Self Against City

Sacramento's emo-pop outfit Self Against City came together in 2004 and, a mere five months after forming, became the first band signed to the Drive-Thru subsidiary Rushmore Records. The guys — vocalist Jonathan Michael Temkin, guitarists Jack Matranga and Jeff LaTour, bassist Patrick O'Connor, and drummer Chris Trombley — posted some demos online, which Drive-Thru co-owner Richard Reines stumbled upon and was quickly impressed by. Self Against City (who take their name from mishearing a radio DJ announce Bowie's "Suffragette City") soon played a showcase for the label and ultimately inked a deal in late 2004. Their first EP, Take It How You Want It, appeared in April 2005, boasting a sound close to Mae or the Early November, and the band hopped on the road with labelmates Houston Calls in support. Recording for their debut Rushmore full-length began in March 2006 with producer Steve Haigler (Pixies, Brand New), and following its June completion, O'Connor and Trombley exited the band. Telling Secrets to Strangers was then released in early January 2007.