My Friend’s Band Feature – Saint Motel
Nine times out of ten, when someone tells you to “listen to their friend’s band,” you would rather have your ear drums blown out of your head as a free pass to decline putting your listening organs through indescribable agony. Not this time, friends!
I bring to you – Saint Motel. They are a four piece gang from Los Angeles who I’d describe as dream-pop indie rock. I had the pleasure of consuming their aesthetic and sonorous jams and making friends last summer at Rickshaw Stop – just days after the release of their first full-length album entitled “Voyeur.” While they are hardly new to the scene, the hipster in me always finds ways to share Saint Motel as an “almost famous” kind of band.
I was mesmerized by the visual flare that Saint Motel brought to the stage. Not because of Dak, the bassist’s, sexual and magnetic flare – but because of the images being projected behind Saint Motel and their incredible ability to interact with the audience and simultaneously their musical weapons of choice. Each member’s charisma is unmatched, making them a dynamic quartet whose live show blows their record out of the water.
Prior to releasing “Voyeur,” Saint Motel opened up for bands like Neon Trees, Smashing Pumpkins, and even did a Guitar Center session which garnered them lots of attention. Their debut EP “ForPlay” houses a few of my favorite songs.
“Pity Party” is my surf-rock go-to when I’m feeling like a sexy badass. It should be yours, too. The alternative distorted guitars and symbol-threaded drum ensemble make for one of my favorite summer drive jams. The people at the stop light are quick to fall in love, too – so don’t worry.
“Butch” is a quixotic tune detailing the story of falling in love with a girl who dresses like a guy. Don’t you hate that? Happens all the time! While I’m sure there’s more meaning behind it than meets the eye, it’s incredibly fun to air-guitar your ass off and play drums to on your steering wheel.
They took a little bit of a different direction when it came to “Voyeur.” There seems to be more emotion in this record than fun being had - but fear not, their drinking days aren’t over. Feel free to grab these guys a scotch on the rocks when you go check them out.
“Daydream/Wetdream/Nightmare” is perhaps the most romantic and original song on the record. It is composed of three entirely different riffs and tempos. With funk guitar, bass solos and love-woven sensual melodies, it’s the soundtrack to a one-night stand that you don’t want to end. The “Wetdream” portion is, in my opinion, the most creative and sexy jam they’ve ever written.
“Puzzle Pieces” also highlights AJ’s stunning vocal abilities and the band’s passionate and energetic take on bad plastic surgery. Guitar player Aaron Sharp’s grungy guitar undertones coupled with the playful piano melody makes for an interesting and infectious tune that incites all kinds of singing along.
My favorite thing about Saint Motel is the variations of tempo and dynamics from song to song. They have an aptitude for keeping the fans on their toes. Not to mention that the guys in this band are golden. While being ridiculously talented, they’re also totally nice. The first time I saw Saint Motel, I met A/J’s mom. That is getting your fans involved!
If you want to get your Summer into gear the right way, check out Saint Motel in a town near you! They’re just a few short weeks away from kicking off their Summer tour with Hockey and Swimm. The only way I could like this band more is if they were playing in Denver this time around. They kind of dropped the ball on that one – but they’re still great, I promise.
Up until today, Saint Motel was my best kept secret. I’m glad to share this titillating quadripartite with you all. Somebody please tell me why this band hasn’t completely blown up yet? Check out my friends’ band – Saint Motel, and let your eardrums in on the “O” they’ve been waiting for.
