Steve E. Nix and Steve Kicks of the Briefs launch the Cute Lepers

Briefs members Steve E. Nix and Steve Kicks have formed a powerpop side project dubbed the Cute Lepers. Nix is handling guitar and lead vocals in the group, with former New Town Animal Kicks on bass. Guitarist Zache Out and drummer CB Mangler round out the roster, although three additional members credited with tamborines and "big handclaps" are also cited on the band's MySpace page.

Four songs, including "So Screwed Up," "Terminal Boredom," "It's Summertime Baby" and "Day After The End..." are streaming from MySpace now. The band played their first gig on the 21st of April, with another scheduled for June 15th at Seattle's Comet Tavern.