The problem with January is that I always fall in love with bands that released albums the year before – albums that would have made it to my best-of list, if only I’d have known in time. So it was no surprise last week when I heard San Francisco five-piece Locus Pocus and their self-titled EP, released in May 2017, and instantly felt the pangs of what could have been.
I’m a fan of shimmering, organ-punctuated psych pop and thoroughly enjoy melodic, trembling vocals, gravelly yelps and howls, and swirling, distorted flourishes. If that’s not your bag, I guess you might not dig today’s Record of the Day. But for those of you sticking with me here, Locus Pocus is one of those bands that you hear and think to yourself, “I just stumbled onto something here”.
Recalling another San Francisco band, Cool Ghouls, and Grand Rapids’ psych darlings Heaters, Locus Pocus has been building a name for themselves in their hometown through their energetic live show. Beyond San Fran, their debut single, My Girlfriend Won’t Dance With Me, got considerable traction on Spotify in mid-2017, with over 130,000 listens since its debut.
But don’t stop at the single – the remainder of the EP is equally infectious. Beginning with the Stuck, the songs worm their way into your brain until you find yourself singing in the shower and daydreaming of sunny summer days. Equally kaleidoscopic and twisting, Hey Sundance and Muscle Man round out the four-song EP, building to a dramatic crescendo that will leave you wanting more.
If that’s the case – and I’m sure it is – you’re in luck! The band released a second single, I’d Be Your Woman, in August, complete with a cheeky music video that finds singer Nate Budroe in a glittery black dress and dramatic cat’s eye makeup, hamming it up with the rest of the band – Kyle Chapman (guitar), Daniel de Lorimier (bass), Michael Kipnis (drums), and Daniel Markowitz (organ & Rhodes).
Needless to say, I’ve had the EP on repeat all week and I have no doubt it will remain in heavy rotation for quite some time. As far as problems go, I’d say that discovering Locus Pocus in early 2018 is a pretty good one to have.
Check out Locus Pocus’ debut EP on Bandcamp (https://locuspocus.bandcamp.com/album/locus-pocus-ep) and stay for their latest single, I’d Be Your Woman (https://locuspocus.bandcamp.com/track/id-be-your-woman)!
