Early Day Miners

by Carlos R. Andujar
Bloomington, Indiana is a small(ish) college-town with a modest population of over 72,000 residents. Maybe small, but home to some of the most compelling independent music available and is the headquarters of Secretly Canadian, Western Vinyl, and Jagjaguwar Record companies which serve as hosts to some of the most underrated bands in the U.S. “indie community” (Minus Story, Antony and the Johnsons, Jason Molina, and Magnolia Electric Company just to name a few). Wading among the pool of talented artists, you’ll find Dan Burton, the front man and co-conspirator behind the ever-evolving musical project that is Early Day Miners.
Since his migration from the Chicago, IL, to Bloomington in 2001, Burton began writing songs that would eventually take the shape of full-fledged albums such as the now-rare, Placer Found, a three-way split with Unwed Sailor and Chris Bennett entitled Stateless, Jefferson at Rest, Let Us Garlands Bring, All Harm Ends Here, and the anthemic Offshore EP.
Early Day Miners have managed to stay just under the radar, despite recently having their music featured on the Lifetime Network’s, Army Wives television series as well as Myspace’s exclusive Half Life web series. The music of EDM is moving, inspiring nostalgia on more levels than one. By blending hushed vocals, epic post-rockdom, sullen acoustic gems, and lush ambient moments, Early Day Miners successfully paint a strikingly honest and powerful soundscape each and every time.
EU recently had the opportunity to speak with Dan to get the inside scoop on the history and future plans of the band, his experience as a working-class musician, and what inspires him as an artist.