Playing hot-wired power pop with the force and energy of punk rock,
the Makes Nice were formed in 2005 by guitarist and vocalist Josh Smith after he left the hard rock-influenced indie rock outfit
the Fucking Champs in 2005. Teaming with bassist Aaron Burnham (formerly of the Mothballs) and drummer Jack Matthew (ex-
Harold Ray:
Live in Concert), the band began making the rounds of San Francisco clubs and released its first album,
Candy Wrapper & Twelve Other Songs, in February of 2007 on the local independent label Frenetic Records. Just eight months later, the band issued a second LP,
This Time Tomorrow, but the combo's prolific streak was short-lived; in 2008, Smith parted ways with his bandmates, and Burnham and Matthew started a new project, the Saucy Jacks. ~ Mark Deming