MAP

Led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Josh Dooley, Map is an indie rock band associated with the Velvet Blue Music label. Founded in Riverside, CA, more or less as a solo project for Dooley, Map made its recording debut in 2000 with the Teaching Turtles to Fly EP on the California-based independent label Velvet Blue Music. A second EP, Eastern Skies, Western Eyes (2001), followed shortly thereafter. Map made its full-length album debut in 2003 with Secrets by the Highway. The follow-up album, Think Like an Owner (2004), was more of a group effort, featuring the accompanying musicianship of Loop (bass), Heather Bray (guitar, vocals), and Ben Heywood (drums). The full-band approach continued on the successive Map release, the six-track San Francisco in the 90's EP, which features the accompanying musicianship of Paul Akers (keyboards) and Trevor Monks (drums). A collection of the band's out of print early recordings -- the first two EPs Teaching Turtles to Fly and Eastern Skies, Western Eyes, plus a bunch of stray tracks -- was then compiled for release as Regrets, Silhouettes, and Distractions in 2007. ~ Jason Birchmeier