The boogie runs strong with The Golden Grass. I’d suspected as much when the announcement came through of the Brooklynite trio (featuring members of Strange Haze and La Otracina) releasing their debut single in October as a co-release between Svart and Electric Assault, but confirmation was provided last week at their first gig. Held at Brooklyn’s venerable St. Vitus bar and captured on film by the admirably dedicated Frank Huang, the 12-minute jammer “Wheels” provides sunshiny classic rock that seems only too willing to leave its cares behind.

Sharing vocal duties, guitarist Michael Rafalowich and drummer Adam Kriney lock in singalong-ready verses and choruses while bassist Joe Noval maintains low end flow. The cut definitely works in movements, and as this was their live debut, I’d guess they’re only going to get more fluid, but already you can see chemistry developing between the players as Rafalowich spaces out in a long, soulful jam — it sounds improvised, it may or may not be — before Kriney signals the change back to a simple but memorable hook of a chorus. At first it seems like they’ll let the jam finish the song, but they do right in reversing the structure — going from part one, part two, jam, to jam, part two, part one — adding much swing and intricacy in the fills along the way.

I continue to look forward to hearing that single, so expect to hear more about these guys in the weeks to come. In the meantime, if you’re in that part of the world, The Golden Grass are playing their second show this very evening at Death by Audio in Brooklyn. More info on that follows the clip below.

Enjoy:

The Golden Grass, “Wheels” live at St. Vitus, Sept. 8, 2013

TONITE TUE SEPT 10 2013, get on DOWN to Death By Audio/Brooklyn tonite for a righteously delicious musical concert….

JOVIAN DRIFTS/RESIDUAL ECHOES/THE GOLDEN GRASS…its all here baby!

TGG plays 3rd, 1030-ish on the rock’o’clock.

https://www.facebook.com/thegoldengrass

From the little bit I’ve heard, The Golden Grass seem to have it going on. What kind of “it” are we talking? Little funky, way classic, but upbeat with some psych touches. Sunny-type rock, but still swinging a substantial groove, albeit without pretense toward aggression or trying to be heavy. The newcomer Brooklynite trio — comprised not at all of newcomers — have announced their debut performances and apparently they’ve made enough of an impression on Finnish imprint Svart‘s varied but reliable tastes to earn a label-stamped release for their first 7″ single, which will reportedly be out in October in partnership with US-based Electric Assault Records.

Cool unit, loads of potential. Hoping for good things and sharing the news of their single with a spirit of welcome:

Loosen your eyeballs and fix your mind on freewheelin’ psychedelic freakbeat band The Golden Grass! Hailing from NYC, inspired by bands like Cactus and The Move, and featuring members of La Otracina, Zoned Out and Strange Haze. Svart Records going to let loose their debut 7″ in October, in partnership with Electric Assault Records in the US. Undeniably feel-good, earnest and authentic rock and roll, hand picked and personally recommended by Mat from Hexvessel, as he joins the Svart workforce this Autumn. Get back to the garden, and dig deep into The Golden Grass!

The band is comprised of:

*Adam Kriney-drums/vocals
(of LA OTRACINA/ZONED OUT/DEAD TAPE and tour member of NEBULA/CULT OF YOUTH/CASTANETS/CLOUDLAND CANYON)

*Michael Rafalowich-electric guitar/vocals
(of STRANGE HAZE/WHOOPING CRANE and tour member of TAV FALCO’S PANTHER BURNS)

*Joe Noval-electric bass
(of THE WILD COMPANY EXPRESS)

The debut 7″ single is entitled “One More Time” b/w “Tornado”. It will be co-released by Electric Assault Records (US) and Svart Records (Finland) in October. The release will coincide with tour dates in the North East and Midwest US in late October/early November 2013, interested parties should contact the group.

These are the bands debut live performances:
Fri Sep 6 THE GOLDEN GRASS w/ WINDHAND + RAMMING SPEED at Saint Vitus, Brooklyn, NY
Tue Sep 10 THE GOLDEN GRASS w/ RESIDUAL ECHOES + JOVIAN DRIFTS at Death By Audio, Brooklyn, NY

https://www.facebook.com/thegoldengrass/

The Golden Grass promo video