Powerspace

Hailing originally from Ohio yet now based in Chicago, the indie rock quartet Powerspace belongs to the Fueled by Ramen roster that first broke through with Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, and The Academy Is.... The group nevertheless departs from the emo-inflected punk-pop sound associated with that imprint. Instead, Powerspace blends the catchy power-pop approach exemplified by Fountains of Wayne, the tongue-in-cheek glam-metal style of the Darkness, and dance-rock grooves steeped in 1980s textures reminiscent of early MTV staples such as INXS and Duran Duran. The band came together at Miami University in Ohio during 2005 after two high-school acquaintances from the Chicago suburbs—guitarist Tom Schleiter and bassist Daniel McMahon—crossed paths again on campus. Schleiter had already played in a local Miami University outfit alongside drummer Kevin Kane; once the slightly younger McMahon arrived the following year, the three musicians launched their own project. Following repeated auditions for a lead vocalist, McMahon and Schleiter linked up once more with former high-school peer Alec Cyganowski, who had also reached Miami University and assumed the frontman position. Having gigged throughout the southern Ohio circuit, the quartet issued its self-released demo EP, Houston, We Have a Party, in 2006. The recording, paired with mounting live acclaim, sparked widespread label attention that ultimately led to a deal with Fueled by Ramen. After dropping out and relocating to Chicago, Powerspace tracked its first full-length, The Kicks of Passion, in the opening months of 2007, with a summer release planned.