There is something perfectly nostalgic about "Sally on the Avenue" from Sleepy Gonzales.
The bands second track from their forthcoming full length album, is a slow burning indie-rock jam. This is the kind of song you drive to as golden hour turns to blue hour, where the world is painted in dusky pastels. This track feels like a mental escape. From the soft dreamy vocals to the stunning instrumentation, the track lifts you up to a new place of listening, this is a track that you feel. I do not say that lightly, there are good songs and there are great songs. For me "Sally on the Avenue" sets a new bar for dreamy indie-rock.
Five minutes and thirty-four seconds, that's how long you get with this track. That seems like a long time compared to the three minute track you are used to on the radio but those five minutes fly by. The harmonies are impeccable and the emotion they cary is raw and beautiful. The sad song vibe doesn't weigh this track down, it makes it soar in surfy daze.
Described as “Musical ADHD,” Sleepy Gonzales is an eclectic indie rock group from Surrey BC who are difficult to put into a specific genre. The half-Mexican twin brothers Cristian (guitar and vocals) and Beni (drums and vocals), write and engineer the sound of Sleepy Gonzales’ love and loss. Bass guitarist and punk enthusiast Nick brings an obvious edge to the band dynamic with his 70’s gutter-punk approach to song writing. Ally--one of the most dynamic front persons the Vancouver indie scene has to offer weaves the chaos of Sleepy Gonzales into strong hook-filled melodies. Ally has incredible range and versatility and can break your heart with haunting old soul vibes or hit you in the face with a hurricane punch. Vancouver photojournalist and videographer Raunie May Baker describes listening to Sleepy Gonzales music "like jumping out of a plane without a parachute and landing softly in your bed.” This early in their career, Sleepy Gonzales try and avoid categorization priding themselves on their ability to lull audiences into a collective daze with languid dream pop jams, or violently shake the walls with loud uninhibited garage punk pandemonium. Their musical influences range from the likes of Velvet Underground and the Ramones to Alt-J, Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Bright Eyes, and Tame Impala. The two things all of their songs have in common are tension and honesty. Sleepy Gonzales Music is available on all streaming services.
Review by Hannah Schneider
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