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Local Prog/Pop Mavericks Headline Oakland Show

By Dave Pehling

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Taking their signature mix of progressive rock, knotty jazz fusion and pop into bold new territory, local favorites Once and Future Band headline a show at Eli's Mile High Club Friday night.

Anchored by frontman and keyboard/guitar player Joel Robinow, Once and Future Band first came together in 2012. Made up of veteran musicians who already had a history together -- Robinow and bassist Eli Eckert were both members of experimental riff rockers Drunk Horse in addition to playing with drummer Raj Ojha in local psych-guitar hero Ethan Miller's band Howlin' Rain -- the group coalesced to give Robinow's ever-growing book of songs an outlet outside his home recordings.

Early line-ups of Once and Future Band would feature noted Bay Area guitar wizards Isaiah Mitchell (the Earthless and Golden Void virtuoso who was also part of the same storied version of Howlin' Rain) and Phil Manley (Trans Am, The F---ing Champs), who contributed to the group's 2014 recording debut, the Brain EP.

The four songs on the EP featured soaring synth and Fender Rhodes sonics that recalled the majesty of '70s prog-rock icons Yes and Genesis, but tempered the grandiose sounds with Robinow's soulful vocals and knack for nestling pop hooks in the midst of the complex song structures. The EP garnered rave reviews for its canny updating of the progressive-rock template.

The band would later welcome guitarist Raze Regal (of local psych crew Planes of Satorai) as a full-time member. That line-up would produce this latest recording and the Once and Future Band's debut full-length for Thee Oh Sees main man John Dwyer's Castle Face Records.

The dazzling self-titled effort is simultaneously more ambitious and more accessible, weaving candy-coated high harmony vocals and earworm melodies worthy of Harry Nilsson, Steely Dan's Becker/Fagan combination and ELO mainstay Jeff Lynne into the tunes' meticulously crafted arrangements. But where their '70s prog-rock forebears would sometimes drift into ponderous pretension, songs like the ascendant opener "How Does It Make You Feel?" and the joyfully propulsive "Rolando" have an undeniably infectious vibe.

Rolando - Once & Future Band Official Video by Once & Future Band on YouTube

The band had a busy year after celebrating the release of the album in early 2017. In addition to playing its first ever run of arena shows opening for experimental metal mavericks Tool on the East Coast (introducing their eclectic sound to thousands of new fans), the band was invited to play post-punk icons Wire's curated DRILL Festival in Los Angeles. Since then, OaFB has toured with Chris Robinson's group revisiting his material with the Black Crowes and White Denim and was a highlight of the 10th annual Huichica Festival in Sonoma this past June. The band headlines its first local concert in some time this Friday night at the Eli's Mile High Club. The band will be joined by Oakland-based electronic psych dance duo Watkins/Peacock with DJ Frankie Koeller playing music before and between bands.

Once And Future Band
Friday, Aug. 16, $12-$15
The Starline Social Club

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