Anarbor: The band's name explained

There's a young rock band making a bit of a name for itself on the national stage. It just wrapped up a tour, its songs have been featured on national television, and now it's recording its first full-length album.

The name of this band — which, by the way, is based in the Phoenix area?

Anarbor.

Anarbor

The band spent the fall touring with Straylight Run. Its biggest claim to fame so far is the use of its song "You and I" in the original Cartoon Network movie "Scooby Doo: The Mystery Begins." The movie is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray, and the disc features a video of Anarbor's song. (The band's recording of "What's New Scooby Doo" is also used over the closing credits.) Another Anarbor song, "Let the Games Begin," was used in an episode of MTV's "The Hills."

Intense investigative research (that is, some poking around online) could reveal no connection between any of the band members and our own Ann Arbor, Michigan. So what gives?

There is an answer, and it's not even very interesting. Writes Mike Cubillos, the band's publicist: "Guitarist Mike (Kitlas)'s dad's side of the family is from Michigan, and Mike's sister was born in Ann Arbor. She was the first person to get Mike into music so that’s where the name comes from."

So, in case you were wondering, there you have it. And in case you weren't wondering, now you know if it ever comes up in conversation.

Anarbor recently wrapped up its fall tour, and an announcement on its web site says they are now in the studio, recording their first full-length album. They are scheduled to head back out on the road in January, and a Feb. 3 date will bring the band to Michigan ... a place called the Mixtape. In Grand Rapids. Oh, well.

Watch Anarbor's video "The Brightest Green":