Former Avi Buffalo Founder Unveils New Band Pageants

Although Rebecca Coleman might have only recently inched past the traditional 'coming of age' milestone and turned twenty-one, she is far from a newcomer when it comes to the LA-area music scene.  While still a teenager in high school she co-founded the much acclaimed and Pitchfork-endorsed Avi Buffalo in Long Beach, California.  As a primary member of the indie rock four-piece, she played keyboards and sang back up on their self-titled debut on Sub Pop Records, touring the globe prior to leaving the band in the summer of 2010.

But rather than the end of an era, it was a new beginning for Coleman. Pairing up with guitarist Devin O'Brien - himself a sometime member of Avi Buffalo - the duo formed Pageants. They continued to explore the pop sensibilities of their former band while managing to awaken a style of their own. Coleman's guitar driven rhythm is cradled by waves of her celestial vocal melodies. Filled with warmth and vibe, their music evokes raw emotion without ever losing its cool. This unique yet familiar style has drawn comparisons to the melancholic buzz of Mazzy Star, "the lonely guitar jangle of early Liz Phair" (BrandX), and the glistening melodies of classic-era 4AD Records.

After recording an initial series of demos with Bob Bruno from Best Coast, Pageants later swelled into a three piece with the addition of Dylan Wood (60 Watt Kid) on drums. In no time, the band developed quite the live resume - from supporting former-Stereolab singer Laetitia Sadier, to sharing the stage with blog-faves Wild Belle, opening for Mates of State, Hospitality, Milo Greene and TEEN, and appearing at a series of LA area festivals including Make Music Pasadena, and Filter's 'Culture Collide.'

Pageants open 2013 with their debut single, Musings of the Tide b/w August Moon, issued on milky-white 7" vinyl via the band's own Eye-Dul imprint. Recorded at their home studio by O'Brien, and mixed by LA-area notable Vincenzo LoRusso (Johnny Cash, Deborah Harry, Isaac Hayes), it is a powerful representation of Coleman's soaring, layered vocals, and O'Brien's thoughtful guitar work.  All in all, the single is a fitting introduction to the band and a taste of what is to come.  Pageants' debut full length, currently being finished in their Long Beach home, is scheduled to surface later this year.