Sounding the 805
Dirty deeds, argyle sweaters and some Ojai folk
By Chris Mastrovito 12/03/2009
It’s early in her career, but 21 year-old Ojai singer-songwriter Emy Reynolds already has a few good things going: the gift of a superb singing voice — somewhat like the warm, rusty tone of an antique saxophone — combined with the ability to write beautiful, earthy acoustic guitar songs. Add bandmate multi-instrumentalist Piper Denney, refining Reynolds’ guitar melodies and sultry singing with subtle percussion accents, and meticulous combinations of xylophone, guitar, suitcase, percussion, glockenspiel, bells and organ, and the result is a surprisingly unique blend of acoustic indie-folk with soul that hits the ears like aural honey. Not to mention that her singing was already featured on a national commercial for the 2008 Chevy Traverse, a gig that gave her version of “Surprise, Surprise” more than 33,300 plays on MySpace.
Now, after three years performing throughout Ventura County and around the L.A. area, Reynolds will finally drop her first self-released EP, titled Ode to the Stubborn, this month as she prepares for her very first tour of the Pacific Northwest. Reynolds says that she and Denney, until now, haven’t had time to focus on recording due to a consistent local gigging schedule on top of the demands of college; but now, with a recorded product to distribute and a string of shows in Central California, Portland and Seattle during the opportune winter break, the goals of an expanded fan base and making new connections are on the horizon for an artist who dedicates her release to those stubborn few who she says “keep trying for something that is almost unattainable.” Reynolds plays at Movino’s in Ojai on Dec. 9, before embarking on the road. “Ode to the Stubborn” will be out by the third week in December.
Like part of some sort of hazing ritual for Ventura music venues, at least one raucous and disorderly incident involving a local band has already erupted at Take 2 in Ventura, the brand-new bar occupying the space where Mai’s Café stood one month ago. Dirty Words lead singer Kasey Allen, in a characteristic bit of onstage antics, recently was given a tongue-lashing and thrown out promptly after attempting to take his pants off during the band’s third song. But true to the spirit of rock and roll, the three remaining members didn’t let a bit of attempted nudity or the lack of a lead singer distract them from the task at hand, and concluded the song with a rowdy crowd singing the words left behind by the lead singer and would-be exhibitionist. Dirty Words’ long-awaited CD is still in the works with a projected release date of sometime in 2010, after showcases scheduled in January for more exposure to record labels. (No, not that kind of exposure.)
After the Dirty Words debacle, Take 2 promptly ushered in the polished Dave Nettles Band, along with Dan Grimm, to finish off the evening proper-like.
Army of Freshmen, Ventura county’s most beloved and internationally traveled powerpop six-piece, still going strong after more than a decade, will ring in the season on Dec. 4, with an all-ages Holiday Extravaganza show at Epic in Ventura. Whether or not this show’s holiday theme will extend beyond an excuse to sport red fuzzy hats, reindeer sweaters and Jewish prayer shawls onstage is anyone’s guess (see AOF’s jolly greeting card/show flyer), but in any case, expect this show to be packed. Also performing with the festive freshmen will be Santa Barbara’s Tommy and the High Pilots, and End Transmission, which, after an extensive national tour, will use the event as a platform for the release of its newest album, Devour, a bouncy gem of nerdy alternative rock with loads of characteristic Korg synth hooks and singalongs for fans of Weezer, the Cars and argyle sweaters. Though available to the public since early September, Devour never got a proper release show. “We want to be able to play the album live all the way through,” said lead singer and keyboardist Zeke Berkley.
Sounding the 805 is Ventura County’s only biweekly local music column. If you have a tip, a suggestion, a complaint, some dish or just a kind word, shoot Chris Mastrovito an e-mail.
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