Castor

In 1995 Castor emerged onto the scene at the precise moment when fellow Champaign-Urbana, IL art-rock band Hum issued its major-label debut. Hum attained wider popularity by remaining closer to conventional rock frameworks, yet Castor expanded the boundaries of spacious, experimental sound on its self-titled debut, which earned the group a tour with the Promise Ring and Compound Red and thereby placed the band on the indie map. The final Castor performance took place in January 1998. Mud later issued Tracking Sounds Alone as a posthumous release. Singer/guitarist Jeff Garber of Morning Becomes Electric and bassist Derek Niedringhaus subsequently joined National Skyline.