Look Mexico

A chance encounter at a Sea and Cake concert on the campus of Florida State University first linked Matt Agrella, who supplies vocals and guitar, with Dave Bumsted on guitar, setting in motion the Tallahassee indie rock outfit Look Mexico. The pair began composing material and, by the start of 2004, committed to assembling a full band. After recruiting drummer Josh Mikel, they secured an October 2004 debut performance alongside Karate despite still lacking a bassist; a fill-in handled the gig, yet the lineup remained incomplete until Tyson Kuhlhoff joined following the completion of their debut EP, So Byzantine, issued in 2005. The group then played scattered shows, concentrated largely in Florida, before tracking material in early 2006 for a subsequent release. Later that year The Crucial EP arrived to favorable notices, after which Bumsted departed to focus on studies and Ryan Slate assumed guitar duties. In the ensuing period Look Mexico shared bills with Horse the Band, Piebald, Gogogo Airheart, Fake Problems, and additional acts. Late in 2006 the band signed with Lujo Records and prepared its first full-length, This is Animal Music, which surfaced the next summer; the members spent the balance of that year promoting the album on tour.