The Natural History

The Natural History -- brothers Max Tepper and Julian Tepper on guitar/vocals and bass respectively, and drummer Derek Vockins -- are a smart, college-bred band (Vockins even has a M.A. in Education from NYU). Like a lot of gritty bands congesting the New York City music scene, this trio has a penchant for plundering through art-pop albums from the late '70s for inspiration. They often name-check a wide assortment of mostly British groups and artists they admire -- Elvis Costello & the Attractions, XTC, and Wire are three of the ones that get the most ink -- though their own angular, guitar-driven post-punk pop could just as easily point you back to Gang of Four or the Pixies as influences.