Old Californio: California's New Sound

The 'California Sound' has morphed through every music genre imaginable.  Each generation redefines the musical style that represents California, but is it possible to unite everything into one cool sound?

The answer is 'yes' according to the growing fanbase of the group, Old Californio.

Southern California based Old Californio accurately captures the feel of California like so many local bands have done over the years.  What makes this group different is that they use a '60s and '70s folk-rock style to showcase lyrics that sound like poetry from the 1800s Gold Rush era.

Surprisingly weird, but excellently done.

Old Californio is professional, tight and trippy.  Listeners find their sound difficult to categorize yet easy to enjoy --- and to listen to repeatedly.  I know.  Over the holiday weekend, my friends insisted that we listen to one of Old Californio's songs over and over.

Nobody knew who the group was, but their song, "Are You Coming Home", quickly became the favorite of our gathering.  Now everybody wants a whole album to hear the rest of the group's songs.  In the meantime, we visited the Old Californio Channel on YouTube to check out our new favorite group.

Old Californio consists of Rich Dembowski, Jason Chesney, Justin Smith, Levi Nunez and Woody Aplanalp.  They hail from Pasadena, California.  I can't wait to meet them in person.

As we all know, most musical acts totally suck when performing "live".  Old Californio sounds great "live", the songs are so unusual and unique, and the band draws viewers inside with an intimate vibe.  It's like you're really in the room with them and you totally belong like an insider.

For me and my pals, watching Old Californio jam inside a simple room is like hanging out in a recording studio with The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Monkees, David Crosby, Neil Young, John Sebastian, The Eagles, an 1849 gold miner and a '90s alternative rock band at Mama Cass Elliot's Laurel Canyon home in 1969.

The sound is very old, very new, casually-hip, very cool, and so 'California'.

Old Californio's latest album, Westering Again, concentrates on California themes while it restructures the 'California Sound' for a new generation.  It is, truly, an instant classic.  The album is definitely a collectible for connoisseurs of California music worldwide.

If you're outside of the Golden State, you will get a realistic 'feel' for what it's like to be here by listening to the album.  It appeals to music fans of the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and today.  You'll play the album over and over like everyone else who hears it for the first time.  Seriously.

I was recently turned on to this great group by a friend who thought I might really like Old Californio's sound.  I totally dig it.

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