Richmond Sluts Promote Catchy ’60 Cycles of Love’
By DONNA BALANCIA
The Richmond Sluts headlined a great Thursday night at Harvard and Stone, part of the Cheap Satisfaction series.
Our best local drummer, John Tyree, booked the night — he got the guys together for a Thursday night gig at Harvard and Stone. Not and easy feat having a band that is comprised of half LA members and half Northern Cal guys. Yes, Richmond, Ca., in case you wondered.
But when they get together for a gig, wherever it is, it’s pure mayhem. And lots of fun too. The club should be renamed “Echo and Fuzz” after the retro rockers’ performance.
CHECK OUT THE RICHMOND SLUTS ON BANDCAMP
The scene is what lends a certain comeraderie with some of the local notables on hand, Johnny Witmer and Emil Edinger, the better half of promoter Asia Muka.
The Richmond Sluts took it to new levels as they ramp up for their European tour.
“We’re loved over there,” said keyboardist Justin Lynn. “It’s going to be a great tour.”
Dynamic frontman Shea Roberts said the French label, Beast, is coming along great and having success distributing the Sluts’ records. The new. 10-track LP is 60 Cycles of Love and it’s a winner. One of the songs we like is “Different Tune,” a haunting 1960s-style fuzzy anthem of relationships. Another standout is “Into These Eyes,” a bluesy rock n roll love letter.
We first caught up with The Richmond Sluts at James Williamson’s “Re-Licked” all-star punk show at The Bootleg back in January of 2015. The Sluts did a nice job holding the fort as one of the openers.
The Richmond Sluts have certainly progressed in a few short years. There’s a new album and more stage presence. Shea still does the crouchy dance thing and his voice is an unlikely cross between Elvis Costello and Jim Morrison. We love the surfy punk guitar style.
The band — John Tyree, Chris Beltran, Justin, Rob Easson, Lee Gallagher, Shea Roberts and Jesse Nichols — put on a tight set and they have a certain fan base that looks forward to their visits.
They’ve put out an LP on Disaster Records in 2001 and touring the US, The Richmond Sluts began to draw attention in the underground garage and rock scene, playing with bands such as The Brian Jones Town Massacre and, remarkably, Sky Saxon and the Seeds.
Check out The Richmond Sluts on Bandcamp.
See video of The Richmond Sluts from Harvard and Stone:
