Big Scenic Nowhere is an American rock supergroup from California.
Big Scenic Nowhere | |
|---|---|
| Origin | California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2009–2012, 2019–present |
| Labels | |
| Spinoff of |
|
| Members | Gary Arce Bob Balch Bill Stinson Tony Reed |
History
editDemo album (2009–2012)
editBig Scenic Nowhere dates back to 2009 when demo recordings of the one-off project were recorded and released under the moniker; some being instrumental versions of songs that were eventually recorded and released by Gary Arce of Yawning Man's additional side project WaterWays, and others being early variations of songs that appeared on the Yawning Man album, Nomadic Pursuits.[4][5] Through 2012, this short-lived act performed live at concerts with lineups including Arce, Mario Lalli, Tony Tornay and Billy Cordell. John Garcia would guest vocals, notably on the Kyuss-covered Yawning Man song, "Catamaran".[6]
Studio releases (2019–present)
editBig Scenic Nowhere was revived as an official band in 2019 by Arce along with Bob Balch of Fu Manchu. The duo released their debut EP, Dying on the Mountain, the same year with guest appearances from Nick Oliveri of Mondo Generator, Lalli and Bill Stinson of Yawning Man, Tony Reed of Mos Generator, Per Wiberg of Spiritual Beggars, Lisa Alley and Ian Graham of The Well, and Thomas V. Jäger of Monolord.[7] The album was recorded by Dan Joeright at Gatos Trail Recording Studio in Joshua Tree, CA.
Following the band's full-length debut album, Vision Beyond Horizon in January 2020, Reed and Stinson joined as full-time members. The album featured several collaborating artists including Alain Johannes. The group then released their second EP, Lavender Blues on October 23, 2020, notably produced by Chris Goss of Masters of Reality. Guest musicians included Wiberg and Daniel Mongrain of Voivod.[8] The Album and EP were recorded by Dan Joeright at Gatos Trail Recording Studio in Joshua Tree, CA.
In January 2022, the band released their sophomore album, The Long Morrow, on Heavy Psych Sounds Records. The album consists of recorded material taken from Lavender Blues as well as unused material written around the time of the EP's release.[9] It featured guest appearances from Wiberg, who has since appeared on every release, and Reeves Gabrels of The Cure.[10]
In early 2023, the band teased a new album set to be released later in the year while showcasing their cover of the song "Sara Smile" with former Hall & Oates keyboardist Eliot Lewis.[11] In November, the album, titled The Waydown, was revealed and features contributions from guest musicians including Wiberg, Gabrels and Gar from Red Barn Studios. It will be released in February 2024.[12]
Band members
editCurrent lineup
edit- Gary Arce – guitar (2009–2012, 2019–present)
- Bob Balch – guitar (2019–present)
- Tony Reed – bass, vocals, synth, guitar (2020–present)
- Bill Stinson – drums (2020–present)
Former touring members
edit- Mario Lalli – bass (select dates between 2009–2012)
- Tony Tornay – drums (select dates between 2009–2012)
- Billy Cordell – bass (select dates between 2010–2012)
- Greg Saenz – drums (select dates between 2010–2012)
Past collaborators
edit- Mario Lalli (2019)
- Nick Oliveri (2019–2020)
- Per Wiberg (2019–2024)
- Tony Reed (2019–2020)
- Bill Stinson (2019–2020)
- Lisa Alley (2019–2020)
- Ian Graham (2019–2020)
- Thomas V. Jäger (2019–2020)
- Jim Monroe (2019–2020)
- Alain Johannes (2020)
- Chris Goss (2020)
- Daniel Mongrain (2020)
- Reeves Gabrels (2022, 2024)
- Gar (Red Barn Studios) (2024)
Discography
editStudio albums
editVision Beyond Horizon (2020, Satin / Heavy Psych Sounds)[13] No. Title Length 1. "The Glim" 5:04 2. "The Paranoid" 1:35 3. "Then I Was Gone" 3:46 4. "Mirror Image" 5:41 5. "Hidden Wall" 6:55 6. "Shadows from the Altar" 4:24 7. "En Las Sombras" 6:37 8. "Tragic Motion Lines" 5:51 9. "War Years" 4:11 The Long Morrow (2022, Heavy Psych Sounds)[14] No. Title Length 1. "Defector (of Future Days)" 4:19 2. "Murder Klipp" 4:47 3. "Lavender Bleu" 5:12 4. "LeDü" 2:51 5. "The Long Morrow" 19:45 The Waydown (2024, Heavy Psych Sounds)[15] No. Title Writer(s) Length 1. "The Waydown" 7:41 2. "Summer Teeth" 3. "Surf Western" 4. "Bleed On" 5. "Sara Smile" Hall & Oates 6. "BT-OH" 7. "100"
EPs
editReferences
edit- ^ "About". Blues Funeral. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "Big Scenic Nowhere". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "Yawning Balch". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Buried Treasure: Big Scenic Nowhere, Big Scenic Nowhere". The Obelisk. January 22, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ Big Scenic Nowhere ~ 'Demo 1' on YouTube
- ^ Big Scenic Nowhere & John Garcia - Catamaran on YouTube
- ^ "Desert Rock Veterans Unite To Form BIG SCENIC NOWHERE". Blabbermouth.net. August 21, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- ^ "TRACK PREMIERE: Big Scenic Nowhere, "Lavender Blues"". The Obelisk. September 17, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- ^ "The Long Morrow". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
- ^ Ewing, Jerry (October 7, 2021). "Big Scenic Nowhere team up with Reeves Gabrels and Per Wiberg for The Long Morrow". Louder Sound. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ @bigscenicnowhere (January 4, 2023). "Working on the new BIG SCENIC NOWHERE full length which will be released on @heavypsychsounds_records later this year!". Retrieved May 4, 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Big Scenic Nowhere – The Waydown". Heavy Psych Sounds. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Vision Beyond Horizon". Bandcamp. January 31, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "The Long Morrow Digital". Bandcamp. October 31, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "The Waydown". Bandcamp. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Dying on the Mountain". Bandcamp. December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Lavender Blues". Bandcamp. October 19, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
External links
edit- Big Scenic Nowhere at AllMusic
- Big Scenic Nowhere on Bandcamp
- Big Scenic Nowhere discography at Discogs