by Andrew LeaheyThe Nashville-based rock outfit Luna Halo center on the talents of lead vocalist/guitarist Nathan Barlowe. Born in Raleigh, NC, Barlowe initially honed his skills with Reality Check, a modern rock Christian outfit, before forming Luna Halo in 1999. The band's CCM-oriented debut album, Shimmer, was released by Sparrow Records in 2000. Despite the album's positive reviews, Barlowe grew tired of the Christian industry and subsequently left Sparrow's roster. A new lineup was gradually assembled (including Barlowe's younger brother, guitarist Cary Barlowe), and the revised band released a handful of EPs while touring with the likes of Hoobastank and Velvet Revolver. A deal with American Recordings surfaced in 2005; two years later, Luna Halo released their self-titled sophomore effort on American/Columbia Records.