Mixing the folk guitar rhythms of 60s music with the heavy major chord tonalities of 70s rock, the Queen’s Guard is a largely undiscovered gem of San Diego’s underground music scene.
What really makes The Queen’s Guard stand out is that their music has way of drawing the listener into their own private world. A background of somber major chord progressions draws the listener in (without devolving into a drone, a trend that has become a common trend in modern rock) while an overlap of minor chordal fretwork accompanied by the vocals of band members Mike Flynn and Ivan Hurtado giving each piece of music its own distinct texture.
The band recently released a fantastic EP, This World Won’t Wait For You. Relaxing yet possessing of an evocative quality that sparks the imagination of the listener, I would recommend the EP to painters, graphic designers, photographers, or anyone looking for inspiration for their next project.
The most rhythm centric song on the EP is the guitar work oriented Bright Light Big City Movement, which features poetic lyrics sung by Flynn with a simple instrumentation of the electric guitar accompanied by drums. The song tells the story of an individual who dreams of having their name in bright lights for the world to see. Imagine vocalist Tim Armstrong of Rancid singing in a style akin to that of a down on their luck blues artist and you’ll have an accurate idea of Flynn’s vocal style.
All of the songs on the EP follow along a similar line topically. Bloodshot Eyes, the fourth song on the EP deals with being overwhelmed by work and the need to slow down and take things one step at a time to keep from being overwhelmed. The song features very a very laid back rhythm with an emphasis on vocals and lackadaisical guitar work. Opposite this is Dreams and Fantasies, the fifth song of the EP. The song emphasizes heavy bass with a syncopated rhythm accompanied by vocals that address people’s dreams, such as becoming a doctor or even an astronaut and how rather imagining these dreams they should be embraced and turned into a reality.
As good as the EP is, The Queen’s Guard is by no means a purely off the disc band. In concert they display a vocal talent with a consistent energy and a smooth rhythm. With every live performance they seem to become better and while they are not widely known yet, keep your ears pointed towards them because given time it’s entirely likely they’ll make a name for themselves.
If you want to participate, The Queen’s Guard will be performing at the following dates and locations:
Nov. 5: Performing at Eleven (3519 El Cajon Blvd, 92104) @ 9pm
Nov. 17: Performing at The Casbah (2501 Kettner Blvd, 92101) @ 9pm
For more information about the band itself, you can visit their website at www.thequeensguardband.com, become a fan on Facebook, or purchase The Queen’s Guard EP on iTunes for $5.94.