Much of America these days is, as it always has been, defined by the coasts.  The East Coast is the birthplace of America and the original states as well as the worldwide leaders in fashion and commerce. The west coast brought new avenues of trade, the gold rush, and now the worldwide leaders in technology and entertainment.

Although this is the image of America that many around the world hold, there are the unsung heroes of these United States.  These more simple folks work hard just to keep food on the table for their families.  They don't go down to the club on a Saturday night; they just stop by the bar for a drink with a few friends or sit on the front porch.

Thankfully, the honoring of these unsung heroes has continued through the decades of pop music, from Woody Guthrie to Credence Clearwater Revival on through John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty.  One band continuing this rich tradition is Seymour, Indiana's The Elms and their latest album, The Great American Midrange.

Scan the back cover of The Elms' latest album and you'll see four anonymous heads of brown hair. Their animosity reflects the sweeping generalizations introduced through this album; The Chess Hotel is music for the every-day man working the blue-collar factory, the Midwestern woman keeping house, and the simple Southern couple just learning what it means to be in love. These characters serve as pieces to an intricate chessboard passed down from generation to generation. The Chess Hotel is small-town life in all its glory—even when the glory shines more like tin than gold.