Down the Line

Calling their style of music "acoustic pop," Chicago-based quartet Down the Line (Levi Britton, Derek Fawcett, Dan Myers, and Dave Rothkopf, none of them Chicago natives) use electricity only for the bass guitar, otherwise relying on acoustic guitars, djembe, harmonica, mandolin, and violin, plus their voices. It's an approach that has given them a distinctive sound in their own shows and as opening act for such compatible artists as America, Pat Benatar, Ben Folds, Peter Frampton, and Colin Hay. Founding their own Down the Line record label, they self-released their debut album, Welcome to Flavortown, in 2002, following it with Please Remember My Name (2005), and For All You Break (2007). Home Alive, a live album encompassing material from all three studio albums, appeared on March 11, 2008. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi