Silversun Pickups, also known as SSPU, are an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, United States. Emerging from the Silver Lake music scene, they blend indie rock, post-punk revival, dream pop and shoegaze into a dense, atmospheric sound driven by Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao and Joe Lester.
Formed in 2000 after Aubert and Monninger met on a student exchange flight, the group initially called themselves A Couple of Couples before adopting their current name from a local liquor store. Early shows around Silver Lake led to the EP "Pikul" in 2005, followed by debut album "Carnavas" in 2006, whose singles "Lazy Eye" and "Well Thought Out Twinkles" significantly expanded their audience.
They built on this success with "Swoon" in 2009, featuring the single "Panic Switch" and earning a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Subsequent albums "Neck of the Woods", "Better Nature", "Widow's Weeds", "Physical Thrills" and "Tenterhooks" have showcased a growing use of electronics and textural experimentation while maintaining their distinctive alternative rock core.
