Scissors For Lefty’s story involves Malaysian pop songs and intense Beatles fixations, influential British indie labels and late night hot tub parties, ’80s dance nights and KISS solo records. But mostly it’s a story about friendship.

The quintet features Bryan, his brother Stevie Garza, 25, and uncle (don’t ask) Robby Garza, 29, plus brothers Peter, 29, and James Krimmel, 27. Bryan, James, and Peter started Scissors in 2000, while the former duo was attending college in the Central Valley town of San Luis Obispo, Calif. Even at the trio’s beginnings, they synthesized a wide range of influences. Both Peter and James studied classical piano for years and shared their mother’s gift for singing (she was a Malaysian pop star in the mid-’60s and is still played on the radio in Borneo to this day), while James also nurtured a serious Beatles obsession. Bryan, meanwhile, mixed his childhood hair-metal days with a love for alt-rock titans like Radiohead and Björk and a growing appreciation for ’80s pop.

Following a move to San Francisco in 2002, the musicians added Robby who had been inspired to pick up the guitar after hearing Ace Frehley’s solo album. He gave the band’s herky-jerky rhythms and sexed up vocal harmonies the brawn they needed. One-time triathlete Stevie is the final piece of the puzzle, having joined the group on bass in October 2006. Scissors’ self-recorded, self-released debut, 2005’s Bruno, served as a sort of how-to primer for the band. For its follow up, the act wanted something more representative of their performances.

The group utilized an outside producer: Charles Goodan, who’s worked with the Dust Brothers, Beck, and Carlos Santana. Over several weeks, Scissors tracked new material in Silverlake’s Sonora Studios, as well as re-recorded two numbers from Bruno (”Ghetto Ways” and “Marsha,” which would be released as a double A-Side single by influential UK label Rough Trade). The disc was eventually mixed by Mark Needham, who’s worked with everyone from the Killers to Fleetwood Mac to Chris Isaak. The resulting Underhanded Romance feels both wildly fresh and instantly recognizable.

Scissors For Lefty has recently scored glowing reviews in NME, Billboard, Spin.com, SF Weekly, and the LA Times, nabbing gigs with the Arctic Monkeys, Blonde Redhead, Metric, Paul Weller, the Fratelli’s, the Fiery Furnaces, the Cribs, the Coup, Shiny Toy Guns, Panic! at the Disco, and Dirty Pretty Things, along with numerous European festivals and underground Jacuzzi bashes.