Forming their first band after they were kicked out of a San Francisco-area high school, vocalist/guitarist Josh Zee (the son of a professional folksinger) and drummer Dan Thompson played for several years in various local bands before forming the grungy alternative pop band Protein in 1994. The duo played several shows before replacing their part-time bassist with Russ Violet and made a good showing at a San Francisco music-industry showcase in 1996. Signed to Sony's Work subsidiary, Protein released their debut album, Ever Since I Was a Kid, in early 1997. Songs About Cowgirls followed two years later. ~ John Bush