B-Side Guys

Seattle’s Stellar Jays are gearing up to release their “Mojave EP” on September 13, 2024. This compact collection of three tracks, clocking in at just under 12 minutes, serves as a tantalizing follow-up to their 2023 LP.

The quintet – Brian Siems (vocals & guitars), Brian Besand (guitar & vocals), Bob Congleton (bass), Alison Perkins (keyboard & vocals), and Tim Schuringa (drums) – have honed their craft since emerging from the pandemic’s shadow. Their diverse backgrounds, spanning from Virginia to California, coalesce into a sound that’s distinctly American yet refreshingly contemporary.

Recorded at Seattle’s Earwig Studios with Don Farwell (known for his work with Foo Fighters and Ginger Baker Trio), “Mojave EP” promises to be a distillation of the band’s evolving sonic identity. The desert-inspired themes are not just evident in the music, but also in the EP’s artwork, creating a cohesive audio-visual experience.

The EP kicks off with its titular track, “Mojave.” Described as an “upbeat Old 97s-esque rocker,” it sets an energetic tone for the collection. The song’s structure hints at some intriguing dynamics, with a bridge at the 2:30 mark that the band touts as particularly “fun to play live.” This suggests a composition that goes beyond simple verse-chorus-verse formulas, offering listeners unexpected twists.

In contrast, “What If I Told Ya” shifts gears into more ethereal territory. Billed as a “dreamy love song,” it showcases the band’s versatility. The inclusion of slide guitar adds a layer of classic Americana, while the three-part harmony outro demonstrates their vocal prowess and studio creativity. This track might serve as the EP’s emotional core, balancing the more uptempo bookends.

Closing out the trio is “El Dorado,” which the band describes as leaning more towards alt-rock. Taking inspiration from Wilco’s “Hotel Arizona” for its conclusion, this track hints at a more experimental side of Stellar Jays. It’s an intriguing choice for the EP’s finale, potentially leaving listeners with a sense of the band’s broader musical horizons.

What’s particularly noteworthy is the band’s confidence in this material. They consider these three songs their “best yet” in terms of overall sound and songwriting. This self-assurance, combined with their stated goal of growing their audience, suggests a group hitting their stride and ready to make a more significant impact on the alt-country scene.

The “Mojave EP” appears poised to showcase Stellar Jays’ evolution since their 2022 debut. By focusing on a concise trio of songs, they’ve given themselves room to explore different facets of their sound while maintaining a thematic throughline. The desert inspiration provides a rich tapestry of imagery and emotions to draw from, potentially resulting in a listening experience that’s both cohesive and varied.

For fans of alt-country that leans into both tradition and innovation, Stellar Jays’ “Mojave EP” might just be the oasis they’ve been searching for in the vast landscape of Americana. Come September 13th, listeners will have the chance to judge for themselves whether this Seattle quintet has indeed struck gold in the musical desert.