Eastern Conference Champions

“Nice Clean Shirt” by Eastern Conference Champions, from Eastern Conference Champions EP (Suretone/Interscope):

Eastern Conference Champions
In the NBA, the Eastern Conference champion typically enjoys a short-lived celebration before facing the champion of the bigger, badder Western Conference. That must have been about how Josh Ostrander and Greg Lyons felt when their former band, Laguardia, issued its regrettably titled major-label debut, Welcome to the Middle, and promptly fell off the face of the Earth. Fortunately, the two lads from Los Angeles had a plan for the off-season: hella landscaping, with music on the side. The addition of former CKY bassist Vern Zaborowski cemented the Eastern Conference Champions‘ roster, setting the stage for a jittery, fun rock trio commanded by Ostrander’s wacky warble (think Jesse Malin impersonating Thom Yorke).