Ears Wide Open: Following the Stevenson Ranch Davidians

[Another installment in our locally famous local-music awareness program:]

Don't be deceived by the religious connotations in their band name -- the Stevenson Ranch Davidians aren't cultists. "It's very tongue-in-cheek," singer-guitarist Dwayne Seagraves says, "but people don't always get it. Some people think we're a religious band."

The Davidians -- who are indeed from the Santa Clarita Valley development Stevenson Ranch -- do have their devotions, however. On "Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs," their self-released album from last year, the quartet visits the altar of Britpop as rendered by the likes of Travis, the Verve and Blur, not to mention the pop-psych pioneers of the '60s. The Davidians nurture their version of that sound with songs that are patiently paced, gently couched in reverb and simple in lyrical approach.

Seagraves and band mates Jessica Latiolait, Bryan Showalter and Cary Chafin are already writing songs for a follow-up to "Psalms," which was recorded in Raymond Richards' Red Rockets Glare studio in Rancho Park. The album has been picked up by a European indie label for distribution, so the foursome hopes to tour there later this year.

||| Stevenson Ranch Davidians, with the Black Pine among the supporting acts, perform Wednesday night at the Echo.

||| Download: "Beginnings and Ends."

Comments

[wayne]

I just saw them on Saturday night at the Prospector in Long Beach. Big, lush sonics with the tight delivery of a band that's been doing it a while. Good show.