Step Softly, Ghost

Step Softly, Ghost were a band from Fort Wayne, Indiana. True to their midwestern roots, they played midwest emo similar to the Kansas City sound, alternating song sections between the soft and discordant sides of emo. I would say their only EP, Ruined In Repetition, sort of sits between the two Boys Life albums, sonically speaking. They remind me of Dirtnap and sometimes The Interstate Ten, though the song structure here tends to be a bit tighter. The 2003 release date is interesting, because they were a late-period second wave band, but have avoided the smoothing of the midwest emo sound that most bands of this time demonstrate. They're a heavier band than that, largely devoid of the indie rock influences that color most other late-period second wave emo bands.

Discogs lists Ruined In Repetition as a minialbum, but the band's old page on Local Band Network says it's an EP, so that's what I'm going with. Besides the EP, they released a split 7" with Fall On Deaf Years and a Demo CDr in 2002. For download, I've made available the EP, the split, and a unique compilation track from 2003.

Ruined In Repetition + Split 7" + Compilation Track

broadcaster

Broadcaster were a band from Minneapolis, I think. The postal code for their PO box was in that city, anyway. The only information I have on this band comes straight from their sole release, 1998's the epidemic of falling backwards. They played that particular strand of emo that sprang out of the mid-90s, based equally in the Dischord sound as what was happening with midwest emo. To me, they sound a lot like Texas Is The Reason, or a less melodic New End Original or Knapsack. At points, I am often reminded of Boys Life's first album.

The construction of the EP is interesting, a digipak featuring a blank white interior and a tiny booklet stapled to it. Besides the EP, they contributed a track to the great Atmosphere Only Gets You So Far compilation.

the epidemic of falling backwards + Compilation Track

Sky Promises Rain

Sky Promises Rain were a German emocore\post-hardcore band on the great Millipede Records, active between 1999 and 2004. They sound a lot like Life at These Speeds and the other bands that had this kind of sound in the early to mid-2000s, though Sky Promises Rain's version is tempered less by indie rock and more by midwest emo, perhaps influenced by some of their label mates. This changes a bit on their last release, which does start to move more in the indie rock direction.

Their discography isn't expansive. They first put out a split in 1999, followed by a self-titled release in 2002 and an EP in 2003. An anticipated full album follow-up is mentioned on the Millipede Records website, but sadly it never materialized. They contributed to a few compilations, including love still has its meaning and A Tribute To Dischord Records.

I've made the band's discography available below.

Sky Promises Rain