Leaving Summerfield (has broken up)

Leaving Summerfield is a band with a style that appeals to a wide audience, and fans with many different tastes will find themselves singing along with the catchy melodies, and tapping out the unique rhythms on their steering wheels. Crafting songs with meaning and depth, this four-piece Midwestern band brings an ability to write songs filled with feeling and emotion not often found in pop music. With passionate vocals, powerful rhythms, and dynamics that accentuate the beauty in simplicity, Leaving Summerfield will appeal to the music lover in everyone.

The band's self-produced debut release, "Rode The 600", highlights the band's creative abilities, and the songwriting for the album reflects a sense of urgency, compassion and Christ-like love for one's friends--messages that have become central to the band's foundation. The album focuses on the story of Brian, and his attempts to help his friend Jimmy. Embarking in an epic storyline, it would be easy to simply be caught up in the dramatic elements. The scope of the album, however, is secondary only to the quality of the album's songs. The most striking feature of "Rode The 600" may be the range covered by the songs; fast-paced and aggressive tracks like "Snowed In" or "Little Jimmy" are offset by sweeping orchestral tracks like "Resolution" or pop ballads like "World War Me" and "Unfailing Love". Catchy pop choruses like "The Quixotic About Us" or "Stagnant and it Stings" are nicely contrasted by driving rock songs like "Fire, Brimstone, and a Broken Heart" and "Hateful Fevers". Perhaps the only stylistic constant on the album is power-- showcased best, perhaps, on "A Carpenter's Folk Song" or the album's cinematic climax, "In Medias Res".

This album clearly displays the band's commitment to creating quality songs, in spite of a Christian-music market that seems to be stuck in a trend of mediocrity. Speaking on the lack of decent options in Christian music, bassist Tylor Hermanson says, "It's really terrible that I can't listen to good, new, Christian music without that music sounding a decade old. There are bands out there who are making quality, modern music about their faith, and we'd love to see that music get the attention it deserves."

With memorable choruses, powerful melodies, punchy rhythms, lyrics full of substance, and songs filled with heart and passion, Leaving Summerfield strives to create songs that are so authentic and genuine that absolutely anyone can appreciate them. They are a group of music lovers, who try their best to make music for music lovers.

To quote the album's insert: "And for all of the people who haven't heard us yet, welcome. We're glad you're here. Sit down, put on some headphones, and relax for a bit. Thanks for taking the time to listen to us. We hope you enjoy it."