Most bands formed during members' high school years disband when their members part ways for college. But not Sons of the West. Anthony DeSanto, Nick Harris and Gregg Midon, the members of this three-piece rock ensemble originally from Columbus, Ohio, all moved to Chicago to attend college at DePaul and Loyola, and their band has only become more successful upon breaking into the Chicago music scene.
In 2011 the group released its first full length album, Sons of the West, and later this month it will release its five-track EP online. The band's bluesy classic rock style ranges from Black Keys-esque sounds to tracks reminiscent of the early White Stripes, maintaining a clean and tuneful air the entire way through.
Sons of the West will be bringing their romping alt-rock stylings to Lincoln Hall on May 6 as headliners for a benefit show hosted by Oxfam DePaul and the DePaul Music Business Organization. The free event will also feature other young Chicago acts Terriers, North To Howard and Claire & Alex.
North by Northwestern caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Anthony DeSanto to discuss the evolving band and how they're keeping afloat amidst other local artists.
North by Northwestern: Where does the name "Sons of the West" come from?
Anthony DeSanto: I stole the name. There's a country-western band from the '30s called Sons of the West. I saw it on a record at a recording studio I was interning at, and there was something about it that struck me.
NBN: Sons of the West originated in Columbus, Ohio, before moving to the Chicago music scene. How has being in Chicago impacted your musical style?
AD: It has definitely forced us to be more ambitious in what we're doing, and it's forced us to really try to cultivate a more original sound to make sure we don't sound like anybody. We want to sound like ourselves so we can stand apart, and here if you don't do that you just get lost.
NBN: I also read that you guys started your band in high school. How difficult has it been to keep things going as you are divided between schools?
AD: It's been difficult at times. But basically, the bottom line is that despite that, the three of us are still best friends and we love making music together. That hasn't changed. So I think we'll be alright.
NBN: Sons of the West echoes some musical styles of Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne and Jack White. How do you view the importance of these musicians in forming Sons of the West?
AD: Honestly I'm a huge fan of all three of those musicians. I grew up listening to that kind of stuff, and those are the people who made me want to make music in the first place. They're just an inspiration for wanting to play music at all. But everybody has influences, and it all depends on how much you want to wear those influences on your sleeve.
NBN: How would you describe your album, Sons of the West?
AD: I wrote a lot of those songs in high school, probably when I was about 17, so I think that record is a good snapshot of a young band that's really ambitious and really wants to make music. I think it's a good portrait of where we were at that time in our lives.
NBN: How would you say the band right now is different from how it was when you wrote the songs that appear on that album?
AD: We've definitely grown up a lot more. I was, like, 17 or 18 when I wrote those songs so now at the age of 21 I realize that change. I moved away from home to a different city and all three of us have had some major life changes, so that's definitely impacted the songwriting and how we play. I think we've gotten better as a band, and I think we've matured a lot. Where we're playing now, we've cultivated a more unique sound so we don't necessarily sound like anybody else.
NBN: How does it feel to get the opportunity to perform at Lincoln Hall?
AD: I was pretty honored when we got offered to headline the show. Lincoln Hall is such a great venue; I've seen some pretty great shows there. So it's an amazing opportunity for us to get to play there.
NBN: What do you hope your band will bring to the rock genre in the future?
AD: We want to create something that resonates with people and that they fall in love with so it connects with their lives. The most important thing is being consistent, like consistently writing good songs, being great live performers and making good records. That's how you are able to carve out a name for yourself in the history of rock and roll.
If you can't make it to the Lincoln Hall show, catch Sons of the West at Goose Island in Wrigleyville on Friday, May 11.