Sleepy Sun rocks the PNW

2/3 of Sleepy Sun

Sleepy Sun is unwinding backstage after the show in Portland, enjoying the feeling of a great set while The Upsidedown are starting their set onstage at the Roseland Lounge. I’m still reveling in the sights of the show they had just put on, a spectacle of energetic rock, dancing and floating vocal harmonies twisting out of the male and female vocal leads. Several members of The Dandy Warhols are present and the place is hopping with great music and great vibes.

Sleepy Sun currently hails from San Francisco CA, though their original roots lie in Santa Cruz. Part gospel, hard-rock, psychedelic, and all majestically performed, Sleepy Sun is perfectly poised for some fan momentum behind their music. Lead singer Brett says “I don’t mind being categorized, but I’m not sure what psychedelic is, there are so many different meanings. I tend to think of my music as gospel, not relating to any specific God but just spirituality.” Diving a bit deeper into his own feelings on the subject, Matt, a guitarist with long brown hair, describes a certain space to their music that is a tangible dimension. His feeling is that the music being produced by Sleepy Sun is full of many layers, and when listening to it multiple times it can reveal sounds previously passed over.

Their congruence both onstage, and on the album ‘Embrace’, point to a philosophy that they attested to during the interview. Brett said “We enjoy a communal music writing experience.” Rachel, the female lead singer, is quick to add “No one person writes all the songs, we do it together.” Perhaps the benefit of this creative interaction is evidenced in the music; a rhythmic, sexy, entrancing live performance that captures the listener with its energy. Rachel continues “We believe in deep, varying music. I enjoy pop music, but so many times it has only one or two good riffs.” She also mentions that they try to include many different good riffs into long songs that keep re-engaging the listener.

Both guitarists in the band are fully capable of scorching the fret board at will, but work well together providing a deep backdrop of teamwork and rhythmic melodies. Neither too much or too little, their flirtation with the hard/soft styles elicits memories of acts made successful by this contrast in sound. As for the rhythm section, if you are looking for someone who doesn’t just keep time, but leverages scales and the use of bass and drums as contributing instruments, Sleepy Sun could very well be for you. Their bassist and drummer provide driving and complex schemes that make the songs a cut above others, completing the well rounded, highly talented, and honed sound they have developed.

We continue to discuss their future plans, and their CD is going to be released in May, but that is actually after they head back into the studio in Vancouver to cut their second disc. “Things have really just lined up for us to be able to continue to do it” Brett says. “We have a big tour coming up this year that starts with SXSW at the Leafy Green Showcase and on a few other stages as well and ends with the ATP festival, Dates are listed on their myspace page here, winding through 7 states and 5 provinces and territories in 3 countries. On this excursion, they played Portland, Longview, WA, and Seattle, WA, at the Sunset Tavern.

Near the end of the interview, Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols enters the room and requests a copy of the CD. Evidently a friend has recommended it to him, and he wants to check it out after their show. You, dear reader, should too, and can listen to a few tracks now at the following location:

MySpace page

Music Video for White Dove (pro version, but truncated from the glorious 9 minute song)

Sleepy Sun Live performing ‘New Age’