Showing posts with label The Chocolate Watchband. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Chocolate Watchband. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Psychedelic Rock Legends The Chocolate Watchband Release New Album "This Is My Voice"


Iconic California psychedelic rock legends The Chocolate Watchband celebrate the release of their new album “This Is My Voice” (released by Dirty Water Records), led by founding and current members, vocalist David Aguilar and guitarist Tim Abbott, plus Gary Andrijasevich on drums. Second generation fans, guitarist Derek See and bassist Alec Palao (Grammy-nominated producer/ historian ), bring their enthusiasm and love for the music to the table to help weave THE sound which both faithfully recreates the sonic energy and tone of the original recordings, as well as giving a rare edge to new material that is a logical progression to the bands legacy.

Documented as influencing legendary bands far and wide within the psych, garage, and punk scene for the past 50 years, their live performances sizzle with the same outrageous audacity of the late 60s scene they helped usher into the San Francisco Bay area ballroom scene. The group was also seen as featured bands in the 1967 cult films “Riot on the Sunset Strip” and “The Love-Ins”, and their powerful stage presence continues to the present day in a timeless stage show which is oozing electric cool-aid energy. Critics have noted the Chocolate Watchband was America's answer to the Rolling Stones!

While the bands' music was a cherished secret of record collectors for many years, the music is now available to be heard by everyone, which has ushered in a new fourth generation of fans around the world, who hear the Watchband sound as it has reverberated into the psyche of the class of 2018 psychedelic bands.

Their newest songs resonate with genuine political rebellion in our current times, which can be heard in the lyrics of the new song “Judgment Day”.“I wrote 'Judgment Day' as the country was still in recovery,” says lead vocalist and founding member David Aguilar of the days following the 2008 market crash. “Families were living in their cars. It was a terrible time for the American dream. It resulted in the anger that put the current president into the White House. The Who were wrong, Americans can get fooled again!”

The band will be hitting the road in 2019 in support of their new album “This Is My Voice” with plans for a string of European tours and select US dates. Are YOU gonna be there?



Here's what the press has said about The Chocolate Watchband's new album:

“This is the revival band you’ve been looking to add to your rotation” - Pittsburgh Magazine

“Together they've created a record that deviates from the Watchband's first phase of raunchy groovers and tender space-outs, opting for a more modern rock sound, yet without sacrificing their keen ear for anthemic songwriting and memorable melodies”-  The Stranger

“This is My Voice isn’t so much a comeback as it is a continuation; the sound of one of the psych-rock era’s most dynamic outfits rolling its sleeves up, stirring its creative juices, and getting down to business” - Artist Home

Pre-Order The Chocolate Watchband's “This Is My Voice”: https://chocolatewatchband.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-my-voice

For more information:
The Chocolate Watchband official band website: http://www.thechocolatewatchband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chocolatewatchband/

Dirty Water Records ( London): www.dirtywaterrecords.co.uk

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Monday, May 21, 2018

Sixties Psychedelic-Rock Legends The Chocolate Watchband Release Two New "Far Out" Singles


San Jose, CA - When discussing legendary psychedelic garage bands of the 1960s, the Chocolate Watchband is at the top of the list. The Chocolate Watchband formed in San Jose in 1965. The band's music was described as “a blend of 1960s-style garage and psychedelic rock with a distinguishable 'Rolling Stones'  San Francisco sound. Produced by Ed Cobb, the group's early music combined the influences of blues with a psychedelic edge that featured terse lyrics and  instrumental experimentation. The Chocolate Watchband appeared in the 1967 film “Riot On Sunset Strip” and the 1968 film “The Love Ins.” The band released three highly acclaimed LPs from 1967 to 1969 before disbanding in 1970. In 1999, they reunited at the San Diego event 66/99 in San Diego, CA,  organized by musician/journalist Mike Stax. They continue to play today at garage rock festivals in Europe as well as the States with Little Steven, The Yardbirds, Love, The Zombies, Bo Diddly, Iggy Pop, the Strawberry Alarm Clock and the Electric Prunes.

Now much to the excitement of the band's fans around the globe, the Chocolate Watchband are releasing two new singles destined to be classics! - “Judgment Day” and  “Secret Rendezvous”! The tracks were recorded in 2017 at Kingdom Voice Productions, Santa Clara, CA.



Says lead vocalist and founding member David Aguilar, “I wrote 'Judgment Day' as the country was still in recovery after every dollar you might have had invested suddenly tanked thanks to Wall Street. People were getting laid off, they were moving backwards in income, homes were being foreclosed on. Families were living in their cars. It was a terrible time for the American dream. But this was pure opportunity for those who enjoyed stratospheric wealth. Wall Street gangsters, bailed out by American taxpayers, were rewarded for their massive greed and stupidity. They immediately started buying up everything they could, hotels, new corporate jets, restaurants chains, radio stations, small businesses, big businesses, casinos, 300+ acre ranches with 16,000 square foot homes in compounds near Aspen, on Long Island, or in Florida. Their trophy wives were pampered like pet poodles….

“It resulted in the anger that put the current president into the White House. And it's ironic, Judgment Day didn't come for the political party that remains the mouthpiece for the fat cats. And now the White House is filled with more Wall Streeters! The Who were wrong, Americans can get fooled again!



“'Secret Rendezvous' changed names a few times, lyrics were quick and fast, the whole song came from the opening riff…I recorded it in about 40 minutes. I like songs like this-they write themselves as you track it. I recorded drums and guitar together, added bass, horns, cowbell, (yeah say it-“more cowbell”) and vocals. When the band got a hold of it, they ripped it! I can't wait to sing this song on stage!”

Watch the band's new live video “I'm Not Like Everybody Else” (the Acid Test 5/7/16): 


The Chocolate Watchband:
David Aguilar - Lead Vocals, harmonica, percussion, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars
Gary Andrijasivich- Drums, backing vocals, percussion
Tim Abbott- Lead guitar, sitar, backing vocals
Derek See- Guitars, backing vocals
Alec Palao- Bass

Tim Abbott- Engineer/ co-producer,
Ross Peterson- Mix Engineer/ co-producer
Joey White- Mastering Engineer.

To purchase “Judgement Day” single: 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/judgement-day-single/1384988843
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D3GJN8Y

To purchase “Secret Rendezvous” single: 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/secret-rendezvous-single/1385018605
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D3GDT1F

Spotify:
“Judgement Day”: https://open.spotify.com/album/5eMrgSJN4Eapy8DZsmbd40
“Secret Rendezvous”: https://open.spotify.com/album/3v7ZALFFucwVrzEp6g3UOC

For more information:
The Chocolate Watchband official band website: http://www.thechocolatewatchband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chocolatewatchband/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com