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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Silversun Pickups| image = Silversun Pickups at Coachella 2009.jpg| alt =| caption = Silversun Pickups at Coachella 2009| image_size =| landscape = yes| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Los Angeles , California , USA | genre = Alternative rock , indie rock , dream pop , shoegaze | years_active = start date|2002present| label = Dangerbird Records|Dangerbird | associated_acts =| website = URL|silversunpickups.com| current_members = Brian Aubert Christopher Guanlao Joe Lester Nikki Monninger| past_members = Elvira Gonzalez Kennedy (musician)|Jack Kennedy Silversun Pickups is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California , formed in 2002. The band comprises Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao, and Joe Lester.
The band released their debut EP, Pikul (EP)|Pikul , in July 2005, and their debut full-length album, Carnavas , on July 26, 2006. Their second full-length album, Swoon (Silversun Pickups album)|Swoon , was released on April 14, 2009. They are currently working on their third studio album.
History
Early years, Pikul EP (2002-2005)
The band members are friends who had played together previously or in mutual friends' bands. They began their career in L.A. clubs, most often at Silverlake Lounge or nearby Spaceland, and began to draw a strong following upon the release of the Pikul (EP)|Pikul EP.
The band originated in L.A.'s Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California|Silver Lake music scene, home of Rilo Kiley and others. http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/6223/ The Watson Twins display their Southern Manners on FasterLouder.com.au
The band was originally named A Couple of Couples, as the original band members were literally a couple of romantically involved couples. However, this was before a change in line-up. Their current name is derived from a liquor store across from Silverlake Lounge. One of the friends would often arrive at the store late at night to buy liquor, and would be as such making the "Silversun Pickup". In interviews, the band often says their name is more of "a state of mind"youtube|Z2BZlp47mRI - supposedly from living so close to everything an L.A.-based indie rock band would need late at night.
For Pikul (EP)|Pikul , fellow Silverlaker Tanya Haden was enlisted to play cello on the track "Kissing Families".cite web|url= http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009WFEF0|title=Pikul EP|publisher=Amazon.com Pikul has sold 55,000 copies to date.Citation needed|date=November 2010
Carnavas (2006-2007)
On September 26, 2006, the band released their debut full-length album Carnavas . Two of the album's four singles, "Lazy Eye" and "Well Thought Out Twinkles", made the top 10 of the Modern Rock Tracks|Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2007. Lazy Eye is also featured in the video games Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour , one of only 13 songs to be featured in both franchises. http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/09/12/10-songs-in-rb2-and-gh/ The band finished a three-week tour opening for Wolfmother on December 9, 2006, and later toured with OK Go and Snow Patrol on their United States|U.S. spring tour, which ended on April 10, 2007. The band also played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California on April 27, 2007, and played various concerts for modern rock -formatted radio stations in the US throughout the year.
The band also toured the United Kingdom|UK and Ireland while Carnavas was released there on May 28, 2007. They opened for Foo Fighters in Edinburgh , Scotland , and Dublin , Ireland . They also opened for the Kaiser Chiefs during their European tour.
Carnavas peaked at #80 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 435,000 copies since its release.Citation needed|date=November 2010
Swoon (2008-2010)
The band's second album Swoon (Silversun Pickups album)|Swoon Alternative Press Issue #243 includes 10 tracks, and instead of having a straightforward mid-tempo sound, Aubert described it as "Some songs are very quiet and delicate, while others are just fucking loud." http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Story.aspx? id=2089 The Pendulum - Silversun Pickups make the crowd 'swoon'
The album was released on April 14, 2009 to positive reviews. It debuted at #7, selling approximately 43,000 copies in its first week. Swoon (Silversun Pickups album)|Swoon has sold 285,000 copies.Citation needed|date=November 2010 The first single released was " Panic Switch ", which aired on VH1 and MTV music video shows and radio stations worldwide. Silversun Pickups played the 2009 Voodoo Music Experience Festival over the Halloween weekend. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/eminem-kiss-flaming-lips-to-headline-voodoo-1003988174.story Information Not Found | Billboard.com
In 2009, the band performed "Catch and Release", "Panic Switch", "Lazy Eye", "Well Thought Out Twinkles", "Growing Old is Getting Old", and "Kissing Families" for MTV Unplugged .
In early December 2009, the band was nominated in the Best New Artist category for the 52nd Grammy Awards . Their nomination drew some controversy, because the band was already moderately successful before the 2008-2009 nominating year, although this was mainly due to misunderstandings involving the selections of Best New Artist nominees.cite news| url= http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/12/a-brief-primer-on-how-to-become-a-best-new-artist-at-the-grammys.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Pop & Hiss | date=December 4, 2009 They supported Placebo (band)|Placebo on their Winter 2009 European tour. Upon the release of Swoon , they toured with Manchester Orchestra as main support. In spring 2010 the band toured with Muse (band)|Muse for their US tour. http://www.silversunpickups.com/news/sspu-join-muse-2010-us-tour/ Silversun Pickups They toured North America again in summer 2010 with Against Me! and The Henry Clay People (band)|The Henry Clay People . http://silversunpickups.com/news/new-tour-dates/ Silversun Pickups They toured with Australian rock band Birds of Tokyo in September 2010 and ended an 18-month tour in support of Swoon at Austin City Limits.
Third studio album (2011-present)
The band is currently working on their third studio album. They have posted several pictures and videos on Twitter and are currently nicknaming the album "3" . http://silversunpickups.com/news/help-japaneeds-win-skype-chat-sspu/ Silversun Pickups Their label, Dangerbird Records, have confirmed that 3 will be released in the spring of 2012. http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/news/entry/silversun-pickups-seasick-vinyl-coming-november-25
The band has also announced a three song 10" vinyl single for Record Store Day#Record Store Day 2011|Record Store Day 's "Back to Black Friday" event on November 25, 2011 titled " Seasick (song)|Seasick ". It is composed of three previously unreleased songs; "Seasick", "Broken Bottles" and "Ribbons and Detours". http://theartistree.fm/2011/11/silversun-pickups-seasick/ They are songs left over from the Swoon sessions, and will not be put on their third studio album.
The band also contributed a cover of Bob Dylan 's " Not Dark Yet " for the tribute album Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International .
On February 7, 2012, it was announced that the band would be playing the main stage at the 2012 Sasquatch& #33; Music Festival . http://sasquatchfestival.com/lineup
Musical style and influences
The band's sound, often encompassing multiple overdubs of distortion (guitar)|distorted guitars, is frequently compared to that of The Smashing Pumpkins ,
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/silversunpickups/albums/album/10850284/review/10962883/carnavas 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."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=6070673 NPR Song of the Day. Review by http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=5250675 John Richards. "Silversun Pickups brings to mind a sort of alternate-universe Smashing Pumpkins."
cite web|url= http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FUF86Q|title=Carnavas Editorial Review|work=Amazon.com|first=Mike|last=McGonigal|quote=Their music updates the anthemic but gauzy heavy rock sound that Veruca Salt and the Smashing Pumpkins had down pat.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/38619-carnavas Pitchfork Media review of Carnavas by http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/staff 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'."
while the band members have said they are heavily influenced by artists such as My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine , Pixies , The Flaming Lips , Catherine Wheel , The Velvet Underground , Elliott Smith , Sonic Youth , Sweet (band)|Sweet , Modest Mouse , Sunny Day Real Estate , and Secret Machines .
cite web|url= http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070820-0001/issue910.pdf|publisher= Australian Recording Industry Association |accessdate=2011-09-03|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13th August 2007|format=PDF
BEL ( Flanders
CAN cite web
GER Peak chart positions for Silversun Pickups in Germany:
CAN Alt http:/ / canadianrockalt.blogspot.com/ 2012/ 01/ alternative-rock-january-31-2012.html
GER
2006
"Kissing Families"
Pikul
2007
" Future Foe Scenarios "
72
Carnavas
Lazy Eye "
102
5
56
44
" Well Thought Out Twinkles "
9
2008
" Little Lover's So Polite "
2009
" Panic Switch "
92
1
4
86
73
Swoon
Substitution "
17
26
2010
The Royal We "
5
21
2011
Seasick "
Seasick
"Broken Bottles"
37 cite web
47
"" denotes a release that did not chart.
Music videos
Year
Title
Director
2006
"Kissing Families"
Suzie Vlcek
"Lazy Eye"
2007
"Well Thought Out Twinkles"
Philip Andelman
2008
"Little Lover's So Polite"
Joaquin Phoenix
2009
"Panic Switch"
James Frost
"Substitution"
The Malloys
2010
"The Royal We"
Matt Mahurin
References
Reflist|2
External links
Commons category|Silversun Pickups
http://www.silversunpickups.com/ Silversun Pickups official website
http://fusefest.fuse.tv/a/home Silversun Pickups on Fuse: Best of Lollapalooza 2009
http://www.redefinemag.com/music/interviews_music_2.php? artist=Silversun-Pickups& id=71 Silversun Pickups Interview at REDEFINE Magazine, August 2006
http://www.shockhound.com/videos/497-interview--silversun-pickups Silversun Pickups interview on Shockhound.com
http://threeimaginarygirls.com/silversunpickupsinterview06jan.asp Interview with Nikki Monninger at Three Imaginary Girls
http://webinfront.net/? p=1134 Podcast of the Silversun Pickups live at SXSW 2006
http://soundcheck.walmart.com/risers/silversun-pickups Silversun Pickups Interview on Risers - presented by Axe
http://174.129.137.22/report/silversun-pickups-the-live-from-toronto-series Silversun Pickups Video Interview in Toronto
http://www.girlonguy.net/girl_on_guy_with_aisha_tyler/Entries/2011/12/11_girl_on_guy_26__the_silversun_pickups.html The band interviewed by Aisha Tyler on her podcast
Silversun Pickups Category:American indie rock groups Category:Shoegazing musical groups Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles, California Category:Musical quartets Category:Musical groups established in 2003
