Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: The Buzz

"When we first started the band, we were talking about records we liked and we each picked a list of two or three record producers we'd love to work with," said Hobbs, "and never knowing that things could get this far with the band, [Mark] happened to be on that list. So flash forward a year later, listening what he's done with us is pretty amazing."

Album production aside, Gran Ronde is the kind of band that is constantly on a mission to put their sound to the test. Even for a group of guys with a long history in music, Pearson is always amazed at how the sound and the dynamics of songwriting are constantly changing with every song.

"It's kind of a mixed bag [when it comes to songwriting]," said Pearson. "I write a lot of music on my own and then I'll bring it to the guys and it totally changes. And then there's just those moments in rehearsal when someone's playing an awesome riff and you just build off that. There's never any one way of doing things and there's never just an easy way to write a song for us."

The writing process may not always be easy, but the ability of these four guys to coexist as a unit is as solid as the hooks in their songs. Although Sanchez has an outward character of a quiet guy behind the kit, this drummer brings with him some well appreciated motivation and experience that gives the band backbone on and off the stage.

"I would have to say that I bring the sauce - the comeback sauce," said Fernandez. "I would consider myself easy going and I try to help everyone not get too stressed out too much."

Stress can be easy to come by when you're a band scratching and clawing for the kinds of golden opportunities that launch bands out of obscurity and into the spotlight. The band has watched other L.A. acts like friends Silver-sun Pickups taste the sweet nectar of notoriety, and for Pearson, the opportunity to see good music getting the right treatment is satisfying in itself.

"It's really cool to see a friends band go out and become so successful and just do what they do and people appreciate it, especially in L.A. It's not like people are coming to watch so-and-so's famous son's band or whatever. It's really legitimate from-the-heart music and they're good people and good friends," Pearson said.

Gran Ronde could be on the cusp of their next big break as well as they gear up for the world famous South By South West (SXSW) Festival in Austin coming up in March.

This will be the first time down to the "lone star state" for the band, and besides crazy nights and the occasional rodeo, everyone is happy to be divorced from any particular expectations.

But whatever lies ahead for the band, they've come to a point where they find themselves with a finished album several years in the making behind them and miles of highway in front of them.

"You know we've been working really hard to get the band to this point," said Pearson. "And to finally fear those gears really turning, it feels like people are ready for it and we're ready to go out and do it. We're just looking to be out on the road all year."

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