LA band Spider Problem delivered truly memorable session performances for us last year, including the raucus anthem Big Thunder, so we had no choice but to bring them back in again this year.  The band is led by John Girgus and Shayne Eastin, who play music like it is a supercollider, feeding off the richochets and collisions while generating power. 

For our session last year, the band's approach was decidedly punk (they even played a Misfits cover to drive that point home).  But the band has changed a bit since then, taking on a new drummer/keyboardist and bassist and swapping some of the punk tendencies for a little more polish, albeit still with a dark edge.

The band is currently in the middle of producing its first album.   Based on what we have heard so far, current Spider Problem fans may be blown away by the sonic richness; they seem to be making a major power move toward more mainstream success.  Signing on for production duties is none other than Allen Morgan, who knows how to add commercial sheen.

That shift toward a larger audience may have already started.  One of the band's songs, a "Rock Mix" version of the song "Cha Cha", is featured on the Californication soundtrack.

Check out their session below.