On its most elemental level, "pop" music strives to be simple and direct, but must this always be so? Believing that a song needn't be overtly mindless and unchallenging at its foundation to be pop, Bryter sets out to create subtle, intelligent twists on the formula: the thinking man's groove-laced pop.

www.bryter.com

Bassist Eddie Carlson's first appearance at a Hoot Night was in January 1995 with Dag Juhlin, Jason Narducy, and Zack Kantor. The theme was Beatles vs. Monkees. That night he met Susan Voelz, Michael Hall, and most of Poi Dog Pondering, all acts with which he would record and tour over the next several years. He also met Syd Straw there and went on to do a handful of shows with her. Since that night he has been a Hoot Night regular, appearing with Frisbie, Tallulah, The Aluminum Group, and his own Hoot Night-only ensemble, Friends of Mankind. He is currently a member of Frisbie, and also plays electric piano in Tallulah.

The dreamy Joe Cassidy, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, burst onto the music scene in '91 with his band Butterfly Child and was signed to the UK's Rough Trade Records in '93. Butterfly Child's third album, their masterpiece, Soft Explosives, was released on Chicago's Hit It Records in late '98. Joe loves Kimberly Ryan, Sir Thomas Dunning and Bailey. Joe has a Northern Irish accent, accordingly Thomas calls him a lot.

www.butterflychild.com