The Philistines Jr. was founded by brothers
Peter Katis and Tarquin Katis, alongside friend
Adam Pierce. In addition to guitar, bass, and drums, their early records made use of keyboard instruments such as
electric organ and
toy piano. After their second full-length,
Analog vs. Digital, was released in 2001, they issued no new material until 2010, when
If a Band Plays in the Woods...? was released. This was released with a companion album,
If a Lot of Bands Play in the Woods...?, of other bands
covering and
remixing tracks from
If a Band Plays in the Woods...?. Artists on the companion album included
The National,
Mice Parade,
Tokyo Police Club,
Tapes 'N Tapes,
Jonsi,
Mercury Rev,
Oneida,
We Were Promised Jetpacks, and
Frightened Rabbit. The band was then quiet again for several years, but in 2017, they released a cover of the song "
NYC" by
Interpol. The Philistines Jr. toured with
Gang of Youths in 2018. After the suicide of Frightened Rabbit singer
Scott Hutchison, The Philistines Jr. contributed a cover of "Bright Pink Bookmark" to
Tiny Changes, a
tribute album of covers of songs from Frightened Rabbit's
The Midnight Organ Fight - which Peter Katis had produced. Later in 2019, the group released its fourth full-length,
Help!, which
Paste described as "an attempt to make sense of the world at an unsettled time." In addition to the Philistines Jr., the group members also play in bands called Iris and
The Zambonis. Peter Katis works as a producer, Tarquin Katis runs Tarquin Records, the band's own label, and Adam Pierce records under the pseudonym
Mice Parade. ==Members==