Great Bands from the Golden State

I was born and raised in California and I can’t really imagine living anywhere else. I haven’t been everywhere in the world, but it’s hard for me to imagine a better place to live. The beach and the mountains are both just mere hours away and the weather here in San Diego just can’t be beat. Also, barring Mexico, we have the best Mexican food anywhere. The culture is so diverse and interesting and as you can probably guess there are some really amazing musicians on the west coast. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

Drive Like Jehu

Like so many of my favorite bands I got into these guys only after they broke up and I am sincerely disappointed about that. Adding insult to injury, they were local heroes from San Diego and I wish that I could have been here while they were still around. As a guitarist I love bands with really distinct, driving guitar riffs and Drive Like Jehu deliver the goods in that department.

No Age

No Age is an LA band that combines punk rock with a sort of ambient pop weirdness to great effect. Nouns is a truly fascinating album with some very memorable and catchy songs.

Mothers of Gut and Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound

These two acts are a couple of local bands from Riverside, which seems to be developing a unique and original music scene. I am personally looking forward to the upcoming full length that Mothers of Gut will be releasing in April. 

-Chance