We are hereby obsessed with recent offerings from two bands with much in common, but which stand separate and strong. They are both trios and are based in the UK. Both use piano to create the desired atmosphere. Most significantly, Sykoya and LOWES are fronted by female vocalists with breathtaking power and purity.
Sykoya is London-based. The members are Anna Marcella (lead vocals, synth). Joe Cross (bass, synth, backing vocals), and Curtis ElVidge (drums). The song “The Wolf” is on their EP, “Strange Night,” released in May 2016. In “The Wolf,” the vocals of Marcella often soar, which is a description we try to avoid because of its overuse. But the single-syllable frequency variations that often characterize the vocals are best defined as soars. As an example, starting at 1:27, a word ("lie") ascends through a range of frequencies before we hear "with me."
“The Wolf" by Sykoya
“Awake at Night” is the Soundcloud debut of LOWES. The band name is from Lancaster and comprises Evie Plumb (lead vocals, keys), Jamie Walker (guitar, backing vocals), and Luke Paget (drums, backing vocals).
“Awake at Night” by LOWES.
Lyrics of “Awake at Night” by LOWES.
Lights Off, eyes open,
Lie still, mind racing
Colors flash and fade
Night turns to day
I'm still, holding on to something,
thinking I can make you change
Who am I to be so wrong,
Thinking that you need me when I'm gone.
So I close my eyes,
I'll force you from my mind,
Awake at night,
You go round and round,
Feel so low,
And all I ever hear, is “just let go,”
But you go round and round and round.
A thousand hours spent,
Wondering what you meant,
Nothing matters no,
This numbness hurts somehow
I'm still, holding on to something,
Thinking I can make you change
Who am I to be so wrong,
Thinking that you need me when I'm gone.
[Repeat chorus]
Everyone was shocked by the news of the death of Magnolia Electric Co. frontman, Jason Molina, in 2013. However, this song, originally released on his 2005 live album “Trials & Errors,” is testimony enough to the legacy this fantastic musician has left the world of Indie Rock. The studio version of the track also made an appearance on “What Comes After the Blues,” which was released later that year.
Last night, I made my way from The Valley to what feels like the mecca of Indie/Alternative music in Los Angeles – Echo Park. Echo Park has recently gotten a reputation for being the center of the music and art scene in LA, and upon returning back to this city after being in other cities around the country and the world, I can honestly say that reputation holds merit.
Opening for Tacocat, The Regrettes appeared on stage with their highly stylized fashion: Front woman Lydia Night wore all pink, including a large fuzzy jacket, a pink dress, and even her guitar; lead guitarist Genessa Gariano emerged in a two-piece sea foam green shirt and skirt also matching her guitar; and bassist Sage Nicole wore an all-black dress to match her bass too. At first glance, it was clear that this band did not lack any flair.
Although Tacocat’s tour follows the release of their newest LP, “Lost Time,” which was released in April, the highlights of the band’s set were songs from their second studio album, “NVM,” which came out in 2014 on Hardly Art. Their song, “Psychedelic Quinceañera,” pulled from mariachi instrumentals and harsher vocals and stood out as having a more unique sound live than their other music. “Crimson Wave,” my favorite track off “NVM,” sounded better than it did recorded on the album. The mostly 20-something audience seemed to think so too—I didn’t see one person standing still in the crowd. When the members of the band weren’t singing, dancing, and playing their feminist inspired, zestful music, they were wittily bantering along the stage with one another about the subjects of their songs and their nostalgic times together. 
If you’re looking for a tour highlighting two high-powered, girl-fronted, retro-inspired, young, and lively bands, make that spontaneous trip down to San Diego to see the band tonight (7/20) at The Soda Bar, or tomorrow (7/21) in Long Beach at Fingerprints Records - where Tacocat will put on a FREE show!
