Above: The Female Fiends
By Josh Hughes
On October 5, Female Fiends and The Dawn Bombs will kick off the Underground Coffeehouse concert series for fall quarter. Female Fiends, from Kent, Washington (featuring Western’s own Christian Olson) will headline the show with their jangly, self proclaimed “cuddle rock,” marking their first show at the Underground since 2013. Bellingham’s Dawn Bombs, with a slightly darker, groovier sound, will also perform, coinciding with the release of their three track EP.
While it can be too easy to pigeonhole up-and-coming artists as derivative of their influences, both bands take cues from the Pacific Northwest indie rock scene and make a sound of their own. The Dawn Bombs contain hints of King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and The Walkmen in their tight arrangements, and singer and guitarist Benjamin Waight’s low vocals even recall 50’s inspired pop and rock.
Female Fiends, on the other side of the spectrum, blend the psych-rock sounds of Animal Collective with sharp, upbeat guitar patterns and a sense of earnestness often reserved for the best pop punk music. Of course, both artists add up to more than the sum of their parts, and they each hold a unique spot in the growing Bellingham music scene.
A few years removed from their Too Shy To Live EP, Female Fiends have spent their time touring and working on new music that very well could manifest itself into a full length debut in the future. The quartet relies on the classic lineup of two guitars, bass and drums, which has proven to be a combination of instruments that still have a lot to say, musically speaking.
Based on their past releases, Female Fiends prefer uptempo rock tracks to slower folk songs, but on certain tracks like “4 A.M.” they go full-on Shins with a knack for acoustic ballads.
Elsewhere, songs like “Dream Aquarium” and “No Excuses” best exemplify their overall sound with guitar licks that wouldn’t sound out of place on one of Bloc Party’s first albums. “Cuddle rock” strangely works as an apt descriptor of their sound in the way that they seem to soak in melancholy and bliss often at the same time.
Despite only having a few songs out, The Dawn Bombs have been fine-tuning and perfecting their sound over the last year by playing house shows around town. In addition to their alt roots, they draw influences from jazz, calypso, and even soul to fully flesh out a distinct sound. One of their two currently released tracks, the minute and a half “Caffeine Calypso” sounds exactly like you’d expect — a quick song with jazzy guitar and excellent harmonies that breezes through its runtime. A trio of guitar, bass and drums, they sound full and vibrant, making the most out of their instruments and leaving sonic space for one another.
As an overview of Pacific Northwest indie rock in 2016, you couldn’t ask for a better opening show than Female Fiends and The Dawn Bombs. Be sure to check out both artists bandcamp and soundcloud pages for upcoming releases, and catch them at the Underground Coffeehouse on Wednesday, October 5 at 7 p.m.
