| |
|
 
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Kevin Junior (a native of Akron, Ohio) formed the Chamber Strings in Chicago, IL in 1997. The band's critically adored debut, Gospel Morning, was released on the Washington DC label ISM that same year, and re-released with bonus tracks in 1999 on the Bobsled label. Recorded in Chicago and London, it combined such diverse influences as Ray Davies, Brian Wilson, Brill Building pop, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Alex Chilton, 60's soul, Pretenders, Dan Penn, Only Ones, The Raspberries and Jimmy Webb into an unclassifiable style, giving the band its own identity, and proving Junior to be a songwriter in his own right with classic songs that had a timeless grandeur.
The group's stunning 2001 follow-up, Month Of Sundays, co-produced by Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers/Lilys), saw the band expand its sound with full orchestral string and brass arrangements (including renowned Chicago jazz musicians Ken Vandermark and Jeb Bishop), and allowed the band to channel its more complex ambitions and influences such as Laura Nyro, Curtis Mayfield, Phil Spector, Bacharach and David, Todd Rundgren, and Dusty Springfield into a masterwork that landed them the number 1 record of the year in numerous publications. The LP was also released to great success in Japan and Europe. The group toured the US and Europe several times, gaining a faithful following around the world and receiving an overwhelming amount of critical praise and honors such as landing on dozens of top 10 LP lists and Number 1 slots for Gospel Morning and Month Of Sundays (London's The Guardian had it in their "Top 10 all-time neglected American classics"). The group also had the honor of performing on the well-respected NPR radio programs 'Sound Opinions' and Nic Harcourt's 'Morning Becomes Eclectic'. Touring like mad, they found themselves headlining and sharing stages with Guided By Voices, Travis, Wilco (bassist John Stirratt co-wrote "Make It Through The Summer" with Kevin Junior, for The String's 2nd Lp and Stirratt's project Autumn Defense), The White Stripes, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Moe Tucker, Alex Chilton, Dandy Warhols, The Posies, Pernice Brothers, Webb Brothers (who also covered and released Junior's song "Everyday Is Christmas"), Evan Dando, Warlocks, Death Cab For Cutie, Real Kids, Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) and Super Furry Animals to name a few. Such well known names have come out to the band's shows like Nancy Sinatra, Ryan Adams, Hanson, Ron Sexsmith, members of Talking Heads, & Ben Stiller.
After the success of Month Of Sundays, the band took an extended hiatus. Leader Kevin Junior found himself unable to carry on. A long battle with depression ensued due in part to a divorce from his wife of 15 years, homelessness, drug addiction, and other health-related problems. His Brian Wilson-esqe disappearance led many to wonder if he had dropped off the face of the Earth and would ever return? He has, indeed. From the fall of 2004 to mid-2005, Kevin toured extensively throughout Germany, Italy, Belgium, and England in a solo acoustic setting, while also playing guitar for old-time partner Nikki Sudden on several European gigs. He also oversaw the release of Good Things, the final album from his late musical companion and friend, Epic Soundtracks. The record is an Epic Soundtracks/Kevin Junior collaboration recorded/produced in 1996 in London (Epic passed away in 1997) by Kevin Junior on his Tascam Porta3 4-track recorder. The album features only Epic Soundtracks (vocals/piano/some guitar) and Kevin Junior (guitar/backing vocals/percussion). The tracks were intended only for demos at the time, yet now stand as Epic's farewell, his last songs and recordings. Some critics believe it to be up there with his finest work.
2006 found Kevin Junior re-uniting with The Chamber Strings classic Month Of Sundays lineup and returning to the stage and studio. On January 20th 2007, the band played their first live show in five years to a sold-out Double Door in Chicago. The reunion brought renewed interest in this vastly underrated band, including a cover story in The Chicago Reader, features and reviews in The Chicago Tribune, Time-Out, San Francisco Guardian, SF Weekly, The Onion, Magnet Magazine, NPR's 'Shadow Classics' & Illinois Entertainer's top 25 local LP's of the last 10 years, among others. A documentary film about the band is out now (www.gloriousnoise.com), and they were featured on NPR's Sound Opinions (for the second time). Live shows are happening in the U.S. again, a third LP is written, a Chamber Strings/Kevin Junior comp/rarities LP has been released in Europe, and Month of Sundays, long out of print, is available for download.
In 2009, the band signed to Ten O Nine Records, a Chicago-based indie label with plans to record their long-awaited third studio LP of new material. Stay tuned.....
• Shows
• Photo Gallery
• Virtual Press Kit
• Publicity - chamberstring@hotmail.com
• Booking - chamberstring@hotmail.com
• Artist News
•The Chamber Strings myspace site
|
|
