Hailing from Richmond, VA, Ilad combine the compositional backgrounds of guitarist Clifton McDaniel and keyboardist Gabe Churray with the improvisational skills of bassist Cameron Ralston and drummer Scott Clark, fashioning a sound rooted in indie rock but peppered with elements of folk, free jazz, and experimental pop. The band formed in 2004 and issued a debut record, The Spoon, two years later. Songwriting sessions for a second album began taking place in an open field near Ralston's apartment, and Ilad soon accumulated enough material to decamp to Chicago, where they recorded National Flags at SOMA Studios. Here/There followed in 2009, with all four bandmates now sharing songwriting duties. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi
