Last Sunrise --- Years ago and before gravity and distance took its eventual toll, the band was known as 'Lisp'. A naive and young Todd Sampson wrote the music and the lyrics punkting out jams with titles like 'hey mister i dont care', and 'smile'. With his brother Zack on drums, Steve Acivado on bass, Landon Gow on guitar, and the occasional fill in on bass or guitar by Robbie Ryles the band had ambition and arrogance enough for that great promised salvation of fame and wealth.

Forming in 1993 after a school 'mock rock' performance of the Nirvana standard 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' in which the first incarnation of 'lisp' was seen with Todd, Robbie, Landon, and their school music instructor (Mr. Rauper?) the band soon started practicing nightly. Band practice gained priority over all else in the teenagers life, and it wasnt long before they felt the itch for live performance again. Startin with 'Kegger' parties in the unfinished basement of Steve Acivados parents house they soon moved up to playin in school auditoriums, talent shows, wedding recitals, graduation parties, etc. And with their small but growing group of followers and their ethic torwards practice and performance there seemed no stopping them... Until, of course, things changed.

The first change arguably was for the better.. Todd Sampson survived a massive life-style change. Quitting vices of nicotine, alchohol, and drugs simutaneously. Changing himself for better and finding a more meaningful salvation then fame and wealth woudlve ever held. Repracutions on the band were immense however and the music changed. Songs of teenage arrogance and angst no longer fit.. So Todd scrapped the entire lisp catalogue. Writing more selectively and with a suprising passion. Songs with titles like 'heaven', and 'christine' started coming out of him filled with images like "death plays a violin.." and metaphors and messages about all the new issues in Todds life. Songs about everything from suicide to salvation.. heart-wrenching and beautiful an entire new band emerged. As you know this was now Last Sunrise and the first true incarnation had only Todd on guitar and vocals and his brother Zach on drums. Like prepping for battle the brothers practiced with even more vigor then had been seen in lisp and set out on a different type of mission.

Since then the band has seen numerous changes.. Damien Wagner took over bass duties at the height of their live performances when they could be found playing such diverse venues such as Coyotes in Sterling, to the Cricket On the Hill in Denver, to city parks, coffee houses and living rooms. But as things go, this didnt last.

Struggling with issues of band member commitment and what kindve standard the band was making for itself, Todd decided to disband and start from scratch once again. However this time the message of the music didnt change, it just got better. With help from Phillip Buettel on bass and sharing in songwriting duties, and another of his brothers Kyle occasionally on drums, Last Sunrise was set to record their first full length album. Entitled 'tomorrow' the album was finished in 2000 and was independantly released online for free download or mail-order purchase. It did suprisingly well receiving several thousand downloads in a short period of time, and inspired Todd to do more recording.

Todd now has a studio set up in his living room and writes and records constantly and puts up all his results for free download. But in addition to music he has now become something of an author and also posts new stories up in the Nopeso Publishing section of this website. Check back often as there is always new material waiting to be experienced.