Pinetop Seven, an American alt-country band from Chicago, Illinois, was formed in 1994 by Darren Richard and Charles Kim. The duo met at Vanderbilt University and began their musical journey on the Nashville club scene before relocating to Chicago. In 1995, Ryan Hembrey joined the lineup, and the band started touring extensively. Their breakthrough came with a record deal from Truckstop Records in 1997. The following year saw the release of Rigging the Toplights, which featured clarinet work by Ken Vandermark. In 2000, Charles Kim left the band. Notable releases include The Night's Bloom (2005) and Beneath Confederate Lake (2006). The band garnered critical acclaim from outlets such as Pitchfork Media and NPR radio. After the release of Beneath Confederate Lake, Darren Richard enrolled in law school, leading to a hiatus for Pinetop Seven.
