Just getting good

"It's been pretty awesome," he says. "I can't imagine a better situation, and I would have never guessed it would have happened. It feels really good to have totally grown with them. And we are totally responsible for each other's growth, I think. It definitely forms a stronger bond."

But Very Emergency is more than just proof of the group's commitment to sticking with Jade Tree; it's a testament to The Promise Ring's commitment to sticking around, period. Just in the last year, Gnewikow has seen friends and tour mates such as Braid and Compound Red split up, and he doesn't want the same to happen to his band. He knows all too well that "longevity" is more likely to be the name of a band than a word that could be applied to one, especially in the tenuous Midwest indie-rock scene The Promise Ring is a part of, where bands rarely stay together long enough to record one album, let alone three. Gnewikow worried that it was all over a few years ago when the group had to replace Scott Beschta, its first bass player, with Tim Burton. But since replacing Burton with Schoenbeck, Gnewikow has realized that losing a member doesn't mean losing a band. And unless he's the member getting lost, The Promise Ring isn't going away.

Andy Mueller

Best-looking boys: The Promise Ring is, from left, Davey von Bohlen, Scott Schoenbeck, Dan Didier, and Jason Gnewikow.

Details

October 28

Burning Airlines and Centro-matic open

Trees
2709 Elm St.

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More About

• Jason Gnewikow
• Davey von Bohlen
• Scott Schoenbeck
• Dan Didier
• Milwaukee

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"I think seeing other bands break up definitely reinforces the fact that we feel like we shouldn't," Gnewikow says. "We can't fall prey to whatever everyone else is falling prey to. I was actually really surprised about Braid. I knew the intricacies of the Compound Red thing, and that was pretty much beyond repair. But with Braid, they could have just gotten another guitar player. I understand the feeling. When we had to replace our first bass player, it was really scary, because it really feels like, 'Oh my God, this could be the end of our band.' Is it ethical to replace him or not? Knowing what I know now, it's just like...whatever. Fucking dime a dozen." He laughs. "Well, no, but I've put all this work into this band, and I'm not going to let it go just because I can't get along with this one person. No way."