(This feature first appeared in issue 59 of Shindig! magazine. For the full unedited interview click over the jump at the bottom of this post.)
Corpus
Christi is a coastal city in south Texas and the unlikely home of
latest garage-beat sensations The Blind Owls. In a city famed for
palm trees and subtropical weather The Blind Owls play music more
readily associated with dank Liverpudlian cellar bars and rowdy
Reeperbahn strip-joints. Their debut LP, All Day And Night,
echoes Merseybeat and early rock 'n' roll with a hint of US garage.
All played with verve and vigour, and a musicality beyond their
tender years.
The
band describe themselves thus - “'60s rock 'n' roll, well-dressed,
energetic and raw”. True, but not the full story. Rather than the
usual one-sound-fits-all favoured by many garage acts, these guys
have a variety and breadth of approach. Guitarist Josh De Leon
explains “I took a classical guitar class in high school, where I
learned all about new techniques and styles of playing. I try to
bring a different style into our music influenced from any genre that
I'm currently listening to. I also enjoy playing the organ and have
incorporated that into a few songs.”
Their
harmonies, George Harrison style guitar licks and instrumental
colouring put the band ahead of many contemporaries. Guitarist and
main songwriter Jesse De Los Santos says -“We do our best to put a
lot into our music, it’s something we all had to work hard at but
now seems to come naturally. Harmonies are very important for us; the
right harmony at the right place can change the mood of the song. The
same goes for guitar fills and so on.”
For
a band born around the time the Beatles Anthology compilations, their
affection for '60s music is as passionate as it is surprising. Says
Jesse - “We grew up influenced by our parents, listening to the
Beatles or Elvis every day on the way to school and just being around
that music struck a chord with us. As we got older, we delved deeper
into the music of the '60s, where we discovered many new artists. We
fell in love with the sounds of close harmonies, jangly guitars and
all the beautiful melodies and talent these musicians had. There’s
so much great music to be found and the music of the '60s is
something that we really appreciate.”
Other
influences include The Zombies, The Kinks, The 13th Floor
Elevators, The Easybeats, The Chantays and Buddy Holly. Drummer Dylan
Rommel's influences stretch further still - “I've been playing
drums for 10 years. However, I didn’t start taking it seriously
until I joined the band. I use my drumming to bring a laid back
style, influenced by R&B and jazz of the 1960s.”
Live
shows are an energetic affair with bassist Carlos Garcia citing Pete
Towshend and Elvis as his visual inspiration. The band plan to mak
shau as far afield as money will allow but sadly there are no
plans for a European visit just yet. Though as Jesse says “we hope
to bring our music there one day, if anyone would like to help us let
us know!” Over to you promoters!
All Day
And Night is self-released on CD. A cassette version is available
from Dadstache Records. Soundflat Records will be releasing a vinyl
LP.
