Seattle – As the days are gradually getting shorter, cooler, and cloudier, Seattleites are relentlessly seeking ways to clutch on to those last days of summer. Last week, there was no perfect place to be than in Capitol Hill’s Barboza, where music lovers were treated to the breezy, atmospheric sounds of California-based band, Cayucas, on their penultimate US stop of their summer tour.
Earlier in the day, the band had paid a visit to the beloved local radio station, KEXP, where they performed several tracks in-studio and talked about their new album, Dancing at the Blue Lagoon (a name taken from the 2000 film Dancing at the Blue Iguana), with Cheryl Waters. The DJ asked about the album’s tie to the Pacific Northwest, as it was recorded just outside of Seattle at Ryan Hadlock’s Bear Creek Studio. Along with utilizing the studio’s Jacuzzi, they said, they recorded with more of a sense of how the songs would be performed in their live shows.
It’s been more than a year since I last caught Cayucas perform in Seattle’s favorite basement venue, but the group, led by twins Zach and Ben Yudin, continues to deliver a solid set awash in dreamy surf pop, shoegaze, and 60’s rock. The music transported the full house to carefree beach bonfire nights, complete with sunny riffs, laid back vocals, nostalgia, and dancing.
Opening with “East Coast Girl,” off their hit 2013 album Bigfoot, Cayucas eased the audience in with elegant, shimmering guitar, rolling percussion, and exalted “Heys” and “Ohs.” Following was the sunny throwback to 60’s surf pop, “Cayucos,” titled after the sleepy coastal California town that also serves as the namesake for the band. “Champion,” a track off the new album, showcased Zach’s easy up-and-down vocals and jingling keyboard chops, while “Backstroke” opened with understated percussion and vocals before building nicely with keys and bass, creating interesting and captivating textures.
As BNB’s Nick Schneider noted in his review of Dancing at the Blue Lagoon, “As strong as the vocal melodies are, the rhythm section really steals the show. The scorching Afro-pop of ‘Moony Eyed Walrus,’ with its pulsing bass drum and punchy toms, particularly stands out, along with the charging, NorCal-representing ‘Hella,’ a tune that is sure to become a staple of the band’s live set.”
This latter observation holds true, as the group’s been performing “Hella” for well over a year now; it pleased the Barboza crowd last year with its catchy chorus, and didn’t fail to do so again this time around.
“Moony Eyed Walrus” was a standout track of the set, most likely due to the picked-up energy of the band (who, unfortunately, had seemed pretty lackluster throughout the earlier part of the evening). With several distinct “movements” in the tune, Cayucas played with strong bass solos, synthesizer, and a rollicking chorus to create a memorable performance.
Next, “Will the Thrill” kept the energy going, but with a more relaxed, reggae vibe, filled with groovin’ bass, playful rhythms, and tropical sounds. Then, the eponymous track off the new album propelled the island vibe further, with sunny acoustic guitar and percussion.
Slowing the set down was “Ditches,” a ballad-like number during which audience members swayed their extended arms back and forth in the air. Zach launched into the hypnotic, sing-songy opening verse of “Deep Sea,” before driving into the hit off their first album, “High School Lover.”
Winding down the night, Cayucas performed “Swimsuit,” a 2012 B-side track that’s otherwise forgettable. Finally, the group performed “Bigfoot,” the playfully marching and sauntering title track off their 2013 album, closing out their enjoyable set and prolonging summer in Seattle for just a little bit longer.
Opening the night was Seattle’s Hibou, fronted by 22-year-old Peter Michel, who had been touring with Cayucas the past few weeks and was ready to deliver an energetic set on their last night of the tour. The group is getting ready to release their debut album, filled with dreamy, layered pop that translates well in a live setting. After wrapping up their set, Michel shouted, “We’ll see you on the dance floor for Cayucas!” And sure enough, one could see his bleached head bobbing through the crowd all night.
For more on Cayucas, go HERE.
Photos of Cayucas by Caitlin Peterkin
Caitlin Peterkin
With degrees in journalism and music, Caitlin’s written for Paste Magazine, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and MajoringinMusic.com. She loves cheese, laughing at GIFs of corgis, road trip sing-alongs, and connecting with people over good beer and good music.
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