New York City's new wave-meets-dream pop combo Shelby formed in 2000, when singer/guitarist/keyboardist Kenny Cummings, bassist/keyboardist Phil Schuster, and drummer/singer Chad Wilson began playing together informally. Cummings used to lead the group Little Shining Man and played and programmed synths for artists including Elvis Costello, and Schuster has played in bands with members formerly of Swervedriver and God Machine. The group released their debut EP, Songs | 8, in 2000, and spent the next two and a half years recording and gigging. They released their full-length debut in mid-2003. ~ Heather Phares