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Photons: We Think You'll Love Them, We Think You'll Love Them
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Too often I find myself at a club watching just another “hipster” band. You know you’ve seen them: all the females wearing “unique” clothing, doing their best Jenny Lewis impression, trying to look cute and intellectual at the same time, while the male members try and feign some onstage romantic drama between members with a really, really serious gaze on their face, being the doppelganger of Ben Gibbard . The worst part is that they’re usually just not that good, putting more emphasis on a look, or trying to fit into a scene, than the music itself.
Although Photons have massive “hipster” appeal, they don’t fall into any of the traps that other, similarly (but failing) styled bands so often do. Photons offer all that is good about the San Francisco music scene. They have eight members (male and female), they have dedication, they have style, and they have a knack for finding a unique melody in their sound. They offer a unique instrumentation (including bassoon, clarinet, and glockenspiel in addition to guitars, bass, keys and drums) and an impassioned style that sets them apart from the imitators we’re so used to seeing.
The new EP “Glory” starts off with a lyric “…We think you’ll love us, we think you’ll love us,” but it contains not a single trace of pretention or ego. They plead this line more than they declare it. There is obviously a confidence that stems from their pop sensibilities and superior performance ability, but they never cross the line of taking themselves too seriously. The rhythm section creates a driving, syncopated beat that wraps the listener in the groove, and allows the catchy melody to really take off and offer an emotive glory (no pun intended) that leaves you wanting more from the new EP “Glory!” that is just too short. You will want to hear more from this band. Perhaps this was their intent: whet the appetites of listeners, leave them wanting more.
Photons are adept at using their influences subtly enough to create their own sound while alluding too other great artists such as David Bowie, Modest Mouse, Mazzy Star, Belle and Sebastian, The Strokes, and pre “Crane Wife” sounds of The Decembrists. That they can take this varied array of influences and create an individual sound speaks volumes to the power of having eight members, each with the ability to bring their own little niche to the table. Their new EP "Glory!" comes out June 23rd, and will be available on Itunes and Amazon.com
Photons: I think you’ll love them, I think you’ll love them. Support the bay area music scene. Peace.
Photons are:
Calvin Liu- Bass
James Parish- Lead Vocals
Elysha Ron Povolo- Keys, Clarinet
Ben Davila- Vocals, Guitar
Mary Hansell- Glockenspiel, percussion, vocals
Sarah Sullivant- Bassoon
Casey Saran- Guitar
Erica Canada- Drums
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