Riviera

The Chicago quartet Riviera formed in 2000 around vocalist/guitarist Derek Phillips, guitarist/vocalist Mick Radichel, and bassist Matt Usner. From the beginning, the intent was to approach the American folk and rock tradition from a slightly skewed angle, to include in their patchwork of influences threads of the bandmembers' own adventures and life experiences. Phillips' and Radichel's songs drew differently from country, rock, and blues, but usually ended up hitting the listener in that same soft spot between the gut and the brain. Working with a revolving door of drummers ...