Alternative pop/rock outfit Your Vegas were formed by four friends in Otley, a small town outside Leeds, U.K., in 2004. Originally conceived as a harder, grunge-tinged group, the group shifted to a brighter sound and shuffled its lineup, eventually settling with Coyle Girelli (vocals), Mat Steel (guitar), Mark Heaton (keyboards, guitar), Jon Langford (bass), and Mal Taylor (drums). The quintet named the band after one of its first singles, which the band released independently, and began extensive touring of the U.K. After a deal with a major label fell through, Girelli moved to New York City and found it to be a promising place for the group to move forward. The rest of the bandmembers came to visit, then returned home to settle affairs before making their move to the United States permanent. Things moved rapidly from there, as Your Vegas signed with Universal Republic and played at the 2008 SXSW festival. That same year, they released an EP and an album, both of which were named A Town and Two Cities. ~ Katherine Fulton