Over the course of nearly two years, region-based rockers Land of Atlantis have made strides which would make many fellow up and coming bands envious.
In 2009 alone, they headlined at Chicago's House of Blues and played for the masses at Wisconsin's Alpine Valley Music Theater before and after Dave Matthews Band and Umphrey's McGee's sets. They have also warmed up audiences or shared bills at esteemed Windy City venues such as Park West and Double Door.
Yet Land of Atlantis guitarist Dan Rucinski doesn't wear his band's accomplishments on his sleeve.
"We're trying to make the most of every gig and every opportunity we have," he said. "We're just having fun. It's nothing that anybody takes too seriously, but we do it seriously while we're doing it."
Adding another impressive gig to their resume today at Chicago's Double Door, Rucinski, bassist Josh Hanchar, guitarist Nikola Djorovic and drummer Nemenja Djorovic first came together at Wilbur Wright Middle School in Munster, playing in battle of the bands competitions and in cover bands. Hammond's Kevin Davidson rounds out the lineup on saxophone.
In December 2007, they left the cover band world behind and christened themselves Land of Atlantis in honor of their new endeavor. Six months later, the band recorded their "Ready for Takeoff," a five song EP.
Inspired by everyone from Stevie Wonder to Phish to progressive metaleers Dream Theater to jazz guitar greats Pat Martino and Mike Stern, Rucinski compared the band's songwriting process to that of a long-loved video game.
"It's a lot like Tetris," he said. "You come with a building block and then you've got to make it fit with all the other building blocks in order to successfully make a song that everyone (in the band) is passionate about."
With a solid fan base on the home front and creating a name for themselves in Chicago, Rucinski says the band hopes to make their name known throughout the Midwest in the near future. They also have songs ready to record as their follow-up to "Takeoff," which they hope to record in early 2010.
"We've had a lot of time to grow and to complement each other's styles," Rucinski said. "With our upcoming album, that's what we're going to do."
Opening for Land of Atlantis at Cubby Bear is Windy City-based jam band favorites 56 Hope Road and Peoria-based Brainchild.
Land of Atlantis, 56 Hope Road, Brainchild 9 p.m. today
WHERE: Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago
COST: $10 (21 and older)
FYI: (312) 327-1662; CUBBYBEAR.COM
