Sugarcult

The Santa Barbara, CA, rock quartet Sugarcult took their name from a moniker that lesbian neighbors who lived next door to the band (singer/guitarist Tim Pagnotta, guitarist Marko 72, bassist Airin, and drummer Ben Davis) called themselves. Although the band cites such '70s punk songsmiths as Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello as major influences, Sugarcult's sound is pure late-'90s punk-pop à la Blink 182 and Green Day. The group's debut album, Start Static, was issued on the Ultimatum label in August of 2001.