Augustana

Augustana is an American indie rock and rock group from Greenville, United States. The band forms at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois in 2003 and remains active from 2003 to the present. Its sound is associated with piano rock, alternative rock and roots rock, and it is built around piano lines and Dan Layus’s breathy lead vocals.

Formation and early line-up

The group begins with Dan Layus, Josiah Rosen, Simeon Lohrmann and Kyle Baker. It records Midwest Skies and Sleepless Mondays on campus in early 2003, then releases the Mayfield EP locally. After that release, Baker and Lohrmann leave, Josh Calhoun joins on drums, and Jared Palomar joins on bass after first playing keyboards.

Recording and label history

After leaving school, the band moves to Los Angeles in search of a label and signs to Epic Records in 2004. Its first major-label album, All the Stars and Boulevards, brings the band wider attention. The single “Boston” becomes its best-known song; its video features the singer on a beach filled with pianos, and the song appears on the television series One Tree Hill. The band’s music also receives substantial use on NBC’s Scrubs.

Line-up changes and later work

Josiah Rosen leaves in April 2006 and is replaced by Chris Sachtleben. David Lamoureux later leaves around the end of 2006 or early 2007, and John Vincent replaces him. In early 2014 the band signs with Razor & Tie and releases Life Imitating Life later that year. In 2015 it issues three new tracks: “Climb”, “Must Be Love” and “You Can Have Mine”. In 2016 the band tours as an opener for the Dixie Chicks on the DCX MMXVI World Tour.

Name change and members

In 2016 the group’s social media presence changes to Dan Layus, reflecting Layus as the sole remaining founding member and lead singer-songwriter. The listed members are Dan Layus, Jared Palomar, Chris Sachtleben, Justin South and John Vincent; former members include Simeon Lohrmann, Josiah Rosen, Kyle Baker, Josh Calhoun and David Lamoureux.