Riviera

The Chicago-based quartet Riviera came together in 2000, centered on vocalist and guitarist Derek Phillips, guitarist and vocalist Mick Radichel, and bassist Matt Usner. Their goal from the outset was to reinterpret the American folk and rock lineage through an off-kilter lens, weaving personal episodes and lived encounters into the fabric of their sound. Phillips and Radichel crafted material that pulled selectively from country, rock, and blues yet consistently struck listeners in the familiar emotional zone between instinct and intellect. With a rotating cast of drummers and supporting players, the group steadily cultivated an audience within Chicago’s active alt.country community. The roster stabilized toward the end of 2002 once drummer Josh Rogers and keyboardist Josh Boisvert joined, allowing Riviera to head into the studio for its first recordings. The resulting six-song EP Broken Hearted Dreams appeared in August 2003 and was followed by an intensive run of live performances.