Ad Astra Per Aspera (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ad Astra Per Aspera


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Origin = Lawrence, Kansas
Genre = Indie rock
Noise rock
Punk rock
Years_active = 2001 – Present
Label = Big Brown Shark
Sonic Unyon
Love Garden Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.adastraperaspera.com www.adastraperaspera.com]
Current_members = Julie Lane
Brooke Hunt Kurt Lane Mike Tuley Scott Edwards
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

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. [cite web | title ="Subterraneanly to the Stars", "The Daily Iowan" | url =http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2007/03/01/80Hours/Subterraneanly.To.The.Stars-2750694.shtml | format = English | accessdate =2007-04-06] [cite web | title ="To The Stars: Ad Astra Per Aspera Will Make You Want to Dance Despite Difficulties", "Kansas City Star" | url =http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:cQoszpaybx0J:www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/weekend/16329446.htm+%22Ad+astra+per+aspera%22+sonic+youth&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us | format = English | accessdate =2007-04-06] [cite web | title ="An Introduction To", Lawrence.com | url =http://www.lawrence.com/news/2003/apr/04/review_ad/ | format = English | accessdate =2007-04-06] [cite web | title ="Cubic Zirconia EP", Aversion | url =http://www.aversion.com/bands/reviews.cfm?f_id=1699 | format = English | accessdate =2007-04-06]

Background

Ad Astra Per Aspera was born in Lawrence, Kansas in the fall of 2001. Their name comes from the State of Kansas motto 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 of 206 and vocalist/guitarist Mike Turley and guitarist Brooke Hunt have been dating for several years. [cite web | title ="Trade Winds", "The Pitch" | url =http://www.pitch.com/2006-09-28/music/trade-winds/ | format = English | accessdate =2007-04-06]

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. [cite web | title ="Ad Astra Per Aspera", Lawrence.com | url =http://www.lawrence.com/bands/ad_astra_per_aspera/ | format = English | accessdate =2007-04-06] After extensive touring the band signed to Sonic Unyon and was the subject of a two-part documentary on "The Turnpike" [cite web | title ="Ad Astra Per Aspera at SXSW Part 1", "The Turnpike" | url =http://www.lawrence.com/turnpike/archive/2006-04-20/ | format = English | accessdate =2006-04-20] [cite web | title ="Ad Astra Per Aspera at SXSW Part 2", "The Turnpike" | url =http://www.lawrence.com/turnpike/archive/2006-04-27/ | format = English | accessdate =2006-04-27] as they toured in support of their October 2006 full-legnth album "Catapult Calypso."

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.

Discography

Reviews

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jcfixqedldae AllMusic Guide] (3.5/5)
* [http://music.ign.com/articles/736/736363p1.html IGN] (9.2/10)
* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/track_reviews/38967/Ad_Astra_Per_Aspera_Voodoo_Economics#38967 Pitchfork Track Review – Voodoo Economics] (3.5/5)
* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39190-catapult-calypso Pitchfork Album Review – Catapult Calypso]
* [http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=4583 Music Emissions] (4.5/5)

References

External links

* [http://www.adastraperaspera.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/adastraperaspera MySpace]