Based in Los Angeles, the band built a buzz for its polished, straightforward pop/rock sound on the USC and UCLA campuses, and started gigging at local clubs like the Roxy and Whiskey AGoGo. Local music shows on area radio outlets began spinning the group, and Gelber won a national songwriting contest for his "Save Me for a Rainy Day." R2P caught a big break when in September 2003 it was chosen as a finalist in the third annual Coca-Cola New Music Competition. Pitted against two other hopefuls, Relax to Paris would play that October at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, with the victor performing for a national TV audience at the American Music Awards the following November. ~ Johnny Loftus