Kleveland

After spending four years of the '90s co-leading the Portland, OR, rock trio Spectator Pump, vocalist and guitarist Stephanie Smith decided it was time to strike out on her own and thus formed Kleveland in 2000. A hard rocking yet pop-oriented garage band for the dirty bars of Portland, Kleveland channeled the passion of acts like <a href="spotify:artist:54NqjhP2rT524Mi2GicG4K">X</a> and early <a href="spotify:artist:0GByy3DcfbQwDvXGCWmzv9">Pretenders</a>, and released an EP in 2002 entitled Everybody Wants To. The group next issued an eponymous album in 2006 via local label Pampelmoose, on which Smith joined forces with drummer <a href="spotify:artist:698qRm59VE3ubsGZLr0gDk">Danny Carbo</a> (of area rock band Thrillbilly) and bassist Matty K. The record was melodic and fierce, as much <a href="spotify:artist:4tpUmLEVLCGFr93o8hFFIB">Blondie</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1LB8qB5BPb3MHQrfkvifXU">Cheap Trick</a> as it was Joan Jett and <a href="spotify:artist:33EUXrFKGjpUSGacqEHhU4">Iggy Pop</a>. By 2008, Kleveland were comprised of Smith rocking out alongside <a href="spotify:artist:698qRm59VE3ubsGZLr0gDk">Carbo</a>, bassist Allen Hunter (of <a href="spotify:artist:3zunDAtRDg7kflREzWAhxl">the Eels</a>), and second guitarist/vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:6m48UoToiJKNwpW67PfOOo">Morgan Grace</a>. ~ Corey Apar, Rovi