View source for Ad Astra per Aspera (band)

{{Short description|American indie rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Ad Astra Per Aspera
| image           =
| caption         =
| image_size      =
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]], [[Kansas]], U.S.
| genre           = [[Indie rock]], [[noise rock]], [[punk rock]]
| years_active    = 2001–present
| label           = [[Big Brown Shark]], [[Sonic Unyon]], [[Love Garden Records]]
| associated_acts =
| website         = [http://www.adastraperaspera.com Adastraperaspera.com]
| current_members = [[Julie Lane]]<br />[[Brooke Hunt]]<br/>[[Kurt Lane]]<br/>[[Mike Tuley]]<br/>[[Scott Edwards (musician)|Scott Edwards]]
| past_members    =
}}
'''Ad Astra Per Aspera''' is an American, [[Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence]], [[Kansas]]-based [[indie rock]] and [[Punk rock|punk]] and [[Tropical music|tropical]] band, formed in 2001 and currently releasing records through [[Sonic Unyon|Sonic Unyon Records]] and Love Garden Records. Their experimental and eclectic [[noise rock]] sound has drawn comparisons to bands such as [[Sonic Youth]] and the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]].<ref>{{cite web| title= "Subterraneanly to the Stars", ''The Daily Iowan''| url= http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2007/03/01/80Hours/Subterraneanly.To.The.Stars-2750694.shtml| format= English| accessdate= 2007-04-06| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070309055709/http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2007/03/01/80Hours/Subterraneanly.To.The.Stars-2750694.shtml| archivedate= 9 March 2007| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="To The Stars: Ad Astra Per Aspera Will Make You Want to Dance Despite Difficulties", ''Kansas City Star'' |url=http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/weekend/16329446.htm |format=English |accessdate=2007-04-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070111154839/http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/weekend/16329446.htm |archivedate=January 11, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title ="An Introduction To", Lawrence.com | date =4 April 2003 | url =http://www.lawrence.com/news/2003/apr/04/review_ad/ | format = English  | accessdate =2007-04-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title ="Cubic Zirconia EP", Aversion | url =http://www.aversion.com/bands/reviews.cfm?f_id=1699 | format = English  | accessdate =2007-04-06}}</ref>
==Background==
Ad Astra Per Aspera was born in Lawrence, Kansas in the fall of 2001. Their name comes from the [[Seal of Kansas|State of Kansas motto]] which when translated from [[Latin]] means "To the Stars through Difficulties." The band consists of Mike Tuley (vocals/guitar), Kurt Lane (drums/percussion), Brooke Tuley (guitar/percussion), Julie Noyce (keyboards) and Scott Edwards (bass).  Vocalist/guitarist Mike Tuley and guitarist Brooke Tuley were married in June 2010.<ref>{{cite web | title ="Trade Winds", ''The Pitch'' | url =http://www.pitch.com/2006-09-28/music/trade-winds/ | format =English | accessdate =2007-04-06 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110519063151/http://www.pitch.com/2006-09-28/music/trade-winds/ | archive-date =2011-05-19 | url-status =dead }}</ref>
Ad Astra began playing live in the fall of 2002 quickly becoming part of the Lawrence music scene. They released their debut [[Extended play|EP]] "An Introduction To" in April 2003. The follow-up EP "Cubic Zirconia" was released on [[Big Brown Shark Records]] in May 2004.<ref>{{cite web | title ="Ad Astra Per Aspera", Lawrence.com | url =http://www.lawrence.com/bands/ad_astra_per_aspera/ | format = English  | accessdate =2007-04-06}}</ref> After extensive touring the band signed to Sonic Unyon and was the subject of a two-part documentary on ''The Turnpike''<ref>{{cite web | title ="Ad Astra Per Aspera at SXSW Part 1", ''The Turnpike'' | url =http://www.lawrence.com/turnpike/archive/2006-04-20/ | format = English  | accessdate =2006-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title ="Ad Astra Per Aspera at SXSW Part 2", ''The Turnpike'' | url =http://www.lawrence.com/turnpike/archive/2006-04-27/ | format = English  | accessdate =2006-04-27}}</ref> as they toured in support of their October 2006 full-length album "Catapult Calypso."
In October 2008 the band relocated to Brooklyn.
Ad Astra has previously played with such bands as [[The Thermals]], [[Pretty Girls Make Graves]], [[Minus Story]], and [[Ghosty (band)|Ghosty]]. After playing the 2007 [[South by Southwest]] festival they went on a national tour.  They have recently released a new 7" single on the Love Garden label and are preparing for another American tour.
==Discography==
{| class="wikitable"
! Album
! Release date
|-
| ''An Introduction To''
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
|-
| ''[[Cubic Zirconia EP]]''
| style="text-align:center;" | 2004
|-
| ''[[Catapult Calypso]]''
| style="text-align:center;" | 2006
|}
==Reviews==
* [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r854585|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic Guide] (3.5/5)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061201005448/http://music.ign.com/articles/736/736363p1.html IGN] (9.2/10)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070304231407/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/track_reviews/38967/Ad_Astra_Per_Aspera_Voodoo_Economics#38967 Pitchfork Track Review – Voodoo Economics] (3.5/5)
* [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9535-catapult-calypso/ Pitchfork Album Review – Catapult Calypso]
* [http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=4583 Music Emissions] (4.5/5)
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.adastraperaspera.com/ Official Site]
*[http://www.myspace.com/adastraperaspera MySpace]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ad Astra Per Aspera}}
[[Category:Indie rock musical groups from Kansas]]
[[Category:Sonic Unyon artists]]
{{US-indie-rock-band-stub}}