It was a cool summer evening when I met with This American Song – sitting on a front porch in Downtown Erie. The band served homemade salsa that we snacked on throughout the conversation. It’s that kind of laid-back welcoming feeling that distinguishes the band, which guitarist John Johnston described as a “group art project” more than anything else. This low-pressure vibe helps underscore how they’ve been able to stay together for over 15 years.
Prepped for the release of their latest album Play It In Reverse, the band looked back on how they have expanded and evolved past their teenage years of existence, reflecting on all the various forms of physical media they have intentionally created over the years. From the early collaboration between Jeff Phillips and John Johnston to the nine-member collective it is today, This American Song has grown into a creative project that’s consistently productive. Taking time between releases to write, record, and reframe the band, they’ve built a healthy discography at a steady pace. “We have always been a band that has put a lot of thought into creating physical media from our recorded materials. Our first record was pressed on vinyl and we hand-stamped and lettered 300 sleeves – far too many records – and we severely underestimated how time consuming it would be,” says Jeff Phillips, frontman and guitarist for the group.
The band consists of Phillips on guitar and vocals, Johnston on guitar, Larry Wheaton on trombone and percussion, Jesse Guerrein on trumpet, Marissa Litzenberg Tamulonis (40 Under 40 Class of 2023) on saxophone, Brent Knight on drums, Dave Tamulonis (40 Under 40 Class of 2022) on violin and keyboards, Michael Milk on bass, and Mckenzie Sprague (40 Under 40 Class of 2025) on vocals…