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Mark Hoppus’ Pick of the Week: Your Vegas

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When he’s not commandeering the stage as the boisterous bassist for SoCal punks Blink-182, Tweeting wisdom to more than 1.6 million followers, or handling album production duties for bands like Motion City Soundtrack and New Found Glory, you’d think Mark Hoppus would turn down the music.

Not. Possible.

In our continuing series, Hopp on Pop, Hoppus is sharing his favorite acts, culled from his incessant pursuit of all that rocks. (Click here to discover Mark’s previous picks: Edgy noisesmiths Ratatat, Swedish electronic whiz Kleerup, Philly hipsters Free Energy, Aussie expats the Temper Trap, Brooklyn keyboard punks Matt & Kim, Kiwi dance rock goddess Ladyhawke, Canadian rock duo Japandroids, and NYC popsters fun.) Check out his sixth entry below, and come back to SPIN.com every Wednesday for Mark’s latest discovery.

Be sure to follow more of Mark’s opinions and exploits via Twitter and on his blog! And check out Mark’s 8 Favorite Albums of 2009!

YOUR VEGAS

HOMETOWN:
Leeds, England

THE BASICS:
These boyhood pals toured all over England in a small van, trying to get noticed, but it wasn’t until frontman Coyle Girelli moved to NYC and started playing solo shows that the band picked up momentum. Their epic Britrock sound made its debut on 2008’s A Town and Two Cities, and their sophomore set is due in 2010.

WHERE HOPP HEARD THEM FIRST:
“Their album came out a while ago, but I first heard of them last summer. While blink-182 was out on tour, our caterers always played the best music in the eating area.We were in Albuquerque, and I walked in to get lunch and heard their music.”

WHY THEY ROCK:
“Imagine the best parts of Coldplay, the Killers, and Keane (alliteration rock!!) put together in one group. That’s what Your Vegas reminds me of. Yes, I will end a sentence in a dangling preposition. That’s how much I like this band.I’ll try that sentence again.That’s of what Your Vegas remind me. Weird.”

HOPP’S TOP TRACK:
“Troubled Times.’ Very beautiful and lush. The kind of song that gives me the chills.Starts small and quiet, and builds to a crescendo. Guitar, bass, piano, drums. Sweet.”

Listen: Your Vegas, “Troubled Times”

WATCH: Your Vegas, “In My Head”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/iF83rNnh-gA