On Wednesday night, the backroom of The EARL was taken over by the nostalgia of long drives, sunny days, and the feeling of warm sand melting between your toes. From the moment West Coast natives, Cayucas, stepped onto the stage, they held their audience in a trance. The entire night, everyone swayed and danced to the beat of their catchy melodies and carefree sounds.
The band stayed true to their SoCal roots and maintained a low key and relaxed vibe throughout the show. Their energy created an intimate ambiance, a huge change for a venue known for their high energy, “Mess Around” crowd. Playing tracks off their debut album Bigfoot, and their sophomore album Dancing at the Blue Lagoon, Cayucas offers their audience an intriguing listening experience. Taking elements from “Beach Boy era” surf-rock and modern day alternative rock, Cayucas manages to create warm, soulful compositions, much like those of Vampire Weekend and Beck.
The night started with Indie-pop Seattle based band, Hibou. They were the first to take the stage, radiating positive vibes throughout the room. Lead singer Peter Michel set the tone for the night by captivating his audience with airy guitar riffs and whimsical vocals. Think the The Smiths meets Bombay Bicycle Club, with a hint of Peter Bjorn and John, all mixed into one full-bodied performance.
As a California native myself, I couldn’t help but listen and reminisce on my own childhood shenanigans. Cayucas and Hibou transported me back to my days playing in the ocean surf, basking in the warm California sunshine, celebrating endless summers all year round. Their talents go further than simply creating music with catchy rhymes. Each eccentric ballad takes the listener on a romantic journey and leaves them yearning for more. Summer may be winding down here in Atlanta, but for Cayucas, summer never ends. Catch their easy breezy vibes on tour through September.
