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Led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Joe Mannix and drummer/vocalist Chris Peck, empire state roots rockers Mannix emerged in the late '90s out of the ashes of N.Y.C. power pop unit Oral Groove. The band issued their debut album, Pretty Strange, in 1998, which traded the punk-kissed, melodic garage rock of the duo's previous incarnation for an earthier pop/rock style rooted in the widescreen Americana of Neil Young & Crazy Horse and Gram Parsons. The band expanded into a four-piece ahead of the release of their sophomore effort, adding bassist Toby Graham and lead guitarist John Kasiewicz to the roster. The resulting Come to California, an acclaimed concept LP about a struggling musician on a cross-country trip to reclaim the love of his life, featured a fuller, more radio-friendly sound. After ceasing operations in 2002, Joe Mannix embarked on a solo career, issuing the well-received White Flag (2003) and Town by the Sea (2005). The group reconvened in 2022 for a series of live performances and issued a compilation of unreleased material and concert recordings. ~ James Christopher Monger