June 25, 2004
The Californias, Bishop Don
Vinyl, Atlanta
by Michelle Gilzenrat

A colorful night at Vinyl.

“This is the verve of love.” On each of the dimly lit tables of Vinyl, The Californias have placed a poem and a crayon. “Put your colors in, we’ll brighten in the blend,” the poem invites. As I fill in the outlined flowers around the text with fuchsia, I prepare for some sort of hippie love-in. The poem asks us to “move in wave vibration…sing and dance and fun together.” However, when our sunshiney friends emerge from backstage, they are decked in sharp suits instead of love beads- a nod to the bands of the original British Invasion.

These lads share more than clothing with their predecessors. The Californias unleash a bright and unadulterated energy that lights up the whole venue. Their smiles are contagious, and it is hard not to shake and groove along.

While Ryan “Summers” sings of love and heartache, Mike “June’s” wailing guitar provides just enough grit to keep things from going mushy.

Despite the retro flavor of the suits and poetry, The Californias borrow pop sensibility from every decade. Before one song June takes us back to “a Sunday in March in 1975” which is then followed by a blistering cover of The Knack’s 80’s hit “My Sharona.” Their set comes to a sweaty, blistering finale with raucous cover of The Who’s “My Generation.” Considering this young band’s blend of influences, it’s hard to tell exactly what generation they are singing about.

Ironically, the long-haired free spirits in the crowd did not come out until headliner Bishop Don began. Not the acid-enhanced hippies of the sixties, but rather the Bud Light swigging Southern boys and gals of 2004. Bishop Don is an alternative band with just a touch of Southern flare. They kick-off the night with a crunching guitar riff akin to Collective Soul, but with the melodic groove of the Black Crowes.

Singer and guitarist Blair Crimmins is decked out in a mechanic’s jumpsuit; apparently ready for a greasy, grimy night. I attempted to read the sewn nametag, but I feared passing through the riotous front row. There is something in Bishop Don’s music (or, perhaps, the Bud Light) that has inspired a throng of fans to wildly bob and weave about.

By the time Crimmins is singing, “What’s the weather Mary Jane?” there is an enthusiastic chant of “A-T-L!” Suddenly the scene at Vinyl looks like a cross between the freak-out fields of Woodstock and a well-attended frat party.

Granted, when the wah wah pedal is let lose and Jesse Cole lays down some heavy bass lines, the groove factor is high. The songs are bit too short and too tight to be considered a jam, but the diversity in style assures that both Grateful Dead and Stone Temple Pilot fans alike could find something to enjoy in Bishop Don.

www.thecalifornias.tk | www.bishopdon.com