Boxes

Boxes is a name used by several different bands. One version is an indie-electro-pop act from south-east London. Another is a Davis, California band formed in 2008 by Lindsey Pavao and Matthew Torres, who meet at UC Davis. A third is a two-piece rock band from Dublin, Ireland, made up of Gavin Cowley and Mark Hayes.

Davis, California band

The Davis, California version of Boxes forms in the fall of 2008 and centres on Lindsey Pavao and Matthew Torres. Pavao comes from A Colourado, while Torres plays in Bad Fusion and Danny DeLeon. The two meet at UC Davis after realising they live in the same apartment complex, study the same major, and share the same friends. The group writes songs in an improvisational way and often builds them around humorous stories about everyday misfortune. Their music is described as combining creep rock, folk pop and mime screamo. They also play covers of Nirvana and Franz Ferdinand, treating them in a way that recalls Elliott Smith. Their later EP is titled Mia And Her Troop of Boxes.

Dublin rock duo

The Dublin-based Boxes is a two-man rock band with Gavin Cowley on vocals, guitar and bass, and Mark Hayes on drums. They play a bass-and-drums setup and support acts including Nomeansno, The Ex, Zu and Dinosaur Jr. Their first album, Big Ships in the Night Small Boats in the Morning, appears in 2003. Their second album, Bad Blood, is recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago in April 2005, with Steve Albini involved in its recording, and is released and distributed by Laterax Records and Cargo in the UK. Their third album, Animal, appears in 2008. It is recorded in Dublin’s Experimental Audio, engineered by Stephen Shannon, and continues their post-punk sound while moving toward blues, grunge and garage rock. Animal is their first release on their own Branchy Tree Records, and the sleeve designs are made and printed by Cowley.

South-east London act

The south-east London Boxes makes indie-electro-pop, pairing melodic songwriting with synthesizers, guitars and heavy beats. Its sound is positioned between The Postal Service, Bright Eyes and The Killers.