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This Los Angeles, California,
USA-based alternative rock act's breakthrough
came in the autumn of 1997 with the radio success
of "If You Could Only See". Their previous
two releases, "Open Up Your Eyes" and
"Casual Affair", had both won critical
support and airplay, but it was their third effort
that brought them national success via the auspices
of MTV. The band, formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart
(b. 21 July 1969; guitar, vocals), Jeff Russo
(b. 31 August 1969; guitar), Dan Rothchild (bass),
and Kevin Shepard (b. 19 December 1968; drums),
developed as a unit playing regular sets at Los
Angeles venues such as the Kibitz Room at Canter's
Delicatessen. The band also toured heavily, playing
dates in 1997 with the Verve Pipe and, as part
of the R.O.A.R. tour, Iggy Pop. As Hart confirmed
to the press: "We love getting out there
and working hard, and it's also the best way for
us to judge how we're doing." The band signed
a major label deal and released their rootsy debut
album, Lemon Parade, in July 1996. Thanks to the
breakthrough success of their third single the
album went on to achieve platinum sales. The Live
& Enhanced EP was made available over the
Internet in 1998. Rothchild and Shepard had left
the band by this point. Bass player Dan Lavery
(b. 11 June 1969) was brought in for the recording
of the band's second album, Sugar. "You Wanted
More" became a radio hit thanks to its inclusion
on the American Pie soundtrack.
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