Ancient River is a psychedelic rock band formed in 2008. The band was created by singer/songwriter James Barreto, and features Barreto (vocals/guitar/songwriter) and Alexis Cordova Jr. (drums/vocals).[1]
Ancient River | |
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| Origin | Gainesville, Florida, United States |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock |
| Years active | 2008-present |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | www |
Formed in 2008, with friends and now past members Zachary Veltheim on bass (from Barreto's previous band The Ohm)[2] and Chad Voight on drums.[3]
The band name was taken from the Neil Young song "Thrasher": “Where the eagle glides ascending/There’s an ancient river bending/Down the timeless gorge of changes/Where sleeplessness awaits.”[2][3][4]
In reviewing 2011's Songs from North America, the Knoxville Mercury described Ancient River's music as reminiscent of "the sun-baked desert twang of the Meat Puppets and Crazy Horse."[4]
Cordova and Barreto met when Cordova moved to Gainesville to join another band. In the Mercury interview, Cordova is quoted as saying, "when I found out about [Ancient River], if I hadn’t joined, they probably would have been my favorite band in Gainesville. I kind of feel like it was the right time, right place."[4] Cordova now plays drums in the band, which was his first instrument growing up.[2]
The band's origins can be traced back the music scene in Gainesville, Florida[5] and its thriving home grown DIY scene. Barreto, who had trained as an audio engineer, had a home studio and was busy recording local musicians.[2]
Ancient River made their debut at Austin Psych Festival on April 24, 2010.[3][6] Cordova joined the line up in 2011 and the band began regularly playing the live circuit, playing Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia[7][8][9][10] and Austin Psych Festival for a second time in 2012.[11] Appearances at Los Angeles’ Psycho De Mayo[12][13] and Desert Stars Festival Pre-Party[14] followed in 2014 along with Milwaukee Psych Fest in 2015.[15]
In 2013 their track 'Waiting For The Light' was featured on British television series Hollyoaks Later in the United Kingdom [16]
Currently Barreto is living in Los Angeles and Cordova is based in Detroit but this distance hasn't impacted their productivity.[4] Ancient River has eight releases. Keeper of the Dawn released on April 14, 2015 was inspired by the Italian horror films of writer/director Dario Argento together with one of the duo's favourite musicians, David Axelrod.[17][18] Following its release, the band toured North America for 51 shows.[1]
In June 2015, Ancient River joined forces with London director, writer and actor Xevi Soler to produce a music video for their track Stay With Me. This was the soundtrack to Soler's short film Golem.[18]
NME featured Ancient River in their "Under the Radar" section on July 18, 2015.
Albums/EPs
edit- 2020 The House Of Stone (LP)
- 2019 After the Dawn (LP)
- 2017 O.D.D.S 2 (LP)
- 2017 The Keeper Never Sleeps (EP)
- 2015 Keeper Of The Dawn (LP)
- 2014 Before Dawn (LP) Recorded in 2007
- 2012 On The Other Side (LP)
- 2012 Let It Live (LP)
- 2011 Polaroid (EP)
- 2011 Songs from North America (LP)
- 2010 O.D.D.S. (LP)
- 2010 Under the Sun (EP)
References
edit- ^ a b "Ancient River decides 'This Is the Time'". Spin Magazine. April 2015.
- ^ a b c d Breznikar, Klemen (November 28, 2013). "Ancient River: Inverview with James Barreto". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ a b c Muldoon, Ryan (6 April 2010). "Question 4". Revolt Of The Apes.
- ^ a b c d Everett, Matthew (3 June 2015). "Ancient River explores the psychedelic frontier". Knoxville Mercury.
- ^ Lima, Dante (3 February 2011). "Ancient River releases new album, Indigo Girls return". Gainesville Sun.
- ^ "Austin Psych Festival 2010 Lineup". Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
- ^ "Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia".
- ^ "Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia Lineup and Poster".
- ^ "Psychedelia Festival: Review". Mudkiss.
- ^ "Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia". The Quietus.
- ^ "2012 Lineup". Austin Psych Festival. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
- ^ "Psycho De Mayo with Pentagram, Dead Meadow, Kadavar, Saint Vitus, The Shrine". The Observatory. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ "Guide to Psycho De Mayo 2014". Rabbits Black.
- ^ "Desert Stars Pre-Party". Time Out.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Breznikar, Klemen (April 21, 2020). "Far Out Nashville Fourth Annual Psychedelic Music, Film & Arts Festival Goes Digital and Free". It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ "Hollyoaks Later 2013 - Episode 2 - video dailymotion". Dailymotion.
- ^ "Week in Pop". Impose. 17 April 2015.
- ^ a b Begrand, Adrien (24 June 2015). "Ancient River - "Stay With Me" (video) (premiere)". popMATTERS. Retrieved 5 August 2015.