Colossal

As written in their official bio:

Colossal is a 5-piece band based in Elgin, Illinois. Eli Caterer plays guitar; Pat Ford plays guitar and sings; Rob Kellenberger plays drums and sings backups; Neil Hennessy plays second drums; and Chris Perrin plays bass. Eli was and is in The Smoking Popes. Rob was in Slapstick and Tuesday, and currently plays with Duvall and The Smoking Popes. Neil is currently a member of The Lawrence Arms and The Falcon. Chris Perrin plays in Seedy Sea Controversy and The Heavens.

Colossal formed in late 2001 and began playing shows in spring of 2002. Asian Man Records released their debut, a self-titled, six-song EP, in January of 2003. The band's genre-crossing ways were already evident on the EP, as the songs fuse elements of punk, jazz, post-rock, and pop with a focused singularity. The sound is intricate and dense but never difficult or overwrought. The EP received universal critical acclaim and attendance at shows steadily increased in and around Chicago. Their first tour came that summer.

The following months were spent writing what would become their first full-length. In early 2004, guitar/trumpet player Jason Flaks left the band to dedicate more time to his teaching career. He was replaced by Eli Caterer, who finished writing and recording the new album. Welcome the Problems, the debut full-length, was released on Asian Man in September 2004 on the heels of a western U.S. tour. Musically, the full-length is the logical next step from the EP; the songs are more concise in their arrangements and the sounds are more developed and cohesive. Critical reaction to the album was overwhelmingly complimentary, and the band's following continued to expand at a rapid pace. After the album's release, Neil Hennessy, who'd been sitting in as a second drummer since the first Colossal tour, joined the band, as did Chris Perrin, who replaced Caterer on bass. A brief east coast tour with the new lineup followed the release of Welcome the Problems. The vinyl version of the album was released by Grey Flight Records in January of 2005. Also in January, Jason, Pat, and Rob assisted Asian Man Records/Plea for Peace Foundation founder Mike Park in the writing and recording of his second album, North Hangook Falling, which was co-released by Sub City Records & Asian Man Records in July 2005. In 2005, the band did a western and midwestern tour with Mike Park, and an eastern jaunt with The Alkaline Trio.

Founding member Flaks left the band in fall 2005 and was replaced on guitar by the returning Eli Caterer. In December 2006, Caterer's old band, venerable croon-punks The Smoking Popes, announced their reunion, with Colossal drummer Kellenberger taking over on the skins. Kellenberger has since reduced his role in the Popes to part time, and Colossal, after a brief hiatus, is back at it, writing the follow up to Welcome the Problems.