Hailing from the once quiet town of Peoria, Illinois, The Forecast exploded onto the indie rock circuit in 2001. With their must-see live performances alongside bands like Planes Mistaken For Stars, Hey Mercedes, Motion City Soundtrack, the Jealous Sound, the Velvet Teen, they earned a rabid following in not only Peoria, but also the Midwest in general. On their debut full-length, Late Night Conversations, the band takes cues from indie staples such as Rainer Maria, Braid, and The Anniversary, but give the genre a well-deserved kick in the ass, ratcheting up the intensity and throwing down balls-to-the-wall, in-your-face rock and roll. Dual vocals from guitarist Dustin Addis and bassist Shannon Burns are sometimes sweet, soft, and tangy, but do not be lulled -- they can transition into gang vocals at the drop of a hat, only to turn around and lay down a meandering guitar solo reminiscent of bands like My Morning Jacket.