Metropolitan

Metropolitan originated during 1998 in Washington when guitarists John Masters and Aidan Coughlan first joined forces. Drawing from the sounds of Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground, and Galaxie 500, the pair forged a lively noise-rock approach tinged with pop sensibilities. Their debut arrived one year later as the self-released album Side Effect, by which point Masters and Coughlan had already drawn notice within the city’s alternative circles. Following multiple personnel shifts, Coughlan departed in January 2001; shortly afterward drummer Saadat Awan and bassist Shyam Telikicherla came aboard, locking the lineup into a trio. The group then performed extensively around town, appearing alongside the Dismemberment Plan, Bardo Pond, and Tristeza. In early 2002 the three returned to the studio with producer Chad Clark—previously credited on projects by Fugazi and the Beauty Pill—to lay down their next long-player. Issued that March on Crank Automotive Records, Down For You Is Up quickly established the band among Washington’s most promising acts.