The Ruse's arena-ready sound distinguishes this band from other popular indie groups. Mixed with intimate and thoughtful melodies, their songs crawl into your head and take hold of your heart. The Ruse came together in New York City in the spring of 2004 when three long-time friends - singer John Dauer, guitarist Jim Bilus and drummer Jason Young - formed the band with bassist Mark Stolze. By the end of the year, The Ruse was playing some of New York City's hottest music clubs and had gathered a devoted following of fans. Looking to expand their base, the group headed west at the beginning of 2005 in support of their debut record Invasion, and decided to relocate permanently to Los Angeles. After spending much of 2005 building a fan base in Southern California, The Ruse hit the road again in September with another coast-to-coast tour, winning over new fans with each show. In 2006, The Ruse released their self-produced sophomore record Light In Motion to countless positive reviews across several continents. TV placements and radio play soon followed as the songs struck home with a whole new audience. Tracks like "Goodbye" and "Everything Comes with a Price" took hold after multiple placements, which sparked even more buzz and brought further acclaim. The band toured long and hard during the next two years, and played over 90 shows throughout the US in support of Light In Motion. Produced by Jorge Vivo in the band's hometown of Los Angeles, Midnight in the City, The Ruse's latest album, delivers a fresh take on Britpop, Americana and New Wave. By combining honest lyrics and a selfless message, lead singer John Dauer reveals a soulful voice that is hitched with haunting passion, drawing comparisons to those of the best rock vocalists in the world. Moody and moving, The Ruse swings from stripped down rock to soaring melodic ballads. The new tunes have already started to resonate with listeners, as the band was recently nominated for Breakout Artist (LA) at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Armed with the new album Midnight in the City, The Ruse is taking its brand of epic rock to new heights. From the punky New Wave first moments of the opener 'Beautiful is Gone' to the classic rock swagger of title track 'Midnight in the City,' The Ruse takes listeners for a night out on the town and doesn't bring them home until the sun comes up. Band Highlights: *Guest Star and performance on Season 3 of MTV's "The Hills" *MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Breakout Artist LA 2008 *6 Coast to coast US tours in 3 years *12+ songs featured on MTV's "The Hills" *Numerous TV and movie placements *Cameo on HBO's "Entourage" *Featured on ABC's "20/20" *Shows at Bowery Ballroom, Gramercy Theatre, Mercury Lounge, and 9:30 Club in NYC/DC *Shows at The El Rey, Troubadour, House of Blues, Roxy, Key Club, and Viper Room in LA Discography: 2008 "Midnight In The City" LP 2007 "Live At The Viper Room" EP 2006 “Light In Motion” LP 2005 “Invasion” LP