Convoy

Convoy crafts anthemic power pop that draws on Brit-rock influences, Beach Boys harmonies, the wistful twang of the Jayhawks, and a loose, feel-good jamming approach. The San Diego, California, outfit surfaced in the late '90s after singer/songwriter and guitarist Jason Hill linked up with singer/songwriter and guitarist Brian Karscig plus their high school acquaintances Robbie Dodds on guitar and Mark Maigaard on drums, with bassist Shaun Cornell joining the ranks afterward. For the first release, Pineapple Recording Sessions, the musicians shifted operations to a remote, expansive desert ranch in Jamul, California, and captured the material themselves on an analog eight-track reel-to-reel without outside assistance. Extensive U.S. touring followed, and after a couple of years those road efforts secured a deal with Hybrid Recordings, an Atlantic imprint, plus a national television slot on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and support slots with Aerosmith, Tom Petty, and Everclear. Their debut full-length, 2002's Black Licorice, brought in producer Dave Bianco, whose prior credits include work with Tom Petty.