Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Tickets - Nothing So-So About This Band, Though

It's all about indie rock in Indianapolis, Indiana -- the crossroads of America. But it all began in 2004 with the work of a singer and songwriter by the name of Richard Edwards, a man responsible for this band. After naming the band Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, the name 'Margot' fashioned after the character Margot Tenenbaum from Wes Anderson's classic comedy The Royal Tenenbaums, Edwards decided to gather the actual band members! -- this was the lineup, being guitarist Andy Fry, cellist Jesse Lee, pianist Emily Watkins, trumpeter Hubert Glover, drummer Chris Fry, percussionist Casey Tennis, and bass guitarist Tyler Watkins. Standard Recording, an indie label based in Indiana, took hold of this talented band in 2005 for the mark of their debut album.

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Tickets - The Music of Margot and the So and So's

The debut went by the name of The Dust of Retreat, a phenomenal set of songs that earned the band their major label: Artemis Records. In 2006, the album was re-released under the label and then shortly went through label acquisitions and merges, leaving the band with a chance to sign with Epic Records in 2007 for their second album. The band did so much work that there even was a dispute on which songs to include on the album -- the total track list was 25. There ended up being two different versions of the album released: Animal! and Not Animal. The former was the band's preferred version, released only as a vinyl and digital set; whereas the latter the label preferred and was released as a traditional CD.

Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Tickets - The Sound and Style of Margot and the So and So's

Are you surprised that we mentioned 'indie rock' here? Knowing that and the instrumentation used: we've got a cellist in here, a pianist in here, a trumpeter in here, and percussionist here. That's a whole lot of rock for such a genre! And, truthfully, that was a big part of their appeal. The result was a dreamy concoction of raging bittersweet sounds that invaded hearts and souls and stirred the dead. There's no wonder a label took notice right away.