This Side of Lost

Biography

Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson grew up together in Bozeman, MT, where they started performing under the uncreative moniker of Chris & Johnny in 1989. Early on their music with its intricate guitar work and introspective lyrics reflected obvious influences of singer/songwriters like John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel. They both went on to attend school at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where they continued writing and performing. Their college years saw the release of Shapeshift...

Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson grew up together in Bozeman, MT, where they started performing under the uncreative moniker of Chris & Johnny in 1989. Early on their music with its intricate guitar work and introspective lyrics reflected obvious influences of singer/songwriters like John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel. They both went on to attend school at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where they continued writing and performing. Their college years saw the release of Shapeshifting and Different Waters, both quiet albums focused on their songwriting and harmonies.

After graduating, they went on to pursue their music careers full-time and were rewarded with a small-but-rabid fan base accumulated through non-stop touring of coffeeshops and other places on the college circuit in the Upper Midwest and West. Live at the Grand, a recording of one of their college-era concerts, was released in 1993 to cater to this audience. In 1994 came Miles and Means, their third studio effort and fourth overall release, a broader and more mature album which garnered an award nomination from the Minnesota Music Academy. Clearing (in 1995) featured an expanded instrumentation, including local mandolin extraordinare Peter Ostroushko.

The duo changed their name to Storyhill in 1996 to reflect their expanding musical outlook and released their fifth studio album, This Side of Lost, a step into new territory with a more produced and more pop-oriented sound. The Collage EP was also released in 1996, a recording that was originally a promotional CD. Storyhill Live, their second live album, followed in 1997.

Storyhill ceased its existence as a full-time touring duo in 1997, allowing Cunningham and Hermanson to pursue solo work and other projects. A recording was made of their final show in Bozeman and was released along with other live tracks as Echoes - The Final Show. Four years later, the pair reunited for a couple of shows in the summer of 2001 to completely sold out audiences. The recording of these show was subsequently released as Reunion. Another reunion the following summer proved to be a forerunner of Storyhill's renewed activity -- a new studio album called Dovetail was released that fall (2002) and the duo toured behind it.

The pair have since maintained a sporadic touring schedule. They released Duotones: A Tribute To Duos Of The 70s in late 2004. In November of 2006, Storyhill signed with Red House Records, who released Storyhill, a new self-titled studio album, in February of 2007. Shade of the Trees followed in 2010.

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