The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Variety

Media Credit: COURTESY SAMANTHA MCGRANAHAN Casados began playing together in 2002 and married in 2003. [Click to enlarge]

Most couples, especially married ones, enjoy time apart from one another.

Heather and Nic Dillon from Illinois are the opposite. They not only are married but also are in a band together.

"When we got married, we did it with the goal of always being able to live and work together. In a society that focuses on individualism and such, this is fairly uncommon. From what we've seen, a lot of marriages get bad when people get into their own things. Music and touring are experiences we share, and our relationship is strengthened by that. I can't imagine doing this any other way," Nic said.

Heather and Nic were in the band Winter in Alaska. After that group disbanded, the duo formed Casados, which is Spanish for "married couple."

Casados, an indie band with folk and pop influences, will be playing a free show tonight at The Mercury Lounge.

The songs that are about "heartbreak, devastation, and the like" are written by Nic.

"I don't think I necessarily see the glass as half-empty, but if the glass could use some improvement, I like to write about it. I'm not one to ignore the defects in the structure or the situation," he said.

The band is on its fourth tour and is not new to Athens.

It will be promoting its first self- released CD, "Passages," and material from its next CD. The band plans on making its second CD after their tour ends in the middle of November.

Often, Casados enjoys the variation of accompanying artists.

Joining the band on this tour is Brady Bush, who plays the percussion and drums. Nic plays the guitar and sings, while Heather plays the harmonium and mandolin and sings.

Opening for Casados is Jacob Tyler Wolfgang from Iowa.

JTW, previously in The Last Broadcast band, met the Dillons through his prior record label.

When he heard Casados was touring and stopping in his current town, he asked to open for the band.

The relationship has grown, as JTW also has accompanied Casados on bass.

JTW, who is sometimes but not currently joined by his wife during shows, said he plays "acoustic guitar and sings quietly about what God means, what [his] wife means, what [his] parents' divorce means, what having a sense of purpose means."

This is JTW's first solo tour, and he will be promoting his "Blessing Our Burning Heart" CD.

"My goal is to challenge you as an audience member to be forward-thinking about your future, reflective about your past and contemplative about your present situations by being honest about my own experiences," JTW said.

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