Film School

by Heather Phares
Inspired by post-punk, dream pop, and a touch of electronica, the San Francisco-via-New York quintet Film School began as the brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Krayg Burton, who began recording under the Film School name in the late '90s. After releasing the I'm Not Working 7" on Metoo! Records, Burton joined forces with a rotating cast of musicians to make 2001's full-length A Brilliant Career, including members of Fuck and Elephone as well as Pavement and Preston School of Industry's Scott Kannberg. Also involved in the sessions were keyboardist Jason Ruck and guitarist/vocalist Nyles Lannon (also of the electronic group Technicolor and his side project n.lannon), who both became permanent members of the band. For the tour supporting A Brilliant Career, Film School recruited Lannon's fellow Technicolor bass player Justin LaBo and drummer Ben Montesano. This lineup recorded 2003's Alwaysnever EP for Kannberg's boutique label Amazing Grease; by the time the band hit the road again in 2004, Montesano was replaced by Donny Newenhouse on drums. After touring the U.K. that fall and appearing at South by Southwest early in 2005, Film School signed to Beggar's Banquet and began recording. The On & On EP arrived that fall and heralded the release of their self-titled album in winter 2006. Hideout, their third album, arrived in 2007.