Folk Rock at its Finest

The Snake The Cross The Crown stopped back in to the place they called home not-so-long ago for their much-anticipated CD release party, rocking everyone’s Monday night at SOhO with guests Le Meu Le Purr and The Hero and the Victor.

Le Meu Le Purr, an alternative rock trio from Ventura, opened the night with a sound that encapsulated everything that’s good about indie band. My friend called it “pretty” rock music with its heartfelt vocals, flying guitar solos, and one of the most original and athletic drummers I’ve seen in a while. They’re working on their new record, A New Canvas, which they hope to release by fall – and I just hope to have it.

The Hero and the Victor, an SB rock quartet just back from a two-week tour of Japan, presented an eardrum-ringing, scream rock show complete with disappearing shirts, speaker-climbing, and rafter-hanging. The loud rock mixed with rapid pace changes and random experimentalism in a way that was sometimes reminiscent of a video game, but I liked how atmospheric and creative these guys were. Their new CD, The Villainy of the Ordinary, is very purchase worthy.

Taking a break from their national tour with mewithoutyou, headliners The Snake the Cross the Crown made a special trip to Santa Barbara to debut songs off Cotton Teeth, which they recorded here in SB last June. The boys had only played these songs together once since recording the CD, but had the crowd dancing and swaying to their sweet, tangy folk-rock tunes all night. You can hear the Alabama upbringing ringing through their lyrics and gritty vocals. And the four years they spent together under one roof here on the sunny West coast has given the band an undeniably unique flavor and groovy sensuality that is impossible to resist.