Golden Void with Hot Lunch
Guitarist Isaiah Mitchell has already earned an international reputation for his six-string prowess as part of instrumental power trio Earthless and as a member of arguably the most potent line-up of Ethan Miller's band Howlin Rain. However, the busy musician continues to expand his sonic palette and fan base with more projects, most notably his locally based group Golden Void.
Founded when he moved to the Bay Area from San Diego in 2009, Golden Void takes a more concise, song-oriented approach to psychedelia than the extended interstellar improvisation of Earthless. Featuring the rhythm section of bassist Aaron Morgan and drummer Justin Pinkerton (friends of Mitchell's who he had played in bands with when they all were growing up), the band would eventually become a four piece when the guitarist's then girlfriend (and now wife) Camilla Mitchell-Saufley joined to play keyboards.
Golden Void earned solid notices for its eponymous debut for Thrill Jockey in 2012 and was hailed as a major new player on San Francisco's underground psych scene. While a sophomore album has taken some time given Mitchell's regular touring schedule with Earthless, earlier this year the quartet returned to recording. Working with renowned producer Tim Green at his Louder Studios in Grass Valley, Golden Void emerged with Berkana, a compelling new collection of songs that brought more pastoral elements and more emotive vocal harmonies to their sound without sacrificing Mitchell's trademark guitar pyrotechnics.
The band plays songs from Berkana this Friday at the Bottom of the Hill. The band is joined by another Bay Area heavy psych favorite in Hot Lunch. The local quartet has been making noise on both sides of the Bay since 2006, but it wasn't until 2013 that the veteran group finally released its debut self-titled album on the small German label Who Can You Trust? in Europe and Tee Pee Records domestically.
Lead singer Eric Shea is best known for fronting lauded psychedelic country-rock outfit Mover in the '90s and the late, lamented garage-psych band Parchman Farm (he also sings with long-running twang rockers Sweet Chariot). Almost a decade ago, he first teamed up SF guitar hero Aaron Nudelman (Mensclub, Sunless Day), guitarist turned monster drummer Rob Alper and Harold Ray Live in Concert bassist Charlie Karr to form Hot Lunch.
While drawing heavily on the proto-punk/metal sounds of influential groups like the MC5, Blue Cheer and early Alice Cooper, the foursome also pulls in elements of deep psychedelia and progressive rock on their debut album. The band delivers a corrosive cover of the Emerson Lake and Palmer classic "Knife Edge" while delving into epic journeys into the center of the mind on the Arthurian legend-inspired "Lady of the Lake" and the closing cut "Monks of the Moon" which incorporates Gregorian chants amid Nudelman's swirling blasts of blazing guitar.
The group has stayed busy since releasing their acclaimed eponymous debut album, playing numerous high-profile local shows and issuing several 7-inch singles. A year ago, the band came out with new music on their House of Whispers EP issued on European label Heavy Psych Sounds while touring overseas for the first time. This past spring, Hot Lunch teamed with Scion AV to release a new eponymous EP for free download and recently pressed up vinyl copies available for purchase at shows. At the Bottom of the Hill, the two groups will be joined by Portland, OR-based blues rockers Pushy and DJ Rob Metal.
Golden Void and Hot Lunch
Friday, Nov. 13, 9 p.m. $10-$12
Bottom of the Hill