Pianos and a melodic sense greater than most punk-pop bands set Orange County's Mêlée apart from their peers. Chris Cron (vocals/guitar), Rick Sanberg (guitar), Ryan Malloy (bass), and Mike Nader (drums) formed the group in 1999 while still in their teens. Early on, they displayed elements of punk revivalism and emo, but with a studio sound much closer to the songwriting-driven modern rock of a band like Rooney. After an early EP and a 2004 LP named Everyday Behavior, they signed to Warner Bros. for 2007's Devils & Angels, which reached the charts in half a dozen countries worldwide. The Masquerade followed in 2010. ~ Johnny Loftus