Many musicians like to play a character. They tell tales of how they were shot up on the block, had to scrounge for food because their parents abandoned them or how their parent is a rock n’ roll superstar. The members of Longstay are not like most musicians, and they seem to be getting by just fine.
This San Diego five-piece introduced their debut EP Homes & Houses last December. Embodying Americana indie rock, Longstay proves on this album that they’re not afraid to bear their souls and rock out.
The opening track Old Heads On Young Shoulders kicks off with a slightly comedic introduction with one of the members asking if they’re live, then immediately introducing a tambourine, drums and eventually guitar chords. The song is upbeat and raw, almost what you would expect as the opening of a live set. The conversation found at the beginning of this track paves the way for the remaining songs, which also contain the playful banter at their openings/closings.
House Upon a Hill and it’s Reprise (which comes later) slow it down a bit, and when I say a bit, I mean a bit. The two begin as a rock ballad, but pick up pace around 0:36, however, since the latter is instrumental, it manages to keep a much slower pace.
Together! is my personal favorite on the debut. The lyrics are carefree and the song reminds me of the performance of a piano man in one of those classic bar scenes. Good Novices carries the same carefree attitude, but sounds too similar to Together! causing it to lose any luster it could have given off.
The closer on Homes & Houses is Retired Gospels, and the name really says it all. It contains similar instrumentals to that of what’s present in a church, including an organ, and embodies the blues side of Longstay, but there are so many slow instrumentals that it, once again, loses its luster.
