Jil Station

The Atlanta-based Jil Station have earned a passionate and growing following for their sound, which shows the clear influence of classic-era British rock, glam (particularly David Bowie), and alternative rock of the 1980s (most notably the Smiths and R.E.M.). What makes Jil Station's embrace of the style and images of rock's past all the more remarkable is their youth — the group was formed in 2003, when the average age of the members was a mere 16 years. Jil Station are the brainchild of lead singer and keyboard player Kyle Dreaden, who named the group in partial tribute to one of his favorite fashion designers, Jil Sander. The group began attracting attention on the Southern club circuit with a lineup featuring Dreaden, Adam Holzwarth (bass), Mike Aurelio (guitar), and Brandon Solan (drums); this edition of the band recorded a self-titled EP that earned positive press and attracted listeners on a number of Internet music sites after its release in 2005. By the time Jil Station completed their first full-length album, Aurelio and Solan had left the group, and Chris Barnett and Zak Schroerlucke had respectively taken over on guitar and drums. Recorded with the production assistance of Jeff Tomei, the album Still Love featured the fan favorites "Vanguard" and "Parlour" and was released in the summer of 2006; the band supported its release with a busy schedule of live shows in Georgia and surrounding states.