History

The initial concept of StillLine dates back to 2004, and came from the mind of founding member Brian Clover. At the time, Clover was in a band called Aviant Nothing with bass player Justin Lomelino. The band was based in Champaign IL and achieved moderate success and recognition in the college town. However, Clover and Lomelino shared a common vision that differed from their current band mates and after a few months decided to branch off and form their own project… this band would be known as StillLine.

By early 2005 Clover and Lomelino had left Aviant Nothing and began forming StillLine. The band took shape quickly as Justin enlisted his long time friend, Matt Martin to take on the percussionist role in the band. With Clover serving as a guitarist at the time, the trio began auditioning vocalist and guitarist to complete their desired five piece line up. After several weeks of auditions the lineup remained unfinished. Frustration began to set in as the search for “like minded” musicians was proving difficult. It was an idea put forth by Lomelino and Martin that truly effected StillLine’s growth and direction over the next several years. The rhythm section suggested that guitarist/songwriter Brian Clover take on the role of lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist. Somewhat reluctantly, Clover agreed under the stipulation that another guitarist be brought in to take on the six string work of the band. Lomelino wasted no time and went straight to another lifelong friend, Michael Fey.

Over the next few weeks, Fey would sit in on several writing sessions with Clover and Lomelino. At the time his involvement was strong but somewhat unofficial, mostly due to his ties in another songwriting project with guitarist/singer Aaron Reiners. It would be a studio session in the spring of 2005 that would change everything for all of the aforementioned musicians.

With Justin Lomelino and Matt Martin serving as StillLine’s rhythm section, and Brian Clover taking on vocal duties and well as all guitar work the trio headed west to Eclipse Studios in Normal IL for StillLine’s first session with engineer/producer Erik Nelson. The band had three songs on tap for the session: and acoustic ballad called “Sandstone”, an acoustic based rock song called “Welcome to Now”, and the ambient rocker “Metanoia”.

Located in Normal IL, Eclipse studios was just a stone’s throw away from the home of Michael Fey. While not yet a full time member of the band he opted to attend the session, at the time, just to sit in and observe. However, while Clover was tracking the initial guitar work in the song “Metanoia”, Fey sat in the control room quietly strumming an idea he had in his head on an acoustic guitar that quickly caught the attention of everyone in the room. During a break between takes Lomelino declared to Fey, “You either need to go in there and record that, or teach Brian how to play so he can record it!” Fey would end up recording the part himself, inevitable planting himself in the song that would serve as StillLine’s flagship song for next couple of years.

The band left Eclipse Studios that night with a new inspiration and a new member. Fey had decided to take on the role of StillLine’s main guitarist, while continuing his project with Aaron Reiners. Despite the new drive in the band, then drummer Matt Martin’s college schedule combined with his band responsibilities was proving too difficult of a juggling act. Martin graciously stuck it out with the guys while a replacement was sought, with the musical advertisement of “Metanoia”, it didn’t take long. After only a few weeks the band met drummer Kyle Prilliman, a young but incredibly talented percussionist. Around the same time Aaron Reiner’s, a gifted lead guitarist, and Fey’s musical counterpart in his other project suggested a merge. The transition was seamless and fell into place effortlessly as StillLine’s first five piece was finally born.

By late summer of 2005 StillLine had begun a new. With Justin Lomelino and Kyle Prilliman as the band’s rhythm section, Michael Fey and Aaron Reiners taking on tandem guitar responsibilities, Clover was able to put down the guitar and focus solely on vocals and songwriting… this five piece would define what StillLine was all about.

In just a few short months the new lineup compiled a strong list of songs and started playing Champaign/Urbana most respected venues with some of its most established bands. It wasn’t long before the demand for product was strong enough to justify a return to Eclipse Studios. This time however, the demo idea was tossed out the window, and the band set out to track its first Ep, a six track collection called ‘After the Fall’.

‘After the Fall’ would feature six songs: “Wash”, “Why Can’t I”, “After the Fall”, “Wait till the Winters Gone”, “Looking Back”, and “Metanoia”. Despite the average age of StillLine resting on ripe number of 20, and the lineup only having played together for a few months, ‘After the Fall’ was released and met with great reviews and sales. The relative youth of the band was obvious, however so was the potential, and the central IL music scene took notice!

On the strength of After the Fall, StillLine was pushing forward fast. In the last month of 2005, much like the drummer before him, Kyle Prilliman was finding it difficult to handle the schedule of the surging band. By this time, with three out of five members living in the Bloomington/Normal area, a township forty five minutes away from the band’s home of Champaign/Urbana the decision was made to relocate the band to Bloomington full time. This would spell the end for Kyle Prilliman as the band’s drummer.

Despite Prilliman’s defection the band pushed forward and quickly filled his spot with collegiate percussionist, and Charleston IL native, Chris Keniley. Keniley brought a new focus and professionalism to the band, and heading into 2006, the name of the game would be exposure.

In the year 2006 StillLine would set out to reach as many ears as possible. A task they tackled heavy handedly and succeeded greatly in. The band performed all over central IL from Champaign/Urbana, to Bloomington/Normal, from Peoria to the suburbs of Chicago, all while occasional venturing into Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and traveling as far as the Carolinas. Anywhere someone would listen, StillLine would play. In the midst of all of these shows the band made the decision to do an official CD release party for ‘After the Fall’… an event that had slipped through the cracks during the transition from Prilliman to Keniley. It was April of 2006 and the choice had been made to showcase the Ep in Clover’s hometown of Saint Louis MO. Similar to Fey’s creative influence in StillLine’s first studio session, or Reiner’s merge into the band, this would be a move that would dramatically affect StillLine’s future.

The show took place in Bridgeton MO, a suburb of Saint Louis, in a small bar called The Penalty Box. It was booked as a two night affair. Over the forty eight hour stretch StillLine would perform two shows, one Friday night and one Saturday night, each over three hours long! Over the last few months the band had played countless shows to several amazing crowds, however the passion felt in the Saint Louis crowd was enough to inspire the band to call Saint Louis their second home, and devote much of the gigging schedule for the remainder of the year to the area.

StillLine’s presence and popularity was growing in the Midwest. Selling hundreds of copies of ‘After the Fall’ out of the back of the van while amassing tens of thousands of plays online, it seemed like the only direction to go was up. However once again, StillLine was in for another change, and it was once again happening at the tail end of the year.

The busy show schedule and various tours had made longtime member and co-founder Justin Lomelino question whether or not he wanted to be a touring musician, and like a few of his counter parts before him, he made the decision to bow out gracefully. While Lomelino decided to stay with the band until a suitable replacement could be found, it wasn’t long before drummer Chris Keniley was offered a financially lucrative deal as a drummer with a cruise ship line; a deal he chose not to pass up. The back to back defections left Clover, Fey, and Reiners wondering what their next move would be.

The creative efforts of the band’s principal songwriters were undeniably effective, and initially the trio attempted to revitalize the band. However, after several failed auditions, it was beginning to feel like the StillLine “ship” had sailed its course. In October of 2006, Brian Clover relocated to Wilmington North Carolina to “get away for awhile” as so many would put it. At the time, the band wasn’t officially retired, all though that was probably the general consensus of those closely involved.

Throughout the end of 2006 and most of 2007, Brian Clover while living in North Carolina would stay in touch with Michael Fey and Aaron Reiners. While StillLine’s future was without question up in the air, the drive the three had to create music together was still very strong, and despite the hundreds of miles of distance between them, regular phone calls, emails, and even swapping audio over the internet kept the creative vibes strong.

After eight months of separation Clover would finally make his move back to the Midwest; however it would not be to central IL area that StillLine had called home for previous two years. Instead he moved back to his hometown of Saint Louis. While Fey and Reiners had no desire to leave their hometown of Bloomington IL, they couldn’t deny the potential for StillLine in such a large market. They decided they would make the drive down interstate 55 as often as necessary and do whatever it takes to rebuild the band it its new home, Saint Louis Missouri.

Reforming proved much easier than the guys were used to in metropolitan over fifty times larger than the previous two towns StillLine had called home. Within a month of restarting, the band held two auditions in two weeks and StillLine’s new rhythm section took shape in the form of bass player Chuck Best and veteran Saint Louis drummer Daniel Loker.
The new lineup wasted little time and began working on a new set list immediately. After relearning the ‘After the Fall’ Ep, StillLine began hitting the Saint Louis music scene.

In the past the band had looked to expand as fast and as far as possible as far as their show base was concerned. Coming from strong, but admittedly smaller markets, it seemed the only way to stay busy without saturating one area with too many shows. However now, based in such a large area, StillLine decided to focus exclusively on Saint Louis, and making a name for themselves there.

While the reforming of StillLine happened quickly, the development and growth of the band did not. Most of 2007 was spent playing shows. However the creative process seemed stunted, as the new lineup had trouble finding their niche together, and at the beginning of 2008 drummer Daniel Loker would leave the band due to creative differences. He would be quickly replaced by bass player Chuck Best’s younger brother, Mike Best. With the new lineup StillLine would begin to find its voice again.

Throughout most of 2007 the band had been relying on its 2005 release ‘After the Fall’ at its live shows. By 2008, the crowds were starting to clamor for something new. The answer would come emphatically in the form of six songs. Vocalist Brian Clover would introduce “Innocence”; Fey would then collaborate with Clover on “Ten Feet on the Ground” and “Cold September”. The new lineup also reinvented three songs that Clover, Fey, and Reiners had written years earlier, “Everstreet”, “Crooked Creek”, and “One Side Blind”.

With a new set list and a new lineup, StillLine hit the show circuit once again and blew people away! The next move was to hit the studio and track two songs off the new set, “Ten Feet off the Ground” and “Cold September”… with a crowd accustom to listening to the ‘After the Fall’ album, the new sound would change the landscape of StillLine’s future to say the least… and the demand for a new album grew stronger and stronger. However, StillLine’s struggles were not yet over.

Mike and Chuck Best were pivotal members of the band serving as its boisterous rhythm section for well over a year. However with Mike Best being a father to a young son and both guys venturing into career based employment, their schedules were proving difficult to fit into the bands. Late 2008 into early 2009, more time was spent trying to keep the band active than anything else. After a few blow outs and several postponed studio sessions, in which StillLine was suppose to track an album that would be there first release in nearly four years, the Best Brothers would take their leave in April of 2009, once again leaving Clover, Fey, and Reiners to rebuild the band.

By this time the trio of songwriters was very familiar with the process of rebuilding a lineup, however this particular time would come the easiest and the fastest.

On the strength of the “Ten Feet off the Ground” and “Cold September” recordings the band quickly got the word out that the rhythm section job in StillLine was open. Auditions lined up quickly! This time around the talent pool that arrived was very impressive; however two musicians stood above all the rest in a big way. Bass player Jake Brotter and drummer Taylor Patterson stepped in and overtook their very talented competition with ease, and in less than a week a new StillLine was born.

It was now the fourth year of StillLine’s existence. Having recorded their first Ep after only three months of being a band, all the way back in 2005, the only thing on Brian Clover, Michael Fey, and Aaron Reiner’s minds was finally making a new album. With Taylor and Jake taking over the rhythm section, the three songwriters began to feel a shift they had never felt before. The band was tighter than ever and truly felt like one cohesive unit.

Clover, Fey, and Reiners had maintained a good relationship with former band mates Mike and Chuck Best, and the initial plan was to keep the studio work done to that point, and have Brotter and Patterson track the new songs. However, Patterson intricate drumming, and Brotter’s precision bass playing created the inevitable conclusion that everything recorded to that point would be dropped, and the process would be started all over. The existing songs took on an entirely new life and sound, and the new material came together with ease unlike ever before.

The new lineup created a side of StillLine even its founding members didn’t see coming; StillLine’s true sound was finally being heard. This time, unlike times before, the band wasted no time jumping into the studio. Of course, such is life in a rock band, a bomb was about to drop!

Over the years Clover and Fey had done the majority of the writing it the band, though Aaron Reiners also contributed many great song concepts that were composed by the trio as well. Over time however, even the songs that had originated with Reiners’ guitar riffs begin to feel unfamiliar to the talented lead guitarist. His music style and taste were shifting into a more metal oriented genre. StillLine has always been a band that covered all ends of rock, but hard rock was about as heavy as it was ever going to get. With a strong desire to move from the rock world to the metal world, four year member Aaron Reiners made his departure from StillLine in early summer 2009 after playing his “farewell show” at the Bulldog in Emden IL, a small bar that was one of StillLine’s very first gigs.

Already deep into the recording process of their long anticipated full length album, StillLine would enjoy their last couple shows with Reiners, and then it was back to business.

Not since Clover started looking for band mates in 2005 had StillLine sought to fill a guitarist position, so the task was met with excitement and terror at the same time. The very first audition came in the form of guitarist prodigy, Kevin Lemen.

Reiner’s farewell show hadn’t even taken place yet when Lemen showed up for his first audition. Kevin Lemen is an extraordinary guitarist! So talented in fact that rather than continuing the auditions process the band offered him the gig on the spot. However in short time, it became apparently clear how different Lemen’s plans in the music business were from the rest of StillLine, and in less than three months, the band was once again missing its lead guitarist.

Through a mutual friend of Brian Clover’s, a young guitarist by the name of Alex Moran was invited out to audition for the position. Moran showed up and not only knew the band’s set list, but had thrown his own twist on the style that current lineup loved! Much like before, the gig was offered on the spot, however unlike before, this time it would stick. With the five piece once again reassembled, StillLine returned to the studio and the stage.

In November of 2010 StillLine would finally showcase its current lineup and sound in the form of their debut full length album ‘Forty Two’. The album would be released in Saint Louis first, then nationally three months later. The response was unbelievable as the reviews, press, and sales were through the roof. StillLine began selling out shows in some of Saint Louis’ most notable venues. Critics and fans alike were blown away by the album and indie-music.com named “Innocence” number 12 on their top 25 songs of 2011. A list composed of more than 25,000 entrants!

Reading this story you might think the rest is history at this point, however StillLine’s lineup had one more change to make.

Throughout the recording process, the release, and the promotion of ‘Forty Two’, bassist Jake Brotter very impressively handled the band’s schedule as well as a full time schedule at Saint Louis’ Washington University as a member of its architecture program. In spring of 2011 he would finally graduate and secure a job back in his home, New York City. Jake did all he could to stay in Saint Louis and remain a member of StillLine before accepting the position, however being an indie rock star doesn’t pay much, and when the bills started coming in Jake was forced to head back home, and become a nine to fiver. He played his last show at The Crack Fox in Saint Louis on June 28th. The set was capped with a performance of the wildly popular “Ten Feet off the Ground” in which front man Brian Clover took his mic, left the stage and joined the crowd to sing, moving Brotter the center stage for duration of the song.

Now a legit force in the Saint Louis music scene StillLine would waste no time filling Jake’s position. Once again through mutual friends the current quartet met Jim Miller, a seasoned bass player from Saint Louis who had just recently relocated home.

Jim auditioned on 48 hours notice and was impressive, however when he returned two weeks later for a second audition the guys saw what he could really do, and the five piece was once again complete!

At this point StillLine continues to headline some of the best venues in Saint Louis. They are deep into the recording process of their second album ‘We are all Alseep’, and are also in negotiations with several promotion companies.

It’s been a long road for StillLine, a road that the majority of bands pull off just to leave the car behind. In 2012 the band looks to continue its current momentum in Saint Louis, and to finally begin to branch out again. Will this be the year the rest of the world truly meets StillLine? Stay tuned…

“We’ve been through a lot over the years. A lot of bands change their names and set list when people come and go. Mike and I never wanted to do anything different from what we planned seven years ago, and we haven’t. The concept, the style, the name… all remained the same. As long as people are listening, we’re playing, and probably beyond that even.”
-Brian Clover