Idiosyncratic indie rock duo Quasi teamed singer/guitarist/keyboardist Sam Coomes and drummer Janet Weiss, who make music that rocks hard and is joyously tuneful when they're so inclined. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Coomes and Weiss had previously joined forces in the group Motorgoat, but with Quasi they let their sense of humor inform both their lyrics and the buoyancy of their music, though they're willing to poke fun at serious subjects (religion on 2001's The Sword of God and post-9/11 American politics on 2003's Hot Shit). While Quasi briefly expanded to a trio with the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme on 2010's American Gong, the core duo of Coomes and Weiss led the way when they reunited for 2023's Breaking the Balls of History.