The Small Stars: Featuring Band Members of Fastball, Miles Zuniga and Jeff Groves

You may not have heard of the indie band, The Small Stars, but you've probably heard of its counterpart, Fastball. If not, Fastball was that little band in the late 1990s (1998, to be exact) that had that little hit, "The Way." The song, about a couple who leaves it all behind and find happiness in being alone together ("but where were they going without ever knowing the way?), was released from the album All The Pain Money Can Buy. Before Fastball became a popular name in the 90s, though, there was an idea for a little band called The Small Stars.

In 1989, almost a full ten years before Fastball gained popularity, front man, Miles Zuniga and Jeff Groves had an idea to put a band together, and call them The Small Stars. The idea, however, did not materialize until later when they got fellow musicians together to create this brainchild band of theirs. But these guys do not take any of it too seriously, they are just out there each night having fun.

Though The Small Stars consider themselves a Reno band, because most of their shows happen in Reno, most of the members can be linked back to Austin, Texas. Their Reno shows have been considered to be somewhere in between a lounge act and a cabaret show, and a goofy combination of each. Along with the band comes a dramatic stage show with each performance. The all-star cast of musicians uses the band as an outlet to vent their frustrations about whatever they are feeling at the moment, whether it is current politics, world issues, or the state of the music industry. When they are on stage, they let it all out, and the fans love it.

One thing that greatly stands out from other bands is their use of alter egos while on stage. From Fastball, Miles Zuniga becomes "Guy Fantasy," and Jeff Groves becomes "Buddy Llamas." John Bush from the New Bohemians, Landis Armstrong from McLemore Avenue, and Jeff Johnston from Li'l Cap'n Travis add the remaining flavors of the band, each of them also having their own chosen alter egos, complete with stage costumes. And to make it even more fun, they each even have a little back story about their stage character.

While it may seem like an odd collaboration, The Small Stars have already started building their name in Reno, Nevada. Miles Zuniga describes the band as, "Frank Sinatra meets Matt the Hoople in a Denny's." Whatever it is, it is apparently working out for them.