Yeah. Goat. You know, like the cheese?"
These were the exact words that the Chico based progressive rock trio Goat used to introduce themselves to me and my awe-struck grandmother. I managed to catch these guys along with their fellow Chico musicians Clouds on Strings during their last few dates of their tour. The guys acted very shy and humble when approaching the microphone, but it all changed once they played that first chord. Composed of Lowell Thomas on bass and vocals, Josh Andrews on guitar, and Zachary Sorenson on drums, their lyrics have the frankness of Weezer, the instrumental complexity of Rush, and the talent of any seasoned musician. Their release tour may have ended, but you will still be able to see them soon, for future dates may be in the works.
Next comes the aforementioned Clouds on Strings, a 5 piece progressive rock bands also from Chico. First thing that caught my eye was the violinist, Matt Weiner, who stood in the front with a concentrated expression. Josh Hegg stood behind the keys with the biggest grin I have ever seen, and Matt Franklin, their animal of a drummer. Michael Bone and Randall Jangula controlled the bass and guitar. The whole band made sure one did not overpower another, and I, as well as everyone else in the venue, heard every bit and piece of the song perfectly. The long instrumentals inbetween verses became increasingly stronger by each song and everyone left amazed. Their influences include prog-rock staples such as Genesis, King Crimson, and Rush. You can usually catch the band watching Zappa Plays Zappa, supporting other local acts, or promoting their latest album Pomology, which can be downloaded on their website
http://music.cloudsonstrings.com/ Two weeks after this amazing experience, it was time to get my metal fix. Local instrumental band The San Joaquin Steamers went head to head with punk rockers Naked Lady Mudflap. The Steamers started off strong, playing Metallica-esque pieces and gradually progressed into a melting pot of different genres such as punk, metal, and grunge. The band doesn't have much on their Facebook page at the moment, nor songs released online, so I will keep you readers posted for any releases. I am a big fan of girl members in groups and was very excited and surprised with Naked Lady Mudflap's Shantell terrorizing with her sticks. Lead vocalist Roger sounds like a reincarnation of Kurt Cobain, incorporating many Nirvana trademarks such as the strong and simple guitar playing, pounding drums, and equally powerful bass played by John. The band seems to have a very energized fan base who managed to create a two man mosh pit and an encore. You can find most of their music on their Facebook page, as well as upcoming tour dates. I must say, after living in this town for only a few months, the music scene is pretty diverse and I will be sure to write more about my local music adventures on this magazine and my music blog which I try to update weekly. Please do not hesitate to email me your songs, bands I should review next, as well as criticism, which is gladly welcome! Send in your songs/recommendations: jadegomez510@gmail.com My blog:
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