Zelienople

Zelienople came together in 1998 after several unsuccessful rock projects collapsed, offering its founders an unexpected lifeline. Keyboardist and clarinetist Brian Harding, bassist and synth player Matt Christensen, and drummer Mike Weis joined forces through their mutual frustration with earlier bands and a shared passion for drone-based jazz. They folded their range of strange and psychedelic influences into a lean sound, playing regularly around Chicago until Loose Thread offered them studio time, leading to the release of their debut album Pajama Avenue in spring 2002.