Absentstar's Major Label Debut Sea Trials to be Released on Canvasback Music/Columbia Records

Canvasback Music/Columbia Records is readying the release of Sea Trials, the major label debut album from the rising young Chicago-based rock band Absentstar for early 2008.

Formed in 2005, Absentstar is Derek Ingersoll (vocals), Andy Dixon (guitars), Marshall Hanbury, Jr. (guitars), Heath Hamilton (drums), and Noel Arnim (bass/vocals). While some of the members met and started playing music together in their Bedford, Indiana grade school, it wasn't until 1998 that they moved to Chicago with the intention of recording and touring together as a band.

By 2005, the group-now expanded to five members-had released its own indie debut, To All That Buy In, premiering Absentstar's distinctive blend of U.K. musical refinement and American rock & roll energy.

Sea Trials was recorded with singer/songwriter/producer Dan Wilson at the Terrarium Studio in Minneapolis and mixed by Michael Brauer (John Mayer, Coldplay, My Morning Jacket, among others). Wilson, whose solo debut will come in October on American Recordings, took home a Song Of The Year Grammy® in February for co-writing "Not Ready To Make Nice" with the Dixie Chicks.

New Absentstar originals include: "For God Sakes," "Half Life," "Don't Lock Me Out," "Give In To Me," "Everyone You Know," "If What You Mean Is Harm," "A Year From Now," "Quietly Conceited," "For The Moment," and "All Is Forgotten."

Absentstar will preview songs from Sea Trials during the group's North American tour (see full itinerary following).

                    Absentstar Tour Itinerary

  July 24           The Picador                  Iowa City, IA
  July 25           The Hurricane                Kansas City, MO
  July 26           The Kathouse                 Manhattan, KS
  July 27           The Blue Fugue               Columbia, MO
  July 28           D-Fest Music Festival        Tulsa, OK
  August 4          Badger Music Theatre         Reedsburg, WI
  August 10         The Annex                    Madison, WI
  August 22         The Bluebird                 Bloomington, IN
  August 23         Jakes                        Bloomington, IN
  August 24         Chicago City Limits          Schaumburg, IL
  September 6       Howards Club H               Bowling Green, OH
  September 7       Frankies Inner City          Toledo, OH
  September 8       Highland Music Festival      Louisville, KY
  September 22      The Poison Room              Cincinnati, OH

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SOURCE: Canvasback Music/Columbia Records

CONTACT: Carla Sacks, carla@sacksco.com, or Ross Clark,
ross@sacksco.com, both of Sacks & Co., +1-212-741-1000

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/