Written by Max Bennett, Photos by Chris Rider
A Band Shaped by Decades of Evolution
About 35 years ago, Jake Crawford formed The April Skies in central Pennsylvania. Influenced by ’80s and ’90s icons such as The Cure, U2, R.E.M., and central PA’s own The Ocean Blue, the band steadily carved a more rock-forward identity within a dreamy, synth-washed genre.
Now, after numerous lineup changes, major life events, four full-length albums, and countless live shows, the band is leaning on its past more than ever to push its future forward.
“We started working on this album around 2014 or 2015… It felt like our own Chinese Democracy.” — Jake Crawford
The April Skies—Fronted by lead singer and guitarist Jake Crawford, features bassist Jason Leidich, drummer Mitch Curry, keyboardist Bob Eisenhower, guitarist Joe Kury, and live show guitarist Steve Musti—released their fifth album, A Cure for the Lost, in October.
A Decade-Long Journey to Album No. 5
Even six months ago, Crawford wasn’t sure the album would ever be completed. But on Oct. 17, the 11-track record officially debuted, with a release show held the following evening.
Describing the project as “a bit of a split,” Crawford explained that the first half of the album draws heavily from older material, written years ago but never recorded.
“We have a whole lot of material we never recorded,” Leidict said.
The long road to A Cure for the Lost traces back to their last release, 2009’s self-titled The April Skies.
Revisiting the Archive — and Reinventing It
“A lot of these songs were among the first we conceptualized,” Crawford said.
The band has a history of resurrecting older tracks and reshaping them with newer influences. A prime example, Leidict noted, is “A Room With a View” from the 2009 album.
“The bones were there, but it was completely different from the demos.” — Jason Leidict
Originally a straightforward rock tune, the song took on a new life after the band revisited it with inspiration from UK indie-rockers Bloc Party. That same spirit of reinvention influenced the approach to many of the older songs that now appear on A Cure for the Lost.
The Producer Who Never Quit
The Producer Who Never QuitAlso integral to the album’s completion was engineer and producer Mitch Hood.
“He never quit,” Crawford said. “This record would not have happened without him. He hung in there with us.”
It wasn’t until about 18 months ago that the band recommitted to finishing the album. Leidict had stepped back during the COVID-19 pandemic while raising his young son, and the band was rarely performing or rehearsing.
But Crawford’s persistence eventually pulled him back in.
“I definitely wanted to be part of that,” Leidict said. “There was so much already invested.”
A Cathartic Chapter: Remembering Andy Book
The recording process also carried emotional weight due to the loss of former guitarist Andy Book, who died in a vehicle crash in November 2015.
“He was like our mascot… He brought spirit and comedy.” — Crawford on Book
The track “Drive and the Drama” was written in the week following Book’s passing. Crawford said Book’s influence is present throughout the album—not only in that song, but in many of the tracks whose origins date back to the years they played together.
“He was around for the start of probably half the songs on this record,” Crawford said.
Love, Loss, and New Material
While the album’s first half draws from the past, the second half shifts into more recent emotional territory. Crawford describes it as a love letter to his girlfriend, written during a newer creative burst. Yet even here, Book’s spirit informed the writing.
“I don’t think that’s ever going to change,” Crawford said. “He was a big part of this for years.”
Looking Ahead: New Releases, Live Shows & DIY Recording
The April Skies aren’t slowing down. With A Cure for the Lost finally out, the band is already pulling from a deep vault of unreleased material in hopes of releasing more music soon.
“I’m hoping in two years we have two more releases out,” Crawford said, mentioning the possibilities of live recordings, singles, or EPs.
“It’s our little club. Membership’s free, and anyone can come hang out with us.” — Crawford
The band is also preparing to return to the road, eyeing potential shows in Philadelphia, New York City, and other cities as part of a long-overdue tour.
Leidict said he’s excited to release more music and emphasized how modern tools will streamline the process.
“The home-studio thing is way more accessible than it ever was,” he said. “We spent a lot of money and time in studios on past records. But what’s different this time is — we’re doing it ourselves.”
The April Skies
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