Over a decade and a half ago, one of Greensboro, N.C.’s strongest bands was The Raymond Brake, an idiosyncratic quintet that earned favorable comparisons to the likes of The Grifters and Polvo. When The Raymond Brake ground to a screeching halt in 1998, guitarist/vocalist Andy Cabic packed up and headed for San Francisco, where he eventually found himself in a musical circle that included Devandra Banhart and Joanna Newsom.
Taking a cue from his Freak Folk peers, Cabic hooked up with guitarist Sanders Trippe and bassist Brent Dunn from old Greensboro scenemates Rebar and assembled a new band that he dubbed Vetiver (after a type of tropical grass) and began exploring a gently psychedelic Folk direction with occasional help from his scene friends; Vetiver’s 2004 eponymous debut featured Banhart, Newsom, ex-Mazzy Star vocalist Hope Sandoval and My Bloody Valentine’s Colm O’Ciosoig.
It’s not difficult to pick out shades of the Grateful Dead and Gene Clark in Vetiver’s sound, but it’s not distractive either. For any fan of cosmic Folk, Vetiver has the right vintage stuff. They play the Southgate House with the Buffalo Killers. Get show details and Sound Advice here.
