Young the Giant
Formerly known as the Jakes, Young the Giant began making eclectic indie rock in Irvine, California, where bandmates Sameer Gadhia (vocals), Jacob Tilley (guitar), Eric Cannata (guitar), Payam Doostzadeh (bass), and Francois Comtois (drummer) all met each other during high school. Following graduation, the guys ditched their respective bands and formed their own outfit, drawing upon their European and Middle Eastern roots to forge a worldly, summery sound. Although the boys left Orange County shortly thereafter to attend different colleges, they continued making music together, eventually deciding to put school on hold and focus on the group instead. The decision wasn’t in vain; by early 2009, they were opening for Kings of Leon and playing shows at South by Southwest. Several months later, they were signed to Roadrunner Records. (Excerpted from Andrew Leahey Biography on AllMusic)
Neon Trees
Scoring hits such as “Animal” and “Everybody Talks,” Provo, Utah’s Neon Trees kicked off the 2010s with smart, catchy pop that blended new wave, dance, and indie with mainstream-friendly hooks. In 2011, the band scored a hit, “Lessons in Love (All Day and All Night),” with house producer Kaskade; a guitar-heavy version of the song appeared on the band’s 2012 album Picture Show, which found Neon Trees going in more rock and electronic directions at different times. They performed their hit song “Everybody Talks” on that year’s edition of America’s Got Talent. In January 2014, the single “Sleeping with a Friend” offered the first taste of Neon Trees’ more polished approach. That March, Glenn revealed he was gay, and a similar soul-searching mood ran through the band’s third album, Pop Psychology, which arrived in April 2014. (Excerpted from Itunes)
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