Artist description Southern California Indie Rock Band.

Music Style Indie-rock

Similar Artists Creeper Lagoon, Travis, Jimmy Eat World, Superdrag, Superchunk, Knapsack, Jealous Sound, Smoking Popes, Lotion, Death Cab for Cutie, Elliott Smith

Artist History "There's a fine between stick-to-it-tiveness and self-delusion," quips Sunday's Best drummer/producer Tom Ackerman, "and right now I think we're happily confused as to where we stand." Seated next to lead singer/guitarist Ed Reyes, who smiles and smokes his Camels to the filter, Ackerman continues in the tone usually reserved for the telling of embarrassing childhood anecdotes, "we have endured a seriously tough winter: a horrible fall tour, the departure of a founding member and primary songwriter, the changing of booking agents, the quitting of our manager/lawyer, as well as my personal troubles of divorce and rehab. Most bands probably would have quit." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A great deal of "Behind the Music" style antics have transpired in the last 9 months for the Los Angeles-based quartet, despite their somewhat typical beginnings. Sunday's Best formed in 1997 when Reyes met guitarist (and then drummer) Ian Moreno while working at KXLU, Los Angeles' seminal college radio station. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "I met Ian at the station and introduced him to Pedro [Benito, former guitarist now playing with the Jealous Sound]. We got together with another DJ and before you know it, we're playing shows," explains Reyes. "We met Tom a few month later when he recorded our first 7 inch." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A few months later, Ackerman joined the band when the other guy moved to Arizona and Ian switched to guitar. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "I was supposed to be temporary," smiles Ackerman wryly, "guess who overstayed his welcome?" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ With the solidified lineup, Sunday's Best switched into high gear, first signing with Crank records and releasing an EP (Where You Are Now), and then hitting the road, touring with bands like Acrobat Down, Rainer Maria, Piebald, and Onelinedrawing. Their songs could also be heard frequently on Mtv shows like Road Rules and the Real World. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Those early tours were great because we had no expectations; we were the little guys, opening the shows, selling lots of CDs and surprising folks," waxes Reyes romantically, "and the Mtv stuff was even more good luck. Things always seem better in retrospect, don't they?" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ But then the band surprised people by switching to Polyvinyl Records and releasing their first full length, Poised to Break, in October of 2000. And after a great run at college radio (#30 on the CMJ charts at one point) and some key high profile shows in New York (with Rainer Maria and Bright Eyes), the band limped home from their 6 week Fall tour and seemed to implode. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "We initially left Crank because it was obvious that they were unwilling to commit their resources to helping us record our next CD. So we moved to Polyvinyl, where Matt has treated us like kings, but immediately we began to feel the expectation level beginning to rise. Our tour was terribly planned, and the resulting stresses of suddenly not being the underdog and facing the "dues-paying" process proved to be too much," Reyes states matter-of-factly, "we were not going to be able to remain friends and stay in this band together as things were." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Shortly after arriving home from tour, the booking agents and the band parted ways, the manager stopped calling, and Ackerman checked in to rehab and his wife filed for divorce. And to top everything off, before Ackerman could complete his rehab stay, Benito, a primary songwriter and founding member, resigned. The days seemed pretty dark. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "I thought I was going to be arrested any minute for forging prescriptions," explained Ackerman, "between that and the dissolve of my 5 year relationship/marriage, band matters seemed relatively distant in my perspective." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And yet, in the months that followed, when things seemed the bleakest, the true character of the band was revealed. Reyes took over the business aspects of the band and switched to guitar, James Tweedy was added to play bass, and the band just got back to doing what all good bands do: write music. "Poised to Break" has continued to sell consistently throughout the winter (it's now been licensed in Australia and Japan), and the band has been playing West Coast dates since late February. The band is about halfway through writing songs for the follow-up to "Poised..." and has plans to record in the Winter and tour Japan and Australia in the Fall. And their songs are still being featured in the background of Mtv shows like the Real World and Road Rules, as well as VH1's Bands on the Run. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Reyes caps off the interview with his own thoughts of the bands resolve, "we just kind of stripped everything down and started having fun again. It's not really all the epic if you consider we just did what friends usually do when the shit hits the fan: we stuck together."

Group Members Edward Reyes (vocals / guitar) + Ian Moreno (guitar) + James Tweedy (bass)

Instruments Marshall JMP, Vox AC-30 & Ampeg SVT Amps

Press Reviews Sunday's Best "Poised To Break" (Polyvinyl Records) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Poised To Break"--a CD title displaying the haughtiness of a band, or a humorous jab at the state of the Indie Rock scene? A fickle scene where many have the sounds and smarts to make it with the masses, but instead we get hammered with watered down diet grunge from too many bands that sound too much alike. In all actuality, never has a CD title fit the sound contained within so well. The only other title that would've worked would be "10 Kick Ass Songs You Should Spend Your Milk Money On." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You know how sometimes a song can awaken a long forgotten memory or make you reminisce about parts of your life? Like a half forgotten childhood summer. That's this entire CD. Tracks like "Bruise-blue" and "White, Picket Fences" brings an emotional upheaval of memories that you can't pin down. The lyrics, music and vocals all blend together in a perfect pop smoothie. You can hear possible musical influences throughout the CD as well. "Saccharine" and "Winter Owned" gives you a harder Knapsack type quality in places, but "Where Is Pearl Harbor Day" demonstrates a pure pop innocence that is lacking from many of the bands out there now. Then we have the bonus untitled instrumental track at the end of the CD which is purely an audio delight. These guys can meld with their instruments in a state of perfection to create a flow of sound not to be rivaled. Watch out Pele! Being an instrumental, that is the only tune on the CD that doesn't demonstrate Sunday's ability to give each song lyrical progression--like a story unfolding, instead of writing a catchy song just to have a catchy song. You become part of the story behind each track and from there you're lost in the CD until it comes to what will seem like an abrupt end. Not because it doesn't flow well, but just for the plain and simple fact that you want more and more! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ All in all, this CD is an amazing mixture of early Sunny Day Real Estate, the new pop sense of Promise Ring and bits and pieces of Built To Spill. But the best part is that they can take those sounds, add their own style and flavor to come up with a CD that once you listen to all the way through will stamp you for life. But just remember that if you look like a mess, you must be a mess. - Jeff Turner +++++++++++++++++++++OTHER+REVIEWS+++++++++++++++++++++ http://www.instantmag.com/reviews/sundays_best2.htm http://www.instantmag.com/reviews/sundays_best.htm http://www.nudeasthenews.com/sections/reviews/s/story/100100aaa.html http://www.drawerb.com/00/1/950587281.htm http://musictv.com/band.asp?bid=932 http://www.snappopmag.com/cdrs/sundaysbest1.html http://sensefield.net/sensefield/reviews/concert-rev-5-11-2000-j.html http://www.superpunk.com/articles/97269706476128.asp http://www.tangzine.com/reviews/sundat.htm http://www.geekamerica.com/reviews/archives/s.html http://www.ink19.com/issues_F/00_04/wet_ink/music_s/sundays_best.shtml // http://www.ink19.com/issues/october2000/wetInk/musicS/sundaysBest.html // http://www.dallasobserver.com/issues/2000-10-05/preview.html // http://www.splendidezine.com/reviews/oct-16-00/sundays.html // http://www.hybridmagazine.com/reviews/0900/sundaysbest.shtml //

Location Los Angeles, CA - USA

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