Last December

The alluring tractor beam glance that the right woman will employ to drive you absolutely crazy. The mounting youthful frustrations that push you to the crossroads of giving up or forging ahead. Wry, knowing observations like these are only part of what makes Last December so special. The L.A. trio traffics in a truly singular pastiche of pop, indie rock and Americana that’s equally addictive at its most rambunctious or plaintive. With two inspired full-lengths under their belts, not to mention an impressive battery of songs soundtracking your favorite TV shows, Last December are overdue for their close-up. After all, their rocket has taken just over a decade to ignite.
Frontman Peter Argyropoulos launched LD humbly enough, finding his voice in SoCal coffeehouses with guitarist Jason Koehler. Eventually, the duo earned recognition for their impossibly hooky yet empathetic tunes, joined forces with rhythm section Scotty Kormos (drums) and Adam Kury (bass), and before long, the quartet was tracking what would become 1998 debut full-length Without Wings with producer Peter Love. Although Argyropoulos initially considered his band’s moniker—culled from a still-unreleased song—a mere “placeholder,” rehearsing the record with half-frozen fingers in an unheated L.A. studio surely helped seal the deal.
“Within the lyrics [to ‘Last December’], I lament the quick passage of time and how many of us take pause to reflect on the past as each year winds down with the holidays in December,” he explains. “I always found myself saying, ‘Remember, last December, we did this and that and that and this,’ only to realize those events didn’t happen last December—they happened the December before, or perhaps many Decembers before.”
“I also began to appreciate how the word ‘last’ had multiple interpretations. For instance, one could read it as ‘to continue’ or ‘the final.’ I like a good play on words.”
Fans and industry heavies alike appreciated the infectious, dynamic display on Without Wings, leading to a rollercoaster of ups and downs for the young band. While longtime buddy Koehler began a series of exits and re-entries in 2000 to pursue interests outside of music, Last December’s profile broadened big-time with the inclusion of tracks like “I’m Too Young to Be So Fed Up With the World” and “Run Into You” on various Aaron Spelling series, an especially astonishing feat given that Last December’s earnest musing was far removed from the disposable teenpop dominating the charts at the time.
Although invigorated by the advanced exposure, the boys suffered through the “slow death” of major label courtship before finally concocting follow-up Hailstorm in 2006, another unreleased gem which nevertheless extended their unique TV winning streak with the likes of “So Brave” and “Little Look.” The trio’s patience has proven a virtue, as they’re finally ready to unveil reams of new material. Given the time they’ve spent in the studio refining their craft, Argyropoulos feels more confident than ever about the output.
“An interesting thing I’ve learned is that the more honest I am with myself and in my daily life—and I think we all have an instinctual, protective tendency to BS ourselves and others—the more honest the songs are that I’m writing at that time. And the more honest the songs, the better they are.”
The future is no longer a faint promise for Last December—it’s finally here. They’ve partnered with Universal though Artist Garage, the company operated by industry veteran Mike Regan, to release new music, older unreleased material (like Hailstorm, via a series of EPs) and songs that are just being developed. Expect a notable release each month from the trio—now augmented by “go-to” lead guitarist Cary Park—and a “quieter” release every week or two.
“Many fans have patiently waited for us to release new songs over the past several years,” Argyropoulos acknowledges. “We’re excited to finally be getting the new stuff out to them. Once we’ve breathed enough new music into the world, we’ll begin playing some live shows in select cities and regions. It’ll be a building process. We’re in this for the long run. There’s no rush. We love what we do.”