Ticket Sellers

Live Concert Videos

The Player

About Silversun Pickups


Silversun Pickups is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles that was formed in 2000. The band is composed of Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao, and Joe Lester.


The band released their debut EP, Pikul, in July 2005, and their debut album, Carnavas, on July 26, 2006. Their second album, Swoon, was released on April 14, 2009. Neck of the Woods, the band's third album, came out on May 8, 2012. They issued their fourth album, Better Nature, on September 25, 2015. Their fifth album, Widow's Weeds, came out on June 7, 2019. Their sixth and most recent album, Physical Thrills, was released on August 19, 2022.


Brian Aubert met Nikki Monninger in 1994 on a flight from Los Angeles to London. Both of them were headed to Cambridge for a school exchange program. Aubert noticed Monninger sitting across the aisle from him, stealing alcohol from the drink cart. The pair formed Silversun Pickups in 2000, joined in the original lineup by guitarist Jack Kennedy and drummer Elvira Gonzalez. The band began playing in Los Angeles clubs, most often at Silverlake Lounge or nearby Spaceland, and became part of the Silver Lake music scene.


The name Silversun Pickups was derived from Silversun, a liquor store located across from Silverlake Lounge. One of the band's friends would often arrive at the store late at night to buy liquor, making a "Silversun pickup". In interviews, the band has said its name is more of "a state of mind".


In 2002, both Kennedy and Gonzalez left the band. Kennedy would go on to focus on his eponymous solo project, while Gonzalez remained close with the band—playing a bit part in their music video for "Lazy Eye", in 2006. Gonzalez was replaced by drummer Christopher Guanlao, who had played in the band Crooner throughout the 1990s. Rather than recruit a new second guitarist, however, Aubert opted for keyboardist Joe Lester—formerly the bassist of Los Angeles band Pine Marten. The lineup of the band would remain unchanged thereafter.


Silversun Pickups released their debut EP, Pikul, in 2005. It included the single "Kissing Families", which featured fellow Silver Lake artist Tanya Haden on cello.


This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Silversun Pickups", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.

Map & Directions To Venue

Follow Us

facebook twitter