The Great Bandini lies somewhere between classic pop and manic new wave. The Boston quartet got together in late 2005 and began writing songs that featured shades of Sloan, Badfinger, and The Knack. They originally called themselves The Sidemen, all the members having been supporting musicians in well-known Boston-based groups: Singer/guitarists Eric Barlow and Scott Janovitz were with Yep Roc artists Jake Brennan and The Confidence Men, while drummer Matt Burwell was in The Pills, and he and bassist Chris Zembower both played with Bleu.