On any given day in Loveland, you’ll find these men in familiar places — school pickup lines, local coffee shops, or along the Little Miami Scenic Trail with their kids in tow. But give them a stage, a setlist, and a crowd, and these same dads become something else entirely: ASTROVAN, a four-piece “outlaw indie” band with a fast-growing following and roots firmly planted right here in Loveland.
The band — Mikal Crist (vocals/guitar), Steve Ashmore (bass), Jacob Shidler (drums), and Eric Schroeder (guitar) — didn’t come together through the usual late-night gigs. Instead, their story begins with their daughters.
Mikal and Steve were already connected through their daughters, but it wasn’t until a last-minute need for a band that Mikal learned Steve played bass. Around the same time, he reconnected with Jacob, a high school acquaintance who played drums, and soon after, Eric joined, rounding out the lineup. What started as a one-time collaboration quickly took on a life of its own.
“We thought we’d play one show and that would be it,” Mikal remembers. “But after that first rehearsal, we knew this was something special.”
That “something” has become ASTROVAN, a band rooted not just in music, but in friendship, family, and what they call their “second rodeo.” Their sound blends heartland rock with indie grit and emotional honesty.
Think sing-alongs, a little rebel spirit, and songs that get you dancing.
“It’s about being dads and husbands chasing a dream in our 40s,” Jacob explains. “We’re proud of that ... and we want our daughters to see it’s never too late to go after something you love.”
That authenticity has resonated far beyond Loveland.
Their breakout single, Three Point Night, is now the official victory anthem for FC Cincinnati, played after every home win at TQL Stadium. The song gained traction after Jacob shared it with a client at MadTree Brewing, then sent it to FC Cincinnati’s DJ Prymtime, who quickly added it to his rotation. He loved it ... and the rest is history.
The first time they heard it played in the stadium? Unforgettable.
“I picked up my daughter, and we were jumping up and down with tears in my eyes,” Mikal smiles. “It was everything — music, family, friendship — all coming together in one moment.”
ASTROVAN remains deeply connected to the community that first embraced them. Earlier this year, they headlined the Loveland Stage Company Concert Series, turning the performance into something that felt less like a typical show and more like a shared hometown moment.
“The crowd was singing along to songs they’d never heard before,” Jacob says. “It was unbelievable.”
That kind of response is exactly why the band remains here.
“Even if we’re playing bigger venues someday, we’ll always come back,” Mikal says. “Loveland is where we became a band.”
ASTROVAN has recently launched Spill It Records, a recording studio housed in a restored barn in Maineville, complete with a creek running beneath it. The space blends state-of-the-art equipment with a raw, natural, acoustic environment — creating a setting that’s both inspiring and technically impressive.
The studio reflects the band’s broader mission: to create space for authenticity, not just for themselves, but for other artists as well.
Right now, that creative energy is focused on their highly anticipated debut album. Centered around the theme of a “second rodeo,” the project explores life as dads, husbands, and friends, and is full of grit, joy, and second chances.
“It’s about rediscovering what you love,” Mikal reflects. “And going after it.”
And while fans will have to wait just a bit longer for the full album, they won’t have to wait long to see ASTROVAN live. The band is set to perform at the Loveland Summer Concert In the Park series on Sunday, July 26 from 6–8 p.m. on the front lawn of City Hall, with more local shows and festival appearances in the works.
For a group that started as a few dads reconnecting with music, ASTROVAN has already come a long way — racking up more than 75,000 streams across 14 countries and building a loyal following they affectionately call the “ASTROFAM.”
For ASTROVAN, the music is only part of the story. The rest is built on family, friendship, and the community that brought them together.
“Without Loveland,” Eric explains, “there is no ASTROVAN.”
“The connection to the audience is so integral. To be able to connect on the human level and hopefully inspire and grow a community, I think is the ultimate goal.” - Steve
“We’re deeply proud of being dads and husbands, chasing down a dream of music in our 40s. Inspiring our daughters to chase their dreams at any age!” - Jacob