Volante

Volante forges a singular route by shaping alternative rock pieces that brim with inspiration while also incorporating punk rock's knottiest riffs, all anchored by themes that blend elegance with unyielding resolve. The five-piece ensemble—drummer Josh Madson, guitarists Jon Mitchell and Jeff Mitchell, and Gabriel Shapiro on vocals and bass—first came together in Minneapolis, MN, in 1998. Taking cues from outwardly disparate acts such as Joy Division and Sunny Day Real Estate, the musicians swiftly carved out a foothold inside the regional underground indie rock circuit. Two years of steady appearances across neighborhood clubs prompted the group to book studio time for its debut recording. Released in 2001, the band's first album, 45 Degrees North, reached retail outlets to solid effect and lifted Volante's profile well beyond state lines. ~ Mario Mesquita Borges