If you ask Tony Anders where the name Verona Grove came from, he won’t really be able to tell you. Since forming back in 2001, while the bandmates were still in high school, the group thought of a few random and humorous names. Once it looked like they had the promise to make it, though, Anders says they make the switch to a decidedly more serious-sounding name.”(Verona Grove) just found a place and stuck. I should probably make up a story and go with it,” Anders jokes. If that turns out to be the case, feel free to disregard the previous statements. The boys of Verona Grove call Fond du Lac, Wisc. home and in its current incarnation, the band consists of vocalist/guitarist Anders, bassist/vocalist Charlie Wilhelm and drummer Josh Helm, who joined after the band’s original drummer dropped out last August. The band will be in town June 21 for MOBfest and will be performing at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.”We’re happy to be doing it,” Anders says. “We’ll get in front of the crowd and just perform.”MOBfest, in its 11th year, is a three-day music showcase/business seminar where bands get to play their stuff in front of A&R reps and record executives. Music groups of all kinds, from the new and na’ve to those who are slightly more established, are welcome to play in hopes of possibly making the big time. The boys of Verona Grove will be playing along side the likes of hometown indie act Probably Vampires and hardcore rockers A Birdsong Valentine, just to name a few.But Verona Grove will be one of the few that won’t be in search of a label; they got signed back in 2006. Back then, the group would play in Wisconsin at eight to 10 different venues consistently, performing covers and a few original songs. Anders describes how after putting a decent amount of time and money into one song, the group thought it was good enough to send out as a demo. Sure enough, they sent it to Universal and a month later, the label came to them looking for more. After a wooing period, Pat’s Record Company picked up Verona Grove. With that, they were shipped off to Los Angeles to begin the writing and recording process. The first fruits of their labor came in the form of a four track self-titled EP.”It’s kind of surreal going from Wisconsin to Los Angeles,” Anders says. “It was weird but being able to play music, writing and goofing around was great. It worked out awesome.”The majority of the band’s EP, including songs “Goodbye Surrender” and “Everything You Dreamed,” are upbeat and catchy with a hint of edginess, drawing comparisons to the likes of Hellogoodbye and Motion City Soundtrack. Verona Grove also cites Jimmy Eat World and The Get Up Kids as their influences. When asked to describe their sound, Anders explains that they’re “power pop with an alternative side”, but that the terms “pop punk” and “emo” don’t really apply to their music.”It just isn’t us,” he says. “We listen to it, but I wouldn’t put the emo label on us. If you ask me what emo is, I really couldn’t tell you. Maybe Dashboard Confessional or Bright Eyes.”For their upcoming album, The Story Thought Over, Anders says their time in California refined their writing abilities. At least four songs were written while still in Wisconsin while the rest were penned during their stint in LA.”They all have their own indirect meanings,” Anders says. “But it all comes together to tell a story.”As for post-MOBfest, Anders says they’re “cruising in a van and doing a small tour in the Midwest.” This applied quite literally, as the faint sound of car horns could be heard throughout the interview. The group is also still in search of management.”It’s a battle, but we’re going to work for it,” Anders says.

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