It’s not often that we get straight-up demos in our gigantic mailbox, but from time to time, a band will send an MP3 our way hoping their first song will get them their big break. Hey, it worked for Vampire Weekend, even if that was when CDs were king, Pitchfork ruled, and mastodons roamed the Earth. (I was there! I rode one!)
Anyway, this is “Staring Blankly”, the first song from California alternative band Strep. Hailing from the North Bay, the five-piece consists of Kayden Davis, Michelle Gutierrez, Cash Goodman, Dominic Sanchez Monroy, and Dylan Whittemore. It rocks to hear younger musicians who immediately break through with a sound so present and urgent, as if they dare you not to hear them. Dominic’s bass and Dylan’s drums keep time like a clock, and the guitars of Kayden and Cash each have incredible tones that together form mind-melting harmonies.
Michelle maintains a sonorous and yearning tone over the roaring instruments, singing of disassociation and reaching out to someone. The lyrics boast some powerful imagery as well: “Will you be the weight that keeps me grounded when I start to drift above to emptiness?”, Michelle sings. Her darker vocals over the bright and buzzing band create a wonderful juxtaposition. Plus, despite the demo status and some slightly muffled recording, each member of the band is balanced in the mix, making for one of the best-sounding demos from a new group I’ve heard in quite some time.
Strep have only seemed to play on front lawns, at schools, and small venues up until now, but I foresee them taking bigger stages sooner than we think. You shouldn’t ignore a case of strep throat, and you certainly shouldn’t ignore the band Strep either. (I bet they get that a lot.)
Take a listen to the demo for “Staring Blankly” below and follow Strep on Instagram to keep up with their journey.
Written by Will Sisskind
