Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups |
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Silversun Pickups (also simply known as sspu) is an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California, signed to Dangerbird Records, and headed by Brian Aubert. They released their debut Pikul EP in July of 2005, and their full length album Carnavas on July 26, 2006.
The current band lineup consists of Brian Aubert (vocals/guitar), Nikki Monninger (vocals/bass), Christopher Guanlao (drums), and Joe Lester (keyboards). The band members are friends who had played together previously or in mutual friends' bands. They got their start in many of the most important L.A. clubs and began to draw a strong following upon the release of the Pikul EP.
The band originated in L.A.'s much-vaunted Silver Lake music scene, home of Elliott Smith, Rilo Kiley and others[1]. Contrary to popular belief, their name does not come from the liquor store named 'Silversun Liquor'. In an interview, Aubert stated that their name is simply "a state of mind." [[2]] For Pikul, fellow Silverlaker Tanya Haden (who recently wed actor Jack Black and appears on Silver Lake musician Paul Avion's futuristic Pop Music United EP) was enlisted to play cello[3].
The band finished a three-week tour opening for Australian rockers Wolfmother on December 9, 2006, and later toured with OK Go and Snow Patrol on their U.S. spring tour, which ended on April 10, 2007. The Pickups played at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California on April 27, 2007.
They played at Live 105's BFD festival on June 9th, 2007. They also played the KROQ Weenie Roast on May 19th, 2007 and KJEE Seaside Beach Ball in Ventura, CA on June 8th, 2007.
The band toured the UK while Carnavas was released there on May 28, 2007. They opened for the Foo Fighters in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland.
The band's sound, often encompassing multiple overdubs of distorted guitars, is frequently compared to that of The Smashing Pumpkins[1][2][3][4].
Members Brian Aubert and Joe Lester are also former members of the indie rockband Sea Wolf.
Band members
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- Brian Aubert - guitar/vocals
- Nikki Monninger - bass guitar/vocals
- Christopher Guanlao - drums
- Joe Lester - keyboards
Discography
Albums
Singles and EP's
- "Pikul (EP)" (2005 − Dangerbird)
- "Lazy Eye" (2006 − Dangerbird) (#5 US Modern Rock)[4]
- "Future Foe Scenarios" (2007 - Dangerbird)
- "Well Thought Out Twinkles" (2007 - Dangerbird) (#38 US Modern Rock)
External links
Notes
- ^ Rolling Stone Review by Evan Serpick. "...things take off with 'Well Thought Out Twinkles,' a surge of guitar squalls and male-female vocals that sounds like what might have happened if the Smashing Pumpkins had driven their ice cream cart out West."
- ^ NPR Song of the Day. Review by John Richards. "Silversun Pickups brings to mind a sort of alternate-universe Smashing Pumpkins."
- ^ Amazon.com Editorial Review by Mike McGonigal. "Their music updates the anthemic but gauzy heavy rock sound that Veruca Salt and the Smashing Pumpkins had down pat."
- ^ Pitchfork Media review of Caravas by Rachel Khong. "Those nostalgic for Smashing Pumpkins tunes of yesteryear will find them nestled inside the minutes (and there are so many minutes) of 'Lazy Eye'."