Augustana (band)

Augustana

Augustana, Chicago 2010
Background information
Origin San Diego, California, U.S.
Genres Rock, indie rock, roots rock
Years active 2003–present
Labels Epic, Razor & Tie, Washington Square
Associated acts The Last Almanac
Bad Things
Counting Crows
Website www.augustanamusic.com
Members Dan Layus
Past members Jared Palomar
Justin South
John Vincent
Josiah Rosen
Chris Sachtleben

Augustana is an American rock band from San Diego, California that has released five albums and an EP while being signed to Epic Records and Razor & Tie.[1] They are best known for their song "Boston" and the album All the Stars and Boulevards, both entering the Billboard charts.[2] They are fronted by Dan Layus who currently is the only remaining member of the band

History

Beginning Years

In Autumn 2002 at Greenville College in Illinois, Dan Layus brought friends Josiah Rosen, Kyle Baker, and Simeon Lohrmann together to write and create music. They began out by re-recording the song "More than a Love Song" which Dan had written for his high school girlfriend while living in California. They originally wanted to call themselves The Looking Glass, but after discovering another band of the same name they chose "Augustana" instead. A full length debut album, Midwest Skies and Sleepless Mondays was recorded in the home recording studio of Jon King.[3] The album was released in the Spring of 2003 and only 1000 copies were produced, however, early buzz and reviews were primarily positive. Later that year the band recorded and released 25 copies of the Mayfield EP.[4]

Dan Layus decided to move back to Southern California with band mate Josiah Rosen, where they eventually found their drummer, Justin South. The band joined numerous tours with artists such as Switchfoot, Maroon 5, The Fray, Counting Crows, Dashboard Confessional, O.A.R., Snow Patrol, The Damnwells, Goo Goo Dolls, Acceptance, Cartel, and OneRepublic, as well as having their own headlining tours.

All the Stars and Boulevards (2005-2007)

All the Stars and Boulevards was released September 6, 2005[5] and reached #1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and #96 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.[2] The first single from the album, Boston, was released in 2005.[6] This version differs from the one on their debut album, Midwest Skies and Sleepless Mondays. The album was made available exclusively at Best Buy stores, and the Best Buy website, where it was sold out by the following day. The new features on this re-release are a re-mixed version of "Wasteland"; a new track named "Marie"; and acoustic versions and music videos of "Boston" and "Stars and Boulevards". Their most recognizable song is "Boston" which made it all the way to 34 on the Billboard top 100, as well as appearing on television shows Scrubs, Smallville, Hidden Palms, and One Tree Hill. Leonard Hofstadter is heard singing it in the third episode of Season 1 of The Big Bang Theory. Josiah Rosen left the band soon after. At the beginning of 2007, the band embarked on their second headlining tour, supported by Vega4. The band also opened for Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional in late 2007.

Can't Love, Can't Hurt (2008-2010)

The band released their third album, Can't Love, Can't Hurt, on April 29, 2008.[7] The first single from the album is titled "Sweet and Low". The second single, "I Still Ain't Over You" reached #22 on the Adult album alternative chart. On May 1, 2008, the band appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Following personnel problems, the band had to cancel their European/North American tour for fall 2010.

Augustana (2011-2013)

Augustana's self-titled, fourth full-length album was released on April 26, 2011.[8] The album's lead single, "Steal Your Heart", was planned for a radio release on February 14 in order to coincide with Valentine's Day, but was released early on the 8th of February on AOL Music.[9] Another song off the album "Just Stay Here Tonight" was used in an episode of Private Practice. "Steal Your Heart" was also used in the extended length Degrassi promo for the 11th season. They were featured on the Late Show with David Letterman and performed "Steal Your Heart".[10]

Augustana parted ways with Epic Records shortly after the album's release and on 11 November 2011, Dan Layus announced that all remaining members had amicably parted ways, but that he would continue to tour and perform under the name Augustana.[1] On 22 July 2013, Dan Layus announced that Augustana was signed to a new record deal.

Life Imitating Life (2014-Present)

In early 2014 the band announced that they had signed with Razor & Tie. On April 22, 2014, Augustana released the album, Life Imitating Life.[11] They also premiered the first single, "Ash and Ember".[12]

On September 2nd, 2015, Augustana release three new tracks ("Climb", "Must Be Love" and "You Can Have Mine").

In 2016, he began touring as an opener for the Dixie Chicks on their DCX MMXVI World Tour.

Band Members

Last Line-up

Former Members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak Certifications
(sales threshold)
US US
Digital		 US
Heat		 US
Indie		 CAN UK
2005 All the Stars and Boulevards
  • Label: Epic Records
  • Format: CD
 96 107 1 1 — —
  • US: 345,000[10]
  • WW: 1,900,000
2008 Can't Love, Can't Hurt 21 77 — 2 45 114
  • US: 121,000[10]
  • WW: 200,000
2011 Augustana 29 12 — 1 — 113
  • US: 12,546
  • WW: 27,000
2014 Life Imitating Life
  • Label: Washington Square
  • Format: CD, Digital
 67 — — — — —
  • US: TBA
  • WW: TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Independent albums

Year Album details Peak Certifications
(sales threshold)
US US
Digital		 US
Heat		 US
Indie		 CAN UK
2003 Midwest Skies and Sleepless Mondays
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
 — — — — — —
  • US: 1,000
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

Year Album details Peak Certifications
(sales threshold)
US US
Digital		 US
Heat		 US
Indie		 CAN UK
2003 Mayfield EP
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
 — — — — — —
  • US: 25
2008 Can't Love, Can't Hurt EP 168 158 — 6 — —
  • US: 15,000
  • WW: 50,000
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US
[13]		 US
Pop 100
[13]		 US
Adult 40
[13]		 US
Main. 40
[13]
2005 "Stars and Boulevards" — — — — All the Stars and Boulevards
2006 "Boston" 34 31 10 24
2008 "Sweet and Low" 88 66 33 — Can't Love, Can't Hurt
"I Still Ain't Over You" — — — —
2011 "Steal Your Heart" — — — — Augustana
"Just Stay Here Tonight" — — — —
2014 "Ash and Ember" — — — —
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

References

  1. 1 2 Jones, Ryan (January 16, 2012). "Dan Layus on Augustana's Uncertain Future". alternativeaddiction.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Augustana - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  3. ↑ "Augustana - Midwest Skies And Sleepless Mondays". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  4. ↑ "Interview: Jared Palomar of Augustana « Dirtbag’s Delight". Dirtbagsdelight.wordpress.com. 2008-02-12. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  5. ↑ "Augustana - All The Stars And Boulevards". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  6. ↑ "Augustana - Boston". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  7. ↑ "Augustana - Can't Love, Can't Hurt". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  8. ↑ "Augustana - Augustana". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  9. ↑ Augustana "Steal Your Heart" Song Exclusive music.aol.com 2011-02-08 Retrieved 2011-02-12
  10. 1 2 3 Wood, Mike (April 8, 2011). "Augustana Owns Its Sound on Self-Titled Third Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  11. ↑ "Augustana - Life Imitating Life". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  12. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (March 3, 2014). "Premiere: Augustana's new single 'Ash and Ember'". usatoday.com. USA Today. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Augustana - Awards". allmusic. Retrieved January 23, 2013.

External links

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