Kilians

Formed by students in Germany, the alt-rock outfit Kilians shed the definite article from its name following the 2007 EP and advanced within roughly twenty-four months from a self-releasing campus group to a nationally touring act with an album on store shelves. The decisive opportunity arrived in 2006 when Tomte offered the opening slot on its tour; Kilians then mounted its own run of dates that summer. Later in 2007 the band issued its first official EP, Fight the Start, and continued performing, adding several festival appearances to the itinerary. By year’s end the lineup—Simon den Hartog (vocals), Dominic Lorberg (guitar), Gordian Scholz (bass), Michael Schürmann (drums), and Arne Schult (guitar)—saw a top-100 album stocked in shops.