprises to their already very fun tunes."
- Performing Songwriter Magazine--March/April 2003
"It's nice to hear a band actually use its collective talent to produce music of quality. Now face it, there's lots of bands out there comprised of talented guys, or girls, that never-ever seem to come up with any music worth hearing. The boys of Down The Line, however, are just the opposite. The whole is even greater than the sum of their parts. Their just-released debut called 'Welcome to Flavortown' has got good songs, vocals, and musicianship ... 'Welcome to Flavortown' is a brand new disc chock-full of good tunes."
- WXRT Chicago, Progressive Rock Radio
"Fresh, vocal-driven pop ... Down The Line mingles mostly acoustic
instruments with tasteful percussion and a big harmony attack that's earned them fans on Chi-town radio and on the road." - Nashville Tennessean
Discography
-Home Alive (released 3/8/08)
-For All You Break (2007)
-Please Remember My Name (2005)
-Demos EP (2004)
-Welcome To Flavortown (2002)
-currently streaming on Yahoo Music/LAUNCHcast
-regular airplay on 107.1, Clear Channel Radio in Ann Arbor
-features on XRT (Chicago), Triple M (Madison), WTTS (Indianapolis) and 107.1 (Ann Arbor)
-"Last Call" hit #39 on New Music Weekly Top 40 chart
-"Here I Am" can be heard on Universal Pictures' comedy "Winter Break."
Photos
Bio
Chicago’s Down The Line continues to demonstrate that you don’t need electricity to generate real power. Their music delivers mighty hooks and harmonies within smart songcraft and truly shining vocals. It’s an acoustic mix—guitar, mandolin, violin, harmonica and djembe, driven by a lone-electric bass—that the Chicago Sun-Times praised as “an organic blend of rollicking pop.” The group prefers to describe their sound more simply: acoustic pop. (Although when pressed, they explain, “If The Cars had kids with Fleetwood Mac, well, they’d probably sound like us.”) However you label them, Down The Line creates music that’s pure, unique and unforgettable.
Down The Line has earned a reputation for intense, energetic performances that feature unparalleled live vocals—a reputation that has secured them a place on tour with legendary acts including Peter Frampton, America, Ben Folds, Pat Benatar, Colin Hay, Marshall Crenshaw and others. Richard Milne of Chicago’s WXRT Radio exclaimed, “These guys can sing, they can play, and they can light up a stage!” In 2008 Down The Line released the much-anticipated Home Alive, a live album culled from their stint as “artists in residence” on the renowned hometown stage at Schubas. The residency was reviewed in UR Chicago Magazine as “a meticulous yet carefree performance...one of the most exuberant I have seen.”(Cory Robertson) Home Alive features original material from Down The Line’s three studio discs—For All You Break (2007), Please Remember My Name (2005) and Welcome To Flavortown (2002). The live album is an engaging reminder that when acoustic performances are special, they’re downright electrifying.
Band members Levi Britton (acoustic guitar, vocals), Derek Fawcett (djembe, vocals), Dan Myers (harmonica, mandolin, violin, vocals), and Dave Rothkopf (acoustic guitar, bass, vocals) formed Down The Line in Chicago in 2001. Although none were originally from the city (upstate Michigan, Detroit, Wisconsin, and New York, respectively), they now can show you the best food at any Chicago intersection…though they may lead you to four separate corners. Down The Line is currently on tour in support of their new album. They are not to be missed.
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