The Californian
Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
A little bit surf rock, a little bit power pop, The Californian elevate West coast, summer music to something like art with Sea of Love, their recent EP. The tune “NaNaNa” starts like a light yet moody emo piece, but quickly becomes an all-out celebration of summer with its melodic, Beatles-esque chant of a chorus. The song’s surprising combination of sounds thrill like summer itself—the fun comes from not knowing which way the journey will turn or where it’ll end up, while enjoying it all the way.
- 365 albums a year
The Californian, a five-piece act that sounded like Joy Division if they grew up in So. Cal. and played surf rock. The band from California played a series of catchy songs and their charismatic front man made it impossible to ignore them.
- In This Week
The Californian is, fittingly enough a Los Angeles band. With elements of western tinged rock, soulful vocals
and catchy melodies. The dual guitarists locked in an interwoven
progression that quickly caught my attention. Front man, John Graney had a presence and a passion, which
enraptured the audience. The song writing, while completely pop sensible, is also complex emotionally and structurally. I was impressed with the instrumental breakdowns and the chord choices .....
- Slug Magazine
"The Californian ... has mined pop history without resorting to aping it" ... click the link for full review - Buzz Bands LA - Kevin Bronson - LA Times
"The Californian ... has mined pop history without resorting to aping it" ... click the link for full review - Buzz Bands LA - Kevin Bronson - LA Times
"The Californian ... has mined pop history without resorting to aping it" ... click the link for full review - Buzz Bands LA - Kevin Bronson - LA Times
"The Californian have encrusted a 21st century crown with the sonic gems of surf rock, displaying expert craftsmanship and impeccable taste" .... click the link for full review - www.classicalgeektheatre.com
" ... how a roomful of people can hear the chorus of "NaNaNa" without jumping up and down and pumping their arms in the air, I don't know" .... click the link for full review - www.the704blogspot.com
"I couldn't help but walk out of Spaceland feeling like I was ten feet off the ground" .... click link for full review - www.radiofreesilverlake.com
Discography
Sea Of Love EP - June 2010
Making Trouble (single) - July 2011
The Californian (self titled full length - Due in Sept. 2011)
Photos
Bio
Perhaps one of the hardest working indie bands in Los Angeles, The Californian is pleased to announce their self-titled debut album, available this September.
Formed in 2007 by vocalist John Graney, the Californian was born from Graney's dream of creating a modern day surf act. The early years of the young band saw a galore of line-up changes with members of Phantom Planet, Warpaint, The Bird and the Bee, and The Henry Clay People, coming and going. However, with four years under their belts, the Californian's lineup has solidified with guitarists Jonathan Price and Darren Robinson, drummer Michael Hopkins, and bassist Jake Gideon.
Without the help and comfort of a label, The Californian's hardworking D.I.Y. aesthetic has proven to be beneficial during their first four years of existence. Following the self-release of the band's 2010 EP 'Sea of Love' and a plethora of West Coast gigs, The Californian took to fan funding platform Kickstarter to raise the money for their debut full-length. Within 45 days, the band not only made the $5,000 in which they set out to raise, but surpassed their goal with a total of $9,238.
With vocals and guitars seeped in reverb and gritted with sand, the new 12 song collection of dreamy surf rock provides the perfect soundtrack to a modern day sock hop. Recorded at Dave's Room in North Hollywood, the album was produced by Jeff Halbert (Nick Cave, St. Vincent, Rickie Lee Jones) and mastered by JJ Golden (Sonic Youth, Puro Instincto, Superchunk). While The Californian are celebrated for their summery surf riffs, the band is surely not a one trick pony. Songs like "Who Killed The Lights" and "A Billion Grains of Sand" showcase the band's gorgeous, sun drenched harmonies and energy fueled arrangements while "Girl in the Moon Pt. 1" exemplifies the bands' ability to produce an infectious down tempo clap-along song.
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