Tales of sordid relationships, friends turning against friends and broken promises aren't typical fodder for fun and energetic pop rock songs, but STEWART's Andrea Tarka isn't your typical songwriter. Acupuncturist by day, Tarka is as enthusiastic as her music suggests, proving that even the most difficult subject matter is no match for a sunny disposition.

Stewart started in 2005 at a party in Bushwick when Tarka met the painfully shy, but extremely talented, lead guitarist John White. She found that the Arkansas-raised guitarist had amazing chops, and the two have been playing music together ever since. Rounding out the group is drummer and songwriter Kevin Cerovich, a seasoned jazz musician, who joined Stewart in August 2009. Originally from Kansas, he has been living in New York City since 2008 and has since become a fixture in the East Village/Williamsburg scene.

Since its inception, Stewart produced a full-length album, Jawbreaker, as well as an EP, Existing at Extremes, in 2007. In 2008, the band released Part iV: A New Hope, a 17 song full-length containing auto-biographical, retro-rock tunes, reminiscent of Green Day, Tilt and Paramore. Artwork for the album was provided by Marvel/Dark Horse comics illustrator Jacob Chabot. And in 2009, the band produced "The Skullboy Sampler," a soundtrack for Chabot's original comic, "The Mighty Skullboy Army." Originally Skullboy's theme song, "Dance With Me" was recently released as a track on the Rock Band Network.

Stewart plays extensively around New York, Brooklyn and surrounding cities, including shows at CBGB and The Continental before the legendary venues closed their doors, as well as Knitting Factory, Arlene's Grocery and many more. L Magazine called them "A NYC pop band with a huge weakness for bands like Weezer, Nada Surf and Fountains of Wayne." They’ve been featured twice as part of the CMJ Music Marathon (in 2007 and 2009) and have self-booked several of tours in the Northeast and Midwest, one of which featured a stop in Cincinnati to perform at the Chicks Rockfest.

Stewart’s energy shows no signs of dissipating. Their newest full-length, Kicks, recently released in June 2010, won critic's vote for "Album of the Year" and the band is currently playing shows in support of it.