A mainstay of Chicago’s psychedelic rock scene, DIAGONAL have been producing melodic, reverb-drenched walls of sound since 2015. They approach the three guitar lineup with nuance; wrangling melodies and riffs in a controlled way, leaving room for songs to explode into complete sonic annihilation at any moment, while the rhythm section steadies the ship.

Never content to stay in one lane, the 6-piece band’s live sets drift seamlessly between ethereal psychedelia, krautrock jams, and catchy rock tunes. They approach the three guitar lineup with nuance; wrangling melodies and riffs in a controlled way, leaving room for songs to explode into complete sonic annihilation at any moment, while the rhythm section steady the ship. 

Today’s lineup features Silas Mishler (vocals/guitar), Dan Jarvis (lead guitar), Alex Brumley (rhythm guitar), Andrew Mishler (bass), Dale Price (keyboards/guitars), Chris Detlaff (drums), and Brad Althaus (organ/keyboards/percussion). 

They’ve made their way throughout the Midwest playing small clubs and festivals alike, including Milwaukee Psych Fest and Echo Fest in Detroit. Notable hometown shows include opening for The Dandy Warhols at Metro in 2023 and playing to a sold-out crowd at Chicago Psych Fest 2017. 

The first single to come out of their current lineup, 2019’s “Detroit”, is a slow driving Motorik drum and bass groove that started as an impromptu basement jam while on tour in Detroit. On the B-Side, the band morphs Gary Numan’s “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” into an epic 7 1/2 minute guitar exploration. 

Their 2021 self-titled LP, released via Portland-based Little Cloud Records, is a mix of highly polished psych rock, contemplative moments, and angular jams. In 2024, the band released a laid-back slice of ’60s psychedelia called “Easy” along with the guitar-laden, fuzzed worshipping jam “Flick Your Cig” on one diverse 7” record. Summer 2026 will see the release of their much anticipated full-length album Corrupter via Infinite Spin Records.