inkblots
Santa Ana, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
For the past two years, Santa Ana's Inkblots have been quiet, but all that is about to change. The bluesy-rock foursome reconstituted following the return of lead singer/guitarist Samuel Muñoz. The lineup around him remains intact, with Bernie Rodriguez Jr. (bass) joining hermanos Jesus (guitar) and Irving Nuñez (drums). Together, they recorded a new EP, Trap Doors, that is distinctly less bluesy, even though Muñoz's compelling vocals hint that he is still very much a bluesman... - by Gabriel San Roman (June 2, 2011) - OC Weekly
Latin Alternative Music Guide: OC Edición!By Gabriel San Roman, Fri., Nov. 26 2010 @ 10:28AM Comments (3) Categories: bands we like
Share103 0diggsdiggEarlier this week, I introduced readers to my "Latin Alternative Music Guide: LA Edición" and the musicians who compiled it - a task too much for one person and one blog post! (Other "must listens" that came to mind after publication were Cava, Monte Carlo 76, and BEATMO to name a few) Now I turn to our beloved Orange County with the same impossible aim.
Inkblots
Another alternative rock band that deserves its due attention, the Inkblots strike with an updated grittier energy that Gustavo Arellano relayed to me once as reminiscent of the Animals. The band has been moving forward, cleaning up its demo into a full length album released on Vacant Bunny Records, filming a music video in support of it and perfecting their charismatic stage shows. Inkblots dig into some Spanish on the track "Mexico" which rides a bass line that's funky in any language.
Upcoming Show: Today at the Boyle Heights Farmer's Market Mini Concert and Art Show. Just go to the Plaza de Mariachi Metro Station.
- By Gabriel San Roman, Fri., Nov. 26 2010 OC WEEKLY BLOG
When I hear a band is from Santa Ana I expect only one thing… loud, heavy, bluesy guitar solos. When the Inkblots finished their set everyone in the room was standing there breathless, wordless and in awe of the band. The only other time I have seen this at Que Sera was after the Fling finished their set when they played at Sucka Free Sundays.
After about 30 seconds of this someone yelled put on the DJ and the music resumed, but for some reason the music didn’t feel the same after just being rocked so hard.
Most of the time long beach doesn’t have prima donna type guitar players with the exception of the Victorians, but even then their solos are more melodic and less straight up head banging rock.
Most bands are artsy or very song driven bands, usually both, but the Inkblots guitar player Jesus Nunez brought out the shredder and sent the usual sound waves that permeate in Long Beach and ripped them a new one.
- The Dirte Dirte Review April 6 2008 ( internet newsletter)
They did the LA thing for a while, but rock quartet the Inkblots have come to their senses and back to Santa Ana to play a chain of Orange County shows celebrating their second release, a five-song EP titled The Record Player. Samuel Munoz (vocals, guitar), brothers Jesus (guitar) and Irving Nunez (drums), and Bernardo Rodriguez Jr. (bass) play together with a solidity that surpasses the band's lifespan of less than three years. Munoz exhibits a distinct tone in his velvety drone, not unlike Paul Banks of Interpol, adding a layer of warmth to Inkblots' music. Their easy and cool feel is a level usually reserved for groups of a more mature caliber.
"A Case for Sanity" leads off the disc with a thumping, catchy melody backing a polite, almost submerged use of profanity. "Smiling" showcases Inkblots' tightness, inducing listener anxiety by invoking a feeling of high alarm and distress before ripping into a quiet three seconds in which the only sound is the wailing line, "No one will love you more." Almost a nod to pre-war blues, "Tell Me" modernizes the classic down-and-out sound by breaking into a faster, cymbal-laced rhythm and whipping out the distortion pedal. The Record Player's last track ("And So Jesus Came . . .") starts out as a dreamy lullaby leaning heavily on rhythm guitar before Inkblots slowly build layers until the lullaby is no longer recognizable and a full-blown rock song has blossomed in its place.
- By Erin Dewitt - OC Weekly (01-30-2008)
During our last visit to the Centro Cultural de Mexico (Center of Mexican Culture) we were captured with attention by the powerful sounds being produced by a group of young men, 22-25 years old, that with perfect execution captivated the minds of the audience. Some people were standing amazed of what they were seeing and others where jumping around as they heard the majestic sounds of the guitars and a voice that reminded them of rock legends…
(Original Article Spanish)
Un Grupo Que No Deberiamos Perder de Vista
"Durante nuestra ultima visita al Centro Cultural de Mexico, captamos con atencion los poderosos sonidos producidos por un grupo de muchachos de entre 22-25 anos de edad quienes con ejecucion perfecta cuativaban las almas de las audiencia. Algunas personas de pie con cara de asombro y otros saltando alrededor cuando oian los majestuosos sonidos de las guitarras y una voz que en su cantar se referia a las leyendas del Rock..." - Vertigo Weekly (July 13, 2007) Article was originaly in spanish.
Discography
Trap Doors EP 2011
1) Our Group Won't Be The Same
2) It's True
3) Ay Te Dejo
4) All These Tales I Tell
Inkblots - Self Titled Full Length Album 2008
1) The Walking Song
2) Sunshine
3) Mexico
4) Smiling
5) Tell Me
6) There's no song that I could sing
7) Sweet Decline
8) And so Jesus came...
9) A Case for Sanity
10) Shine on my good friends
11) everything is wrong when it comes to you
12) Here comes the train
The Record Player EP 2007
1) A Case for Sanity
2) Tell Me
3) Shine On My Good Friends
4) Smiling
5) And So Jesus Came
Sail (self released lp 2006)
1) AAB
2) Mexico
3) Everything Is Wrong When It Comes To You
4) Something
5) Down South
6) Trap Doors
7) They Made You King
8) Montoya
9) About Love and Hate
10) Evil Woman
Photos
Bio
Biography
Inkblots are a four piece band stemming from Santa Ana, CA. Mixing a variety of styles from folk, blues, to good old fashioned rock and roll, Inkblots provide a sound that is both original and yet strangely familiar. Since their formation in 2005, Inkblots have released a variety of recordings including, in late 2008, their first self titled full length album under their own publishing company and label (Vacant Bunny Publishing and Vacant Bunny Records). In June of 2011, Inkblots released their newest recording: a four track EP entitled Trap Doors led by their new pop single "Our Group Won't Be the Same."
Inkblots have performed headlining shows in such famous venues as the Troubadour, The Roxy, and Whiskey A-Go Go. They have performed in multiple festivals such as the Sound Downtown Festival in 2008 under the same bill as The International Noise Conspiracy and Nortec Collective, the Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival in Oakland California in 2009, and the Skinnie Magazine Top 100 Festival held at the Queen Mary in 2010. Other noteworthy shows include stints at the Detroit Bar, Tiki Bar, and Avalon in Costa Mesa and the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana.
Inkblots have received radio play in both the Bay area on Pirate Cat Radio and southern California (www.screpopculture.com, www.1270kfut.com, and www.flashrock.com) and have had live TV appearances on the Fresno morning show Great Day in the summer of 2008 and 2009 and LA TV in 2010.
Gabriel San Roman of the OC weekly wrote of the band "Another alternative rock band that deserves its due attention, the Inkblots strike with an updated grittier energy that Gustavo Arellano relayed to me once as reminiscent of the Animals. The band has been moving forward, cleaning up its demo into a full length album released on Vacant Bunny Records, filming a music video in support of it and perfecting their charismatic stage shows. Inkblots dig into some Spanish on the track "Mexico" which rides a bass line that's funky in any language."
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