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The Outland Band brought small-town charm and
high-energy country music to Atlanta, Illinois, on Saturday,
September 13, performing for a crowd filled with familiar faces
despite a few technical hiccups along the way.
Formed by lead guitarist Cody Gaesser and vocalist Josh Ummel, the
group started as a way for longtime friends to keep playing after
settling down with families. “We’ve been playing in bands together
for years, and we started families and started having kids,” Ummel
said. “This was like our, let’s just do this for fun. We just come
out and try to have a really good time doing it, play our best, and
enjoy it.”
The band includes Gaesser, Ummel, Nate Gillespiee, and Kevin Yarger.
Though each member comes from different parts of central
Illinois—Washington, McLean, Atlanta, and Bloomington—their shared
history in past groups brought them together. Gillespiee recalled
how connections built through church and previous projects naturally
led to Outland. “Josh and Cody knew each other from being in a band
maybe 10 years ago, and then Cody was in a band with Kevin,” he
said. “I met Cody at church—he was a worship director, and I played
on the worship team. He said, ‘Hey, I got this band with my friend
Josh. You want to be in it?’”
Their style and song choices resonate with rural
crowds. Gillespiee noted the group enjoys playing “small town, rural
festivals and bars,” where their music feels at home. Central
Illinois towns such as Atlanta, Minier, and Waynesville have become
some of their favorite stops with some visits to Champaign.
On Saturday night, the band performed a lively mix of country, rock,
and other popular favorites, such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and
“Viva La Vida”.
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Though an unexpected power issue
briefly threatened to derail the show, the band powered through,
earning cheers from the crowd. “We run into issues from time to
time, and we just try to power through,” Ummel said. “We love the
support, and love to look out and see familiar faces and everybody
having a good time.” For Ummel,
performing in Atlanta carried special meaning. Originally from
Normal, he now calls Atlanta home. “It’s kind of a full-circle
thing,” he said. “It’s not too often, no matter where you’re from,
you get to play for the people in your hometown. We play all the
time in places that aren’t home, so it’s very cool to just be here.”
Beyond Atlanta, Outland makes regular appearances across central
Illinois, with shows in Springfield, Bloomington, Peoria, and
Champaign. Despite their busy schedules, the band only performs once
or twice a month, balancing music with work and family.
That balance is central to the group’s identity. “We are literally
just a group of guys,” Ummel explained. “We all have families, and
we’re all dads. We’re just here to have fun and do our thing.”
The combination of friendship, community roots, and an easygoing
approach to performing has helped Outland carve out a niche in local
festivals and venues. Even when the speakers cut out, their Saturday
set demonstrated why the group’s blend of country rhythm and
camaraderie continues to draw a loyal following across central
Illinois.
[Sophia Larimore] |
