"There's an attitude, this balls-to-the-wall feeling, you don't hear so much in New York these days," says Morningwood frontwoman Chantal Claret. "At one time there was a grittiness here with the local bands, a passion and energy, but now it seems pretty safe." 　　 　　 　　Claret, who grew up in New York, is the youngest member of the group at 23. She met Pedro Yanowitz (who had played drums for The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant and Money Mark before turning to the bass) at a birthday party in 2001. 　　 　　 　　"They spontaneously asked everyone to take turns singing a birthday song on the spot," remembers Yanowitz. "When it was Chantal's turn I thought she'd pass because she doesn't play an instrument, but she launched into a song she wrote when she was sixteen with no accompaniment and her voice just blew everyone away. You could hear a pin drop. I was hooked and Morningwood was born that night." 　　 　　 　　The newly christened duo immediately began writing songs together, and was soon joined by former Cibo Matto drummer John Paul Keenon O. 　　 　　 　　After becoming the stuff of local legend for their off-the-wall live shows - which always provoke a lot of bumping, grinding and dancing, both onstage and off - Morningwood were spontaneously added to a showcase for Capitol Records executives where they proceeded to completely wipe the stage with the intended headliners and were soon signed to the label.