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Psydecar : The West End
If you get to a club early enough, you'll have a chance to catch the sound check, a usually grueling experience of a kick drum being beaten in slow repetition until you run out of the club to smoke your first cigarette, ever. That's not the case with this 5-piece band called Psydecar. To be quite honest, when the guitarist started to play the theme song to Jeopardy my curiosity was sparked and I began to listen attentively, as they tested the microphones for volumes to a funky bass line and a trumpet. Was this what was to come?
Truly this band did not tease! Once they managed to find their drummer and start the set, it was on! The band has a flavor that can be wrapped into the genre of reggae, but I can see some arguments brewing between critics alike due to what sound like strong funk, Latin and fusion elements that often override the customary reggae sound.
The bands first number, "Chariot Ride," started off funky and really grooved. Immediately the band caught my attention with their harmonies and lyrics like "It's been a long, long while, and the drama makes me smile. I didn't think I'd need you." I found myself waiting to hear the chorus come around again, the mark of a well-written song.
From a musicianship perspective, less is a lot more here. The drummer, Ed Fletcher, played an extremely small kit, 2-piece with cymbals and some percussion toys. The primary vocalist, Tim Pacheco, shared on percussion and the trumpet, while the saxophonist (Clay Elliot) also played the flute and added percussive elements like the tambourine. Put all this together with bass (Dante Thomas), guitar (Scott Homan), and a strong sense of syncopation and they manage to have something special.
Towards the end of the set they pulled out a number called "Who's To Know," which was definitely one of their stronger tunes. Once again the lyrics; "Who's to know, when that day will come, I guess it's time to carry on," compelling enough to encourage singing along.
The music is intricate, yet spacious, melodic, and relaxed enough to wonder if every jam was perfectly arranged and planned out or free flowing for the moment. At times I drifted from the song itself and found myself focused on the musicianship, losing site of the song itself. Yet I walked away humming a couple of the tunes.
With a sound so hard to capture the attention of a scene possessed by modern alt. / rock, Psydecar will certainly be a breath of fresh air as they make their mark on LA. For anyone who takes this leap of faith, you're certain to be pleasantly surprised.
Psydecar can be seen regularly at The West End on Thursday nights around 9pm!
Article by: Seth S.
Submitted: November 16th, 2001
Email: Seth@thelamusicscene.com
Photo's by: Seth S.
Artists website: http://www.psydecarmusic.com
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