The Minus 5

The Minus 5 started in Seattle in the early 1990s, around the time grunge was taking off. Scott McCaughey, who fronts the band, put out their first couple of records in the mid-90s: 'The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy' in 1994 and a self-titled album the following year. They were quieter, more introspective things compared to what was happening around them.

In 2000, they released 'Let's Be Still,' which got them more attention. That album had 'A Thousand Years Away,' a song McCaughey did with R. Kelly that caused some talk at the time. They kept putting out records fairly regularly after that, like 'Down With Wilco' in 2001 and 'Bigtop Roundup' a couple years later. Their songs often have a wry, observational feel, with titles like 'Cigarettes Coffee & Booze' and 'Days Of Wine And Booze' giving you a sense of the territory.