Soular

Soular emerged in 2002 when longtime friends Marsh Shamburger, who handled vocals, keys, and guitar, teamed with Jared Ashcraft on bass and vocals to shape their expansive melodic rock. Operating from Albuquerque, NM, the pair recruited drummer Ian Byrd in 2003 and soon issued their self-titled debut, whose single “Why” earned regional airplay. Later that same year the band took first place in a statewide contest for best new alternative act, a win that led them to a Portland studio in 2004 to cut their follow-up. The EP Time and Space arrived later that year, landing rotation on college stations across the country and remaining on the CMJ 200 chart for more than two months. Guitarist Brian Lee joined in February 2005 to complete the quartet; the group kept touring through the end of the year and eventually landed opening slots alongside Liz Phair, Vertical Horizon, Longwave, and the Fray. Waiting for Tomorrow reached stores in the U.S. and U.K. in April 2006. The following spring Astonish Entertainment released Love Crash Heal.