The Slats

Experimental indie rockers the Slats debuted their unique sound in 1999 with the release of the Car CD on Tyros Records. Led by guitarist/vocalist Brian Cox, the trio was completed by guitarist/vocalist Jon Hansen and drummer Mark Tietjen. Uniquely, the bandmates lived many miles apart, with members in Minneapolis and Iowa City, but the their tightness hardly suffered. American Rock followed in 2000, again on Tyros. 2002 saw the release of the four-song Another Physical Reaction on Pop!Explosion Records. The critically acclaimed, 13-song disc, The Great Plains of San Francisco on Tyros Records, was issued in 2002. After returning to the studio, the follow-up, Pick It Up, was released in 2004 on Latest Flame Records. The 15-track disc had richer lyrics than its predecessor, including the controversial "I Believe Timothy McVeigh." ~ Stephen Cramer