Thieves And Villains

It was in New York’s Hudson Valley that Thieves and Villains assembled in 2007 to begin shaping their emo-tinged rock sound. The group’s co-founders, Sergio Otaegui and Christopher Pennings, had first met two years prior while each performed in separate acts. By 2007 the pair had exited those projects to start the new band, initially relying on a shifting roster of drummers and bassists for support. Early the next year Thieves and Villains inked a deal with Victory Records, issued their debut album Movement months afterward, and locked in a permanent rhythm section by adding drummer Joseph Penna and bassist Chris Competiello. Late in 2009 the quartet withdrew to Otaegui’s parents’ basement to compose songs for a follow-up, tracking the material the ensuing March before unveiling it in mid-2010 under the title South America.