The Loons

In 1995 the Loons came together in San Diego after veterans of the Tell-Tale Hearts and the Hoods decided to pool their efforts. Mike Stax handled lead vocals, Anja Diabolik played bass and supplied backing vocals, Ian Andrew sat behind the drums, and Mark Schroeder and Chris Marsteller handled guitar duties; the ensemble drew on 1960s touchstones such as the Yardbirds and Love. A string of singles soon appeared on an array of imprints—Time Bomb Records, 360 Twist Records, and Thermionic Records in the United States, plus Screaming Apple Records and Max Picou Records in Germany—before Get Hip Records stepped forward with an offer to issue the group’s first long-player. Titled Love’s Dead Leaves and released in 2000, the album was helmed by Ebbot Lundberg of Soundtrack of Our Lives; its distinctive fusion of garage rock with power pop, punk, and a hint of psychedelia marked an ambitious opening statement. For the follow-up the band took production reins themselves, enlisting Mike Kamoo for additional guidance.