Tag Archives: The Mars Volta

Poetic Memory: Science Fiction (List)

Photo credit: Jarett Boskovich

Stream: Science Fiction on SoundCloud

For the past three years, Santa Maria transplants Science Fiction have been gracing their adopted home of San Diego with a funky, sauntering brand of jazz.

Comprised of brothers Aaron and Allen de la Rosa on guitars, Antonio Bravo on drums, and Jacob Miranda on bass, the talented troupe excels at both improv and composition, layering catchy fretwork over danceable bass lines and percussion. The band applies those sonic layers only to tear them down, then rebuild them in unexpected and refreshing ways. Because of this, Science Fiction’s live shows are captivating events that always leave you wanting more.

When the band joins Paris-based experimentalists The Kandinsky Effect at the Office tonight (September 28), you’ll have a chance to see for yourself. In the meantime, Science Fiction were kind enough to send us their Poetic Memory. With influences ranging from George Benson to 8-bit Nintendo, it’s a revealing look at what makes this quartet tick. Check it out below…

Poetic Memory: The Old In Out (List)

San Diego’s music scene offers plenty of options. Want gorgeous jazz vocals shimmering with old-timey charm? We’ve got Erika Davies. Need a mainlined dose of fast, endlessly catchy powerpop? We’ve got The Powerchords. Have a hankering for exquisitely depressing tales of heartache, complete with eerie saw-playing? We’ve got Black Heart Procession. But if you’re looking for a band that rocks so hard they’ll shatter your pint glass, you need look no further than The Old In Out.

Blending the raunchiest elements of blues, garage rock, and psychedelia, The Old In Out are a hailstorm of loud guitar, sledgehammered beats, and sneering swagger. We recently had the opportunity to pick drummer Christopher James Carroll’s brain about what inspires him:

“I’ve found that inspiration comes from within and without. Everything and anything from a cool movie to seeing a great art show to watching the sun set, or reading a good book on a rainy day afternoon. The things that truly influence me are the things that create whole new worlds to peer into: worlds of mood, color, and shape that challenge and unlock new doors of understanding.”

We’ve been fortunate enough to obtain Poetic Memory lists from lots of musicians in the past, but his is definitely one of the more eclectic ones we’ve seen. Carroll’s multifaceted nature is also apparent in his music; in addition to his work with The Old In Out, he also drums for up-and-coming prog monster Shapes Of Future Frames. Carroll’s Poetic Memory can be found below. Continue reading