brooding

The origins of New Zealand's Verlaines can be traced back as early as 1979, with the group's founder Graeme Downes took direct inspiration from fellow Dunedin group, the Clean to form a band of his own. It wasn't until 1981 that the group made their first public appearance with their initial five-piece line-up. The band have so far released seven full-length albums on three different labels, one mini album, three singles and two compilations.

Del Amitri are a Pop-rock guitar band, formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1980. They came together at school as teenagers when Justin Currie (bass and vocals), James Scobbie (guitar and vocals) and Donald Bentley (guitar) formed a band in reaction against the rest of the 'rockers' in the school. The name was chosen deliberately because it didn't mean anything but sounded a bit like someone's name - early Del Amitri did not want to be classified and their existence was kept secret from the rest of the school.

Read more about Del Amitri on Last.fm.

Cartoon Physics started life as a project of Peter Ayscough and Sam Magriplis of Brisbane Australia. Pete and Sam have been collaborating since the mid 90's when they played together in Edie's Playpen - also from Brisbane. Following the inevitable split of Edies', Sam joined the moderately successful Mocking Room, while Pete regressed to his home studio to continue writing. In 2008 Sam and Pete started a new musical collaboration.

American Music Club (often abbreviated AMC) is a San Francisco-based band led by singer-songwriter Mark Eitzel. They've been recording and playing in SF clubs since the mid 1980's, showing a remarkable longevity for a band that has been far more critically acclaimed than financially successful. Although born in California, frontman Mark Eitzel spent his formative years in Great Britain and Ohio before returning to the Bay Area in 1980.