You can always smell a great show when only two bands grace the bill. This was an evening that smelled splendid all night. Greater California, a five piece Long Beach group, opened their crisp playful set with a new song, “The Disappearing.”
With a new drummer named Greg Brown in the mix, their sound is becoming more lavish and powerful. Greg precisely splashes around the drum kit all night, while locking the rest of the band in with tiny explosive build-ups. The rhythm section is now complete, ascending bass punches with a flaring snare drum.
Greater California has a comfortable sound, reminiscent of carefree ’60s folk, backwards Byrd-esque 12-string guitar, vintage organs, and topped off by Terry Prine’s Spanish horn. It’s a mono sound re-vamped in a stereo world.
They are not a revival group or a cover band, they are what my generation has missed out on, they are Greater California.
After an hour of peaceful bliss went by, Quasi took the stage as a trio this time to continue the show with their tasteful freak-out set. The combination of harmony raps between Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss on top of piano drone is pure magic.
Quasi closed the Detroit Bar show with their classical piano madness, politely smashed drums, and friendly bass build-ups. The bass player added an extra dimension to their sound, it kept their Quasi sound under control but it gave birth to other directions. They entertained the head-bopping crowd into small dancing frenzies while bringing smiles to many of their faces.
