The string band scene has exploded in Santa Cruz. But before there was any sign of a bluegrass or Americana revival, there were a handful of finger-plucking folky bands in town building a noticeable following, like Mylo Jenkins.
They have been on hiatus the past three years, but on Friday August 29th, they return to play the first of what should be many shows.
Mylo Jenkins started eight years ago as a three-piece, but by the time they’d called it quits they were seven members strong.
“It was kind of a slow, gradual addition of members. We’d bring someone in to do a couple songs and their role would expand a little more,” says singer/guitarist Dan Kocher. “We’ve been a really loose band anyway. Everyone says it’s like a relationship. It was a friends-with-benefits kind of thing—we would switch instruments if people couldn’t make it.”
As a three-piece, Kocher wrote densely packed singer-songwriter-focused country tunes inspired by Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. The backing musicians accented what he brought, but with more members Kocher’s songwriting style shifted.
During its initial run, Mylo Jenkins released just one album—which was from their early era. Before they went on hiatus, they wrote a bunch of new, more spacious and eclectic songs, which they hope to record now that they are back together.
“These songs were more directed towards a band, rather than songs coming out of someone’s bedroom,” Kocher says. “If you liked the last stuff, you’d probably like this stuff, too.”
INFO: 9 pm., Friday, Aug. 29. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.
