Big Scenic Nowhere

Last updated
Big Scenic Nowhere
Origin California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–2012, 2019–present
Labels
  • Blues Funeral [1]
  • Satin
  • Heavy Psych Sounds [2]
Spinoff of
MembersGary Arce
Bob Balch
Bill Stinson
Tony Reed

Big Scenic Nowhere is an American rock supergroup from California.

Contents

History

Demo album (2009–2012)

Big Scenic Nowhere dates back to 2009 when demo recordings of the one-off project were recorded and released under the moniker; some being instrumental versions of songs that were eventually recorded and released by Gary Arce of Yawning Man's additional side project WaterWays, and others being early variations of songs that appeared on the Yawning Man album, Nomadic Pursuits . [4] [5] Through 2012, this short-lived act performed live at concerts with lineups including Arce, Mario Lalli, Tony Tornay and Billy Cordell. John Garcia would guest vocals, notably on the Kyuss-covered Yawning Man song, "Catamaran". [6]

Studio releases (2019–present)

Big Scenic Nowhere was revived as an official band in 2019 by Arce along with Bob Balch of Fu Manchu. The duo released their debut EP, Dying on the Mountain, the same year with guest appearances from Nick Oliveri of Mondo Generator, Lalli and Bill Stinson of Yawning Man, Tony Reed of Mos Generator, Per Wiberg of Spiritual Beggars, Lisa Alley and Ian Graham of The Well, and Thomas V. Jäger of Monolord. [7] The album was recorded by Dan Joeright at Gatos Trail Recording Studio in Joshua Tree, CA.

Following the band's full-length debut album, Vision Beyond Horizon in January 2020, Reed and Stinson joined as full-time members. The album featured several collaborating artists including Alain Johannes. The group then released their second EP, Lavender Blues on October 23, 2020, notably produced by Chris Goss of Masters of Reality. Guest musicians included Wiberg and Daniel Mongrain of Voivod. [8] The Album and EP were recorded by Dan Joeright at Gatos Trail Recording Studio in Joshua Tree, CA.

In January 2022, the band released their sophomore album, The Long Morrow, on Heavy Psych Sounds Records. The album consists of recorded material taken from Lavender Blues as well as unused material written around the time of the EP's release. [9] It featured guest appearances from Wiberg, who has since appeared on every release, and Reeves Gabrels of The Cure. [10]

In early 2023, the band teased a new album set to be released later in the year while showcasing their cover of the song "Sara Smile" with former Hall & Oates keyboardist Eliot Lewis. [11] In November, the album, titled The Waydown, was revealed and features contributions from guest musicians including Wiberg, Gabrels and Gar from Red Barn Studios. It will be released in February 2024. [12]

Released on December 6, 2024 the band contributed a cover of the Jethro Tull song "My God" from the 1971 release, Aqualung to the album Aqualung Redux released through Magnetic Eye Records. In review of the album by Blabbermouth.net the band's song was referred to as "an incendiary, garage doom delight." [13] A song with the lyrical theme, as described by Rolling Stone writer Ben Gerson as dealing with hypocrisy in religion including "how people manipulate notions of God for their own ends" was an example of the album's "brilliant structural organization." [14] The music is set to an "accusatory tone" with a constantly "moving musical theme" and parts that "suggests the influence of Beethoven." An example was cited with the lyrics, "So lean upon him gently and don't call on him to save" which leads into a Sturm und Drang explosion from the band. [15]

Band members

Current lineup

Former touring members

Past collaborators

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Other appearances

References

  1. ↑ "About". Blues Funeral. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Big Scenic Nowhere". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Yawning Balch". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Buried Treasure: Big Scenic Nowhere, Big Scenic Nowhere". The Obelisk. January 22, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ Big Scenic Nowhere ~ 'Demo 1' on YouTube
  6. ↑ Big Scenic Nowhere & John Garcia - Catamaran on YouTube
  7. ↑ "Desert Rock Veterans Unite To Form BIG SCENIC NOWHERE". Blabbermouth.net . August 21, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ "TRACK PREMIERE: Big Scenic Nowhere, "Lavender Blues"". The Obelisk. September 17, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Long Morrow". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  10. ↑ Ewing, Jerry (October 7, 2021). "Big Scenic Nowhere team up with Reeves Gabrels and Per Wiberg for The Long Morrow". Louder Sound . Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  11. ↑ @bigscenicnowhere (January 4, 2023). "Working on the new BIG SCENIC NOWHERE full length which will be released on @heavypsychsounds_records later this year!" . Retrieved May 4, 2023– via Instagram.
  12. ↑ "Big Scenic Nowhere – The Waydown". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ Dom, Lawson (5 December 2024). "Aqualung Redux / Best Of Jethro Tull". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Gerson, Ben (22 July 1971). "Aqualung". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  15. ↑ Scott Allen Nollen (5 December 2001). Jethro Tull: A History of the Band, 1968-2001. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland. ISBN   978-0-7864-1101-6 . Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "Vision Beyond Horizon". Bandcamp . January 31, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  17. ↑ "The Long Morrow Digital". Bandcamp . October 31, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  18. ↑ "The Waydown". Bandcamp . Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Dying on the Mountain". Bandcamp . December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Lavender Blues". Bandcamp . October 19, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Aqualung (Redux), by Various Artists". Bandcamp . 6 December 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
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