LA’s Velvet Starlings will release their debut album, Technicolour Shakedown on September 29 via Sound x 3 Records, with the vinyl release by Kitten Robot in the US. Today they share the album’s title track which perfectly exemplifies the band’s penchant for penning 60s infused garage rock ‘n’ roll in a style that is all their own. The band is led by Christian Gisborne and of the single he notes, “The track is an anthemic ode to going out and to the live music experience and colourfully describing the energy of catching your favourite band on the local scene and being packed in a venue ‘like sardines’ – and loving every minute of it!” The video was directed by Megan Blanchard.

Velvet Starlings recently shared “Back Of The Train” and Flood Magazine labeled the band, “2021’s answer to psychedelic, gritty garage rock.” We All Want Someone To Shout For said the track “has that old school 60’s infused psych and garage rock groove that calls to mind rock and roll greats from many different eras, with a bit of a modern kick” and Grimy Goods called it “a powerful, gritty tune.” Buzzbands LA said, “if Velvet Starlings’ EPs didn’t come on your radar, the riffy, raucous ‘Back of the Train’ is a sharp introduction to a teenager who as a young lad was deep-diving into the catalogs of rock greats and appropriating his British dad’s musical gear to learn play the songs.”

Velvet Starlings have confirmed a handful of dates in August including a stop at the OC County Fair and a show in Santa Ana. The band will also perform at this year’s Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI on September 17 on the main stage which also features the Black Pumas, the Struts, Pixies and Cold War Kids.

Hailing from Los Angeles and the beach cities of Southern California, Velvet Starlings was founded by guitarist and organ player Christian Gisborne. And while known for his concert attendance record and impressive Lego collection, it is his musical prowess as a performer, writer, recording artist and producer that is putting him on the map. Gisborne not only tracked all of the instruments, but also engineered, mixed and produced the LP –  in the middle of his living room. While it reflects influences that range from early Jack White, to Thee Oh Sees to Arctic Monkeys, the album showcases Velvet Starlings own take on neo-60’s-garage – best described as beach-fuzz-psych with a big cheeky nod to the UK Invasion. 

Technicolour Shakedown is the follow up to 2019’s EP Love Everything, Love Everyone. Christian – who turned 18 in May – released his debut self-titled EP Velvet Starlings when he was 15. Both EP’s charted in the top 5 at Specialty Radio and hit #1 on KROQ’s “Locals Only.” Gisborne also caught the attention of, among others, BBC Radio, Shepard Fairey, and The Kinks’ Dave Davies who all count themselves as fans of Velvet Starlings.  
Speaking about the album Gisborne says “in the doom and gloom of Covid I found myself reminiscing all the time about the days when we would wait in line for hours to see our favorite bands. The songs on the first album reflect everything I felt I was missing out on.”    

With a bevvy of new songs written and ready to unleash, Gisborne was craving the comradery of a band. He turned to brothers Foster and Hudson Poling who play drums and bass respectively. They first met in line outside of a 2019 Cage The Elephant show and, discovering a shared love of The Who and SpongeBob, quickly found themselves making a plan to meet up at a rehearsal space to jam. Gisborne had previously used session musicians to augment his live set but as his friendship with the Polings grew, so did his realization that they were the perfect fit for this new era of Velvet Starlings.  

Looking to 2021 and beyond Christian says, “I think a Rock n Roll renaissance is coming after this crazy year of lock down. We’re hoping that a full front-to-back of Technicolour Shakedown will evoke the feeling you get at a rock n roll house party – wherever the listener may find themself.”

Photo Courtesy: Skyler Barberio