I’m really struggling how to describe The Garden. And that’s not a bad thing. They’re just….different. They’re a two piece. One on drums and one on bass. Yeah, no guitar. They certainly have an attitude that makes me think they’re like Slaves (but the drummer does sit down…soft). But they have a fuller sound and play with backing tracks like Twentyone Pilots. Some videos even show the drummer singing out in front of his set with a drum machine playing. And there’s a certain “Sparks” quality to them (remember Coachella 2013?). By the way, they’re from the OC so maybe they have some influences from our Surf City Blitz buddies. So wrap up Slaves, Sparks, T0P, and some OC Punk in a big ball and you might get this. Anyway, check them out and let me know what you think.
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 7 – Cherry Glazerr
Cherry Glazerr are from LA and are really their lead singer’s, Clementine Creevy, project, as she’s been the only constant since they were formed in 2013. “Noise Pop” and “Garage Rock” are a couple of the adjectives to categorize them. But really, like yesterday, just a great sounding rock act.
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 7 – The Beaches
The Beaches are a foursome from Canada led by two sisters. They’ve been around for about six years but have only produced on album. Sure to be KJ’s favorite. Rather than try to compare them to another band, I’ll just say they rock. The have the simple four-piece rock band formula figured out. The videos tell the story. Another great aftershow possibility.
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 7 – Skating Polly
This week we’re going five wide Monday through Friday. So much to catch up on, so little time until Riot Fest. This time I dove deep into the lineup poster. One each from lines 11 to 15. I never heard any of them before but I think they’re worthy of a preview, especially based on the success we’ve had with similar bands in the past. Three are female led (Wolf Alice and Potty Mouth) and two are duos (T0P and Slaves).
Skating Polly remind me of Potty Mouth. They definitely follow the path set by Bikini Kill as a Riot Grrrl band. Led by step-sisters, they’ve put out five albums since 2011. So they’ve been busy. Their first album was produced by Excene Cervanka of X, so they got their punk street cred right away. From Oklahoma, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Just not a normal hotbed of punk like Virginia Beach.
Before we get to Skating Polly videos, let’s revisit Riot Grrrl again. Here’re a few museum pieces from Seattle’s Museum of Popular Culture (you gotta check this place out if in Seattle, especially if you even vaguely appreciate Pearl Jam and Nirvana) dedicated to Riot Grrl bands, including a few copies of the fanzine published by one of Riot Fest’s headliners. Feminist punk is alive and well at Riot Fest and you gotta love it!
Riot Fest 2019 Countdown 8 – Turnover
We’ll segue from one dream pop band (Ride) to another; from Great Britain to Virginia Beach. Two alternative music meccas… Turnover are a dream pop alternative band from VB. Turnover is also kinda emo, but isn’t Virginia Beach? Never heard of them before but it’s interesting to know the environment they came out of. Did they ever play Peabody’s? Where did they go to school? If we see them they be one bookend of my VB/Norfolk live music experience opposite Waxing Poetics. I’ll buy a round of drinks if one of them is sporting a WRV or Raven t-shirt.