Outer Sunset is another link in the time-honored chain of bands named after places (see Boston, Kansas, Chicago, umm… America). But it’s also an apt one. For all who know the Outer Sunset neighborhood’s charms, the name says quite a lot: It’s beachy, relatively laid-back, and eclectic. As it turns out, so is the band.
There’s definitely a lot of late 90’s/2000’s alt-rock to be heard in Outer Sunset’s latest EP Soft Glow. But within that framework there are plenty of surprises. The opening title track shimmers into existence, warming you up with hooky melodies and gratifying slow burn. “Saffron” ups the ante with Bloc Party-esque dance rock and is immediately followed with a shift in energy, signaled by slide guitars in the alt-country “Little Johnny.” “Never Enough” is kind of mathy, showcasing the four musicians’ musical chops, riffability, and talent for functioning as a tight, cohesive unit. Then you have “Satellite,” which opens with mellow guitar before morphing into an anthem, ending with a huge chorus and screaming vocal/guitar solo outro.
Can’t resist the breezy, sometimes sunny atmosphere of Outer Sunset? See them perform live on Friday, May 23 at Kilowatt alongside Spaceface, The Breathing Room, Mayya, and DJ n0be at Total Accord 2025!
