The greatest exposure most high-school bands can expect is participating in a city-organized “battle of the bands,” or maybe playing during lunch as part of homecoming-week festivities. But Hindu Pirates, with members in Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa, have already accomplished more than performing in front of their politely attentive peers who choke down ennui-filled bites of microwaved mini-pizzas—and in a short time, too. Since forming in February, the quartet have played gigs at Costa Mesa venues Church and Detroit Bar and recorded an untitled EP.
Songs such as the riff-heavy sing-along “Ten Piggies Over” fall neatly into the surf-rock category that you might expect from four teenagers growing up near the beach. But the band— lead singer Austin Ferreira, guitarist Casey Snyder, bassist Derek Bostelman and drummer Ben Tinsley—cite blues and classic N50s and N60s rock as influences. The blues tone is clear on “Choo Choo,” with Ferreira belying his age while letting out lyrics such as “I donNt care what the other guys say,” making a convincing attempt at sounding like a whiskey-soaked veteran (rather than someone still several years away from legal drinking age). Singing about fleeing to Mexico to avoid legal trouble in “Los Banditos” might be a tad less convincing, but itNs still a good song.
Sure, it might seem a little fake-y for high-school seniors to be trying their hands at decades-old genres, but Hindu Pirates donNt seem to be looking to cause major waves in the music industry. Their stated objective is to “have fun and play music that people could have fun while listening to.” So far, itNs mission accomplished.
Hindu Pirates at Blue Laguna, 595 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, (949) 376-2583; www.bluelagunaoc.com. Mon., 9:30 p.m. Free. All ages. Hindu Pirates can be found online at www.myspace.com/thehindupirates.
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