The latest extended play from The Demos, “If You Only Knew,” gives you the dreary Monday morning pick-me-up you didn’t know you needed.
With a 60s-inspired musical bounce and aesthetic, their newest indie power pop piece by the same name feels nostalgic, but the type of nostalgic that a 20-something-year-old would feel–someone who didn’t actually live through the era but wished they did. The melody is cheerful and fun, heavy on poppy guitar arrangements, sunny harmonies, and light on the heart, but the lyrics deliver a subtle, tender soreness.
The five-person band is led by singer Jason “Jay” Milton and Callan “Cal” Saunders, who have been making music together since high school. Now nearly 15 years later, after experiencing some fame in Japan and four releases, they’re bringing their dreamy, indie pop to The Broadberry with fellow Rochester resident Dan Armbruster, founder of the band Joywave. Armbruster collaborated with The Demos for their four-song EP. Joywave focuses on alternative pop and adds a hip-hop essence to the release.
Collaborating with Joywave is nothing new, as Milton and Saunders have played music with the members of Joyway since high school, as well. Both groups come out of Rochester and hope to give groups from their hometown more recognition.
“We’ve been in bands with those guys and playing with those guys since we were teenagers,” Milton said in an interview with Campus Times. “They’re making an effort to take Rochester bands out with them on tour whenever they can, and they’re always talking up the city in general. It’s awesome to have a band from our town at a national level and talking about our little city and what’s going on it.”
You can see both bands at The Broadberry tomorrow, Tuesday, July 17 at 8 p.m.
