Artist California Wives

Chicago-born synth-pop quartet California Wives is still relatively green, having formed in 2009. Reading both upbeat and laid-back, the band’s ’80s-inspired debut EP, Affair, pleased both critics and the band’s burgeoning fan base. Songs like “Blood Red Youth” are sharply new wave, featuring rich synth tracks and drawing likely comparisons to bands like New Order. California Wives claim to be working on a full-length, but that’s been in the works for a while. Still, chatter has been high on these dudes, especially considering their Phoenix-like sound.

Updated 05/14/2012