Of all the cities in the United States that have pumped out enriching music scenes, there are few that have produced such a diverse coalition as Los Angeles — it’s been the proverbial garden in which the seeds for entire sub-genres have taken root. The Sunset Strip, a mile and a half stretch between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, has long served as a breeding ground for rock ‘n’ roll from the likes of The Byrds, The Beach Boys and The Doors. Hair bands like Poison and Mötley Crüe dominated the limelight while the underground grew to new proportions with Black Flag, Bad Religion, Circle Jerks, and Descendents acting as harbingers for the first wave of hardcore.
The 90s saw the explosion of West Coast gangsta rap by way of NWA, 2Pac and Snoop Dogg, the first wave of alternative metal with Tool, Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and emo music skyrocketed with the popularity of Weezer and Elliot Smith. The 2000s paved the way for a slew of avant-garde indie acts like Local Natives and Silver Daggers in the midst of the ever dominant pop scene garnering many hit radio songs that most millennials can recall on a dime.
Bleached is a band that sounds very much like a product of this LA music culture, while still sounding like their own thing. Their new album “Welcome the Worms“ is reminiscent of early punk and new wave acts like Blondie and X with its hints of rock ‘n’ roll, alternative rock and indie that all thread together so naturally. The group, fronted by Jennifer Clavin, weaves together songs that, if not for her sister Jessica’s distortion-fueled guitar work and Nick Pillot’s Ramones-style drumming, would not sound dissimilar to state of the art pop songs.
Most similar to styles by the likes of singer-songwriters Pat Benatar and Debbie Harry, Clavin’s lyrics are very catchy but aren’t conventional—“Sleepwalking” cleverly compares depression to being one of the walking dead, and “Sour Candy” tells a story of drug-induced bedlam, both while maintaining sing-along choruses and hummable melodies. However, what makes these lyrics stand out are the emotions you can feel in her voice; even if you have clever, catchy lyrics sung on key, if there is no feeling behind it, the songs fall flat.
As a result, Bleached is a group that may catch music fans off guard. Their sound feels familiar but fresh, their lyrics catchy but never repetitive, and their music easy on the ears while maintaining attitude and feeling. Bleached basically encompasses how the LA music scene has changed over the years—with such a colorful catalog of musical artists, the idea has always been to find one’s own niche. Bleached have found theirs, and it’s hard to categorize that niche in any one genre.
Take a listen for yourself next Tuesday, Sept. 6 at Kilby Court where they will play with Criminal Hygiene and Dream Slut. Tickets can be purchased online at KilbyCourt.com or at the door the day of.
Bleached @ Kilby Court, 741 South Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, Sept. 6, 7 p.m., KilbyCourt.com.