Augustana (band)

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Augustana
Augustana, Chicago 2010
Augustana, Chicago 2010
Background information
OriginSanta Ana, California, U.S.
GenresRock, indie rock, pop rock
Years active2003–2011, 2012–present
LabelsEpic, Razor & Tie, Washington Square
Associated actsThe Last Almanac, Bad Things, Counting Crows
Websitewww.augustanamusic.com
MembersDan Layus
Past membersJared 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.[2] They are fronted by Dan Layus who is the only remaining member of the band.

History[]

Early career[]

In Autumn 2002 at Greenville University 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 bandmate 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 second 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, third 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, Side A, Solo work, Singles and Live (Recorded from a Livestream Event) (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 2, 2015, Augustana released three new tracks ("Climb", "Must Be Love" and "You Can Have Mine") on an EP titled "Side A".

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

On August 3, 2016, Augustana's social media sites changed their names to Dan Layus, the name of the sole remaining founding member and lead singer/songwriter.

Dan Layus released the album, Dangerous Things, on October 21, 2016. The song "You Can Have Mine" from the "Side A" EP was featured on Dangerous Things. In late 2017 and into 2018, Dan Layus referred to a follow up solo project tentatively titled, "Dangerous Times", on his Twitter account. [13]

On August 28, 2019, the song "For Now, Forever" was released as a digital single, with "The Heart of It" as its B-side.[14] Augustana then embarked on a US tour in October 2019 into November 2019, with Zac Clark of Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness as a supporting act. On August 21, 2020, the songs "Okay" and "Lies" were released digitally,[15] and on November 20, 2020, "Take" was released as another new digital single. Closing out the year, Augustana debuted a cover of "Make Someone Happy" from the musical Do Re Mi, on December 20, 2020.[16]

The Live (Recorded from a Livestream Event) album was released on streaming platforms on March 19, 2021, with songs from a virtual concert that was held on December 3, 2020.[17] On April 16, 2021, Layus announced the album would be pressed on a double vinyl and likely ship in April.[18] On June 2, 2021, Layus announced an east coast solo tour to take place in November 2021.[19]

Band members[]

Last lineup

Former Members

  • Jared Palomar (bass guitar, vocals, keyboards)
  • Chris Sachtleben (lead guitar, vocals)
  • Justin South (drums)
  • Josiah Rosen (lead guitar, vocals)
  • John Vincent (piano, keyboards, vocals)
  • Josh Calhoun (drums)

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 67
"—" 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
2015 Side A
  • Label: None
  • Format: Digital
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles[]

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[20]
US
AAA

[21]
US
Pop

[20]
US
Adult

[20]
US
Main.

[20]
CAN
[22]
"Stars and Boulevards" 2005 16 All the Stars and Boulevards
"Boston" 34 9 31 10 24 82
"Sweet and Low" 2008 88 4 66 33 Can't Love, Can't Hurt
"Hey Now"
"I Still Ain't Over You" 20
"Steal Your Heart" 2011 18 Augustana
"Just Stay Here Tonight"
"Ash and Ember" 2014 27 Life Imitating Life
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Jones, Ryan (January 16, 2012). "Dan Layus on Augustana's Uncertain Future". alternativeaddiction.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "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". 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. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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'". USA Today. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  13. ^ https://www.twitter.com/danlayus/status/927604295469498373?s=21
  14. ^ http://hard8workinggroup.com/augustana-new-music-for-now-forever-the-heart-of-it/
  15. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/CEJ_jQwl7--/
  16. ^ "Dan Layus // AUGUSTANA on Instagram: "This song, in its many interpretations, has gotten me through some tough days this year. I wanted to do a version myself. Here it is,…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  17. ^ "Dan Layus // AUGUSTANA on Instagram: "NEW LIVE ALBUM OUT NOW ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS! ——— *Recorded live on December 3rd, 2020 at Rock House Studios. ——— *Special thanks to…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  18. ^ "Dan Layus // AUGUSTANA on Instagram: "We've teamed up with @diggersfactory to bring this live album to life with a limited edition, double vinyl LP release. Once the preorder…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  19. ^ "Dan Layus // AUGUSTANA on Instagram: "*TOUR ANNOUNCE // Tickets on sale this Friday at 10am. Solo tour through the Eastern half of the U.S. in November. Tix via website in the…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Augustana - Awards". allmusic. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  21. ^ "Augustana – Chart history: Triple A". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  22. ^ "Augustana – Chart history: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

External links[]

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