The Green Gardens Buzz

Review by Bianca Bafitis, images by Felipe Hernándes

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

I'm sitting in a busy Barcelona bar around sunset, playing with the label on my bottle. The place is littered with tiny candles, cheap beer and cool bartenders. Across from me are four members of the achingly talented band Green Gardens and I'm listening intently as Olaf, the lead singer, describes what his band sounds like in between sips of Moritz. "We are not a fucking country band".

Green Gardens, currently in the middle of their Pennyless Tour, are on the road until May promoting their upcoming album. Reminiscent of psychedelic rock bands of yore like The Doors and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, they’re opening for The Growlers this month, the band of the moment from Dana Point, California. Are they stoked? Very much, I get told, as they stretch out their legs. They hope to get signed.

Their arrival in music is cosmic timing, hitting now when people are tired of indie crooners and placid folk groups. Vocals on tracks like "Crowds" are dreamy and beautiful while the guitars meld and fit seamlessly. You get it all, both the beat and the swelling tunes of 60s rock. You can feel free to move around or just gaze at your black-light mushroom poster.

Made up of mostly old friends, they are Olaf Blanch on vocals and guitar, Imanol Salvador on backing vocals and guitar, Joan Birules on backing vocals and guitar, Iñigo Maraví on bass, Guillermo Carrión on drums and extra member Pelu on everything from banjo to sitar.

Green Gardens band members.

I ask them to describe their sound and the answers vary. It’s word roulette, with each one throwing out a something and hoping it hits. Joan is the one who comes up with the most solid response: "We’ve got a 60s feel, a bit like California surfer rock".

Green Gardens has been together since last year. Technically, they should be all over the place, and sloppy and weird and feeling out what works. But what you get instead is a tight band, a result of years of playing in each other’s bands and changing what works. It’s been one giant musical experiment, and they are getting it oh so right.

I see them play live at Sidecar one night and look around. They get nods from the packed audience, the symbol of acceptance. The sound is so solid that pretty soon everyone is moving - limbs begin to flail and beer gets spilled.

It's a good show.

Songs exhale from their set so easily but not losing momentum when it counts on tracks like "Oh! Death". Pelu, the good-looking honorary 6th member, rotates quickly around the stage from tambourine to sitar to whatever else is lying about.

Prospects this year? Guillermo, the drummer, orders another round of beers and tells me they’re looking to sweep the UK or US on tour. With some blood and sweat, it’s theirs for the taking. Hide your daughters folks.