Bringing back the traditional rock sound of acts like Tom Petty, the Band, and Pure Prairie League, Atlanta-based band the Villains got their chops as studio musicians. Members Magno, Dan Call, Sean McNally, and Michael Wilkes knew one another from supporting mainstream and indie acts on the road and in the studio, but they always desired a more creative outlet. Adding Jimmy James Schmitt to the lineup gave the Villains a dynamic frontman along with an additional vocalist and songwriter, and after a series of gigs around Georgia, they headed into the studio. Their self-titled debut album landed in early 2010, followed in 2012 by Velocity. ~ David Jeffries