Prabir & the Substitutes

Prabir & the Substitutes hail from Richmond, VA, where frontman Prabir Mehta first assembled his vocally driven pop/rock group in late 2005. Joined by local musicians Chris Smith (guitar), Adam Thompson (bass), and ex-Poprocket percussionist Shawn Lynch, Mehta drew upon the harmony-rich acts of the '60s -- including the Beach Boys, the Hollies, and the Zombies -- to shape the sound of the Substitutes' eponymous debut EP. Released in April 2006 by Pop Faction, a local comic/record distributor, the EP established the Substitutes as a rising act in their native Richmond. The full-length Annabelle, I'm Coming Home Tonight followed in January 2007, and Prabir & the Substitutes supported their two releases with self-financed tours of the East Coast. Upon returning home, organist Charlie Glenn was added to the lineup. The quintet issued a third offering, the self-released Share, in June 2007, packaging the album as a unique double disc (including a duplicate copy to share with a friend) to encourage the distribution of the band's music. Later that fall, both Lynch and Thompson left the lineup and were replaced by drummer Tyler Williams and bassist/vocalist Robbie King. Five Little Pieces arrived in 2008, featuring another batch of formidably crafted power pop tunes, followed by the six-song Hello EP in 2009. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide