Cartel to headline spring Concert March 8 at SMU

WINONA, Minn. — The rising pop punk band Cartel from Atlanta, Ga., will headline a public concert Thursday, March 8, at Saint Mary’s University.
Read more.

More than 3,000 copies of “Chroma,” Cartel’s debut album, were sold in the first week of its release in 2005, earning the band a spot on Alternative Press’s 2005 list of “Bands You Need to Know.” In March, the band signed with Epic records and was also named Yahoo! Music’s winner in the “Who’s Next” competition. Cartel’s music has been used on MTV’s “Laguna Beach: The Real O.C.” Band members are Will Pugh, vocals, guitar, piano; Joseph Pepper, guitar; Nic Hudson, guitar; Jeff Lett, bass; and Kevin Sanders, drums. The group is currently on a nationwide tour that started in February and will continue into April.

Cartel’s three opening bands are New Atlantic, Boys Like Girls, and Cobra Starship. Music from Cobra Starship was recently featured in the movie “Snakes on a Plane.”

The concert, hosted by SMU’s Student Activities Committee, will be held in the gymnasium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. New Atlantic performs at 7:15 pm., Boys Like Girls at 8 p.m., Cobra Starship at 8:45 p.m., and Cartel at 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and are available at the Performance Center box office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

More information about Cartel is available at the bands website: www.cartelrocks.com.