The Neighbors

Bands Named The Neighbors 1. The Neighbors – 1980s Power Pop Band (Arlington, VA) Active Years: 1985–1989 This power pop band formed in 1985 in Arlington, Virginia. It began when John, Scott, and Steve (formerly of Punch Me Judy) were joined by Pete. Originally calling themselves Herschel’s Neighbors for about 48 hours, they soon played their first show in Washington, DC as Bag 85. The performance marked the beginning of their journey as The Neighbors. Shortly afterward, they recorded the album Famous Potatoes at Don Zientara’s Inner Ear Studio, a space closely associated with the Dischord label. The album was released on a small French label, Closer. The band toured the South and Northeast U.S., sharing stages with artists like Roy Orbison, NRBQ, Marshall Crenshaw, and The dB’s. Under manager John Rowny, they released a second album, Welcome Wagon (1987, Upside Records), just before the label folded. They recorded a follow-up called Masterpiece—a musically revered but commercially overlooked cassette—before disbanding in 1989. After the split: Scott McKnight played in and wrote for several DC-area bands, including Kevin Johnson and the Linemen and Last Train Home. John Moremen went on to work with numerous Bay Area bands and also released solo material. 2. The Neighbors – Hardcore Band (San Diego, CA) This version of The Neighbors emerged from San Diego’s hardcore punk scene. They released two albums on Six Weeks Records: The More Money One Has The More Important Is One's Life Negative Attraction Gritty, fast, and politically charged, their sound was rooted in classic DIY punk and hardcore ethics. 3. The Neighbors – Indie Rock Duo (Orem, Utah) Formerly known as “ByNow” After the tragic “loss” of their keyboardist to marriage, this piano rock group chose not to replace her—instead opting for dual instrument duties. The band consists of married couple Adam Kaiser (drums/keys/vocals) and Rachel Kaiser (bass/keys/vocals). Their act is high-energy and harmonically rich, known for multi-instrumental performances and a sense of humor (they “secretly wish they had more cowbell”). Highlights: Rachel toured with Brandon Flowers (The Killers) in 2010. Adam was named Utah’s Bachelor of the Year by Cosmo in 2010. More: www.reverbnation.com/bynow 4. The Neighbors – DJ Duo (Montreal, QC) Based in Montreal, this DJ duo—Eli and Meir—crafts soulful, globally resonant house music. Signed to Go Deeva and Redolent, their infectious sets have connected crowds across Montreal, Athens, Istanbul, and Tel Aviv. Their ethos: “On the dance floor, we are all neighbours.” As of 2025, The Neighbors have grown their reach to over 84,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, cementing their place in the global underground.