Artist of the Day - The Dawn Drapes

The Dawn Drapes are what you need now. 

If you are pining for a band that is putting out creative, thoughtful music then Dan Rice and Michael Sanzo will fill a void.  They are self described as “Soulful. Groovy. Rock. Sportful. Gravy. Stone.”  I will let that be haha. I am enchanted by their dandy, dreamy vibe. Their band came from a desire to create a visual of drapes at dawn then the sun is rising and your mind starts popping. It could also be a lover leaving the bed to go home.  I thought maybe it was about a girl named Dawn. Either way the name is enough to stay with you.

The Drapes effortlessly combine a hazy blend of righteous guitar playing and stellar singing.A duo from VA but making it happen in Philly, these gentleman are releasing songs that resonate as a blend of psychedelia and breezy indie alternative rock. I

They just released their EP Slow Spin with 7 beautifully constructed songs. The lucky 7 tracks  are lyrically ripe with winding guitar flavors and perfectly placed drum beats. They have amassed a loyal local Philly following. The Drapes are full of enigmatic charm and are blessing the crowds with masterfully attacked guitar riffs and blissed out vocals. They touch on subjects like love gone sour, relationships at the edge, the loss of youth, the state music at this time.

The first track, "All Things Considered", rushes into your senses. "It feels a lot like quick sand when I really start to think". But this track is anything but heavy. Featuring trippy guitar solos, this song dances on with blissful abandon. The video, directed by Bob Sweeney, features the guys and their friends in a block party like style. They all switch instruments and wear various items of disguise. They dance to the warm toned music which in this song possesses  remnants of So Cal music. 

Their song "Dirty Drain" is a wry take on relationships that are morphing into state of familiar staleness. The masterfully produced video depicts a husband and wife falling into a wrecked routine.  He saunters in from his night job or wherever he has been she pops out of bed to start her day. "Strange we have nothing to talk about now. Not now." The duo participate in the in the video but like flies on the wall hardly noticed as they notice what is happening. The coffee poured down a "dirty drain. Still life like a picture frame" They don't want to see the accident, they sing with expressionless faces, wielding their guitars.  the lyrics are biting and truthful while the rushing psychedelic guitar playing drives home the point. It is directed by Skylar Jenkins. (check out my review of the video @ https://theinformation411.blogspot.com/2019/01/video-of-day-dirty-drain-dawn-drapes.html)

"Love and Growing Old” benefits from wry lyrics like "You're trying to be sorry and sweet.... Trying not to fall. It's a hard as hell though"  The chorus "Love and growing old it's not what you were told. Trying not to be." packs an unassuming punch. Sweeping guitar patterns coupled with brazen drum playing, a signature of many of the Drapes songs, rounds out this track. The accompanying video is a soul treat. The main character is an adorable blonde girl young gracing through the streets of Philly with her mini blue mandolin in search of a band. When she finally arrives she finds a band of characters dressed in prison orange and crazy hair. She decides this is not her jam. She throws herself into a mental shred fest before crinkling her brown and abruptly exiting. With a determined smile, she sits outside on the steps with a sign "In search of a new band" a young man comes to jam with her.  They wind up high-fiving.  It is a mood lifter plus the Drapes are in the video along with some of their musician friends. It a well shot video on a sunny cloudless day. The sprinkle of humor is a mood lifter. The Drapes vision is clearly well thought out songs that are sprinkled with classy whimsy.

Another standout song is the multi layered, heady tune,“Pistol”.  They employ their signature guitar style while adding more electronica to give this song a dreamy pop sound. The lyrics tell a story of futility “I don’t know why I don’t know why I try”. It seems like a comment on social happenings but it is done in their carefree, relaxed manner.

The last track "Moving Through You" is a unhurried balance of toned down vocals and lingering guitar configurations. “See how the spirit moves connecting me to you…. The question remains will it remain the same. I don’t know:“

I can only hope people wake up to the Drapes and they don’t change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzjFJvtRiV8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9fpo1eWEHk

The Dawn Drapes (Album Release)/ Airpark / Lady HD at Ortlieb's

Event · Mar 7, 8 PM · Ortlieb's · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Skylar Jenkins Filmmaker & Photographer at Skyler Jenkins Films