by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
In four years, the 88 has gone from passing out free CDs in front of night clubs to performing on national television - without the help of a major record label.
Keyboardist Adam Merrin said a lot of the day-to-day work is done by the band.
"We're proud knowing we did it ourselves," he said. "When good things happen, it makes us feel more accomplished knowing it was done by us."
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The rock band out of Los Angeles has been on the radar since its single "How Good Can it Be?" appeared on the soundtrack for the FOX show "The OC."
"That introduced our band to a lot of people everywhere," Merrin said. "We had no idea this was going to happen."
Since then, the band has made several television appearances.
On Monday, the band will be featured on an episode of the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother."
"We shot it about a month ago," Merrin said. "The whole episode revolves around our band playing at the prom. It was a great day. We got to play on our lunch break."
The band was also asked to record a cover of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" for the "Failure to Launch" soundtrack.
"They asked us to do that song for the end credits," he said. "It's cool because we are big fans of Queen, and we got to do our own interpretation of the song. People love it because they recognize it."
The 88 released its second album, Over and Over, in September 2005.
"We've been playing nonstop since it came out," he said.
The band has been performing in small venues throughout the Southwest and will open for Matt Costa in Albuquerque on Monday at the Launchpad.
"It's been great playing with Matt Costa," he said. "All our shows have been sold out."
In addition to Costa, the 88 has opened for well-known independent bands like the Flaming Lips, Rilo Kiley and the Elected.
Members of the 88 knew Rilo Kiley from around town and were asked to open for the band last year in San Diego.
"It was definitely one of our highlights," Merrin said. "Rilo Kiley is one of my favorite bands. They've been a huge influence as far as what they have done with their career. They started off just like we started off, playing all these clubs."
Merrin said everyone in the 88 has different influences that make the band's unique sound. Critics have even compared their sound to the Beatles.
"The Beatles are my favorite band of all time," he said "There is something they do to me that no other band does."
Merrin said despite the 88's increasing recognition, the band will remain on an independent label.
"Right now were just doing it ourselves," he said. "Since the beginning it's been a goal to see how far we go on our own. We're moving forward till the right thing presents itself."
The 88
The Launchpad, 618 Central Ave. S.W.
Monday, 8 p.m.
$7
