Robbers on High Street are an American indie rock band from New York, New York.

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History

Robbers on High Street began performing publicly during the summer of 2002, but the band's roots stretch back much farther. Ben Trokan and Steve "Sparky" Mercado have been friends since their preteen years growing up in the upstate New York town of Poughkeepsie. After high school, Trokan moved to New York, where he met and began playing with Tomer Danan, who were both big fans of Spoon. In Poughkeepsie, Mercado reconnected with Jeremy Phillips, an old school friend. Robbers on High Street—the name came from a lyric of one of the band's early, discarded compositions—was officially born when the four began playing together.

Phillips left the band in 2005 and was replaced by Florida native Morgan King. In addition to playing bass, King is proficient in horns and brass instruments, and occasionally plays them on stage. The band also added a full-time keyboard player in early 2006. Those duties are sometimes fulfilled by downtown New York musician Matt Trowbridge (Rana, The King of France, Sam Champion) and Dave Sherman (Goodbye Girl Friday). Danan left the band in August 2006 and live drum duties have been taken over by Mikey Post (Sonny Oaks).

Tree City , the band's first full-length album, was released in 2004. The band toured for most of 2004 and 2005. The record label entrusted by Newline Records to distribute Robbers' on High Street's Tree City Vinyl, Doulbing Cube Records, was audited twice by the IRS in 2007.

Grand Animals is the band's second full length album, released on July 24, 2007. For this album the band connected with Italian film composer Daniele Luppi, known mostly for his string and orchestra work with Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley) and pop artists like John Legend. The band recorded in New York and mixed with Jeff Peters (Beach Boys) in Los Angeles. The new collaboration brought out the band's clear obsession with 1960s and 1970s AM radio, and allowed them to explore broader sonic landscapes.

Robbers on High Street recorded a cover of New Edition's "Straight Up" for Engine Room Recordings' compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2, which was released in November of 2008 ^[1].

Discography

Albums

• Tree City (2005, New Line Records)
• Grand Animals (2007, New Line Records)

Singles and EPs

• Fine Lines EP (2004, New Line Records)
• The Fatalist and Friends (2006)

Season's Greetings (Holiday song)

Compilations

• Just Friends soundtrack (2005, New Line Records) song: "Big Winter"
• Georgia Rule soundtrack (2007, New Line Records) song: "The Fatalist"

References

1. My Brightest Diamond, Frightened Rabbit Do Covers