Originally posted to Juniper Zine on 4/9/20
Chicago-based psychedelic-garage rock and DIY band The Curls have been consistently putting out jamable, danceable, trippy material for the last several years. Following the release of Bounce House in 2019, the band released a live album from one of their last performances before the quarantine canceled their spring tour.
In true Curls fashion, this live album is not a typical musical experience. “Live on Mushrooms,” was indeed recorded while the band was high off the psychedelic drug Psilocybin. And it’s really up to the listener to decide whether their ‘shroom trip enhanced their performance. Without a doubt, the improv-style track “Psych Jam/Tidal Wave” transports you to a tie-dye wearing, utopian society; where a jam band unsuspectingly meets indie.
“Gatorade,” is another shining moment off their audial time capsule from their December show in Dayton, Kentucky. Playing off the riffs and lyrics of their song “Lemon Lime” from Bounce House, the live version offers a more noisey and lo-fi experience from the recorded version.
The Curls are keeping busy through the COVID-19 pandemic, releasing a new single with Maria Jacobson, vocalist of indie-folk band Fran, which is available on April 20.
“Nu Country” is the collaboration we needed this spring. The video simulates what one might expect of a mushroom trip. Meanwhile, the harmonies between Mick and Maria evoke an outlaw nostalgia and are packed with a John Prine-style charm. All proceeds from purchases of the single on Bandcamp will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository in support of the fight against hunger, a rising concern for those without employment during the ongoing crisis.
It’s hard to pigeonhole The Curls into one category of musical stylings, and the band has certainly gone through some transformations since 2016’s Slice of Life. Whether it’s the band’s iconic Twitter account or their Live on Mushrooms album, The Curls have made themselves mainstays of the Chicago DIY community and are expected to release a new album this year. Stream their live album and new single wherever you get your music.
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