Junipero at SoHo

Organic, Folksy, Creative. These are just a couple of words to describe UCSB's own Junipero, a band that has a soft spot in the hearts of all that know of them and their music. Composed of Kasey Warner, Dave Pascoe, Michael Sallstrom, and Hanna Haas, Junipero has a quintessential sound that is reminiscent of warm sunsets, long walks on the beach, and comforting chai lattes. With numbers like "Case of Fire" and a heart-warming rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecilia", Junipero makes use of compatible harmonies between Michael and Hannah, as well as Dave to create warm and memorable sounds. All four of them create a kind of energy on stage that you can't help but gravitate toward them- Dave's incredible violin skills, Kasey's simple yet unique approach to percussion, and Michael and Hannah's soulful vocals and guitar make Junipero a band that you find yourself swaying to. Junipero has become so popular among UCSB"s student population that during a performance, like the one I recently attended at Soho, people will be singing along and dancing- Junipero also has a fun aesthetic as they like to dress up (especially Dave) and encourage the audience to do so as well. Junipero's music draws in every kind of listener,  from the hippie girl that like to dance barefoot, to serious music lovers and critics, and it seems that Junipero finds a way to make everyone happy. Maybe its that violin or Hannah's grainy vocals, or their alternating melodies and harmonies that slowly take you to a place where all is calm and peaceful. If the phrase "down to earth" could be categorized into a sound, Junipero would be that sound- they are what people seek when they crave that local, "home" feeling you get from listening to a good set of songs. Not only are they all full of talent, but Junipero also consists some of the nicest human beings you'll ever meet. They make sure the audience is feeling good, and radiate love and compassion through each one of their songs. I'm always left with chills and there's undeniably a smile on my face after listening to songs like"Cecilia" and "Case of Fire". Junipero also performed some new songs at Soho, including " The Ballad of Captain Planet" which has your foot tapping, and has a kitschy feel with Kasey's light percussion and Dave skillfully placed violin as Michael sings.  Want to know what Santa Barbara sounds like? Listen to Junipero- they will not disappoint. Be ready though, you'll soon be left with a similar feeling of seeing a warm Santa Barbara sunset.

I highly recommend "Cecilia" and "Case of Fire"

Check out Junipero's MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/juniperosound

Hannah Haas, Kasey Warner, Michael Sallstrom, and Dave Pascoe

Kiven

From the dusty and traffic filled land of dreams, otherwise known as Los Angeles comes a trio of transplants that have a sound and aesthetic that is their own. After meeting at USC, Tyler Demorest, Matt Cohen, and Danny Schnair came together to create Kiven (pronounced Kee-vahn), a band that doesn’t really pertain to one particular genre.  With ethereal and clean vocals, Tyler Demorest’s voice takes the listener on a spiritual journey and add to that Danny Schnair’s hypnotic guitar riffs and Matt Cohen’s bass, the listening experience becomes something surreal and truly beautiful. Elements of MuteMath, Radiohead, and a kind of fortified Bon Iver come to mind, as their different sounds blend together to create something unique and intriguing. With the release of their album “1840” Kiven is a band that can truly hold their own- they defy all categories and labels and have created something that cannot be put into any one kind of genre, something that really separates them from other bands. Kiven recently performed as an opener to Junipero at the Soho, and was a rare treat, and totally unexpected. Numbers like “Hope and Smoke” and “Release” are full of powerful vocals, and heavy machinery, while songs like “Blur” and “Forward” show a more sensitive side that is refreshing, as Tyler also adds piano to some of the songs, giving them a kind of edgy yet delicate feel, an intricate and hard balance to achieve. It is this marriage of different sounds and different approaches that gives Kiven its individual flavor- they defy the rules by tapping into every kind of sound, yet abiding by none. The energy they have as performers is also something really special to see- its as if each performer is having a spiritual and emotional experience with the music, and they emote that to their audience- Danny and Matt’s harmonies add something really profound to their sound as well, as its where the rough meets the pretty, and born are memorable melodies and soulful harmonies that stay with you long after the song is over. Kiven’s music is everything you want in a band; their sound is pleasing yet tough, and their lyrics are introspective. Songs like Blur greet you with rich chords and then disintegrate into a harmoniously set of distorted riffs as Tyler’s vocals float over the band, with Danny and Matt coming in periodically creating surreal moments in their music. For a relatively new band, Kiven has already started to find their footing, bringing something new and interesting to the table. Their energy and diversity of songs demand your attention, and before you know it, you’re captivated, enthralled, and emotionally pulled toward that intangible force that only good music can get you close to. After their concert at Soho, I was able to talk with them a little bit and found them all to be genuine, witty, humble, and all about the music- Kiven is a tremendous force of talent and I highly recommend a listen, it’s an experience of its own. Kiven is recently on tour and just performed at SXSW- it’s a band to look out for; who knows what else these artistic geniuses will come up with next.

I highly recommend “Blur” and “Forward” on their album “1840” and be sure to check out their video “Release” on YouTube

From the left: Matt Cohen, Tyler Demorest, and Danny Schnair of Kiven

Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears: As sweet as they Sound

It was a cold fall night at UCSB and my friend Sydney and I were getting ready to go to the Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears Concert that was playing at Campbell as part of the fall arts and lectures series. Sydney had been raving about them for weeks, sending me their music through YouTube videos, posting about them on my Facebook  and insisting that we get tickets and go. I decided why not? I love dirty blues and a good mo-town sound. Going to see Black Joe Lewis was one of the best concert decisions I have ever made. We entered Campbell Hall to find people quietly and orderly sitting down and listening as if we were at a Bach piano recital, not a fun and dare I say it, groovy upbeat blues concert. Black Joe Lewis himself is a hip and energetic character, with a sultry and soulful voice that pulls you in. The band consists of Bill Stevenson on bass guitar, Joseph Woullard on sax, Derek Phelps on trumpet, and Jason Frey on tenor sax. Together they are a truly hypnotic group, with a sound that is completely their own. Their music has a solid foundation of dirty blues and jazz with generous dashes of mo-town and even a little pop. Their music makes you want to shake your hips and do things you wouldn't otherwise do. Sydney and I were disappointed in the mundane crowd, so we decided to get up and dance, which we did with a small group of people that were in the back with us.  Black Joe started the set with "Livin' In the Jungle" an upbeat song about dancing and feeling the "vibe" of the jungle. The song kicks off with solid vocals from Black Joe, who got really into the sound and was hoping the audience would do the same; we were in the back, but believe me there was no way we could have stopped dancing. "Livin in the Jungle" was just a small taste of the the musical wonders that were coming our way. The band played hits off their new album like "Booty City", "I'm Broke", "Stop Breakin' Down" and a very seductive song called "She's So Scandalous" that had every woman in the room, young or old wish they'd brought another pair of panties. Black Joe Lewis has a hypnotic effect on the audience; his charismatic dance moves and the enthusiasm of the band demand your attention and put a trance on your body making you move, like it or not. Halfway through the concert, Sydney, me, and a couple of other people just decided we were not doing Black Joe justice, and that it was not only necessary to dance, but critical to let people know that a band will give you what you give them. This truly great band was playing to a dead audience and me and a small group of people wanted to let the band know that there were some soul-loving, foot tapping, wild things in the audience. So, me in my leather shorts and Sydney in her leather jacket paraded with a group of other people down to the front of the stage and danced to one great number after the next. The versatility in Black Joe's music is really what separates him from the rest of the soul-singers of today; he gives old-school blues riffs and underground jazz a completely new sound, while still keeping it genuine and full of heart. Most of Black Joe's lyrics are written from personal experience, and the listener is able to hear every nuance of pain or happiness through each one of his songs. Maybe this is what makes Black Joe seem so accessible; he's like the cool guy that everyone wants to be, but instead of seeming unapproachable due to his incomparable talent, his music is so real and tangible that instead of feeling distanced from him as an audience member, you feel like he's singing directly to you- a hallmark of a great performer. To feel that intimate in a room full of  people is truly something- during his "She's So Scandalous", I felt like I was getting seduced just watching him and hearing the strong intonation of the word "Scandalous" over and over again. You could compare Black Joe to an eclectic crossover between Ray Charles, Junior Kimbrough, Stevie Wonder, and John Legend, but quite honestly Black Joe is in his own genre. He has managed to bring back the mo-town sound in a revolutionary way, bringing together fans of all ages. It's artists like Black Joe Lewis that bridge the generation gap and prove that through all the uninspired music that is fed to us through every technological device, good, REAL music is still out there and needs to be heard.

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