Pico vs. Island Trees

Bands overflowing with the wide-eyed exuberance of youth are not hard to find, but Nashville's Pico vs Island Trees are a rare commodity: a group able to back up its innocence and enthusiasm with musical proficiency and keen pop sensibilities. By fusing genres ranging from indie rock to jazz, Pico vs Island Trees avoid the common temptation for musicians today to subscribe to a certain 'scene.' "We don't want to be pigeonholed as being a certain 'type' of band," says vocalist Bryan Carter. "We just want to make music that anyone can listen to, from our little brothers to our grandmothers.?

Pico vs Island Trees, affectionately called ?Pico? by their friends and fans, are some of the freshest faces on the growing Nashville pop scene. Their roots go deep; Bryan and guitarist Jeremy Bullock formed the band after a 7th grade talent show. The boys' search for a band name ended when they watched a classroom film about the famous 1982 Supreme Court case against the Island Trees School District, which, according to the video's main character, sounded "like a rock band." Pico vs Island Trees was born.

Over the next few years, Pico brought in bassist Brian Howell and toured extensively along the east coast, gaining a respectable following in their home state of North Carolina. In 2004 the band released their first full-length independent album, Just Wait. However, despite these small triumphs, the group had grown tired of operating as a ?weekend band.' With college plans looming on the horizon and mounting geographical challenges, Pico seemed to have reached a frustrating plateau.

The impasse that all bands dread was soon replaced by the opportunity which all bands dream of: Los Angeles producer David Kershenbaum (Duran Duran, Joe Jackson) heard one of their songs on the radio, loved it, and looked them up. In the blink of an eye the boys were on a plane to sunny California.

After 8 months of palm trees, click tracks, and mix downs, Pico had written and recorded a full album and were ready to hit the road with their full five-piece ensemble, with drummer Tommy Perkinson and keyboardist John Henry Trinko rounding out the lineup. The first song to emerge from the California sessions was the bossa-flavored ?Open Doors?. Mixed by Mark Endert (Maroon 5, The Fray), the song has piqued the interest of both fans and industry types alike.

As the group settles into their new hometown of Nashville and awaits the release of their album, Pico vs Island Trees overflow with the optimism and energy that has made an indelible mark on their music -- and hopefully, your ears.

-A.W./G.B