(label)
20 October 2009 (released)
25 October 2009
San Francisco band Girls, play the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen tonight as part of their 12-date UK tour.
Girls, are in fact two boys, Christopher Owens and Chet JR White.
Owens has a certain surf-grunge vibe, as you’d imagine typical of San Fran youth circa. 1995. His back-story is an interesting one, born into the Children of God cult, later escaping to Amarillo, Texas to get involved in the punk scene, he’s had highs and lows which clearly reflect themselves in his song writing. Owens met White back sunny in San Fran. White, an older more fatherly figure, is on bass this evening. They are joined by Garret Goddard on drums and John Anderson on guitar. As a four-piece they take us through their debut album, simply entitled Album, written by Owens and produced by White.
The sundrenched sound, gloriously arcs back to Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, but with darker lyrics, expressing heartbreak, tenderness and true raw emotion.
Opening song and next single, Laura, due for release on 9th November, is an upbeat track, about an ex-girlfriend 'I don’t wanna fight anymore, I really wanna be your friend forever' Owens wears his heart on his sleeve, and makes music that touches your soul.
They run through some album tracks, stand-out songs include upbeat Morning Light and Beach Boys sounding Big Bad Mean Mother Fucker along with the popular Hellhole Ratrace and Lust for Life.
The crowd this evening were expectant and Girls did not disappoint, they are a complex but sunny slice of fuzzy San Fran surf pop with a hint of melancholy. I think great things are to come for these boys, or should I say Girls.
