Exclusive Interview: Rock n' Roll isn't dead! The Premonitions Keep it Alive & Well
Updated: Sep 15, 2021
Perhaps the most underrated band in Southern California at the moment, The Premonitions is THEE band to watch for years to come.
Â
Â
Still just up and coming, they certainly have potential to be a house-hold name. A band of misfits, Mick Kennedy(Vocals), Jesse Youngblood(guitar), Eric Rodriguez(drums), Daniel Resch(Bass), Neil Soiland(sax), Anders La Source(organ/harmonica) make up the band. With only a few songs released to this point, it's easy to see why these fellas have been overlooked by many; however, each song is as Rock N Roll as it gets. The vocalist, Mick, brings back the charisma of old school rock stars with his screams & moves on stage. Backed with excellent musicians, they are the total package
I sat down with the boys in late January when they rocked The Factory DTLA, an new
venue in Los Angeles. Without question, there is no shortage of influences on the band. "We like The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Animals, ya know all that good stuff" says Mick. "I personally really love the Cramps. The Sonics, Chuck Berry, Slim Harpo, Little Richard, Velvet Underground to name a few." You can definitely hear a little bit of all of that in their catalog.
If you're part of the scene in Los Angeles, you've definitely come across them them in their 3 year existence.
Either hanging out or playing a show at a local venue. Los Angeles based, a few
members grew up in the surrounding areas. "Most of us grew up here. I grew up in North
Hollywood" says Mick. "I grew up in North Hollywood and The Valley" responds Eric. "I grew up in Uruguay in South America. Moved out here like five years ago" says Jesse Youngblood. Since they were teenagers, they have been playing instruments. According to Mick, "some of us longer than others." Eric has been playing the drums since he was 10 years old. — "I had two older brothers who got me into music."
In late 2019, the band released a single on Bickerton Records. A track titled "That's Voodoo" gives off some trippy 60's vibes. "My Love Ain't A Lie" is also featured on it. Five months later, the band releases another 7-in with two tracks on Outro Records. "Grinds My Gears" and "I'll Make You Happy" are the two heavy hitters on that one. Outro Records is definitely home for the group. Bands like The Flytraps, Nico Bones, The Night Times and many others solidify the label as a destination for gritty underground rock. "We love that label" says Mick. "Shouts out to Steve, you're the fuckin man! Love ya bud."
The Premonitions hope to release their first LP sometime in the summer. "We also have a release planned with Burger Records but you'll have to wait to hear about that." Other 2020 plans include a show in Japan for Halloween.
I'm not sure about you, but I love to hear crazy stories from bands being out on the road.
It's a way to get to know artists in a different perspective. You know, besides from just seeing them as artists. Out of curiosity, I asked the band about any crazy stories they've had while on the road. Here's what they had to say
"Definitely. The one time we went up to SF. We played a show at Highland Park Bowl and right after the show we all headed straight to SF and dropped some LSD. You know, half the band was on LSD and on the way there we almost died.
As soon as we got there at like nine am, we were in a rental van and within an hour or two of being there someone smashed our window. We were parked in between two churches, like it’s a church, it’s going to be alright. Nothing’s going to happen here. We went to a bar and were away from the van for like an hour. We come back and the fucking window is smashed. They only got two backpacks, that’s it. Like, I had a box of records with thousands of dollars worth of records in it, two vintage Vox guitars in arms reach and they didn’t touch them. They just got two backpacks, that’s definitely our craziest story."
Truly a wicked take from the road. Remember kids, don't let your driver be on LSD. Someone's gotta be the trip sitter.
Â
Â
Towards the end of February, the group went overseas to Spain for a short tour, including a stop at Wachina Wachina festival in Valencia.
Looks like they got it in before it was almost impossible to leave the country, and come back in for that matter. Mick and the gang speak on how successful the fun was — "It was incredible. Everyone out there treated us very well and the fans are insanely awesome. The huge festival we played out there had tons of people singing along to our songs. It was surreal."
Bickerton, the band's first record label, is based out there in Spain, so it makes sense that they're starting to get some recognition. Before the Wachina Wachina show, the biggest gig the band had played was a New Year's Eve 2019 at Zebulon. Happy for them getting out there and gaining more exposure. They have hopes to eventually get out to more places in the near future, with Mexico and Berlin being on top.