New York City based Jesse Cohen (keyboards, samples, fake drums), Andy Craven (drums), Michael Bell-Smith (vocals, percussion, bass, keys), and Tony Plunkett (bass) formed in 2004 as Professor Murder. The quartet mixes synthesizers and percussion-based workouts in a method inspired by the post-punk bands of the late '70s and early '80s, while adding a dose of upbeat, cheerful melodies for good measure. The band performed extensively and almost exclusively in NYC for several years, eventually earning opening slots for !!! and Radio 4. Their debut EP Professor Murder Rides the Subway was released on the Kanine imprint in July of 2006. ~ Rob Theakston