Dunes are better than Bethany & Nathan

By Sjimon Gompers » As the summer beach buzz pissing contest continues, let's not forget these dudes.

This is the summer of beach buzz, a craze that sends generally more forward thinking and tasteful folks to partake in a grand pissing contest to determine the real King of the Beach.

This continues with maximum press coverage of Bethany & Nathan like they are Brad & Angie or something. Then you got Jason Lytle going the whole “pseudo-super group” Dead Weather route with Admiral Radley and their bandwagonesque album I Heart California (equipped with a Nathan Williams homage with future idiotic classic tracks like “I’m all F****d on Beer,” summer winner for sure dude) and Vivian Girls losing drummer Ali Koehler to blogocentric juggernaut Best Coast. But beyond the fanaticism of this tidal wave, um “wave” is Best Coast’s underexploited label mates Dunes from LA.

My introduction to Dunes was through a friend who invited me to see them at a backyard BBQ show supporting Brilliant Colors on 10th St. in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood last February 13th. I didn’t even know the industrial SOMA district had backyards, but here was a stage made up of VOX amps set up in a garden connected by extension cords and Christmas lights supplied for illumination. They were still recording their self-titled EP at the time and I recall having enjoyed their14 minute set between gorging on a kosher rib eye steak that was grilled to perfection.  

“Handle” shows off the group’s early 80s 4AD ethereal guitar effects that contrast against the propaganda of whatever Mtn Dew is sponsoring these days. The lineup features Mika Miko’s Kate Hall, Talbot Tagora’s Mark Greshowak and Stephanie Chum from Finally Punk. With the recent release of their 12” self-titled EP on Mexican Summer, Dunes is on the South West tour beat and is supporting Nodzzz and the Mantles at the Dreamers and Make Believers Hair Salon on 487 14th St @ Guerrero in SF on August 13.

Posted on July 28, 2010. More on: dunes, mexican summer, best coast, wavves, admiral radley