The first band Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor is a local psychedelic pop group with synthesized bursts, and steady drums with an often tribal beat. The singer sounds a lot like
Kim Salmon and a bit like Nike Cave. His playful and yet shy, quixotic stage presence is enticing. You can hear the influence of The Scientists and The Fall. The crowd was attentive and smiling throughout the set. Check out www.sistersofyoursunshinevapor.com for more news and tunes.
The second band White Hills is a New York City stoner rock band with a lot of fuzz, digital samples, and grooves. White Hills is heavy rock with an atmospheric feel. During the third song in their set I heard their Hawkwind influence, complete with mallet drumming and chant like lyrics. The smoke machines, sultry stage persona of the female vocalist and their snakey lyrics gave their set a hypnotic allure. I saw more movement from the audience, a lot of head bopping.
The last band Sleepy Sun is a California gentle psychedelic rock band with earthy poetic lyrics, a 90s feel good pop backdrop, Nirvana crescendos, melodic gorgeous droning, and a lot of echoy guitar. There was a lot of guitar interplay and hooks which made for a dynamic yet soothing sound. The singer Bret Constantino has a desperate earnest singing delivery which at times sounds ethereal. I dug their sentimental North California sound. I can hear the influence of Quick Silver Messenger. I enjoyed all three bands. They are distinctive and worth checking out.
By Gwen Joy
Snazzy is as snazzy does
