“Luna,” a recently released EP by the Bay Area band Overland, leaves you wanting more. It’s 17 minutes of passion, complementing what the musicians do as a band. Raw sounding and not over cooked, “Luna” features gritty and poetic vocals, soulful guitar, thick driving bass and a drummer who crushes it and reminds me of The Who’s Keith Moon.
Formed in 2013, Overland is Jeramie Busse (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Jacob Schmidt (guitar and vocals), Josh Shaver (bass) and Cole Sherry (drums/percussion), a young, good-looking group of fellas making their way in the name of rock. They bring influences from classic and soulful rock, while keeping it fresh and innovative. In a short time, Overland already has made a name for itself.
The band has played throughout the Bay Area and has been featured at the Mountain Vibe Music Festival in Calaveras County since 2014, headlining on Friday night at the gathering this past summer. Just after Mountain Vibe, Overland threw a “Luna” release party at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. The band has shown a progression in its music for a few years now and is truly coming into its own. Great to see live!
On this EP, the first song is title track “Luna,” a melodic daydream at first that rocks your socks off by the end. Busse’s vocals give you a taste of his talent on this tune. Gritty and melodic, now that’s good. Drummer Sherry takes you on a ride throughout the entire song, giving the track atmosphere and movement. Schmidt opens his bag of sonic tricks and Shaver is right there, adding depth to round out the track.
Second up is “Concrete Crown,” the first single released from the EP. This song, I would call an Overland staple — this is their sound. Schmidt gives you some serious guitar playing and it’s time to crank the amp to 11. Shaver touches your soul with his bass lines, showing how solid he makes this band. It grooves hard and really showcases the rhythm section.
Then comes “We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat,” my second favorite off the recording, which allows the entire band to stand out as one. It’s a solid rock song with perfect pauses adding tension and depth. Busse’s vocals are inviting you to just keep listening. Sherry holds down the groove like he’s steering the boat.
When Overland jams, you want it to keep going. The musicians provide a feeling of what happens when they get together and no one else exists, like a piece of their musical brains they share with listeners.
The EP’s finale is “Strike that Match,” my No. 1 fav off the release because of Busse’s amazing vocals. It’s stoner rock at its best. I love songs that take you on a journey and drop you off at a different place than where you started. Schmidt sounds raunchy and he plays a great guitar solo that really fits the song. Once again, Sherry and Shaver showcase their gifts.
Overland is a band that deserves your attention. Check them out. Let’s hope they make their way to our neck of the woods soon, as Tahoe would love these guys. I listened to “Luna” back-to-back for days when it first came out, then again for this review. Thanks for making my homework easy, gentlemen!
-Pheonix Gruneich
