Cornmeal

The Chicago-based bluegrass band formed as an outlet for area jam band music artists in the later ’90s, including members of Uncle John’s Music group, Rebecca’s Statue, as well as the Dime Shop String Music group. Fronted by vocalist/songwriter Jason Berger, the initial lineup highlighted guitarist Erik Smith, and upright bassist Chris Gangi, alongside Berger on mandolin. The trio have been producing music jointly for over a decade, since we were young within the suburbs northwest of Chicago. Shortly, the music group was playing a normal Wednesday evening gig on the Abbey Pub. An informal atmosphere prevailed, and visitor music artists ambled on-stage — or performed from the club flooring — with small fanfare. Quickly thereafter, the music group added banjoist Wavy Dave Burlingame towards the lineup. The music group begun to tour around their indigenous Midwest for some achievement, including a higher profile gig on the Big Wu’s Family members Reunion celebration. After documenting In your kitchen, their debut studio room record released on Livin’ Huge Records (which highlighted a visitor appearance by Dark Superstar Orchestra vocalist Lisa Mackey), the music group added Martin Kondziolka towards the lineup on drums. The addition extended the band’s palette significantly, as they begun to integrate richer textures to their mainly traditional old-timey sound.