Indie-pop/electro duo Capital Cities has blossomed from a couple of Los Angeles-based jingle writers who met on Craigslist to a ticket-selling sensation on tour with other of-the-moment indie acts like Fitz and The Tantrums and Alt-J. It’s virtually impossible to turn on a Top 40 radio station without hearing the band’s danceable synthpop single, “Safe and Sound,” not to mention the promotional campaigns it pops up in for brands like HBO, Smart Car and Microsoft.
The pair, comprised of composers and songwriters Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian, unveiled their first studio album, “In a Tidal Wave of Mystery,” in the summer of 2013 via Capitol Records/Lazy Hooks. On tour to promote the indietronica release, Capital Cities added bassist Manuel Quintero, guitarist Nick Merwin, drummer Channing Holmes and trumpeter Spencer Ludwig to the live shows, which included sold-out concerts at New York City’s Irving Plaza, as well as two nights at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre.
