Chelsea Carlson
If you’re into any sort of happy-sounding music, you’ve probably heard of a band called The Mowgli’s. (Yes, the apostrophe was intentional. Part of their artistic vision, I suppose, so I won’t question it.) Probably most famous for the track “San Francisco,” The Mowgli’s are known for their catchy, upbeat sound. If you haven’t heard of them yet, definitely check them out. They’ll put some sunshine in your cloudy day.
Regardless of whether or not you’ve heard of The Mowgli’s, I’m sure you’ve heard of Mumford & Sons. You even may have recently seen them on tour. (If you have, please know that I am extremely jealous.) Now combine The Mowgli’s with Mumford & Sons, and what do you get? You get a band that produces songs for dancing, as well as songs for relaxing. You get a full-bodied sound and mature lyrics. You get music that has the pep of The Mowgli’s, mixed with the mellowness and seriousness of Mumford & Sons, and songs that feature a trumpet instead of a banjo.
The band goes by the name The Evening Guests, currently located in Los Angeles. The members are from all over the world. Bass guitarist John Lin hails from Taiwan and singer Jokull Jonsson comes from Iceland. Because of their diverse origins, the band features influences from Arcade Fire to Bruce Springsteen and beyond.
Their newly released first EP is titled “Not In Kansas Anymore.” The album features five songs, starting with “Wouldn’t You Like to Know.” If you listen to anything at all on this album, try that song. It begins with a strumming guitar, followed by an excited shout from the rest of the band. With an upbeat tempo and extremely catchy chorus accompanied by Ken Hirako on his trumpet, you can’t help but fall in love with it. You’ll be dancing and singing along in your room, in your car or on the way to class.
In contrast to the first track, “Village Fools” takes on a mellower feel. With a lot of the song’s strength coming from Hirako’s trumpet, it adds an appropriate sense of sadness and angst to the tone. Jokull wrote the song from an insider’s perspective on society’s view of musicians: the poor village fools. A short interlude and “What a Show” come next, featuring a muted, bluesy trumpet and a generally darker feel.
The EP’s title track, “Not In Kansas Anymore,” is the last song on the album. It’s written in 3/4 time, better known as a waltz. In this song, each member shines in their own way: each guitar can be clearly heard, as well as the percussion and keys, with the trumpet occasionally chiming in. You’ll be dancing and singing along to this one, too.
All in all, eight out of 10 for a very well done first EP that clearly showcases all the talent that each member brings to the table. Take a few minutes today and have a listen. I can promise you, it’ll be worth it.