We Want Action Compilation

In 2003 We Want Action, the label run by Relay Recording put out a compilation documenting the various bands on the label or that had recorded at the studio. It's a great time-capsule of 2003 Columbus, with bands such as Tiara, Denovo, Kopaz, The Sun, Templeton, Silencio, Miranda Sound, Frotiva, 84 Nash and The Last Hotel all contributing tracks.

New Additions: The Unkindest Cut Of All seven inch single by Monster Zero

One of the fun parts of this project is finding the connections between various bands of the 2000s that are linked in the 1990s. For example, Monster Zero features Brad Caulkins, who would go on to play in The Jive Turkeys and The Sun, and Emily Allen, who would go on to play in Templeton, Estee Louder and The Means, which included her brother David Wayne Allen that played on third Monster Zero single. All that said, Monster Zero has grungy indie rock sound perfectly at home for the mid-90s, and it makes sense where this family tree extends off to in the various directions.

Indie Rock Cafe: The Sun Break From A Major Label

In 2009, after the turmoil and tribulations The Sun went through following the critical success but financial failure of their 2005 debut album, the band released the second and final album for free. The story is covered by Indie Rock Cafe:

In the aftermath of their former lives as big label artists, the remaining band members teamed up with Spoon producer Mike McCarthy to work on their second - and reportedly last - LP, Don't Let Your Baby Have All The Fun, which was officially released as a free download on November 10th via Rockproper.com. Free is great; but this is one record we'd gladly pay for, so if a vinyl edition comes out (please!), we'll let you know.

Video: So Long Sundays by The Sun

NWTimes: Here Comes The Sun

Back in 2003, The Sun we're just getting started, but were immediately getting media buzz and scored a coveted spot opening for The Flaming Lips at the peak of their mainstream popularity. Here's a bit from the NW Times that does a good job discussing the formation of the band:

Over the course of only the near 18 minutes that make up its excellent debut EP, "Love & Death," the Columbus-based four piece manage to out- Vine the Vines with opener "Fell So Hard," pay homage to the great mid-'60s American garage rock compilation "Nuggets" with "Carry It All," then recall the beauty of Paul Westerberg at his acoustic best with set closer "Eyelids Apart." 

"We're scatterbrained," admitted Sun singer and guitarist Chris Burney. "And scatterbrained in a good way. We can't keep our minds in one place for longer than 25 minutes. I don't mind it."

New Additions: Did Your Mother Tell You? EP by The Sun

Having moved to Columbus in 1998, I was here when the whirlwind that was The Sun swept into town, specifically Chris Burney grabbing band members from Flotation Walls, The Jive Turkeys and New Bomb Turks to form his backing band. At the time, the demos were floating around town on CD-rs for folks to check out and discuss, specifically, how did this band score a deal with Warner Brothers? The answer is the songs. The two EPs released in 2003 and 2004 show off an advanced level of song craft that should have been huge at the time. Further rumors swirled years later about what went wrong, but we still have some great tunes.

Know Yer Band: The Sun

Band Name: The Sun

Members
Vocals/Guitar - Chris Burney
Guitar/Vocals - Bryan Arendt
Bass/Vocals - Brad Forsblom
Drums - Sam Brown
Keyboards/Guitar/Vocals - Brad Caulkins

Releases
2003 - Back In The Summer Of '72 7" single (Rough Trade)
2003 - Love & Death EP (Warner Bros. Records)
2004 - Did Your Mother Tell You? EP (Warner Bros. Records)
2005 - Blame It On The Youth album (Warner Bros. Records)
2009 - Don't Let Your Baby Have All The Fun album (Not On Label)