The Foxymorons

The Foxymorons make an eclectically gorgeous (and seemingly effortless) brand of guitar pop that at once calls to mind tuneful '90s prodigies like Guided By Voices, Pavement, and Wilco and classic outfits such as Big Star, the Flying Burritos, and Beach Boys. (Really.)

David Dewese and Jerry James met as kids in their native Mesquite, TX. After graduating from college, Dewese moved to Dallas, where he and James started making lo-fi recordings. Shortly after, Dewese, who was interested in the burgeoning alt-country movement, moved to Nashville, where he played in several bands, including the Luxury Liners (named after a Gram Parsons song). Originally intended as Dewese's country-rock outlet, the group evolved into a crunchy and sunny power pop band (à la Big Star).

In the meantime, his and James' Dallas recordings were released under the moniker the Foxymorons — though the "group" had never played a live show. The band's debut LP, 1999's Calcutta, was assembled long-distance between Dallas and Nashville, with the two sending tapes back and forth. In March 2000, the Foxymorons finally played their first gig at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin. The two put together 2001's Rodeo City — a pun on the Big Star album Radio City — in much the same manner as their debut. However, Matt Pence and Will Johnson of lo-fi rockers Centro-Matic were employed as bandmembers and Nashville producer Mike Poole (BR5-49) mixed it and did some additional recording. The result was a more assured and focused effort than Calcutta.