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Broken Machine

Paul Wellman

Broken Machine

Santa Barbara Bands on the Rise

Our Picks for the Next Big Things Coming Out of S.B.

Thursday, November 8, 2012
By Aly Comingore (Contact)

Broken Machine

Formed in … 2012.

The lineup is … Schyler Douglas (vocals/guitar), Zach Zimny (bass), Matty Olofson (drums), Sado Rabaudi (guitar).

Sounds like … ’90s alt for the ’00 set. Hard rock can be a tough pill to swallow for some, but Broken Machine has mastered the art of making loud music work for the masses thanks to catchy melodies and frontman Schyler Douglas’s Dave Grohl–conjuring snarl.

Listen to … “Drill My Head.”

Find them at … reverbnation.com/brokenmachinesb.

Brian Barnicle

Freakin’ On Speakers

Freakin’ on Speakers

Formed in … September 2011.

The lineup is … Tommy Curran (bass), Dustin Janson (drums), Brandon Battle (lead guitar), and David Rojas (vocals/rhythm guitar).

Sounds like … the bump, grind, and rockin’ good time of the world’s best wedding band but with all original material. Think Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton, and Stray Cats thrown together and blended ’til smooth.

Listen to … “Pet Shop (She’s the Love That I Dig).”

Find them at … facebook.com/freakinonspeakers.

By Courtesy Photo

Hesse

Hesse

Formed in … January 2012.

The lineup is … Rebecca Redman (vocals/drums), Paul Rey (drums), Chad Arnett (guitar), and Krista Marquez (vocals/guitar).

Sounds like … hard rock for smart kids. If you’re going to name your band after a Nobel Prize–winning writer, you better be able to back it up. Lucky for us, these four pack a punch with grinding guitars, dual drummers, and amps that are forever cranked to 11.

Listen to … “Crystal Cave.”

Find them at … facebook.com/hessehessehesse.

Brian Barnicle

Indian Trading Furs

Indian Trading Furs

Formed in … 2011.

The lineup is … Kyran Million (vocals/guitar), Will Gallivan (vocals/guitar/banjo), Michael Million (bass), Joey Mcdermott (drums).

Sounds like … Mumford & Sons thrown into a circle pit. Breakneck guitar parts, whip-like drum fills, and soaring vocals have helped move this trio from street corners to music venues throughout Santa Barbara. And, boy, are we happy they did. This is music that deserves a warm room and a cold beer.

Listen to … “Ophelia.”

Find them at … facebook.com/indiantradingfurs.

Brian Barnicle

The Kinds

The Kinds

Formed in … January 2012.

The lineup is … Khasy Modisette (vocals, guitar), Nathan Modisette (bass), Anders Bergstrom (guitar/keys), and Erich Riedl (drums).

Sounds like … back-porch jams. Since shedding their old namesake (Walking West), The Kinds have blossomed into a delicate folk ensemble with harmonies that wrap you up like a warm blanket on a cool night.

Listen to … “Bus Stop.”

Find them at … facebook.com/thekindsmusic.

Millions

Formed in … April 2011.

The lineup is … Randall Sena (vocals/guitar), Brice Ogan (guitar, keys), and Mic Sing (drums).

Sounds like … parlor piano like you’ve never heard it before. Lompoc’s Millions have officially ramped back up, and we couldn’t be happier. For as long as we’ve been listening, Randall Sena’s matter-of-fact lyrics, whip-smart compositions, and hushed deliveries have been inducing chills, not to mention reminding us of that other piano bard/production wizard, Richard Swift.

Listen to … “Slow Dance.”

Find them at … facebook.com/millions.songs.

By Paul Wellman

The Mutineers

The Mutineers

Formed in … 2007.

The lineup is … Brian Mathusek (vocals/guitar), Merry Young (drums/vocals), Michael Astudillo (guitar/vocals), and Terry Luna (bass/vocals).

Sounds like … the soundtrack to the best bar crawl of your life. Somewhere in between Social Distortion’s snotty rockabilly and Flogging Molly’s anthemic folk lie The Mutineers, whose hopeful ballads and sing-along-ready stompers make us all want to raise a glass.

Listen to … “Give It a Rest.”

Find them at … themutineersmusic.com.

Robert Redfield

Rainbow Girls

Rainbow Girls

Formed in … December 2010.

The lineup is … Caitlin Gowdey (vocals/accordion/harmonica/various instruments), Erin Chapin (vocals/ukulele/guitar/bass/various instruments), Cheyenne Methmann (vocals, guitar, dulcimer, various instruments), Vanessa May (vocals, percussion, melodica, various instruments), Savannah Hughes (djembe, percussion, chimes), and Hannah Jewell (cello).

Sounds like … a small army of Janis Joplins. And washboards. These onetime Farmers Market staples have outgrown their busking gigs thanks to bluesy all-female harmonies, gypsy-tinged compositions, and a whole lot of foot-stompin’ percussion.

Listen to … “Storm.”

Find them at … rainbowgirlsmusic.com.

Ryan Hebert

Rhett Israel

Rhett Israel

Formed in … September 2011.

The lineup is … Rhett Israel Putnam (vocals/production/composition).

Sounds like … an electronic smorgasbord that mixes Top 40 production tricks with Ben Gibbard’s Postal Service–era naïveté. Israel’s voice is sweet and honeyed, even with the Auto-Tune, making for a potent collection of catchy hooks paired with adorably lovelorn lyrics.

Listen to … “Beat Down.”

Find him at … rhettisrael.com.

Davello photography

Skyler Stonestreet

Skyler Stonestreet

Formed in … October 2008.

The lineup is … Skyler Stonestreet (vocals/songwriting/guitar).

Sounds like … bubblegum with a twist. Check your Katy Perry jokes at the door. Skyler Stonestreet’s quirky take on pop music plays out more like a sultry Regina Spektor than anything topping the charts of late. The songs are vintage-sounding, electronica-free, and provide ample room for Stonestreet’s breathy coos to shine through.

Listen to … “A Little Taste.”

Find her at … skylerstonestreet.com.

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