Par Avion is a ''SPIN''.com pick band currently consisting of singer/guitarist/composer Paul Avion, bassist/composer Zachary Ginder, keyboardist/composer Zandro Urbiztondo and drummer Andrew Rivera.

History

Par Avion was formed in 2004 in Los Angeles, and originally consisted of Tanya Haden (cellist, sister of Petra Haden, now wed to comedian

Jack Black Thomas Jacob Black (born August 28, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is known for his acting roles in the films '' High Fidelity'' (2000), ''Shallow Hal'' (2001), ''Orange County'' (2002), '' School of Rock'' (2003), ''E ...

), Nick Lucero (a former drummer for Queens of the Stone Age), session musician

Korel Tunador Korel Tunador is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter living in Los Angeles, California. He plays a number of instruments, including guitar, keyboards, saxophone and accordion. Tunador is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylva ...

and Paul Avion. Par Avion's first official EP release, in 2006, was produced by

Scott Benzel Scott Benzel (born 1968 in Scottsdale, Arizona, lives and works in Los Angeles), is an American visual artist, musician, performance artist, and composer. Benzel is a member of the faculty of the School of Art at California Institute of the Arts, ...

, although earlier demos were recorded by

Ben Mumphrey Benjamin Mumphrey (born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States) is an American record producer, audio engineer, and musician. Producer credits Benjamin Mumphrey's credits for engineering include: * Frank Black albums '' True Blue'', ''Show Me ...

, producer of Frank Black & the Catholics ''Devil's Workshop'' EP. The current line-up has been in existence since 2006, as the band has seen an evolution in a more 1990s direction, with some alt-country elements, as well. Since then, the band has released a number of singles, such as "Stand Up, Be a Man" and "Fibromyalgia," which have appeared on PBS' ''

Roadtrip Nation Roadtrip Nation is an educational production company based out of Costa Mesa, California that produces the eponymous public television documentary series ''Roadtrip Nation.'' History Movement The hub for the Roadtrip Nation movement is a ...

'', Fuel TV's extreme sports show, ''The Daily Habit'', and AMC's ''Hollywood Icon''. "Fibromyalgia," which was featured as a download on ''SPIN.com'', appears to have been written about local musician

Annie Hardy Annie Summer Hardy (born June 5, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress. She is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter of the indie rock band Giant Drag, which she formed in 2003. After releasing their debut EP, '' ...

of Giant Drag, who suffers from the disease. In February 2009, Par Avion received further press in ''SPIN''. The band has also received press in ''College Music Magazine'', ''Glasswerk UK'', ''Sentimentalist Magazine'' and other outlets. In June 2009, ''Under the Radar Magazine'''s Digital Sampler, Volume IX included the single "Art School Dropout" along with a number of bands from

Sub Pop Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are often ...

Merge Records Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as an outlet for music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expande ...

and Saddle Creek Records. In late 2009, they received further write-ups in ''College News'' and in New York's ''

Sentimentalist Magazine ''Sentimentalist Magazine'' was an American magazine of indie rock music and culture, which was published quarterly. History Launched in New York City, New York, in 2000 or earlier as ''The Sentimentalist'', it changed its title to ''The Sent ...

'' further likening their sound to that of the 1990s. In January 2010, ''SPIN'' Earth announced the publication of a series of articles covering Paul Avion's trip to the slums of Kenya.

Discography

*''Pop Music United'' (2006) *''Lonely Singles'' (2008)

Videography

*"Pop Music United" (2006) *"Fibromyalgia" (2009)

Other appearances

* In April 2008, the song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on PBS' ''

''. * The song "Pop Music United II" (credited to Paul Avion" appeared on Sonic Vogue's ''Sound of Style, Vol. II'' in 2008. * The song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on the compilation ''Groovetonics, Volume 2'' in 2008. * In September 2008, the song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on '' Fuel TVs "The Daily Habit". * In July 2009, "Pop Music United II" was featured on AMC's ''Hollywood Icon''.

References

External links

Par Avion official websitePar Avion MySpacePar Avion on SPIN.com
* {{Authority control Indie rock musical groups from California Musical groups established in 2004 Musical groups from Los Angeles