Local indie band Young the Giant is coming of age

Photo courtesy of Thomas Hawk, Flickr

For anyone who calls themselves a Californian, there are certain songs and artists you have to know. Artists like 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Green Day and Guns N’ Roses are among the essentials. Their songs have defined a sound over the past 30 years or so, influencing many other great artists to refine and invent sounds of their own. While there are many known examples of great Californian artists, there are some who don’t always make top 10 lists or aren’t household names just yet.

One band in particular, Young the Giant, is one that deserves accolades.

A group that hails from Orange County, Young the Giant is starting to leave an imprint in various music circles while keeping a humble and almost overly chill demeanor. This indie band has made waves in the music scene over the years with their fresh and raw sound. Their self-titled album, Young the Giant, sounds exactly like  one would think of when the genre “indie rock” comes to mind.

Vocalist Sameer Gadhia’s vocals are the icing on top of the guitarists Jacob Tilley and Eric Cannata, whose sounds are never harsh enough to compromise the indie sound, but simultaneously have a clear bite to it. In addition, François Comtois demonstrates his appreciation for the cymbals on the majority of the songs on the album, while bassist Payam Doostzadeh keeps everything in the pocket with his groove. Notable songs from this album are “My Body,” “Apartment,” “I Got” and “Cough Syrup.”

The band’s second album, Mind Over Matter, is a bit more experimental than their last, but still retains their unique indie sound on several tracks. The song “Firelight” leans heavily toward the indie aspect of their sound while abandoning their harsher rock tones almost completely.

On the other hand, a song like “It’s About Time” does the exact opposite. Fans of alternative rock band The Neighbourhood would enjoy most of the songs on this album. Highlights from this album include “Teachers,” “Daydreamer” and my personal all-time favorite from the band, “Anagram.”

The X factor that Young the Giant has stems from how in-tune everyone is when they play together, and how youthful their sound is. Indie rock fans simply cannot avoid listening to this band, and every Californian should know them, because their name will be included among with the greats someday.

So whether you’re new to the state or born and raised, be sure to put Young the Giant in your California artist playlists.