Film School were formed in San Francisco in 1997 by Greg Bertens with his roommate at the time on drums. The duo’s spare, introspective bedroom pop was a soothing antidote to the rave scene then dominant in the Bay Area and elsewhere. Over the years, through various lineups, Film School would continue to buck trends and expand their sound into the richly textured, dreamy psychedelic rock they are known for, well ahead of the recent shoegaze renaissance and drawing frequent comparisons to bands like Slowdive and Beach House. Recordings have featured guest appearances by members of Pavement, My Bloody Valentine, and Snow Patrol, among others. In addition to Bertens, current band members include Nyles Lannon (guitar), Jason Ruck (synths), Justin LaBo (bass), and Adam Wade (drums). After releasing an EP on Scott Kannberg’s Amazing Grease label in 2003, Film School signed with the legendary Beggars Banquet, toured abroad with the National, and played shows with Swervedriver before going on hiatus in 2011. Five years later, what was meant to be a one-off gig for a birthday party inspired the band to formally regroup, leading to the release of the June ep in 2016, the album Bright to Death in 2018, and their latest album and first for Sonic Ritual, We Weren’t Here.

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Genre: Alternative / Indie Rock / Shoegaze

RIYL: Slowdive, Beach House, Catherine Wheel, Modern English, The Psychedelic Furs