Photos by Estefany Salas
KDVS Presents: Gravy Nation, Kaz Mirblouk, Honyock
Third Space, Davis • Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016
Words by Estefany Salas
For a rainy night, there was a surprising amount of people at Third Space; most of the spectators are Davis locals who transport themselves by bike. Third Space is the equivalent of any venue in Oakland yet the difference is the price you pay. In Oakland, it is likely that you will pay more than 40 bucks, at Third Space, a donation less than five dollars is sufficient.
The bands expected to play were Gravy Nation, Kaz Mirblouk and Honyock. They weren’t due to play until eight at night. Many people trickled here and there through the two entrances, most of them looking like they had stepped out of an Urban Outfitters catalogue. There was a bit of an L.A.-hipster-meets-Davis bohemian vibe, which can be intimidating at first, but if you’re open to meeting new people, you are less likely to be daunted by the new faces you may encounter.
I started feeling slightly more comfortable once the first band, Gravy Nation, a Davis-based rock trio, started setting up. The lights went out, creating an entire new vibe of “anything is possible.” The frontman and bass player, Christopher Hunt, had an interesting getup of leather pants and a flannel, which gave him the appearance of a Jim Morrison bad boy look with a touch of grunge. The other two band members of the rock trio—drummer Billy Thompson and guitarist Ryan Shickman—didn’t seem to quite fit the look, as they had arrived in casual clothing. Once everything was ready and set for performing, I stood back and was not disappointed. As a huge ‘90s alternative rock fan, I found a lot of the decade’s influences in their music, from pop-punk Green Day to grunge Alice in Chains. The band may as well earn a reputation as Davis’ most mercurial bands for its brave leaping from one subgenre to another while still playing to an alternative scene.
Gravy Nation made quite the impression with their song titled “Regina George,” a fast-paced heartfelt tune from the point of view of a love-struck teenage boy, referencing the main character from the 2004 film, Mean Girls. Generally, the band had a knack for showmanship, followed by the ability to sound clean and melodic without committing to one stylistic approach, wherein upholding measured arrangements that employ the members’ expertise to the fullest.
The music by the band Kaz Mirblouk, a Los Angeles/Davis based garage/psych-punk three-piece, headed by the front man Kasra Mirblouk, was something out of a fun, sunny and sporty commercial selling a product to a bunch of youths. Brash, heads-down garage rock that feels a tad experimental, with vocals that align perfectly to their every tune, KM is able to maintain a casual loose feel, without losing their pace. Take a listen to their song “Through the Glass,” and you are likely to be sold. KM is controlled and eclectic, giving the band a generic appeal to all the masses, whether you want to hate it or love it, you are bound to end up loving it. After all, their sound has made an impression on the music scene in Los Angeles, as noted by the attention they garnered from the up-and-coming Los Angeles indie music label Lolipop.
Honyock, a Sacramento-based four-piece band, playfully calls their music, “Folkadelic psychwave.” What that means, they’re not exactly sure. However, it is apparent that their influences are mainly from Neil Young and The Velvet Underground. Take what you will from the band’s performance; once you take a listen to “I’ll Never Let You in Again,” it is evident that the band members have sensitive souls. With their profound and emphatic lyrics, you will be compelled to give your heart away to each and every one of the band members, for they are likely to understand your inner struggle and pain. Their songs are eerie, dark, and sad yet somehow they retain a certain beat that allows you to dance. However you choose to dance is really up to you.
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