It was in the fall of 1915 that I decided not to use any color

until I couldn’t get along without it and I believe

it was June until I needed blue.

–GEORGIA O’KEEFE

Amen, Georgia.  She must have been living in Santa Barbara at the time.

We desperately needed blue in June, but deliverance was not had until July.  July 1st to be exact.  Money and blue skies change everything.  I think that’s how that great song went (one-hit wonder band, The Brains, version please, not that Lauper thingy).

To match the change in mood brought by the big ole sun, we give you some sounds of summer.  Some by girls and another by Girls (the boy band).

First up are The Mynabirds and their song Numbers Don’t Lie. The song is a great throwback to the sounds of the Sixties and just says “summer.”  According to Mynabirds’ leader, Laura Burhenn, she had long aspired to have a band that sounded like Neil Young playing Motown. After recording some songs, she named her new group The Mynabirds.  Only later did she discover that Neil Young had made music with Rick James in 1960s Motown in the 60′s R&B group, The Mynah Birds.

Listen in to some piano, soul, a bit of grit, and vocals that recall Dusty Springfield, Bobbie Gentry and other 60s icons.

The Mynabirds–Numbers Don’t Lie

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Numbers-Dont-Lie.mp3|titles=Numbers Don’t Lie]

In a similar, throwback vein comes the self-avowed “blissed-out buzz saw” pop of the Dum Dum Girls in their song Jail La La, their first single for  Sub Pop.  With their ’60s-inflected songs and melodies, the Dum Dum Girls seem destined for sugary success.  Check ’em out.

Dum Dum Girls–Jail La La

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/10-Jail-La-La.mp3|titles=10 Jail La La]

Moving on to the boys, we give you Girls from San Francisco.   Listen to their driving, shimmering song, Summertime, off their phenomenal record “Album” (creative) released in the fall of last year.  It’s the Wall of Fuzz, and pop genius with an edge.  We saw this band at Muddy Waters late last year, and they delivered the goods.  Highly recommended.

Girls–Summertime

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/08-Summertime.mp3|titles=08 Summertime]

Finally, listen in to LA’s Active Child and its sparkling, 80s-esque pop in their song Voice-Of-An-Old-Friend-Summer-Camp-Bedford-Falls-remix.  We can’t help but hear heavy Thompson Twins and ABC influence in the mix, but there’s never been anything wrong with that.  Is Malcolm McLaren the referenced “old friend” of the song’s title?  Buffalo Dude and Gal have gone around the outside, indeed.

Active Child–Voice-Of-An-Old-Friend-Summer-Camp-Bedford-Falls-remix

[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Voice-Of-An-Old-Friend-Summer-Camp-Bedford-Falls-remix.mp3|titles=Voice Of An Old Friend (Summer Camp Bedford Falls remix)]