Named after a river in vocalist/guitarist Christopher Pearson's home state of Oregon, New Wave/post-punk revivalists Gran Ronde got their start in 2004. Based in Los Angeles, Pearson, Bryan Hobbs (bass), Fernando Sanchez (drums) and Neil Parek (guitar) performed at SXSW in March 2008 and released their debut album, Secret Rooms, on Filter US Recordings the same year.