Missouri rock band adopts LaPush for group's name

For people on the North Olympic Peninsula, LaPush is known as the home of the Quileute tribe and some of the most breathtaking coastline in America.

For those who don't realize there's land west of Seattle, LaPush is a rock band from St. Louis, Mo., making its mark in the independent music scene.

The band's lead singer and guitarist, Thom Donovan, discovered the haunting allure of LaPush's pine-covered cliffs and driftwood-lined beaches about five years ago while visiting the Olympic Peninsula on a day trip.

``I was sort of blown away by the beauty of the place,'' Donovan said.

``In America, to me, that was one of the most beautiful places I've been to.''

So when Donovan and his friends -- Kevin Bachmann and Brett Voelker -- formed a band in 2003, they named themselves LaPush.

``I loved the name LaPush and always thought it would make a great name for a band,'' Donovan said.

The band started playing St. Louis clubs, and then word-of-mouth helped their popularity grow to the point where demos of their music were played on independent radio stations in Los Angeles and on XM Satellite radio.

The band soon found itself on stage at the famous underground rock clubs of New York City, including CBGB, Don Hill's and the Mercury Lounge.

LaPush, whose music is often compared to that of Coldplay, The Verve, Oasis and Radiohead, released its first album, ``Someplace Closer to Here,'' last June.