Aveo

Aveo shaped alluring melodies that fused rock's melodic contours with the gentle textures of alternative pop, thereby brightening the independent rock landscape. The three-piece ensemble, anchored by guitarist and vocalist William Wilson together with bassist Mike Hudson and drummer Jeff MacIsaac, came together in Seattle at the start of 2000. Each member had previously worked with assorted bands before the group adopted the name Aveo, taken from the Latin word signifying desire. After a stretch of rehearsals and informal shows, the trio secured a contract with Brown Records in 2001, just before guitarist and keyboard specialist Ken Jarvey came aboard, after which the lineup commenced work on its debut album. Bridge to the Northern Lights, that first release, appeared in June of the same year under the guidance of producer Phil Ek, whose prior credits included Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. Strong local attention and positive notices from regional outlets soon carried Aveo's music past state lines. Months afterward the band entered a new arrangement with Barsuk Records. Its follow-up album, Battery, surfaced in spring 2004.