Algernon began as an improvisational duo concept featuring the guitar stylings of Chicago jazz fixture Dave Miller (Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls, davemillergroup) and the drum work of Darren Garvey (Andreas Kapsalis Trio, Buddy Nuisance). The duo focused on finding a common ground among jazz, avant-garde improvisation, and post-modern rock. By taking the duo concept and expanding it into a full-fledged band, Algernon was born. Fostering an atmosphere that relies on composition and a larger sonic palette, Algernon creates a fusion of indie rock, jazz, and classical chamber music. The effect is that of a distinctly modern band, providing musical clues to our modern landscape. In the process, Algernon engulfs the listener in an entirely different world of its own making. In order to create the group that exists today, Dave Miller recruited a list of diverse young musicians with the talent and gumption to pull off such heady stuff. The rhythm section consists of Nick Fryer on guitar, Tom Perona on bass, Cory Healey (Fareed Haque Group) on drums, and Katie Wiegman on vibraphone. With combined experience in genres from jazz to hard rock, blues to classical, the band is well equipped to deliver on the promise. With the band in place, Miller then went on to compose a batch of songs that sweep the listener up in their intensity and epic musicality. Listening to their debut album, Charlie Changed His Mind, or one of the band's fiery live performances, one is run through the entire human experience: joy, sadness, passion, exhilaration. You won't walk away the same, or be likely to forget what you've heard and experienced. In short, the band can't be summed up neatly. Algernon simply rocks too hard to be considered jazz, and they play with too much finesse and sheer musical ability to be called just another rock band. In a time of lowered musical expectations, Algernon is a breath of fresh air. They don't simply wish to play songs: They are here to turn your entire world upside down. Algernon sounds like your head exploding in the best possible acoustic setting. "Like fellow guitarists Jeff Parker and Fareed Haque, Dave Miller, 24, thinks beyond a single genre...bellowing his way out of the local fringe and into the big time." --Mark Loehrke, Chicago Magazine, Nov. 2006 "...guitarist Dave Miller has been burning this past year in live performances, chicken-scratching like Ernest Ranglin and wailing like Pat Metheny." --Time Out Magazine, May 2006 "Watch out for Dave Miller. This guy's got ears, time, chops, tone, and swing--an intelligent, thoughtful musician with a truly open mind. Watch out for Dave Miller..." --Fareed Haque (Garaj Mahal, Fareed Haque Group, Sting, Joe Zawinul, Joe Henderson) "Very heavy and musical compositions." --Jeff Parker (Tortoise, Isotope 217, Chicago Underground, Joshua Redman)