The Dodos

The Dodos [ tickets ], a two-piece, drum-centered, indie-rock act based in San Francisco, wrote their recent Frenchkiss Records release, "Visiter," while on the road.

"The early stages of being on tour for the first time and being wired and warmed up all the time and playing all the time--that definitely translates into writing as much as we did," drummer Logan Kroeber said.

Kroeber and singer/guitarist Meric Long bring different genres of inspiration to the table. Long, who grew up listening to Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears, is drawn to folksy guitar with a country/blues twist, while Kroeber previously contributed to a metal band.

Kroeber explains, "Meric and I were both independently fans of Joan Fahey and Andrew W.K. before we hooked up and so there was a thread somewhere in there."

The Dodos are in the midst of a European tour behind "Visiter" through mid-June, after which they'll return to canvas the US and Canada into the fall.