This prog outfit hails from Fort Worth, Texas. In late '95 the improv-based group Anne Hand (with drummer Nathan Brown) had imploded leaving Kurt Rungey (keyboards) and Bill Pohl (guitars) to form The UNDERGROUND RAILROAD a few months later. A few years of writing and recording followed. Former Pohl-band drummer John Livingston climbed aboard in '97. Matt Hembree (Bindle, Drunken Monkey, Goodwin) was asked to contribute bass tracks shortly thereafter.

In 1999, their first album, "Through and Through" was picked up by The Laser's Edge label. Their style derives from classic GENESIS & YES, alongside clear fusion influences from Allan Holdsworth's guitar techniques. Reviews for the album were good, and they were invited to play on NEARfest 2001 and on CattleProg on 2002. The band took its time for the 2nd album, and the studio work took about three years to complete.

"The Origin of Consciousness" (2005) is The UNDERGROUND RAILROAD's long-awaited second album. Highlights include a conceptual set of songs based on the ideas of psychoanthropologist Julian Jaynes, the guitar showcase "Love Is a Vagabond King," and "Creeper" which continues the story begun on the fan favorite "The Doorman" from the previous album.
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