The Mendoza Line

The Mendoza Line formed around Daniel Siering and Ryan Smith, who shared an interest in rock and folk music. They eventually expanded to include John DiGiovanni on bass and Jeff Berrall on drums. Their debut album was titled "A Damn Good Disguise," which shares its name with one of their better-known songs.

Their music often dealt with personal themes, and songs like "Casey At The Bar" and "It'll Be The Same Without You" reflect that straightforward, sometimes melancholic approach. They released other albums including "The Great Divide" and "Lost in the Maze," which showed some variation in their sound without straying too far from their core style.

They were based in Los Angeles, and while they never became a mainstream act, they developed a following for their unadorned songwriting. The band's work remains a modest example of early 2000s indie rock, remembered by fans for songs that felt direct and unpretentious.