If there was an indie-rock Jeopardy! category, the following would certainly be a question: “Who is the only musician to have played with Bob Mould, Robert Pollard, Superchunk, Britt Daniel, and Telekinesis – and served as the inspiration for Dave Grohl to devote his life to playing music?” If you answered Jason Narducy for $5,000, you’d probably win that episode. “Watching Jason was the first time I thought I could start my own band, and write my own kind of music,” Dave Grohl says. “Jason totally set my life in this new direction. It wasn’t a Jimmy Page or KISS poster I had – it was fuckin’ him!”  Indeed, if indie rock has a Zelig, a Forrest Gump, it’s Narducy. “Jason's been doin' the rock since he was a snot-nosed little punk,” Robert Pollard notes. “And I can attest from his work with me on the road that he's got it down. And it's not going to stop anytime soon.”   Narducy’s career in rock does prove uniquely epic upon inspection, and continues as such to this day. He first appeared as a co-founder of Verböten – one of the seminal acts in the Chicago punk scene that produced groundbreaking bands like Naked Raygun and Big Black. Narducy then went on to become frontman/songwriter/guitarist for Verbow, another beloved Windy City outfit who signed a major-label deal with Epic/Sony during the ‘90s alt-rock bubble. He followed that up with an ongoing, nearly decade-long run as indie-rock’s secret weapon – serving as bassist and backing vocalist for indie-underground icons like Mould, Pollard, and Superchunk, as well as Seattle’s indie power-pop faves Telekinesis. Now Narducy is returning to center stage as a bandleader with Fragmented World – the debut album from Split Single. A new project formed with fellow travelers Britt Daniel (Spoon, Divine Fits) on bass and drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Mountain Goats, Bob Mould, Ben Gibbard, Robert Pollard), Split Single proves equal parts solo project and collective. “I liked the concept of a split single,” Narducy says. “It’s a communal thing: two bands have to work together in this handshake commitment, which then exposes each band to the other’s audience. It’s also the name of a two-stroke motorcycle engine invented at the turn of the century to be more efficient and powerful than previous engines. All those things together seemed to really reflect the spirit of what we did.”   The nucleus of Split Single came into being during a rare lull for Narducy at the end of 2011. Narducy hadn’t written new original material for eight years – until an unexpected challenge popped out of the ether: a friend, Steve Dawson, asked Narducy to do a solo set to support Dawson’s band Dolly Varden at famed Chicago venue Schubas in January. “I thought, ‘What if I wrote and played ten new songs?” Narducy says. “The show went well, and three songs I’d written for it – ‘Never Look Back,’ ‘Love Is You,’ and ‘My Eyes’ – actually ended up on Fragmented World. I was happy being a band guy, and still am – I’ve had enough day jobs to realize this is the best one ever – but I ended up writing forty more songs. I realized I had to do something with them.”   “I’m used to hearing Jason making me sound better, but it’s funny and familiar as well to hear his voice standing out in front again,” Bob Mould says. In fact, it was during recording sessions for Mould’s Silver Age album in San Francisco that February, Narducy played the demos for bandmate Wurster, creating additional momentum. “Jon really responded to the material,’” Narducy recalls. “Playing with him so much, I’ve learned he’s the best type of drummer – one who raises the energy and really pushes the song along into a complete whole.” “I think a drummer’s job should be to support the song and not get in the way of it,” Wurster says. “And these songs were so good I really didn’t want to get in the way of them.”   “Britt Daniel was then the first person I thought of to round out the recording collective,” Narducy continues. “We’d known each other a long time, and had talked about collaborating after playing together at this L.A. Bob Mould tribute concert in 2011. He’d told me bass was his favorite instrument, and I knew what Britt would bring to the arrangements and backing vocals would be invaluable.” “The songs were great – I wasn’t sure what to expect, and there were some curveballs!” Daniel says. “I’m always wearing so many hats, so I loved the idea of being in a band where all I do is play bass on someone else’s stuff. I felt like a session musician, which was so cool. Still, I got pretty in depth: there were no preconceptions, which is what collaboration is all about.”   After a single impromptu practice – “We rehearsed at Britt’s house for a couple hours the night before we started recording,” Wurster says. “Jason was playing acoustic guitar, Britt was on an unamplified bass, and I kept time tapping on my knees” – the trio settled in for a brisk four-day session overseen by studio guru Ken Sluiter (Jerry Lee Lewis, Kelly Hogan, OK Go, The Mekons). “There was no time to second guess,” Daniel laughs. “I haven’t made a record that fast in the last fifteen years!” Recording took place at Los Angeles’ hallowed Sound Factory, whose pop cultural bona fides proved inescapable. “There were a lot of Linda Ronstadt records on the walls,” Narducy notes. “All these records from our childhoods were made there,” Wurster adds. “It was fun to open the bathroom door and see a gold record for The Four Seasons’ ‘December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)’ – one of the first records I ever bought – hanging in the corner.” Daniel, meanwhile, had to cope with an onslaught of hilarity from Narducy and Wurster (who’s becoming as well known for his comedic work with Tom Scharpling and writing for TV series like Tim and Eric Awesome Show as for his percussive skills). “They were constantly making spur-of-the-moment, funny videos,” Daniel says. “It’s their routine that they clearly do all the time: someone will say something humorous, and Jason will instantly document it. It was a lot of laughs.”   Fragmented World also represents Narducy’s new artistic growth, as his peers and bandmates recognized immediately. “I’m a fan of Jason’s work – it’s classic late 20th-century pop music songwriting,” Mould says. “We both share a real deep respect for popular music as an art form and its history – from The Who to The Beatles through Cheap Trick, punk rock, and all the things we’ve done.” “I love the record – it sounds like a band playing together, which is something I don’t hear a lot recently,” Wurster says. “Jason is a fan of great songwriters like Pete Townshend, Lennon & McCartney, Bob Mould, Robert Pollard, and Strummer & Jones, so it would only be natural that he’d write such well-crafted, memorable pop songs.” “I know that if people appreciate what I do, then they’re going to appreciate what Jason does, because we all do the same things,” Grohl notes. “We write songs that mean something and play them as fucking best as we can, with everything we have.”   The material on Fragmented World ultimately spans the breadth of Narducy’s history, while artfully exploring a gamut of styles and emotions in ways he’s never approached before. “Never Look Back” and the title track, for example, evoke the entire legacy of power-pop in short, sharp blasts. “There’s a lot of early Cheap Trick in the song ‘Fragmented World’ – along with Nick Lowe, The Beatles, Big Star, Guided By Voices,” Narducy says. “I laugh when I hear it; I could probably go through every part and tell you what song it came from. The short arrangement is very Pollard, and the guitar solo very Doug Gillard. You can’t help touring with great songwriters like Mould, and Pollard, and Superchunk and not learn something about songwriting!” “Monolith,” meanwhile, updates Narducy’s punk roots: “It’s a snarl song – the record needed a little piss and vinegar.”   Elsewhere, Split Single songs like “Waiting For The Sun” and “Searches” ring out as updated tributes to the golden age of indie that inspired Narducy’s evolution as a musician – blending melancholy vocals and chiming psychedelic jangle with more jagged post-punk influences. “There is something about those songs that reminds me of the ‘80s – those kind of hooky R.E.M. choruses mixed with the darkness of The Wipers,” Narducy says. “‘Searches’ is one of my favorites,” adds Daniel. “It’s got a moody melody, but lots of nervous energy – the way those Wipers’ songs were still pop songs, but there was something so dark and heavy about them.”

Billy  Branch was discovered by Willie Dixon, the "father of modern Chicago  Blues," while Billy was still in college. Willie encouraged Billy to finish  his college education, which he did, but instead of going to law school after  receiving his political science degree, Billy began touring with the Willie  Dixon Chicago All-Stars. This gave Billy the unique opportunity to travel and  work as an under study for the legendary Carey Bell who was planning to leave  the All-Stars and form his own band. When Carey took his leave, the young Billy  Branch took his place, touring with Willie Dixon for 6 years.    Since those early days, Billy has played on over 150 different recordings, including  12 under his own name. He's recorded with Willie Dixon, Johnny Winter, Lou  Rawls, Koko Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Honeyboy Edwards, Syl Johnson,  Lurrie Bell, Lonnie Brooks,  Ronnie Baker Brooks, John Primer, and Taj Mahal, just to name  a few.  In addition, he has  received three Grammy nominations (losing one nomination to BB King and  Eric Clapton). He served two consecutive terms on the Grammy Board of  Governors, and founded the Grammy Blues Committee.  In addition, he has won  multiple W.C. Handy Awards from the Blues Foundation, an Emmy Award, an Addy  Award (this is like an Oscar for TV ads), two Chicago Music Awards, and numerous  humanitarian achievement awards. Billy  Branch has become the ambassador of the Chicago Blues. During his 6 week tour of Turkey, he represented the USA in Turkey’s Parliament, teaching political party  leaders to play harmonica!  Thousands of fans showed up every night of the week to experience the authentic Chicago Blues!  He and  his band, the Sons of Blues have delivered this cultural legacy around the world, having made over 70 international tours. The  2007 Chicago Blues Festival honored the thirtieth anniversary of Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues with a 3 hour performance. In fact, they also  headlined the 2011 Chicago Blues Festival. Billy is a Blues education pioneer. In addition to his recording and performing, he's taught literally thousands of children around the world. His internationally  recognized “Blues in  Schools Program,” is committed to teaching both young and old about the Blues as the roots of America's music. He has brought his interdisciplinary program to Europe, South America,  Asia, and most recently to Mexico where he taught his two week program in Spanish. In addition he teaches in the Grammy Museum Music Revolution Project.

Formed in 1982, the first incarnation of Nicholas Tremulis was described as "Punk Jazz", drawing on early punk music, as well as James Brown funk and the harmolodic jazz movement of Ornette Coleman. A single was released on Disturbing Records in 1983 produced by Craig Williams. By 1985 the band had morphed into a large modern funk/soul unit and was signed by Chris Blackwell to Island Records, releasing 2 records in the late 80's, "Nicholas Tremulis", produced with Craig Williams and "More Than The Truth", with guest artists Maceo Parker (James Brown) and Bonnie Raitt, produced by Rob Fraboni. (Stones, Dylan, The Band) After leaving Island in 1989, the new stripped down, loud rock version of the band released an EP "King Of The Hill" in 1994 on Monsterdisc and full-length version "Bloody Show" in 1995 on Black Vinyl Records. Both releases feature collaborative performances with famed Beat poet Gregory Corso. The album was produced in part with percussionist Michael Blair, (Tom Waits) and Jeff Murphy. (The Shoes) In 2000, Nicholas Tremulis Band released "In Search Of Woodfoot" on QRS records. A folk rock oriented record featuring a duet with Rick Danko (The Band). The album was recorded by Rick Barnes and Derek Brand, as well as 2 cuts by Rob Fraboni. From the years 2000 to 2004, the Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra, along with WXRT, The Metro, and Jam Productions hosted a charity concert for Neon Street for Homeless Youth entitled 'The Waltz'. The annual concert was inspired by The Band's filmed farewell concert "The Last Waltz" and features NTO as backing band to guest artists from across the American musical landscape. Some artists Nick and band have performed with in this series as well as the studio are Rick Danko, Billy Corgan, Alejandro Escovedo, David Amram, Ian Hunter, Blondie Chaplin, Lonnie Brooks, Jeff Tweedy, Gary Louris, Steve Earl, Graham Parker, James White, Ivan Neville, Ronnie Spector, Mavis Staples, Hubert Sumlin, Sir Mac Rice, David Johansen, Chris Whitley, Marianne Faithful, Sonny Landreth, Blondie Chaplin and Keith Richards to name a few. A VHS version of The First Waltz is available on Palm Pictures and was filmed and directed by Daniel Andries. The concert series has raised over $250,000 dollars. A DVD retrospective of the series is in production. In 2004, NTO released "Napoleon" on Texas Music Group. A mostly live/ambient recording with long time collaborator/producer Rob Fraboni. The album features guest artists, Alejandro Escovedo and Ivan Neville. NTO also contributed a version of Escovedo's "Velvet Guitar" for the tribute/relief record "Por Vida", on Or Music. This is also produced by Rob Fraboni. NTO has toured extensively in the states as well as Europe. In 2006 through 2007, NTO embarked on the yearlong digital musical journey entitled "52 REASONS". Nick and band wrote and recorded a song a week for an entire year for download to the masses, either by song or subscription. Each song was debuted on The Eclectic Company, (Nick and Jon Langford's weekly freeform radio show, Tuesday nights on WXRT.) The entire 52 weeks of music was partnered with New York digital label, Reel To Reel Records. 2008 marked the beginning of Nick's new imprint label, 52 Recordings, with the release of two new records. One was a solo album, "Little Big Songs". The other was a full on NTO album entitled, "Pinky".

Steve Dawson is one of the Chicago music scene’s bona fide stars, and, says the St. Louis Riverfront Times’ Roy Kasten, “one of the most underrated songwriters in American music.” Dawson and his wife Diane Christiansen have led local heroes Dolly Varden for over twenty years, and he leads jazz-folk ensemble Funeral Bonsai Wedding as well. In these bands as well as on his solo albums and with Rachel Drew and the Bitter Roots, Dawson combines musicality, craftsmanship, and raw soul in a way that continues to rivet his audiences. Steve teaches guitar and songwriting at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where his skill and generosity have birthed dozens of gifted writers. His most recent accomplishment is a book on songwriting, Take It to the Bridge: Unlocking the Great Songs Inside You, written with Mark Caro and published by GIA.

Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and Delmark recording artist Dave Specter has been an integral part of the Chicago blues scene for the past 38 years. He’s performed in 19 countries and appears on over 50 recordings including his latest double album, Six String Soul 30 Years on Delmark. Dave is featured on compilation recordings with the likes of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. Before forming his own band in 1989, Specter toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe behind such blues greats as Son Seals, The Legendary Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Johnson, Sam Lay and Steve Freund. Dave has performed for the President of the United States, the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago.

A fixture on the Chicago music scene for nearly three decades, Brother John has played with Eric Clapton, Steve Miller, The Black Crowes and spent many years touring with both Buddy Guy and Otis Rush. In addition to being one of the most sought after keyboard players in Chicago, John's guitar playing and soulful singing have wowed audiences from Norway to Northern Ireland, Spain to Switzerland. He's received praise from the likes of Robert Plant and George Benson and has been a regular member of Dave Specter's touring and recording band since 2007. Brother John and Dave have performed together at The Chicago Blues Festival, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and 10 countries in Europe in 2014.

Phil Angotti is a household name in Chicago music. He is known for his heartfelt Beatles tributes and love of many British & American rock & folk artists of the 60’s through the 80’s. Phil has released (at least) 12 records and is very knowledgeable about vintage guitars. He has played with everyone including his own groups Beatle Brothers, The Idea. He also fronts Material (re) Issue in place of the late Jim Ellison. From large theaters to your favorite dive bar Phil never disappoints and he never phones it in.