Company of Thieves + Empires + Sleeper Agent June 16, 2011

Like all great artists, Company of Thieves (Genevieve Schatz, Marc Walloch, Chris Faller, Marcin Sulewski) is full of ideas, whether the Chicago band is writing a concept album about a girl seeking independence in modern-day America or having the audacity to channel disparate influences like The Beatles, Billie Holliday, and Radiohead into its heady, catchy rock songs.

It's difficult to think of a harder-working group of musicians than the skilled players who make up Company of Thieves. These guys and gal are road warriors, and there's a good chance that they've already played your town a few times. They've toured with Annuals, OK Go, and The Hold Steady, played festivals like Lollapalooza and Mountain Jam, appeared on Last Call With Carson Daly, and Schatz and Walloch were given props by the veteran players when they performed on Live From Daryl's House. And it's no surprise that their songs have struck a chord with music fans both young and old: The timeless results feature an invigorating mix of rock and pop delivered with panache and soul, propelled by Schatz's powerful pipes and Walloch's inventive, expansive guitar work. They're masters of tension and release, they know when to slow things down and when to blow it all up, and there's a good chance that they're about to become your new favorite band.
http://www.companyofthieves.net/

Free from creative restraints, able to explore any sound they want, and build an identity that was true to their vision, Empires spent nearly a year crafting their debut record HOWL, which was officially released for free online in May 2008 via their website (weareempires.com). HOWL was entirely written, engineered, produced, and art directed by the band, with youngest member, Max Steger at the helm of the tracking and engineering recording sessions.

With a recording and release process approached on their own terms, Empires' collective kismet and cool confidence translates into a sound that's bigger than their time together as a band might suggest. The experience-surrounding HOWL also left the band feeling totally liberated and allowed them to focus on finding new fans via untraditional methods. Especially by taking advantage of online communities and offering their music for free. "We've got fans from all over the globe now," says lead singer and songwriter Sean Van Vleet. "It feels like a great way to start a relationship with the listener."
http://www.weareempires.com/

http://sleeperagentmusic.com/

Official Website: http://www.jamminjava.com/