Three veterans of the music scene in the desert of Phoenix, AZ, have come together to create a sound reminiscent of independent music from the past, without falling into the trap of being labeled as “retro” artists. The Father Figures are the collective effort of Michael Cornelius on guitar and vocals, Bobby Lerma on drums and vocals, and Tom Reardon on vocals and bass guitar. All have contributed to some of the more recognizable collaborations in the Valley of the Sun for well over twenty years. The Father Figures came together during a Memorial Day weekend in 2009, with the simple idea of “just friends playing together,” as Cornelius stated. The fact that the three members have played in bands for decades leads to a collective wisdom and a more ideological approach to creating music. “We originally just wanted to create a post-punk sound and work off that common musical thread.” Lerma stating this is right in line with Reardon’s belief that “we have ideas for something different (musically) and we are all open-minded.” After two incredible shows in July of 2009, The Father Figures realized this was no mere project. They are a band that takes cues from Sonic Youth and meshes the sounds of Fugazi and Interpol. This process has enabled the Father Figures to create a wall of sound that is full of great pop hooks, delivered with sheer power.