speed of dark

Ryan Kirkpatrick and Harley Prechtel-Cortez of The Weather Underground

We always arrive early enough at shows that frequently we're the first ones in line at the door. This is partly because we are obsessively punctual but also because we really like to see the opening bands, and we have discovered several we like a lot that way.

That was the case last Thursday at the Echo with L.A.-based The Weather Underground, who opened for the French Kicks. Main guy Harley Prechtel-Cortez (vocals, guitar, keys) is nerdy-hip handsome in a young David Byrne kind of way in his white dress shirt and horn-rimmed glasses (which he took off for the show), but his on-stage persona is far more expressive than Byrne's deadpan style. Prechtel-Cortez has an unusual, quavery voice, and he knows how to use it to good histrionic effect in the band's songs. He also has had the good sense to pick up Nick Stumpf's example of introducing the band members to the audience.


Harley Prechtel-Cortez going all-out

But Harley is not the only good thing about The Weather Underground. Besides the strong support of bassist Ryan Kirkpatrick and drummer Diego Guerrero, who gamely banged away in spite of not feeling well, the group has Shoichi Bagley, excellent on lead guitar and equally capable on keys. I expect that these guys will be making a big name for themselves.


Shoichi Bagley on lead guitar


Left, Harley Prechtel-Cortez (click to enlarge); Right, drummer Diego Guerrero

The group has a new EP called Bird In the Hand. We liked their stuff so much we bought all three of their EPs, which are also available on iTunes. Be sure to check out "Trainwreck"--it's a knockout punch of a song.

Beggar's Balladfrom When I Was a Soldier EP
Bird In the Hand from Bird In the Hand EP

MySpace | Website | Label: Independent
Buy: iTunes and eMusic

Show Schedule:
In early June, The Weather Underground will play six dates with Matt Costa and Delta Spirit before joining the French Kicks again in Nashville on June 10.
June 12 they will be at Bonnaroo. Check their MySpace site for their full schedule through July 4.