MUSIC
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North of Nine
With two of three band members hailing from Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez, Fairground Saints signed with The Verve Group/ Universal Records last fall and are scheduled to release a debut album this winter. The young alternative-folk band has been performing at local festivals in and around Santa Barbara as they prepare for postrecord-signing projects headed their way. Funky R&B rockers The Fire
Department released their second
album Underwater ($3.96, sound cloud.com/thefiredepartment music). The band started their musical climb while attending UC Santa Barbara. Today, they reside in Ojai where they are exploring new music, recording at the same studio as Goleta native Katy Perry, and touring the West Coast.
described “bare-bones album” mixes Americana blues with psychedelic rock and soul. Originally from Santa Ynez, Kathleen Sieck recently debuted Where the Sleepers Lie (free, kathleensieck.com). She describes her simplistic country-inspired music as a reflection of her life as a Christian, a Californian, and most importantly, a mother and wife. Sieck stays true to her roots through her poetic lyricism and timeless melodies. Having met in Santa Barbara and instantly bonding over similar musical influences, Greg Doscher and Allie Thompson formed Mexico City Blondes. The pair has since gained recognition through the combination of sultry and soulful sounds in their first single, “Fade.” The overall silky smooth vibe and dreamy lyrics
Nolan Frank, Michael O’Grady, Rob Ketchum, Jackson Guthy, and Edison Lo are the faces behind up-and-coming band North of Nine. The driving force behind the group’s recently released single “We Ride” is Guthy’s soft, heartfelt talent and musical capability. “I’ve come a long way as a musician and songwriter since opening for bands like One Direction,” says Santa Barbara-rasied Guthy. “North of Nine is an expression of both where I’ve been and where I’m going. I find myself in a very energized place lyrically and sonically, and I hope the music I’m making with the band makes everyone who listens to it feel that way too.” Keep an eye out for their first album to be released in early 2015. –Jackie Moore
consistent throughout their tracks foreshadow a promising future for their upcoming debut album set to release in 2015. Current Isla Vista residents Sun Daes believe they were destined to become bandmates. The two founding members, Jared Payzant and Gabe Poissant, met at an oncampus radio station at UCSB their freshman year and eventually completed their band with dorm mates. The youthful crooners released their indie/rock-infused debut album Video Swim ($6, sundaes.bandcamp .com) in early 2014. –Annie Aph ay
Santa Barbara band Gardens & Villa describe their musical genre
as “galactic fever.” After their visit to Richard Swift’s National Freedom studio in Oregon, pop-in recording sessions with Tim Goldsworthy, and a few psychological experiments along the way, the band has put together an EP of musical sketches, Televisor (free, gardensandvilla.com). After spending years as a member of Lompoc band Saint Anne’s Place, lead guitar and vocalist Jacob Cole branched out into the solo world with the debut of Chasing Ghosts (free, saintannesplace.bandcamp .com). Recorded in 48 hours, his self-
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Fairground Saints
WINTER 2015
11/7/14 4:42 PM