Novillero

Drawing from the mod rock traditions of the Who and the Kinks, the Canadian outfit Novillero developed its distinctive guitar-and-keyboard-centered style of melodic pop. The Winnipeg quartet came together in 1999 and issued its first full-length recording, The Brindleford Follies, through Endearing Records before disbanding in 2002. The group reassembled the following year, at which point founding guitarist Rusty Matyas departed to focus on his other project, the Waking Eyes. With vocalist and keyboardist Rod Slaughter, guitarist Sean Stevens, bassist and vocalist Grant Johnson, and drummer and vocalist Dave Berthiaume now in place, Novillero delivered its second album, Aim Right for the Holes in Their Lives, via Mint Records in 2005. Little Tradition appeared three years afterward.