The Like Young

Amanda (drums/vocals) and Joe Ziemba (guitar/vocals) are responsible for the punky indie rock sounds of the Like Young. Hailing from Chicago, the two have been playing in bands since 1997, and in 2002, they married. That same year they released the mini-album Looked Up Plus Four and readied their ambitious punk-inspired sound for the masses. Engineer Barry Phipps of <a href="spotify:artist:1bKgqsC8xWm1wgOQ8Gqs8z">the Coctails</a> joined the Like Young for the recording of their studio full-length debut, Art Contest, which arrived in 2003. Chicago publications such as Venus Zine and New City Chicago championed the record. West Coast dates followed, and around this time the Ziembas left their full-time jobs to focus permanently on the band. Tours with <a href="spotify:artist:4IELX7NrLBXuw8f51cUZuM">Mates of State</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:44WGx8zroBTpAfQSoXQA4u">Viva Voce</a> and additional shows with the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:3kjuyTCjPG1WMFCiyc5IuB">the Arcade Fire</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5xeBMeW0YzWIXSVzAxhM8O">Of Montreal</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4qAJ54O4V0W8SQcSz0bl1C">the Thermals</a> coincided with the 2004 release of So Serious. Financial strains and personal hardships eventually took their toll on the Like Young. In early 2005, the Like Young resumed writing and recording a third effort, albeit quietly. A deal with Polyvinyl surfaced by summer alongside the limited-edition EP release The Timid. Last Secrets was issued in May 2006. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi