Big Scenic Nowhere Premiere “The Waydown”; New LP Out Feb. 2
With their core membership drawing from acts like Fu Manchu, Yawning Man and Mos Generator, atmospheric progressive desert rockers Big Scenic Nowhere will release their new album, the title of which was previously given as The WayDown and seems to have chilled out on that capital ‘d’ in the interim — it’s now The Waydown — on Feb. 2, 2024, through Heavy Psych Sounds. It is the third full-length to come from the jam-rooted mostly-Californian outfit, and still very much based around the collaboration between guitarists Gary Arce and Bob Balch as they have been since 2019’s Dying on the Mountain EP (discussed here), as heard in the seven-plus-minute title-track premiering below to coincide with the launch of preorders today.
Big Scenic Nowhere‘s sound, expansive since the outset, came into deeper focus on 2022’s The Long Morrow (review here), as their studio methodology of editing songs out of jams and tasking Tony Reed with patterning and layering vocals — a role at which he has excelled — as Bill Stinson‘s steady and not flashy movement assures the fluid melodies have suitable rhythmic complement. Distinct from its members’ main outfits, distinct even from Balch and Arce‘s work together in Yawning Balch — who also have a new album just out; it streamed here last week — Big Scenic Nowhere have set their own context in sound and approach.
For example one need look only at the change in “The Waydown,” when the riff turns more severe about halfway through, taking on a progression that would be metal in a lot of other situations. Big Scenic Nowhere have grown more adventurous in their process of construction — saying something, considering how they started — while at the same time relying less on guest appearances and more on their core lineup as they refine their sound. It’s not a hot take or anything, but I don’t mind telling you I’m looking forward to this album.
The PR wire has crucial data — the preorder links — as well as confirmation of the Feb. 2 release, a few words from Balch and background on the band.
Please enjoy:
Big Scenic Nowhere, “The Waydown” track premiere
THE WAYDOWN is the first single taken from BIG SCENIC NOWHERE upcoming new album called THE WAYDOWN too.
The release will see the light February 2nd via Heavy Psych Sounds.
ALBUM PRESALE:
https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/
USA PRESALE:
https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop-usa.htm
SAYS THE BAND:
These recordings go back to 2021.
BIG SCENIC NOWHERE played a show out in Joshua Tree and while we were all in the same place (Tony the singer lives like 20 hours away) we thought we should spend two days jamming in the studio. Our usual way of recording is jam out freely and then edit those jams down into songs afterwards. The song “The Way Down” was the last jam of that session. We were about to pack up and Tony Reed started playing the main riff. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get immersed into a 25 min jam. We are choosing this song as the first single because it goes to a lot of different places musically. Also, I feel that the album itself does that too so this song is a good representation of what’s in store for you. Enjoy !!!
TRACKLISTING:
1. The Waydown – 7:41
2. Summer Teeth – 4:58
3. Surf Western – 5:49
4. Bleed On – 4:24
5. Sara Smile – 4:26
6. BT-OH – 4:51
7. 100 – 7:38
BIOGRAPHY
Anyone familiar with the terms “Stoner Rock” or “Desert Rock” have surely heard the names FU MANCHU or YAWNING MAN. If you’re a die hard fan of the genre, or a causal observer, you know that both bands have been dishing out quality material since the beginning. While stylistically different, both bands occupy legendary status. FU MANCHU’s sun-drenched, stratospheric, fuzz worship sound and YAWNING MAN’s ethereal, ambient delay have never been crossbred until now. It’s certainty a good time to be alive if you’re a fan of either band. We bring you BIG SCENIC NOWHERE…
Like many of the best things in life, the root collaboration behind Big Scenic Nowhere between guitarists Gary Arce of Yawning Man and Bob Balch of Fu Manchu started with tacos. Specifically, Del Taco. Founded in 1964 in the Mojave Desert in California, the fast food chain has stores throughout the Golden State and the Southern US, but it remains a SoCal institution. Arce, just back from tour with Yawning Man and celebrating the comforts of home, posted on social media of his triumphant return to his local Del Taco. Balch responded with his usual order – a regular red burrito with extra cheese and sour cream – and a band was begun.
Of course, it’s never really so simple.
Bob and Gary have been acquainted since the ’90s, when Fu Manchu would practice in the garage of the house Gary lived in with other members of the desert scene. Gary remembers coming home from his construction job at the time, working outside in the desert summer, ready to kick back and crack a beer, only to be unable to watch television because Fu Manchu were so loud.
They’d bump into each other over the years periodically and Bob eventually brought Gary in to film a piece for his instructional guitar series, PlayThisRiff.com. After the above-mentioned Del Taco post, it was Gary – whose collaborative efforts have been myriad in outfits like WaterWays, Zun, Ten East, etc. – who finally called Bob to jam.
While the project would grow soon enough to encompass players like Tony Reed (Mos Generator), Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man), Per Wiberg (Spiritual Beggars, ex-Opeth), Bill Stinson (Yawning Man), Nick Oliveri (Mondo Generator, ex-Kyuss, etc.), Lisa Alley and Ian Graham (both of The Well), Alain Johannes (Them Crooked Vultures, Chris Cornell, Eleven) and Thomas V. Jäger (Monolord), Big Scenic Nowhere is founded on Balch and Arce tossing guitar riffs and leads back and forth, piecing together song parts one movement at a time. Jamming. Sharing music. Developing a chemistry to build something new based on their individual experiences. In this way, Big Scenic Nowhere is the heart of what collaboration should manifest. Something that grows stronger for the cohesion between those who make it happen.
Gary traveled to Bob’s place, Bob recorded the tracks and assembled what became more fluid progressions, and songs resulted, highlighting the differences of style between the two of them – Balch a fuzz-laden guitarist’s guitarist tuned to D standard, Arce a delay-drenched sonic explorer with a signature tone tuned to DAD’GAD – and the resulting cohesion from their efforts.
After Balch arranged the tunes they headed into the studio to get basic tracks. Over the course of a few months musicians started to send in their contributions to the record. Vocals from Tony Reed came first, then Lisa Alley and Ian Graham from The Well and lastly Alain Johannes. Tony Reed also provided some vintage synth sounds, along with Per Wiberg, and Alain added some extra guitar parts. The end result is an album that is so dense with talent that it’s frightening. It’s a result of seasoned artists that have grown to this point. While all of their styles are different, the collaboration created a beautiful and unique album. “Vision Beyond Horizon” will echo through the ages as a document of our time, a bible to all things stoner and desert and then some. It’s a very heady album and deserves full attention. So sit back, relax, and take a trip behind the sonic curtain. Let “Vision Beyond Horizon” be your guide for years to come.
After the debut album the band released the EP Lavender Blues in 2020 and the sophomore album The Long Morrow in 2022.
A new album will see the light in early 2024 !!
BIG SCENIC NOWHERE is:
Bob Balch (Guitar, Bass)
Gary Arce (Guitar)
Tony Reed (Vocals, Keys, Drums)
Bill Stinson (Drums)
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[…] Listen to new single »The Waydown« at this location! […]
[…] Alongside the announcement of the new album, the band have released a new song from the upcoming album; the title track The Waydown. The new song was first premiered via The Obelisk. […]