San Diego Reader

Eric Sellers: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Andrew Loc: Bass guitar | Jeffrey O'Brien: Drums

Genre: Rock

Sound description: Covering hipster bases from indie to post-punk to dance to electro.

Upcoming Local Shows

• Ruby Room — Saturday, June 9, 9pm

Song Downloads

• Murphy's Lawyer

Related Links:

• http://www.facebook.com/eastofsweden

• Facebook
• BandCamp

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 2010

Background:

Indie post-punk dance rock trio East of Sweden (ex-Syndicate drummer Jeffrey O’Brien alongside Eric Sellers and Andrew Loc) is from San Diego, nowhere near Sweden. “I actually do have a little Swedish heritage,” says O’Brien, “which had nothing to do with how we came up with the name. But I did like it for that, really.” The band name is a twist on the Steinbeck story East of Eden.

“When we were going through hundreds of names, trying to come up with something for the band we each went into our little artistic corners.” In the end, he says it was Eric Sellers who came up with East of Sweden.

“He actually has the book. I saw it on his bookshelf.”

Sellers sings and plays guitar. He gets a big airy sound that rings and lingers and almost chimes in the manner of U2’s The Edge. Andrew Loc plays bass. The members come from past local bands the Syndicate and SocketSeven. They started the band in 2010 but O’Brien, who moved to Normal Heights in 2005, says the promo machine began in earnest in summer 2011.

After recording a demo, the band began work in early 2012 on a full-length with Mario Quintero at Black Box Studios on Broadway in Golden Hill.