A Day at the Davis Music Fest

I spent 10 hours at the Davis Music Festival on Saturday and am sitting at Delta of Venus (where the festival is still in motion) as I write this blog on Sunday morning. I’m drinking coffee, eating a breakfast burrito and taking in the tunes of Lauren Cole Norton. It’s cool and cloudy and the songs fit the moment quite nicely. 

Rather than attempt to cover the whole Fest (which I might have done if I was still the editor of this lovely site) I’m just going to retrace my footsteps.

I’m not gifted at applying adjectives to the styles of bands and artists, so I’m just going to pretend you’re sitting across from me as I eat this burrito and we can have a one-way conversation. Cool? Cool. Let’s do this:

Steve Kotarek – 2 pm at Delta of Venus

I first saw Steve play at Armadillo Music during the 2nd Friday ArtAbout a few months ago, and then I got to know him a week later at the Monticello Seasonal Cuisine open mic night. His original songs can be soulful and soothing, but he packs a whole lot of vocal power, and he’s not afraid to unleash it. His voice and his acoustic guitar easily filled up the outdoor patio at Delta of Venus, bringing the place to life. It was a great way to kick off the fest. 

Camila Ortiz – 2:45 pm at the Pence Courtyard

I wrote my first song around the age of 15, and it was absolutely awful. But writing that song (and dozens after that) was a necessary step in the process of getting better. That’s how it works. Now that I’m pushing 30, I tend to be somewhat pleased with the stuff I finish, which is nice.

But Camila Ortiz is in high school, and her songs are already mind-blowingly great: they’re smart, catchy and tightly written. Every time one ends, you’re left wishing there was a bit more to drink in. I hear shades of Regina Spektor; the tracks feel quirky, yet heartfelt and meaningful. There’s not a cliché to be found within her lyrics, and the guitar work sits quietly in the background, allowing her voice to go anywhere at any time. Davis is lucky to have her.    

Mason Rex – 4:30 pm in the Pence Courtyard

My wife and I drank some tea at TeaList after Ortiz’s set, which allowed for the pleasant discovery of Mason Rex, who wasn’t initially on my attack plan for the Festival. With a thick electric guitar and a drum set, Mason Rex reminded me of The Lemonheads, along with a bit of Elvis Costello and maybe the Black Keys. (But that could just be because of the guitar/drummer setup).

West Nile Ramblers – 5 pm at G Street Wunderbar

These guys are Davis staples at this point, but I never get tired of seeing them live. They deliver their own brand of throwback country rock that does a damned good job of shuffling people’s feet. Come for the melodies; stick around for the fiddle-laced jam sessions. 

Alicia Murphy – 5:30 pm at Sophia’s

The songs written by Alicia Murphy are like bottled-up happiness, and they’re delivered with raw, effortless simplicity. She might as well be playing in her own living room, and the crowd might as well be her roommates. The effect is comforting, and it’s further enhanced by the steady banter between Murphy and her sister, who provides subtle percussion and beautiful harmonies.

She’s one of my favorite local talents these days. Her band is trying to get 1,000 Facebook likes before the end of the month, so feel free to do your part on their page. 

Sea of Bees – 7 pm at Odd Fellows Lodge

Sea of Bees is something special, and they’re no secret to the Davis crowd at this point. When they were introduced yesterday, the emcee described Sea of Bees as “Hard to categorize, yet impossible to forget.” Sounds perfect to me.

Last time I saw Sea of Bees, Jules (the singer), performed by herself after the Davis Flea Market. I must say that I preferred that solo format to the full band. Her voice seemed to get lost in the madness of the drums and distortion of Saturday’s set. Not saying it was bad by any means at all; just saying I prefer her voice at the forefront.

Miss Lonely Hearts – 8 pm at the Armadillo Stage

I went to high school in Winters with Wyatt, the lead singer of Miss Lonely Hearts. As teenagers, we played in our own little punk rock and ska bands at local festivals and whatnot. Those childhood memories allow me to enjoy Miss Lonely Hearts’ live shows on a nostalgic level. It excites me to watch them do what they do, and I hope they keep at it for a longtime. 

Blind Corn Liquor Pickers – 8:30 pm at Little Prague

I popped into Little Prague for this set because I had no other plans on the agenda. I was greeted by some extremely rowdy Kentucky rock/country/bluegrass, with power-packed female vocals. One of my favorite surprises of the day. Little Prague was jam-packed and the crowd was going nuts.

Black Mackerel – 9 pm at G Street Wunderbar

To this point, my day had been defined almost entirely by singer-songwriters and alt-country bluegrass bands. I stepped into G Street Wunderbar and was swallowed whole by the thick metal of Black Mackerel.

I’m not skilled at identifying the subgeneres of metal music (there are plenty), but Black Mackerel defines themselves on their Facebook page as “stoner/doom/metal/punk/rock.” I enjoyed myself a Guinness and a tri-tip sandwich while they did their thing.

Rin Tin Tiger – 11:30 pm at Little Prague

I had never heard of this San Francisco three-piece, but their name piqued my interest so I checked them out online before the Fest Saturday morning. The recorded versions of their songs were much cleaner and quieter than ones that filled the room Saturday night at Little Prague. But for me, that was a good thing.

There’s something I love about small bands with acoustic guitars making big, scrappy sounds. These guys made that happen perfectly, and it was a fine way to end the night.

Lauren Cole Norton – 11:30 am Sunday at Delta of Venus

Norton writes the kinds of songs that pair beautifully with breakfast burritos and coffee. Just kidding (although it’s true). Her songs are lyrically honest and stylistically playful. It’s clear that she’s aware of what kind of song she’s writing as she writes it, tapping into different influences and moods.

Whoever booked her as the soundtrack for the Davis Music Festivals hangover brunch made a fine choice.

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And that’s that. If you caught any especially great bands or artists, share them below.