The Blue Ribbon Brothers started as a summer songwriting project and expanded into what is now the Chicago band Riviera. Taking bits and pieces of folk and alt.country, the American Music EP is a collection of songs best listened to on your back porch sipping beers and telling lies. Singer/Songwriter Derek Phillips founded the band in Grand Rapids, Michigan before moving on to Kalamazoo (the original home of Gibson electric guitars and the subject of the song "Droll Tales") and finally settled in Chicago, where he fronts Riviera. Matt Usner on bass continues to play in Riviera and write songs on his own. Lead Guitarist Ben Benedict has played with countless bands and musicians throughout the country and currently plays with the fantastic Naomi Ashley. Drummer Jude Lemrow is in the Chicago band, the Satellite 66 and occasionally engineers recording projects, including Riviera's upcoming album. Glorious Noise says about the American Music EP: So what do you do when your best friend is Jeff Tweedy? Glorious Noise contributor Jeff Sabatini writes: So what do you do when your best friend is Jeff Tweedy? In March 2004, Riviera was named by the Chicago Tribune as one of the city's Top Ten Best Unsigned bands. Riviera also recently opened for Jay Farrar (Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt).