Home spun
Cheetahsaurus
By Chris Jay 12/03/2009
Residential space
In many larger cities’ music scenes, residencies are becoming increasingly popular. The basic idea is that one designated night a week, the same artist performs, usually for a full month before a new artist takes over the same slot. It’s a great way for established acts to try out new material and for newer artists to build a fan base. Such nights usually take place at trendy clubs like Los Angeles’ Spaceland or New York’s Mercury Lounge, but in Ventura, fittingly, the most popular residency is at a full-fledged dive bar: Billy O’s. This month, “the O,” as the midtown watering hole is affectionately referred to, will host Cheetahsaurus, the local scene’s gift to the experimental indie rock world,
Escape from L.A.
Cheetahsaurus’ genesis actually lies in the demise of a successful Los Angeles band, The Colour. Despite a major label record deal, network TV appearances and a national tour, the band split, leaving vocalist Wyatt Hull to follow his heart to Ventura, where he fell in love with and married auto harpist Jodi Hull. Inspired and eager to start a new project, Hull met and began writing and recording with longtime local guitarist Joe Bowls. They immediately set about writing and recording an EP of original, electronic-based rock that shares a sonic field with the Pixies and Portishead.
Arms wide open
The band began practicing and recording in the music rehearsal space owned by local legend and world-class shredder Rick Hunter. Home to acts like 8Stops7 and formerly Armand John Anthony’s Satellite Recording Studio, the gentlemen and lady of Cheetahsaurus, long before their first show, became somewhat of a buzz band as the moody programmed rock pouring from their space left neighbors wondering just what the band would sound and look like live.
The debut show at Nicholby’s on a Wednesday night last March drew a sizable and supportive crowd of local musicians and scenesters who weren’t let down by the rumors that a new and important local band had arrived. After the show’s success, Cheetahsaurus was seemingly everywhere this year, playing constantly at local clubs, releasing a debut EP and being chosen by this paper as one of the top bands to watch in 2009, an honor that found Jodi Hull sharing the cover with a who’s who of musicians in the local music issue.
Forward thinking
Cheetahsaurus, which, along with the Hulls and Bowls, also consists of Phil Tibbs on bass and Andy Guzman on keyboards and programming, is looking forward to a bright 2010. The band will be releasing its debut full-length digitally at the start of the New Year, while following up on interest from various indie labels for the hard release. As for its residency at Billy O’s, Cheetahsaurus will bring along a new opening act each week. Deciding where to be on Mondays in December will be an absolute no-brainer. More so because they say they’ll be adding a drummer to the mix soon, which should provide the missing puzzle piece to the band’s already hypnotic live sound. As Hull explains, “We’ve been lucky to have so much support from everyone locally. We felt with the new record coming out, a residency would be a good way to end the year and get ready for the new one. As for Billy O’s, not quite sure why residencies work so well there, but it’s undoubtedly a fun place to play.”
Cheetahsaurus will take over Billy O’s for a weekly Monday night residency throughout December. 2819 E. Main St., Ventura, 652-0327. To hear tracks off the forthcoming CD, visit www.myspace.com/cheetahsaurus.
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT