The Brobecks

An easy power pop act through the unlikely environs of Sodium Lake Town, UT, the Brobecks are further proof the salutary ramifications of rings honing their build in towns that absence identifiable moments they’re likely to participate in. (Discover also: Albuquerque’s the Shins and Tarkio, Colin Meloy’s Montana music group before he decamped to Portland to create the Decemberists.) The Brobecks’ mixture of witty/snarky lyrics, smart pop hooks, and brash pop energy took its cues from people as disparate as XTC, Weezer, and Ben Folds Five, a couple of influences improbable to journey in cities where everybody else wants to end up being another Queens from the Rock Age. The initial lineup from the Brobecks highlighted dueling vocalist/songwriters in guitarist Michael Gross and bassist Dallon Weekes, plus keyboardist Bryan Szymanski and drummer Drew Davidson. Carrying out a self-titled debut, Szymanski was changed by keyboardist and second guitarist Matt Seppi for the higher-profile The Happiest Nuclear Wintertime in 2005. Gross was by this time around splitting his time taken between the Brobecks and a Postal Service-like folktronica duo known as Let’s Become Stars, who released their initial record in 2006. Following release from the Brobecks’ third record, 2006’s Goodnight, and also have a nice Tomorrow, Gross still left to focus on his various other project, with the rest of the members continuing being a trio.