Best Coast perform in The Current studio
by Bill DeVille and Best Coast
June 08, 2015
Reviewers have enjoyed pointing out that Best Coast's third album, California Nights, sounds different than the band's first two outings. "I think that this record is definitely a bit different," says frontwoman Bethany Cosentino. "It doesn't feel insanely different; I think it just feels like a more confident version of Best Coast."
The confidence the band gained inspired them to "reach for the stars" on their latest album, tapping into influences as far-ranging as Sugar Ray, Spacemen 3 and Hole. One review described the album as, "Emotionally, it's a little less George and a little more Kramer." To that, Cosentino replies, "Any review that talks about Seinfeld, I fully back that."
In town to play a show at First Avenue in support of California Nights, Best Coast — comprising Cosentino, guitarist Bobb Bruno, bassist Brett Mielke, guitarist/keyboardist Joey Bautista and drummer Brady Miller — stopped in to The Current studio for a session hosted by Bill DeVille.
Cosentino reveals a couple surprising facts about herself, including naming some of her favorite country artists and admitting she doesn't really like the ocean. Here are some additional highlights from the interview:
On being signed to a major label, Harvest Records:
"It definitely feels different but in a good way. I think that having made the switch from a very independent, almost boutique label to basically a major indie label, it was a good transition for us. I don't think we were fully prepared to dive into the major, major world, so we went kind of as close to the major world as we can. Harvest is great; they put out amazing music and they're awesome people. We feel very at home there."
On the less mythologized aspects of Los Angeles:
"There's a lot of poverty and crime — and the entertainment industry, which is a whole other weird world in itself. I felt like the juxtaposition between that and the concept of Best Coast's music in terms of it melodically being pretty upbeat and poppy and sunny but lyrically kind of being a little bit darker, it sort of made sense that the two kind of go hand in hand. I wanted to explore that idea a little bit more on this record."
On the band's California sound:
"It's just inherently in us as people because it's in our DNA. It's not like we sit down and say, 'We have to make something that sounds like California' because I don't know what that sounds like. But apparently we do it because people like to talk about it."
Listen to the full session by clicking on the audio player above.
Songs Performed
"California Nights"
"Heaven Sent"
"Feeling OK"
All songs off Best Coast's album, California Nights, out now on Harvest Records.
Hosted by Bill DeVille
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Anthony Cadiz
Web feature by Luke Taylor
