The Like: The Rise, Hiatus, and Legacy of Los Angeles' Indie Rock Darlings
Few bands can claim an origin story as organically charming as that of The Like. Formed in September 2001 in Los Angeles, California, the band began as a creative spark between three teenage daughters of music industry legends. Z Berg, Charlotte Froom, and Tennessee Thomas — whose fathers were respectively a Geffen Records producer, producer Mitchell Froom, and Pete Thomas, longtime drummer for Elvis Costello — grew up immersed in the sounds of classic rock, and that rich musical heritage would go on to shape everything they created together.
The name The Like itself is a piece of playful teenage history. Thomas's mother coined it in affectionate recognition of how frequently the girls peppered their conversations with the word "like." It was an endearing touch that perfectly captured the band's youthful spirit. Froom famously began learning bass just two weeks before joining, yet the trio quickly found their footing, writing original songs and building a loyal following the old-fashioned way — performing live and selling self-produced EPs at shows and through their website.
Over three years, The Like independently released three extended plays — I Like The Like, ...and The Like, and Like It or Not — demonstrating a work ethic that caught the attention of the music industry. Their song (So I'll Sit Here) Waiting earned a coveted spot on the soundtrack of the 2003 film Thirteen, and tours with Phantom Planet and Kings of Leon helped broaden their audience considerably. By 2004, the momentum was undeniable, and the band signed with Geffen Records.
Their major label debut, Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?, arrived on September 13, 2005, blending reworked EP favorites with fresh material. Though critics noted a somewhat over-polished production sheen, songs like June Gloom earned genuine praise. The band went on to perform at iconic events such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2006 and London's Wireless Festival, before supporting both Muse and UK rockers Razorlight on tour. The world was beginning to take notice.
The most transformative chapter of The Like's story came with a significant lineup change and a bold creative reinvention. Following Charlotte Froom's departure, Berg and Thomas traveled to Brooklyn to record with producer Mark Ronson, drawing inspiration from classic girl groups, British Invasion acts, and the sophisticated songwriting of 1960s female artists. The result was Release Me, released on June 15, 2010, and it was a revelation. USA Today called it a "vast improvement," while The New York Times' Jon Pareles described it as "irresistible." Los Angeles magazine celebrated the band's embrace of Farfisa organ, jangly guitar, and hand claps — a sound that felt simultaneously nostalgic and thrillingly fresh.
The new lineup, which included Laena Geronimo on bass and Annie Monroe on organ alongside founding members Berg and Thomas, had debuted in late 2009 following a widely celebrated tour supporting Arctic Monkeys. The band's cultural footprint continued to grow as they starred in a short film directed by Gia Coppola — granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola — promoting Zac Posen's Target collection, performed the single Fair Game, appeared in an episode of the TV series 90210, and even made a cameo in a comic book series, The Li'l Depressed Boy.
Yet despite the creative high of Release Me, The Like announced an indefinite hiatus in May 2011, leaving fans with little explanation and many unanswered questions. A brief and mysterious return surfaced in October 2013 when the band quietly announced a single show at the Liquid Room in Tokyo, Japan — a fleeting moment that only deepened the sense of a story left unfinished. Years later, the legacy lived on through vinyl reissues, with Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? finally released on vinyl in 2021, and Release Me announced for a special 15th anniversary vinyl edition in 2025.
Then, in January 2026, Z Berg reignited excitement among devoted fans by announcing via Instagram that The Like would reunite for a special Valentine's Day performance — the Star Crossed Lovers Saint Valentine's Day Ball — bringing together Berg, Thomas, Geronimo, and Monroe once more. What began as a teenage passion project among music industry daughters had quietly grown into a lasting legacy, one that continues to resonate with listeners who discovered the magic of The Like and never quite let it go.