District 97

Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson, Genesis etc.): I love the CD...the sheer skill and gusto with which they tackle it makes you laugh out loud. Great drumming. Jonathan plays and writes like a demon. Congratulations to them.
John Wetton (King Crimson, UK, Asia): 'Can't take you with me' is dynamite. I wish you luck, you're a good band, and deserve success, see you on the broad highway.
Roine Stolt (Flower Kings, Transatlantic): Your band is one of the very few I can see a real true potential in and I'm sure you have many new fabulous albums coming in the near future.
Jim Derogatis (NPR's "Sound Opinions", Rolling Stone Magazine): District 97 is a wildly ambitious progressive-rock group whose youth belies its accomplishments onstage and on its new "Hybrid Child" CD. Paul Bielatowicz (Carl Palmer Band, Neal Morse): We made our way back to the hotel and I put on District 97's CD while finishing my nachos – what a GREAT album!

District 97 is undoubtedly the most musically adventurous rock band in the world to feature an American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist. In July 2012, the band unleashed their second opus on Laser's Edge, Trouble With Machines. With her fantastic voice, and looks to match, Leslie Hunt has captured the imagination of the male-oriented prog rock scene. Complexity is one of the hallmarks of District 97's compositions, but the album is laced with catchy vocal melodies. The track "The Perfect Young Man" features a guest vocal appearance by the iconic KING CRIMSON/ASIA singer/bassist, JOHN WETTON. Thus began a fruitful collaboration, as John and D97 embarked on a number of live dates in 2013 throughout the US and Europe featuring both District 97 and King Crimson material. RICH MOUSER, who has produced albums for SPOCK'S BEARD and NEAL MORSE, mixed the album.
DISTRICT 97 was formed in the fall of 2006 by drummer Jonathan Schang, keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Patrick Mulcahy and guitarist Sam Krahn (replaced in 2008 by current guitarist Jim Tashjian). The foursome from Chicago honed a no-holds barred style of Liquid Tension Experiment-inspired Instrumental Rock before deciding the right vocalist was needed to complement their sound; enter 2007 American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist, Leslie Hunt. With a look, sound and stage presence comparable to a young Ann Wilson from Heart, Leslie's dynamic performances pushed the band into a new direction that forged a unique marriage between accessible, catchy vocal melodies and an adventurous instrumental prowess. She was followed shortly thereafter by one of Chicago's finest young guitarists, Jim Tashjian. With this new blend of charisma and stellar musicianship in place, their live shows at festivals such as RoSfest and Prog Dreams II, and numerous appearances across the USA, UK and Europe cemented the band as a force to be reckoned with onstage.

In May 2010, the band signed with Laser's Edge, the foremost home of new Progressive music. Laser's Edge oversaw worldwide physical and digital release of District 97's debut effort, Hybrid Child, which was released to worldwide acclaim in September 2010, and went on to top many "Best of 2010" lists. Appearing on the recording is cellist extraordinaire Katinka Kleijn of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who also appears as a guest on Trouble With Machines.

Building on the strengths of Hybrid Child, Trouble With Machines pushes the envelope even further, and solidifies District 97's position at the forefront of uncompromising Rock music. In 2013, the band was nominated by PROG MAGAZINE in the BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST category of the Progressive Music Awards. They are currently at work on their third album of new material, slated for a 2014 release.
http://www.district97.net