Under the Radar: San Jose
San Jose are causing a stir with their wonderful, chaotic sonic tangents, write Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon
Hailing from East Ayrshire rather than California, San Jose first exploded into Glasgow’s music scene in 2023 with their debut single Self Help, and have since set about establishing themselves as a creative force to be reckoned with.
The six members met as teenagers performing in musical theatre, and they have taken their roots to extremes: live shows have included the crucifixion of a bear costume, regular disrobing and selling toilets at the merch stand. No wonder that they have sold out both King Tut’s and Stereo in Glasgow, as well being booked for dates across the UK.
Their description of their sound as being a blend of Americana, psychedelia and folk doesn’t really do justice to the wonderful, chaotic sonic tangents and crescendos of their songs, which have caught the attention of everyone from 6 Music’s Steve Lamaqc to hipster magazines.
San Jose headline King Tut’s on 29 December and then go into the studio to record their next EP, An Aviary. Told from the point of view of birds, it charts the changing of the seasons with themes of love, loss and the cyclical nature of life. We can’t wait. See https://beacons.ai/sanjoseband
Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music industry seminar and social night Born To Be Wide, see www.borntobewide.co.uk
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