The Best Around is an indie alternative rock band from Austin, TX that formed in the Spring of 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to maintain social distancing, each member recorded their parts separately in their own homes. Rarely collaborating or discussing how the songs should turn out, instead files would just show up in inboxes allowing each member to decide what to add. Despite mixing up the order, this is how all their songs have been produced. Using each member's previous experience most of their songs contain some elements of punk, post-punk, folk-rock, synthpop/rock, new wave, psychedelic rock, garage rock, electronic and jazz.
Who is The Best Around?
Camron Rushin is a singer/songwriter who has dabbled in and out of the music scene since the early 2000s. His previous Austin band, Safeword, played shows around Austin from 2008 before burning out in 2013.
Who is The Best Around?
Camron Rushin is a singer/songwriter who has dabbled in and out of the music scene since the early 2000s. His previous Austin band, Safeword, played shows around Austin from 2008 before burning out in 2013.
Todd Pruner has played bass for English Teeth, Kodachrome, The Foundries, and Christopher Douthitt and the Glyphs. He played lead guitar for The Asteroid Shop. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, banjo, bass, and synths.
Jon Merz is a multi-instrumentalist who has played trumpet, trombone, keyboards and guitar for Montopolis, My Jerusalem, Soul Track Mind, The Foundries, Monk Parker and Uke.
How did the Best Around form?
Camron and Todd have been co-workers since 2011 and bonded over politics and music, especially Daniel Romano. Camron had been threatening Todd for years that he was going to send him songs he had been working on, but the hustle and bustle of normal life kept getting in the way. After being quarantined for a few weeks, Camron penned the song, “Margaret,” recorded a demo, acoustic version and sent it to Todd. Todd laid down the tracks and sent it back for Camron to fill in the vocals. Todd then recruited his friend Jon Merz to fill in all the ear candy. Because of quarantining and social distancing, all of their songs have been recorded this way, with very little input from other members. “I sent the demo to Todd and said, do what you want to do with it. And it just worked,” Camron said.
Jon Merz is a multi-instrumentalist who has played trumpet, trombone, keyboards and guitar for Montopolis, My Jerusalem, Soul Track Mind, The Foundries, Monk Parker and Uke.
How did the Best Around form?
Camron and Todd have been co-workers since 2011 and bonded over politics and music, especially Daniel Romano. Camron had been threatening Todd for years that he was going to send him songs he had been working on, but the hustle and bustle of normal life kept getting in the way. After being quarantined for a few weeks, Camron penned the song, “Margaret,” recorded a demo, acoustic version and sent it to Todd. Todd laid down the tracks and sent it back for Camron to fill in the vocals. Todd then recruited his friend Jon Merz to fill in all the ear candy. Because of quarantining and social distancing, all of their songs have been recorded this way, with very little input from other members. “I sent the demo to Todd and said, do what you want to do with it. And it just worked,” Camron said.