Team USA

Energetic N.Y.C. rockers Team USA throw a wide range of influences into their quirky pop stew, from supple new wave to classic power pop to good-time '60s rock. The group boasts an aggressive guitar attack and oddball lead vocals that recall Television's Tom Verlaine or Talking Heads' David Byrne.

Team USA is originally from St. Louis. Jackie Gendel, Mike Reddy, and John Mathias were art-school students who joined up with drummer Andy O'Neill in the fall of 1995 and began performing around the area. The group eventually relocated to New York City, performing at hip downtown venues and releasing a four-song EP, When Does the Weekend?, late in 2000. Producer/engineer Peter Keusch (Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony) helped out with the recording of the release. Team USA recorded the 12 tracks that comprise the spring 2002 release Listen to the Night at a Brooklyn studio over the course of a single week.