Ad Astra Per Aspera (band)
Encyclopedia
Ad Astra Per Aspera is a Lawrence
, Kansas
-based indie rock
and punk
and tropical
band formed in 2001 and currently releasing records through Sonic Unyon Records
and Love Garden Records. Their experimental and eclectic noise rock
sound has drawn comparisons to bands such as Sonic Youth
and the Pixies.
which when translated from Latin
means "To the Stars through Difficulties." The band consists of Mike Tuley (vocals/guitar), Kurt Lane (drums/percussion), Brooke Hunt (guitar/percussion), Julie Lane (keyboards) and Scott Edwards (bass). Julie Lane and Kurt Lane were married in May 2006 and vocalist/guitarist Mike Turley and guitarist Brooke Hunt have been dating for several years.
Ad Astra began playing live in the fall of 2002 quickly becoming part of the Lawrence music scene. They released their debut EP
"An Introduction To" in April 2003. The follow-up EP "Cubic Zirconia" was released on Big Brown Shark Records in May 2004. After extensive touring the band signed to Sonic Unyon and was the subject of a two-part documentary on The Turnpike as they toured in support of their October 2006 full-length album "Catapult Calypso."
In October 2008 the band relocated to Brooklyn.
Ad Astra has previously played with such bands as The Thermals
, Pretty Girls Make Graves
, Minus Story
, and Ghosty
. After playing the 2007 South by Southwest
festival they went on a national tour. They have recently released a new 7" single on the Love Garden label and are preparing for another American tour.
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
-based indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
and punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and tropical
Tropical music
Musica tropical or tropical music is a broad term for vocal and instrumental music with "tropical" flavor usually associated with the Afro-Caribbean music. It is part of an even broader category of Latin music. Usually it is an upbeat dance music, but also includes ballads. It features complex,...
band formed in 2001 and currently releasing records through Sonic Unyon Records
Sonic Unyon
Sonic Unyon Recording Company is an independent record label based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The retail store is located on Wilson Street near James Street North)...
and Love Garden Records. Their experimental and eclectic noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
sound has drawn comparisons to bands such as Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
and the Pixies.
Background
Ad Astra Per Aspera was born in Lawrence, Kansas in the fall of 2001. Their name comes from the State of Kansas mottoSeal of Kansas
The Great Seal of the State of Kansas tells the history of Kansas.The seal contains:* Landscape with a rising sun * River and steamboat * Settler's cabin and a man plowing a field [foreground]...
which when translated from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
means "To the Stars through Difficulties." The band consists of Mike Tuley (vocals/guitar), Kurt Lane (drums/percussion), Brooke Hunt (guitar/percussion), Julie Lane (keyboards) and Scott Edwards (bass). Julie Lane and Kurt Lane were married in May 2006 and vocalist/guitarist Mike Turley and guitarist Brooke Hunt have been dating for several years.
Ad Astra began playing live in the fall of 2002 quickly becoming part of the Lawrence music scene. They released their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
"An Introduction To" in April 2003. The follow-up EP "Cubic Zirconia" was released on Big Brown Shark Records in May 2004. After extensive touring the band signed to Sonic Unyon and was the subject of a two-part documentary on The Turnpike as they toured in support of their October 2006 full-length album "Catapult Calypso."
In October 2008 the band relocated to Brooklyn.
Ad Astra has previously played with such bands as The Thermals
The Thermals
The Thermals are an American indie punk band based in Portland, Oregon. The group was formed in 2002. With influences heavily rooted in both lo-fi punk, as well as more standard rock, the band's songs are also known for their political and religious imagery.- History :The Thermals came together in...
, Pretty Girls Make Graves
Pretty Girls Make Graves
Pretty Girls Make Graves was an art punk band, formed in Seattle in 2001, named after The Smiths song of the same name...
, Minus Story
Minus Story
Minus Story is an indie rock based in Lawrence, Kansas. The core members of the band met growing up in Boonville, Missouri and are known for their off-kilter, sunny melodies and quirky instrumentation that forms the "wall of crap" sound....
, and Ghosty
Ghosty
Ghosty is a Lawrence, Kansas-based indie rock band formed in 1999. They are best known for their positive reviews by NPR, Currently the Ghosty lineup consists of Andrew Connor , Mike Nolte , David Wetzel and Josh Adams...
. After playing the 2007 South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival they went on a national tour. They have recently released a new 7" single on the Love Garden label and are preparing for another American tour.
Discography
| Album | Release date |
|---|---|
| An Introduction To | 2003 |
| Cubic Zirconia EP | 2004 |
| Catapult Calypso | 2006 |
Reviews
- [ AllMusic Guide] (3.5/5)
- IGN (9.2/10)
- Pitchfork Track Review – Voodoo Economics (3.5/5)
- Pitchfork Album Review – Catapult Calypso
- Music Emissions (4.5/5)