by David Greening
The Redwood may just be the perfect venue for hosting the indie version of the bar band, and I can’t think of two better acts to fill this bill than The Moon Upstairs and Spindrift.
Arriving a tad late to catch their whole set I was still able to see The Moon Upstairs tear through a blistering array of songs that had the crowd packed as tight in the bar as the band was onstage with their three guitars, bass, drums, and keys. Alternating between baroque psychedelic and noisy experimentation, the group was led by singer/guitarist Sharif Dumani’s haunting voice which cut through the infectious grooves and hooks. Easily equal parts Pink Floyd, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Sonic Youth, this band should be caught now while they can still be seen at intimate venues.
After a bit of down time and a couple beers, headliner Spindrift took the stage. If you thought it was crowded before it was now way past standing room only as the audience overflowed the tiny stage area and craned their necks to see the hometown chaps perform their cinematic, hallucinatory, garage rock. Having seen them numerous times I can say that Spindrift never disappoint. Filtering Ennio Morricone through swampy blues and topped off with a dash of The Doors and a bit of Primal Scream the band never let up, taking the crowd on a druggy trip to another world filled full of Western shootouts, snakes in the grass, cold-hearted preachers and pine boxes waiting to size you up. As everyone swayed and cheered through the musical haze one could feel the good vibrations emanating from the gallery and off we went into a cosmic American musical experience.
Spindrift are currently tour across the west coast.
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