From Flowers to Flies and the sax wielding alt rock punk pummeling of "Powerlines"

 

"Powerlines / Connective tissue between your house and mine / An organism of light..."

The husky, powerful punk hearted / alt rock embellishments of "Powerlines", by Central Valley, California's From Flowers to Flies, from the onset, has a bending off center atmosphere that make you feel unsteady like after a Cali earthquake. Once the stomping heavy guitar chords, punchy bass, drums and surprising saxcapades flail away on introductory downbeats it's like the fight in the cage is on. There is something about the sax and the way that it is wielded here that feels 50's rebellious teen-esque. I haven't heard sax attacks like this, so naked and swinging, in alt rock / punk since mid 70's James Chance & the Contortions and Morphine (90's).

Loving the arrangements here too, the way instruments drop to the back which actually makes the song feel heavier, stalking. The vocal aesthetics, sad paper, bloody throated works too. Everything works. 

"Powerlines" is the second single in support of From Flowers to Flies' first album, "We Built This Machine", which comes out on January 19th, 2024. 

Genre wise, the more I listen, there is a lot going on. You could mention grunge, a lot of grunge. You could mention post hardcore, obviously punk and art punk with ghosts of two-tone. Maybe even James Chance & the Contortions, Madness, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, System of the Down stuck in a blender and set to puree. 

Pantomime
Silent approximation of veins filled with life
This beast we're inside

Augmented currents
Destructive currents
Augmented currents
Destructive currents

This is our life
This is our life
This is our life
This is our life

The BAND:

From Flowers to Flies:
Christopher Byrum Harris (drums, vocals)
Faith Orozco (electric guitar)
Megan Rice (tenor saxophone)
Joe Wheelock (vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar)

-Robb Donker Curtius 





Hello: Anyone enjoying this read and American Pancake, end of year is always a more difficult time in terms of finances. If you can help out by contributing to our Go Fund Me below it would be super appreciated. Cheers Robb

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CVoJB4rVR2kXi2fsTmWRj

https://www.instagram.com/fromflowerstoflies

https://www.facebook.com/fromflowerstoflies

https://fromflowerstoflies.bandcamp.com/

https://fromflowerstoflies.com/



Drawing from an eclectic mix of influences including modern indie, 70s prog, post-punk, and chamber pop, From Flowers to Flies have crafted a darkly engaging sound that is wholly their own. The band formed in California's Central Valley in 2022 out of a desire to make cathartic music that was indicative of these uncertain times. Their songs hurtle through a landscape of anxiety and apocalyptic imagery, but never stray too far from a through line of hope.

From Flowers to Flies, post punk, punk, alt rock, indie rock, garage rock, art punk, Central Valley, California, sax wielding band, heavy downbeats, "Powerlines", upcoming album "We Built This Machine",