Warbly Jets
Following The Schitzophonics is no easy task but it’s one the Warbly Jets passed with flying colors. Instead of trying to resolve to antics not their own they played with the conviction of a well-seasoned touring band. While listening to their music you can hear it’s been greatly influenced by Brit pop bands like Primal Scream, Oasis, and Blur. There’s a sense of refinement and selectiveness to their sound, which is a skill all in its own. It’s a concentrated approach, a steady backbeat, well-plotted hooks, and tasteful call and responses between the vocal and guitar melodies; it’s not a sound that dances or strays too far into any sub genres of rock but rather takes a strong stance sonically and allows for their talents to do the bidding. This is refreshing in many ways to my ears, which tend to lean on a vast palette of colors.
Warbly Jets from Los Angeles, California turned Soda Bar upside with local garage rockers The Oxen and The Schizophonics!
Stoned and spellbound at a rock and roll supermarket, Soda Bar showcased a night of talented, established, and upcoming bands that varied in their approaches.
Melodic, a bit somber, and a bit ecstatic, The Oxen were a pleasurable surprise and offered something different from the rest of the acts that night. Their sound was rooted in a pop opium dream, much like Baxter Drury or some of The Beatles psychier songs on The White Album. The music is expansive and appears to be going on at a heighted plane, in a room with really lofty couches and a spectacular view of the city twenty stories high. Sensuous and romantic, both guitar/vocalists traded off wonderfully with layered ambiance, great use of arpeggios, and melodic phrases that enhanced the moodiness of the music. This ambient romanticism floated on top of a composed rhythm section whose focal point was establishing seamless grooves and keeping the out of body experience intact. The Oxen are gearing up to do a split 7” with The Gift Machine, and hopefully releasing a full length early next year. They certainly have my attention and I look forward to hearing more.
Speaking of releases, or lack thereof, The Schitzophonics’ front man, witch doctor and gymnast Pat Beers announced the release/sale of their full length album after writhing and howling on the opening two songs. Winded, he announced “we were going to have a release party but it kept getting pushed back, so tonight is the first night we have them for sale… so there you go, this is our release party.” When speaking of this group there’s not much left to say; here in San Diego they’re the apex of a rock and roll band and have been ‘doing their thing’ astonishing crowds for years. This band always puts on a show. What they do is for the love of it and they’re extremely dedicated to transporting their audience out of lulled and casual experiences that have demonized this scene for a long time. This show was no exception with a no-frills-don’t-give-a-fuck release, they took to the stage, with high-octane savagery and blew our minds with their fuzzed out MC5, soul, garage, rock and roll.
Following The Schitzophonics is no easy task but it’s one the Warbly Jets passed with flying colors. Instead of trying to resolve to antics not their own they played with the conviction of a well-seasoned touring band. While listening to their music you can hear it’s been greatly influenced by Brit pop bands like Primal Scream, Oasis, and Blur. There’s a sense of refinement and selectiveness to their sound, which is a skill all in its own. It’s a concentrated approach, a steady backbeat, well-plotted hooks, and tasteful call and responses between the vocal and guitar melodies; it’s not a sound that dances or strays too far into any sub genres of rock but rather takes a strong stance sonically and allows for their talents to do the bidding. This is refreshing in many ways to my ears, which tend to lean on a vast palette of colors.