Crystal Skulls

Crystal Skulls is a Los Angeles, California-based indie pop band, named after a legend that there are 13 ancient crystal skulls hidden worldwide, which have mystical powers. Known for their intelligent, smooth poppy sound, the band was started in 2004 in Seattle by Christian Wargo, with a lineup comprising drummer Casey Foubert, bass guitarist Yuuki Matthews, and guitarist Ryan J. Phillips. They toured the United States with Black Mountain and Helio Sequence, and released albums in 2005 and 2006, during which time they shared a practice space with fellow Seattle band Fleet Foxes. In 2007 Crystal Skulls went on hiatus when Wargo joined Fleet Foxes, and Foubert and Matthews joined Sufjan Stevens. Crystal Skulls was relaunched in 2014 with a new lineup comprising Wargo, drummer Aaron Sperske (Father John Misty, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Beachwood Sparks, Lilys), Todd Dahlhoff (Electric Guest, Devendra Banhart), George Holdcroft (Daniel Johnston), and Thomas Hunter (Portugal. The Man, The Heavy).