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Punk rock fans Bobby Darling and Nic Newsham weaned themselves on melodic punk revivalists like Lagwagon and Propagandhi until they decided to start a band together. Drafting bassist Kirk Huffman and drummer Dustin McGhie, the band christened themselves Gatsbys American Dream and attempted to start a rock band. Teaming with producer Aaron Sprinkle, the group recorded Why We Fight in the spring of 2002 for a summer release on Rocketstar. Next progressing past simply playing fast punk, GAD returned in July 2003 with the more multifaceted and indie rock-leaning Ribbons and Sugar, a concept album inspired by George Orwell's Animal Farm. Drummer McGhie left during those sessions and was replaced by Rudy Gajadhar (ex-Waxwing). The EP In the Land of Lost Monsters followed in 2004 on Chicago's LLR Records. The Gatsbys jumped to Fearless for the April 2005 effort Volcano; another concept album, this one was based loosely around the prideful Roman city of Pompeii that was destroyed twice by volc...