Rogue Wave

by Tim Sendra
Rogue Wave was formed in 2002 when Zach Rogue took off from his San Francisco home, headed for New York, and came home with nearly a full album's worth of songs recorded. Rogue then quit his post in his previous group, the Desoto Reds, and finished the album, which was released on Rogue's own Responsive label under the title of Out of the Shadow. As he was completing the record, Rogue decided to form a band to promote it and soon hooked up with drummer/keyboardist Pat Spurgeon, bassist Sonya Westcott, and guitarist Gram LeBron. This outfit played shows in 2003 with the likes of Spoon, Mates of State, and other indie rock big shots. Sub Pop was impressed by the band and the record, and reissued Out of the Shadow in 2004. At some point, Westcott was replaced in the lineup by Evan Farrell and the band began recording their second album. The first result of their efforts was the 10:1 single, released in August 2005, and it showed off a slicker and more produced sound that managed to hold on to much of what made the first record an artistic success. Descended Like Vultures followed in late 2005. Songs from the album appeared on television shows like Weeds, Friday Night Lights, and Heroes, and the band kept to a hectic touring schedule. In 2006 they were forced to take time off as drummer Pat Spurgeon was sidelined by a kidney ailment that required a transplant and other bandmembers dealt with death (LeBron's father) and birth (Rogue's new daughter). The group also lost bassist Farrell and replaced him with Patrick Abernathy (formerly with Beulah). As if that weren't enough tribulation, the band couldn't come to terms with Sub Pop for future albums and was let go. They found a suitable label soon after, as their friend Jack Johnson signed them to his Brushfire imprint and released their third album, Asleep at Heaven's Gate, in autumn 2007.