Local Natives (previously known as Cavil at Rest) are an indie rock band based out of Silver Lake, California. They first formed in 2005 in Orange County, California. Kelcey Ayer (vocals, keyboard), Ryan Hahn (vocals, guitar), and Taylor Rice (vocals, guitar) all met in high school. A year after the founding members graduated from UCLA, the band was joined by Andy Hamm (bass) and Matt Frazier (drums). After the two newest additions, the group moved to a house in Silver Lake in December 2008 and started on their debut album. Their debut album Gorilla Manor, named after the house they shared and their main space for song writing, came in 2009. The album was self-funded and produced through UK label, Infectious Records. They played nine shows at the 2009 SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The group started to gain national attention after these shows and went on to tour in 2011 as the opener for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes.
2011 also saw the departure of Andy Hamm from the group due to “unresolved differences within the band.” Nik Ewing joined as their touring bassist in 2012 and later became an official member on October 11, 2013. The band’s second album, Hummingbird, was released on January 29, 2013. The album was reflective of the changing emotions of the band since the beginning, including Hamm’s exit and Ayer’s mother passing away. The album reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 list and charted in several European countries. Local Natives began work on their third album in 2014 and it was released on September 9, 2016, titled Sunlit Youth. They are currently on a world tour.
The band as a whole is a very collaborative group from the music to the lyrics to the artwork. Each person has their own individual talents. The group works together to produce a sound that showcases each person while also being intertwined. As one bio on the group reads, “Local Natives have an intricate sound based around the delicate interconnectedness of all of their parts.”
Song Suggestions:
- Wide Eyes- This song is off of their debut album. It is one of my favorites because of its killer drum beats. Frazier’s impeccable drumming skills throughout are really the highlight of the song.
- Coins- Off of their latest album, this song has a bit more of a focus on the vocals than other songs. The instrumentals give it a jazzy sound. The collaborative sound of all of the different pieces of the band coming together is definitely noticeable on this track.
- Mt. Washington- This song is off of the band’s sophomore album. I enjoy the laidback sound of this indie tune. The song has very little lyrics. It’s simplicity and conciseness works very well.
To learn more about the band visit thelocalnatives.com, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Find their music on YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes.
Meghan Loves Bands 