Chit-Chat: Americana rock on the rise with Twilight Revival

The band Twilight Revival is garnering good buzz for its album “Parlor,” its first project with Mile Long Records of Carol Stream. The band members are Eric Korte, Rick Guistolise and Brian McDonnell, a Batavian who describes their original sound as rock-Americana. The guitarist and vocalist attended school in Lemont, where his family still resides, and where the group has appeared at This Must Be The Place.

Twilight Revival features Rick Guistolise (from left), Brian McDonnell and Eric Korte. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE HARI PHOTOGRAPHY

What are the band’s musical influences?
The early Eighties alternative scene, REM and The Replacements were a main point. We all really like  The Beach Boys and The Beatles — a lot of the folkier, early country music plays a big part in what we try to do in terms of vocal harmonies and traditional themes in our songwriting. An inspirational side of music ... really came through most clearly in the early American folk music — that spirit of redemption and the power of rock and roll.

Talk about your lyrics.
My personal lyric writing tends to gravitate toward darker imagery, if not subject matter. I like the tension created by ominous sorts of words and lyrics. I think that plays back to the redemption aspect. Sometimes, both lyrically and musically, the setting has a dark tone and then maybe brings in some aspect of hope. Unconsciously, that tends to be a recurring theme.

Given your band’s name, is there a connection to the ‘Twilight’ vampires?
It wasn’t on our radar. We Web searched (when naming the band) and there was nothing at the time. Now there’s at least a dozen bands with Twilight in the name.

Where did the name come from?
In mid-2007, we were desperate for a band name and tried every clever phrase we could think of, and (then took it from) a lyric in one of our early songs.

What’s something you appreciate about performing live?
That’s the most gratifying. All of the writing and recording process can be pretty meticulous. Sometimes, you feel like you’re slaving away to get a song just right. (Playing live) you get a response on the spot and you find out whether it worked or whether you have to slave with it some more.

Describe your latest collaboration with Mile Long Records.
They are a new independent label. They went out and scouted for local Chicago area bands that they liked and asked them to contribute a couple songs each to a compilation compact disc they’re putting out. We’ve got two new songs on that. There are seven bands total. I think it’s a really neat approach for a record label ... to give an audience a nice entry point into a bunch of bands they might not have discovered otherwise. Most have a roots or Americana tie-in. There’s a lot of good talent on the record. It’s called ‘Analog Highway’ — Mile Long owns their own recording studio and are big advocates of analog equipment.

HEAR THEM PLAY

WHAT Twilight Revival will perform its original music, with Scattergun sharing the bill
WHERE Chord on Blues Riverside Roadhouse, 106 S. First Ave., St. Charles; (630) 513-0074; www.myspace.com/chordonblues
WHEN 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29
COST $8
ALBUM “Parlor” is available on iTunes and Rhapsody.com and through Mile Long Records at www.myspace.com/milelongrecordsmusic; visit www.twilightrevival.com