TIM SHELLBERG - Times Correspondent "Over the
course of nearly two years, region-based rockers Land of
Atlantis have made strides which would make many fellow up and
coming bands envious.
In 2009 alone, they headlined at Chicago's
House of Blues and played for the masses at Wisconsin's Alpine
Valley Music Theater before and after Dave Matthews Band and
Umphrey's McGee's sets. They have also warmed up audiences or
shared bills at esteemed Windy City venues such as Park West and
Double Door.
Yet Land of Atlantis guitarist Dan Rucinski
doesn't wear his band's accomplishments on his sleeve.
"We're trying to make the most of every gig
and every opportunity we have," he said. "We're just having fun.
It's nothing that anybody takes too seriously, but we do it
seriously while we're doing it."
Adding another impressive gig to their resume
today at Chicago's Double Door, Rucinski, bassist Josh Hanchar,
guitarist Nikola Djorovic and drummer Nemenja Djorovic first
came together at Wilbur Wright Middle School in Munster, playing
in battle of the bands competitions and in cover bands.
Hammond's Kevin Davidson rounds out the lineup on saxophone.
In December 2007, they left the cover band
world behind and christened themselves Land of Atlantis in honor
of their new endeavor. Six months later, the band recorded their
"Ready for Takeoff," a five song EP.
Inspired by everyone from Stevie Wonder to
Phish to progressive metaleers Dream Theater to jazz guitar
greats Pat Martino and Mike Stern, Rucinski compared the band's
songwriting process to that of a long-loved video game.
"It's a lot like Tetris," he said. "You come
with a building block and then you've got to make it fit with
all the other building blocks in order to successfully make a
song that everyone (in the band) is passionate about."
With a solid fan base on the home front and
creating a name for themselves in Chicago, Rucinski says the
band hopes to make their name known throughout the Midwest in
the near future. They also have songs ready to record as their
follow-up to "Takeoff," which they hope to record in early 2010.
"We've had a lot of time to grow and to
complement each other's styles," Rucinski said. "With our
upcoming album, that's what we're going to do."
Opening for Land of Atlantis at Cubby Bear is
Windy City-based jam band favorites 56 Hope Road and
Peoria-based Brainchild.
Land of Atlantis, 56 Hope Road, Brainchild 9
p.m. today
WHERE: Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St.,
Chicago
COST: $10 (21 and older)
FYI: (312) 327-1662;
CUBBYBEAR.COM"
CHICAGO BEAT CONNECTION REVIEW
PAT CAILLES - "I walked into the impressive House of Blues
not knowing what to expect. I had heard whispers about
up-and-comers Land of Atlantis, but had yet to actually hear
them. So before the show even started I formed a loose opinion
that they would rely heavily on funk and mix in a healthy dose
of horns, while showing off their specific talents.
Midway through their first tune, it was apparent what all the
fuss over this band was about. Their mix of Jazz Fusion
commanded the stage, and delivered something seldom heard on the
jam scene today: simplicity. Where similar bands tend to lose
the sense of music and audience by turning theory on its back,
Land of Atlantis seemed flawless when converting complex jazz
progressions into something refreshing and simple."
ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT
