Steeped in the aura of the perennially mythologized psychedelic culture of Southern California, The
Stevenson Ranch Davidians has, since 2006, revealed itself in shifting configurations; making music influenced by the timeless essence of ‘60s psych, folk and soul, woven with strands of early American roots music. While the lineup has continually coalesced around lead singer and songwriter Dwayne Seagraves, the collective has always had a guiding vision and goal: to create music that seeks to simultaneously demystify and deify the human experience.
2017's Amerikana represents a new direction for the band, where the dreamy, flowing sound of albums past is infused with a fresh sense of inspiration, energy and purpose. This is an eclectic, yet cohesive,
set of songs that glorify the human spirit while condemning those who seek to destroy it. Seagraves states that Amerikana also celebrates what he views as true magic: human will put to action. Through his songs, he hopes to convey the sense that human beings have been the sole source of all great insights and achievements throughout history, and that power originates from within individuals rather than from gods, governments or other external sources.
The band’s new lineup brings a range of talent, experience and inspiration to The Stevenson Ranch
Davidians’ sound. In addition to longtime Davidians’ bassist Jessica Latiolait, guitarist Rob Campanella is a member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Quarter After, while his brother - drummer and backing vocalist Andy Campanella - is a veteran of Occult Wisdom, Imogene and Chief Nowhere. Guitarist Misha Bullock, the sole Englishman in the fold, formerly played with Tennis System.
The other members bring a range of talent, experience and inspiration to The Stevenson Ranch
Davidians’ sound. In addition to founding member and Davidians’ bassist, Jessica Latiolait, the band includes producer and long time Brian Jonestown Massacre member Rob Campanella on guitar and lap steel. On drums is Misha Bullock, the sole Englishman in the fold and composer by day. The newest edition to the collective is Sara Minsavage on keyboards, shakes and jangles.
After releasing their third LP, Amerikana, in 2017 the band embarked on two extensive European tours
in 2018 and 2019 while also recording what will be their fourth full length collection of songs. In early 2020 the band began a monthly residency in the Bay Area until being forced into an indefinite hiatus due to various governmental mandates during the Covid outbreak. In the summer of 2023 the band reemerged to work on the finishing touches of their latest recordings with plans to jump back into the live music circuit and release a record in 2024.
Moving on from their usual dreamy song structures, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians have opted for a
more eclectic approach on new album Amerikana. Still firmly rooted within the kind of psychedelia which straddled the 60’s and the 90’s, the key band remains The Verve whose majestic laments underly much of what happens here. Here it’s done much more subtly, with less bluster providing that link to previous albums from the Ranch Davidians.
Dwayne Seagrave, the mastermind behind the band sees this new album as a celebration of the indomitable human spirit and all that goes against it. Whilst such a concept may seem unwieldy there is
certain a lofty aim at turning the music into a kind of celebration. The muted aspect to the album provides a more “campfire” feel, almost cult like. A description no doubt in tune with the idea behind the band. That idea of a commune of musicians, ever changing and evolving drives Amerikana. The album art drums home that feeling of us set free against the wide expanse of the world with its gorgeous painting of the American wilderness.
The 60’s twang of ‘Wack Magic’ providing that perfect thrust at the start, the absolute beauty of ‘Love Is A Big Light’ whose organ flourishes lift up the folk guitar providing a warm intimate quality. It’s use
of vocal harmonies then open it up into a stunning spacious setting. Elsewhere is the come togetherness of ‘PsyOp’, a song that builds up and up as Dwayne seeks ever more ecstatic revelations. To match this with the spiritual ‘The High Meadows’ is a master stroke which brings us from the dance-floor to the church just a few minutes.
The dual quality of intimacy and spaciousness becomes a theme throughout Amerikana as it seeks ever more spiritual paths. It’s unusual to see a band strike such fervosity without becoming overtly religious
and it’s testament to the power of music mixed with the concept of communality that we can find other paths to become one with the world around us. As ‘Pillow Sittin’ amusingly points out, you can try meditating but it may not get you anywhere. In fact, you may as well just be masturbating unless you find a way of reaching out to others. It’s a pin bursting the bubble at the end of an album which at first seems to risk becoming a bit too po-faced.
That final piece of sarcastic humour is the final acceptance of the folly of life and that at the end of the
day, you just need to get up and do something today. It’s a validation of the human spirit and in that Dwayne Seagrave definitely achieves what he set out to do. That we get some quite remarkable music at times is an added bonus and we can come away from listening to Amerikana with a sense of having been part of something.
[Landing nearly nine years after their last outing Life & Death, the album Amerikana (another play on
words for Americana) takes a decidedly more electronic and aggressive posture, seeming to put their dreamy song structure far behind them, though still deeply rooted in the realm of neo-psychedelia.
It's Psychedelic baby magazine]
The Stevenson Ranch Davidians – Amerikana
Label: Picture In My Ear – PIME 0018
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2017
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock
TRACKS
01. Wack Magick
02. Holy Life
03. Love is Big Light
04. Hard Livin'
05. Binary Bop
06. Om G
07. PysOp
08. The Highest Meadow
09. Pillow Sittin'
The Stevenson Ranch Davidians: Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs 2006 + Life And Death 2009 on Urban Aspirines HERE
