THE MEDIAM

Portland's the Mediam began with Gus Nicklos (vocals) and Ondrej Fercak (guitar), two friends who had played together in a number of high-school bands. After graduation, Nicklos and Fercak recruited Joe Mengis (drums) for their the short-lived hardcore group 5 Cent Refund. When the band split, the trio was inspired by the likes of Bad Religion, Quicksand, and the Foo Fighters and regrouped as the Mediam. After enlisting Adam Pike as bassist in 2003, the band began touring throughout the West Coast. The Mediam released a number of EPs — One (2002), Out of Ideas (2003), and The White House Sessions (2004) — and entered the studio in 2006 to record their debut album with producer Rob Daiker. In 2007, the group finished and released Actress, rounded out its lineup with guitarist Elijah Russell, and played a number of dates on the Warped Tour.