Two Evanston fathers — one who opened for Oasis with The Redwalls, another who toured Japan at 19 with Kleenex Girl Wonder — have a new band, a new album, and a release show Saturday, June 27, in Chicago.

Andrew Langer and Quinn Goodwillie founded The Darling Range in 2023 after their kids ended up in the same class at Orrington Elementary School. Langer was lead guitarist for The Redwalls, the Deerfield-formed band that signed to Capitol Records and played Lollapalooza in 2005 and 2006. Goodwillie fronted Kleenex Girl Wonder through a decade of Chicago indie venues. Both had been away from the stage for years before reconnecting over music in Evanston.

"My wife, Amanda, told me that Andrew played music, but it took me a couple of years to follow up on that tip," Goodwillie told the Evanston Roundtable. "I thought maybe he could play Sweet Home Alabama or something, so I didn't jump to meet him."

The band's debut full-length album, the 10-track Dearly, was recorded in late 2025 at Shirk Studios in Chicago's West Town neighborhood, owned by Evanston resident Steve Shirk. The group recorded on Wednesday evenings. Their earlier EP, Half-Remembering, earned praise from Sound Opinions co-host Greg Kot on WBEZ, who called it "hooks galore" and said Langer and Goodwillie are "back in the game."

Drummer Andrew Grill and bassist Jon Hill round out the four-piece. Grill, an Evanston resident who has played drums in Chicago-area bands for about 30 years, is also a partner at a downtown Chicago law firm. He and Hill previously played together in Lacona.

The band releases music on Lighthouse Beach Records, a label collectively owned by its members and named after Evanston's northern lakefront park.

The Darling Range has played only twice before: at LegionFest in Evanston in 2025 and at The Red Room in Wicker Park.

Release show details: Saturday, June 27, at Gman Tavern (The Back Room), 3740 N. Clark St., Chicago. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m. Support from Driftless Pony Club. Tickets: $18 via Etix. 21+.