Sangamon

SANGAMON is about life, love, and energy; using their music to evoke diverse emotions. While recounting stories of success and failure, temptation and commitment, devotion and desire; Sangamon takes their listeners on a grand journey. With 2007's debut studio album 'The Right Way EP,' this Midwest pop-rock quartet has set the stage for a bright future.

Unforgettable melodies, soaring guitar, harmonious piano, and powerful rhythms define the textured sound of Sangamon, but it's the attention to detail that gives their music life. They feed on contrasts; going from dance to downbeat, heavenly to sinister, complex to stripped, always trying to pull the listener in a little closer. Formed in early 2007, Sangamon's music represents the culmination of its members' past experiences refined by a formulated approach to instrumentation and songwriting. Pulling stylistic influences from classical and jazz, this band takes pride in writing music that can appeal to the masses while still giving the avid music aficionado something to wrap his/her mind around. Although each of these four gents are accomplished musicians in their own right, Sangamon represents the pinnacle of each member's personal musical affiliations.

These four musicians, all born and raised in blue-collar Decatur, IL, weren't united until they each independently moved to Champaign, IL (University of Illinois) to pursue their personal goals. Shay Thiele (Piano/Vocals), after having earned a degree in classical piano performance, quickly grew tired of conforming to the traditions upheld by his fellow music school graduates. Thiele lost the desire to replicate the compositions of his predecessors, and decided to take up songwriting. Tyler Bundy (Guitar/Vocals, ex-56 Hope Road) and James Treichler (Drums), who together had previously helped various singer/songwriters formulate and produce their ideas, were eager to get involved after a chance run-in with Thiele made the three men aware of the others' ambitions. Mutual hometown acquaintances brought Sean McKinney (Bass) into the picture rounding out what has proved to be a dynamic and successful union. Sangamon's writing and publishing credits are shared equally amongst its members.

In Sangamon's short existence, they've had the good fortune of performing at the Pygmalion Music Festival as well as sharing the stage with great acts such as Maserati, Two Gallants, Canada, Shipwreck, Shapes and Sizes and Unwed Sailor. Sangamon will be performing around the Midwest in support of 'The Right Way EP' during the spring/summer of 2008.

Sangamon is a reference to the name given by the American natives to the bountiful river valley that the band calls home.