Music To The Ears: 1

WEST COAST HOT SHOT LIST

BY OSCAR NICHOLAS

The West Coast of America, undeniably one of the greatest places in the world for surfing, hazy days, reverbed guitar and whining vocals. The style of music is a formula that I have loved for the last few years of my life and transcended my obsession with music one step further. West Coast is a genre in its own right, it can merge punk, pop, rock and even psychedelia. It doesn't even have to be from California, it just has to not give a frick and be timelessly fresh. I thought it only right to express why it is the west coast is so freaking awesome, dude (maybe I don't suit that though). Here's The Music Picture's top five West Coast acts. 

For all the artists featured and more check out this link for The Music Pictures West Coast Playlist.

TY SEGALL

1.   Top of the list has to be without a doubt, the unsung hero of the West Coast, Ty Segall (pronounced Tai, just in case you were wondering). Segall has featured in a plethora of orange county, underground bands, he has had huge influence on the scene and been solo since 2008. 

Hard hitting riffs and power house beats under his unique Californian growl make his music exceptional. A rock n'roll, surf, punk attitude sound. What pushes Segall above is the sheer amount of music he has produced. Since 2008 he has created five studio albums and one joint album with White Fence all of exceptional quality. He calls his music garage rock, but epitomises the West Coast.

FIDLAR

2. Drugs, screams, alcohol, guitars and drugs make up Fidlar. West Coast stoner punks who have song names such as Cheap Beer, Cocain, Shrooms, Crackhead Ted and The Punks Are Finally Taking Acid, they create wild shows and energetic records. The Los Angeles band formed in 2009 and have some of the best band illustration around.

Fidlar stands for a saying the band heard from local skater kids: 'F**k It Dog Life's A Risk'. Made up of 4 guys they released their debut, self titled album last January. They are now hot slots at British festivals and are currently touring with Chicago rockers The Orwells.

I was lucky enough to see them in 2012 at Reading Festival and to rub singer/guitarist Zac Carper's head in a mosh pit. I was also lucky enough to see them at The Garage, in London in Febuary 2013 and once again rub Carper's sweaty hair (favourite anecdote).

BEST COAST

3. A softer side of the West Coast brings you Best Coast. Fronted my the iconically cool Bethany Cosentino. They have reached huge success with their lo-fi style, chilled reverbed guitar and catchy vocals. Their breakthrough record, Crazy For You, lead the band to be a key contender on the festival circuit and connected them with childhood idols such as Green Day, No Doubt and Iggy Pop who they've performed and recorded with. 

Their energetic live shows and fast passed rhythms make them a perfect West Coast band. The duo formed in 2009 from Los Angeles.

WAVVES

4.Happy go luck post-punk, surf rockers Wavves formed in 2008 from sunny San Diego. Stoners with fast paced strumming and the West Coast attitude. They are refreshing to listen to, with a sound that combines indie vocals with mass amounts of reverb and awesome lyrics. 

Friends with other West Coast acts like Fidlar and No Age they have wild joint shows creating huge buzz for the West Coast scene. 

Breakthrough record King Of The Beach pushed Wavves to success in 2010 and their latest album Afraid Of Heights even landed them on Grand Theft Auto V. 

BLEEDING KNEES CLUB

5.As the only non natives in the list, from the Australian Gold Coast, Bleeding Knees Club hold as much of the West Coast sound as any other act. They are so lo-fi they could have easily been recorded 30 years before they were even born. Made up of duo Alex Wall and Jordan Malane, they both share the microphone.

They recorded their debut album Nothing To Do in 2012 in New York, produced by Dev Hynes, aka Blood Orange. 





To steam all the West Coast artists featured on this list and more check out The Music Picture's West Coast Playlist.