From their myspace page:

Today brings the official announcement of the 'classic' Chamber Strings line-up of Kevin Junior, Carolyn Engelmann, Anthony Illarde, Tim Fowler, & Jason Walker reuniting for the first time in nearly 5 years! The band has started rehearsals for an upcoming show to take place in Chicago in the very near future. No date or venue for this very special show has been disclosed as of yet, but keep your eye on this space for an announcement soon.

The Chicago Reader will be doing a cover story to coincide with the line-up's return, a new album in the works, and details of Kevin Junior's survival tale-one for the record books! More on this as press time approaches.

The band will only confirm the up-coming reunion show, but there are talks of the entire line-up recording together again for what will be the 3rd Chamber Strings full-length LP (early demos have some folks whispering 'masterpiece'!). Junior has not disclosed a label or release date as of yet, but promises "I really do believe it's gonna be worth the wait...indeed." The possibility of this line-up touring together once again "is not entirely out of the question", so says Junior.

Some may remember the first line-up that started back in 1997 with Ellis Clark on bass. Shortly after the band's debut 'Gospel Morning' was re-released in 1999, Clark stepped down when his first child was born. Jason Walker stepped in to tour with the band & quickly became the band's full-time bassist. Shortly thereafter, Carolyn Engelmann was brought in to play piano (relieving Todd Fletcher) while the band continued to tour the States & Europe. In 2000, the group recorded the now classic (more on this..) 'Month Of Sundays' LP to much critical acclaim & continued to tour. 'Month' was released in early 2001 and the group toured throughout the rest of the year. Sometime in early 2002 the line-up disbanded and Junior continued The Chamber Strings in different forms, touring & living abroad in Europe & several locations around the US. The remaining four carried on playing as San Tropez in Chicago and still do today.

When asked by one source why & how this re-union has come about, Junior responds "It's just the right time now, I think? It feels really good. I work brilliantly with these people & we are friends..we have such a history together." When asked about why the group disbanded in the first place & what exactly happened to him throughout the past 5 years, Junior responded, "Oh dear, your just gonna have to wait to read the book..it's too much-I just did a 3 hour interview with The Reader and I'm exausted!"

So there it is. More updates & details about this are coming very soon, so keep those eyes pealed. In other news, an upcoming aniversary issue of Magnet Magazine will be running a feature on "Classic Great Lost Albums" and we've been informed that The Chamber Strings 'Month Of Sundays' LP will be included with an article detailing the album. Also, for any of you snowboarding fans (?) out there, a fantastic new movie called 'People', a sort of documentary on current snowboarding champs, features a Chamber Strings track in the film. Much more on the way....

Love from,

The Chamber Strings

Edit: January 20th at Double Door in Chicago

I knew that an FT/Kevin Junior hate-fest existed, but Im not sure why....

Anyone?

From what I remember on the CMJ board, FT referenced the fact that KJ had a heroin problem. KJ saw the discussion online, and joined in unhappily. Someone correct me if I'm off-base...

Both Chamber Strings CDs are great, and I can't wait to hear something new.

That's pretty much the story in a one sentence nutshell.

Yup. Good times. This, and does anyone remember when The Fags came on to CMJ for some reason? I remember that it wasn't exactly civil either.

Details.

That's more or less it. I think I had asked when they were putting out a new album, someone mentioned KJ was on TEH SMACK, and I just kind of wondered aloud how anyone (not just KJ) manages to get addicted to a drug that requires using needles on yourself (because most people avoid even a flu shot like it's the end of the world, and that's only once a year). Apparently, KJ saw this, assumed I was attacking him, and went off on me.

Good times...

Glad they're getting back together, though, because I'd definitely be interested in hearing more music from them. But, of course...



lol

Any hate is one-sided. I dig the dude's tunes, mang.

I seem to remember you saying something like "too bad I won't be able to listen to any more Chamber Strings records," lamenting that there probably would never be another one, but KJ took it to be a holier-than-thou "now that I know he's a smack addict, I won't listen to his records anymore" comment.

What's next, the return of Big Dave Yoda Talkin'?

Or perhaps Leon tha Midnight Rider.

That'd be preferable, but unrelated to FT.

I'm having lunch with him for his birthday tomorrow. I'll pass along Obner's well wishes.

YES!!! You are correct, sir! Mind (and anus) like a steel trap.

that one was my fault.