Shrag

Hailing from Brighton, the high-energy indie rock band Shrag formed in 2004. Made up of Helen King (vocals, keyboards), Stephanie Goodman (vocals, keyboards), Leigh Anne Walter (vocals, drums), Bob Brown (vocals, guitar), and Russell Warrior (bass), the band began playing shows and soon caught the ear of indie label Where It's at Is Where You Are. They released their first single, "Talk to the Left"/"Hopelessly Wasted," for the label in 2006. Three more singles followed as the band continued to tour and gain fans for its brainy, melodic indie pop. These were gathered (along with some stray tracks) for 2009's self-titled album. The record gained some critical notice and a tour of the U.K. supporting the Pains of Being Pure at Heart upped their profile some, too. The band's first real full-length album, Life! Death! Prizes!, was released in October of 2010 by Where It's At Is Where You Are, just before the band headed to New York to play its first official shows in the U.S. at CMJ. Shrag spent nearly all of 2011 writing their next album, then hit the studio with producer Andy Miller, who worked with Life Without Buildings. The resulting album, Canines, was co-released in summer of 2012 by Where It's at Is Where You Are and Fortuna Pop.