Embellishing Galaxie 500's trademark reverb-heavy sprawl with strings, shifting dynamics, and a distinctly Appalachian sensibility, Boxstep was one of several bands founded in the late '90s to favor a quiet, powerful approach to traditional rock music. Formed in Pittsburgh in 1999, the group consisted of Eric Graf (vocals, guitar), David Wallace (guitar), Greg Cislon (drums), and TR Daddario (bass). Over the next year, the lineup swelled to include Paul Labrise (keyboards), Erin Hutter (vocals, violin), and Sarah Siplak (vocals), with Jackie Dempsey contributing accordion. In local terms, Boxstep's rise bordered on meteoric, with the band going from early slots at sparsely attended clubs in early spring to opening for major minor Luna in August. The group's debut for Chicago indie Overcoat, The Faces All Look On, arrived in 2001, with the self-released By Now Even the Trees following a year later. ~ Steve May