The Shys' brash update of '60s British Invasion and garage rock and '70s punk had its roots in San Clemente, CA, where vocalist/guitarist Kyle Krone and keyboardist/harmonica player Alex Kweskin grew up as childhood friends. Kweskin learned to play piano and drums while still in grade school, and though the duo had aspirations of being in a band early on, they didn't really take shape until they befriended bassist Chris Wulff, a newcomer to town who taught Krone to play guitar. As a trio with Kweskin on drums, the band honed their sound throughout their high school years, at first as Hush Hush and then as the Gun Shys. After graduation, the band continued practicing and playing live, even when Wulff left the band temporarily for a six-month stay in Spain. After shortening their name to the Shys due to legal issues with another artist named Gun Shy, the group signed to Sire. After recruiting drummer Mike Walker so that Kweskin could return to his keyboards, the Shys were the opening act on the Subways' debut U.S. tour. When the tour wrapped, they began recording their first album with producer Dave Cobb. The result was Astoria, which was released in summer 2006. The album's lead single, "Call in the Cavalry," was featured on shows such as HBO's Entourage and MTV's Fast, Inc. The band toured the U.S. and the U.K that summer and fall. ~ Heather Phares