Roads to Space Travel

Taking their name from the 1930s book of the same name about the possibility of space colonization the indie rock trio Roads to Space Travel formed in 1995. The nucleus of the group came together when Roman Kuebler convinced college pal Tim Baier to relocate back to their hometown of Baltimore in order to start a band after the two had recently graduated from Villanova University in Philadelphia. The two guitarists recruited bassist Greg Preston and drummer Andy Laughland and played their first show in March of 1996. Not long after Laughland decided to call it quits and the group recruited veteran Baltimore indie rock drummer Adam Cooke, who had done time in local indie rock units Helakopter and Science Kit. Shortly after Cooke joined the fold, Preston decided to part ways with the group, and Kuebler moved over to bass, making the group a trio. Kuebler handled most of the vocals, while guitarist Baier sang on a few tracks. Initially the group was inspired by the quirky and inventive guitar work of Chapel Hill's Polvo and Archers of Loaf, as well as local Baltimore bands Candy Machine with their heavy Gang of Four and Fall influences as well as long time Charm City underground staples Lungfish. But the trio found its biggest inspiration from Norfolk Virginia art-punk transplants Buttsteak, with their quirky-jerky rhythms and jagged melodies. Guitarist Baier also added analogue keyboard loops to the trio's sound that at times evoked the sound and spirit of Ohio art-punks Brainiac. The group's first release was a split 7" with Science Kit for local indie label Ambiguous City Records in 1998. Later on that same year, the band went into the studio again and recorded their self-titled debut for Amish Records. The following year saw the release of another 7," this time for...