Fronted by Richard Hell soundalike Joshua Macero, the Huntsville, Alabama, four-piece Thomas Function began making noise across the country in the late 2000s with the release of singles and EPs like NOMAD, which captured the reckless proto-punk spirit of bands like the Buzzcocks while adding a bit of Southern twang. By 2009, the band had made the leap from indie Alive Records to Fat Possum, releasing their full-length debut, CELEBRATION, in addition to touring the U.S. and performing at reputed music festivals like South By Southwest.