This is a special occasion for Dusty Records, as well, considering that four (and a half, to be precise) of the album's five tracks were produced and recorded by Dustin Bennett, right here at the Dust Bowl, over the course of the past year.

This is a great opportunity to check out a hot local band at an intimate venue with dirt-cheap ticket prices! Visit the band's official MySpace page for details.

IN THE STUDIO:
BRIGHT LIKE JAPAN

The Chicago-based R&B-rockers' fourth collaboration with producer/engineer Dustin Bennett will yield "Reverse" and "Unlock," which will sit alongside last Fall's demos of "Saving Seconds" and "Look Back" on their forthcoming E.P. album.

The record is slated for an early March release, which will be accompanied by an all-ages show at Subterranean in Chicago. Details will be announced shortly!

IN THE STUDIO:
FROM HERE ON AFTER

From Here On After arrived at the Dust Bowl on Sunday to begin tracking drum and bass parts for their debut L.P. album. Drummer Matt Kramer and bassist Colin Godsey are working in unison to lay the rhythmic foundation for at least thirteen new songs, the majority of which will comprise the first full-length release on the Dusty Records label.

Be sure to check back periodically - our "Artists" page will be featuring an inside look at the tracking process as work continues over the next few months!

IN THE STUDIO:
BRIGHT LIKE JAPAN

Michael SanFilippo and Trevor James have teamed up again with producer/engineer Dustin Bennett, along with a brand new rhythm section, to record two new songs. Bassist Dorian Duffy, formerly of Chicago-based indie sensations Company of Thieves, joins drummer Rob Andre in filling out the band’s lineup.

The new songs display an edgier side of the band’s R&B-tinged pop-rock aesthetic. “Look Back” is propelled by distorted guitars and a grooving bassline, while “Saving Seconds” emphasizes mood and melody with spacey strings and layers of guitar effects.

Both songs can be heard on the band’s MySpace page.

As the end of their writing process draws near, the band will be meeting with record producer Dustin Bennett on a weekly basis to prepare their material for recording. Between fifteen and twenty songs will be recorded at The Dust Bowl, and a majority of these will be included in the full-length follow-up to the 2006 "Stranger Danger" E.P. album.

In the two years since their last record, From Here On After have grown beyond their pop-punk roots to draw from a much more eclectic variety of influences. Expanded instrumentation has afforded their new material a wider tonal palette, without forsaking the muscular guitar work that gave "Stranger Danger" its distinctive edge.

Preproduction is expected to conclude in September, with recording to follow shortly thereafter.

IN THE STUDIO:
BRIGHT LIKE JAPAN

As singer/guitarist for The Skyriter, Michael SanFilippo turned heads with his smooth and soulful voice. Now, with his old powerpop group having disbanded after playing shows with the likes of Fall Out Boy and The Academy Is, Michael has teamed up with lead guitarist Trevor James to form Bright Like Japan and take his music in an entirely new direction.

Michael has also made a name for himself as a contestant on the current season of American Idol. You can click here to catch a glimpse of him impressing the judges.

Recording is set to continue through the end of February, and some fresh demos should be popping up on the band's MySpace page in late March.

IN THE STUDIO:
DETROIT FREE PRESS

Hailing from Oswego, Illinois, "DFP" follows in the footsteps of instrumental titans like Mogwai, Pelican, and Explosions In The Sky, but with concise song structures and a healthy dose of pop sensibility, they hope to bring a fresh vitality to the genre.

Tracking is expected to conclude in early February, and the band is keeping their fingers crossed for a springtime release.

THE DUST BOWL REOPENS!

With the rebirth of the Dust Bowl comes a wealth of improvements over its former state. Wireless internet, extensive acoustic treatment, central air conditioning, and a newfound spaciousness are accompanied by new equipment acquisitions, and, best of all, a bunch of those really cool fake plants that come in little baskets.

Final mixing and mastering of The Raging Clue's debut E.P. will be the first order of business, followed by a project with some special studio guests - the details of which will be announced shortly.

DUSTY RECORDS WELCOMES
FROM HERE ON AFTER

The band is currently writing material for their first full-length album, and is expected to enter the studio in early Spring with record producer Dustin Bennett.

In sharing stages with the likes of Spitalfield, Motion City Soundtrack, and Matchbook Romance, "FHOA" have developed an undeniable live performance in tandem with a sophisticated writing style that earns them a place among the most promising of Chicago's up-and-coming acts.

Their debut album, "The Stranger Danger E.P.," was recorded by Jim Godsey at Clean Cut Recording Studio in Palatine and released independently in 2006.

Photo Courtesy of Natalie Dutack

STUDIO RECONSTRUCTION BEGINS!

Though the studio has been stripped down to its concrete foundation, an ample $30,000 budget ensures that the new Dust Bowl will be far superior to its predecessor. Improvements will include central air conditioning, world-class acoustic treatment, greater ergonomic flexibility, and, of course, a much more reliable sump pump system!

Final mixing and mastering of The Raging Clue's debut E.P. is set to resume in November, once the studio is operational again. In the meantime, negotiations continue with prospective artists.