Summer of song launches in the desert
Promising local band Faun Flora headlines big Valley weekend
HARK!
I hear…a musical holiday…
In the rest of the country, Independence Day unofficially kicks off summer.
Here in HARK Valley, aka “the paved desert,” summer definitely starts on Memorial Day–with June usually a brutally hot month.
This year has actually been a little cooler, but still…
In any case, while “summer” for most of the country means fun, outdoor parties and music festivals–in the Valley, it’s a time of retreat.
Even so, several promising bands will be performing this holiday weekend.
Faun Flora–perhaps the local bar-band with the highest bar–plays its ethereal music Friday, July 1 at Valley Bar.
This could be the launch of a new era for FF:
“We’re stoked to play you some new songs never released and never heard live before!”
As its Facebook page modestly describes,
Faun Flora is a dream-synth pop artist based out of Phoenix, Arizona
Lead singer Jasmine Pigott has an extraordinary voice, powerful and refined; her voice might fade into you, as she ranges from Mazzy Starr to PJ Harvey…maybe a shot of Fleurie.
In October, the band released the single See You at the Funeral on local indie label 80/20 Records. (Click here to listen to it.)
The lyrics are poetic, clutching you by the throat:
When the sun goes to dream
And the birds stop their singing
When the world isn’t turning
I’ll keep your memory
And when I cross my arms
Lay my head for the last time
You can meet me in the middle
I’ll see you at the funeral
It’s soaring folk-indie…a great song that I wouldn’t be surprised to hear on a TV or movie soundtrack. (The theme reminded me–in a good way–of the Band of Horses epic The Funeral.)
Live, the band–Pigott singing and playing backup guitar, Jose Silver strumming lead guitar, Garrett Parkinson on keyboard, Faith Powell hitting the drums and Tre Scott on bass–is energetic and a little crazy, as we see here.
A few months ago, Faun Flora and 80/20 put out a slimmed-down–just Pigott, in Keds and ripped fatigues–live-stream of new and old songs, called Dreamworld. Click here to watch it.
The plan for summer? “We're actually trying to slow down with live shows in the next few months so that we can buckle down on getting some more new music written and recorded,” Pigott told HARK Valley.
She was raised in the Valley, where her family got her interested in music: “Growing up I always enjoyed when my dad would play the piano and sing songs by Elton John to me before school which is what inspired me to start playing. Later on in life, my brother was always playing his guitar which sparked me to pick up guitar as well and start writing at around thirteen years old.
“It wasn’t until I was seventeen was when I joined choir, released my first song, and started playing to small audiences to get over my major stage fright.”
Photos by Chais Gentner (@chaisface), Alyssa Jane (@alyssajane.co), and 80/20 Records (@8020records)
On a budget?
If so, you can’t beat…FREE…which
is the cost to see one of HARK Valley’s favorite bands.
Black Caesar Soul Club, an exceptional duo that will funk you up, is on a bill with Hey, Chels and Valley Orange at the Yucca Tap Room at 9 p.m. Friday, July 1.
Read the HV profile of BCSC here.
Bethany Home is getting ready to hit the road–good luck, with gas prices…
The courageous Mesa band kicks off a Southwest tour Friday, July 1, at its home court, the Nile Theater in downtown Mesa. Then it’s off to Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff, Las Vegas, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Santa Cruz, San Diego and Los Angeles…
Good to see the kids are alright.
Back in January, HARK Valley profiled Bethany Home.
The band of 19- and 20-year-olds literally started in the desert, playing free parties (not really legal, but hey…) before landing paying gigs.
Check out the Bethany Home Facebook site for new music.