The City of Chicago hosts an impressive array of musicians, bands and genres and one such musical address is emphatically reserved by a quartet known as the Astral Planes. Carving a resounding auditory niche, Astral Planes blend Scandinavian-bred sensibility, a myriad of 20th century influences and an ear for classic pop tones and nuance.
Formed in 2004 by singer-songwriter Bjorn Bernhardtz and guitarist Cyrus Khazai, the pair formed a musical partnership that quickly found its way to the stages of the city’s clubs and festivals including the Double Door and International Pop Overthrow. The recent addition of rhythm section 2.0 - bassist Greg Bonsignore and drummer Jeff T. finds the band prepared to take its next atmospheric leap.
Astral Planes have always forged their own path, proudly out of step with passing trends and flavor-of-the-month genre stylings. While Rickenbacker instrumentation gives the band an instantly recognizable timbre, the diverse musical backgrounds of its members combine to create a signature stamp of reverberating sound. A rhythm section that Bernhardtz triumphantly declared ‘could have made Elvis better’ and Khazai’s dedication to timeless tone and melody provide a framework for personal musings on universal themes that connect with the masses.
Astral Planes released their self-titled debut album in 2007, which the Illinois Entertainer lauded for its “jangling and infectious melodies” and the band’s “mysterious persona.” With a second album in the works, the band is poised for a long-running return to Chicago’s club circuit as they seek to engage the eyes, ears and minds of audiences everywhere. Step aboard and take a ride with the Astral Planes.
We had a brief chat with Jamie after the IPO show, and the inevitable conclusion reached by both parties was that we should definitely play more shows in the near future. We're greatly diggin' the tunes here at U-Few HQ.
LITTLE STEVEN VAN ZANDT (of The Sopranos and Springsteen fame) and THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE say: "THE MOCKERS have one of the COOLEST SONGS IN THE WORLD!" Get the CD now!
