Photograph by Johnny Bell
Rock ‘n’ Roll can be packaged into countless aesthetics, and styles. As long as the audience is grooving to the sound, not much else matters. The Gems, reigning from Long Beach, California, have been making Rock n Roll in all different sorts of styles since 2015. Originally a two-piece with Thurston Day on bass and Jackson Fox on drums, The Gems burst onto the music scene with raw punk energy. Their wild sets gave them a reputation as a lively act. The Gems diversified their sound by adding keyboardist Michael Faust to the band. Thurston took over guitar duties so Jakob Sorenson joined the band on bass. With this lineup, The Gems released EP Secret Fires in 2017. Recorded at the legendary Jazzcat Studios, the EP was a beautiful blend punk and surf rock with a squirt of garage on top. With the positive momentum gained by Secret Fires, the found themselves gaining more and more traction. They started playing bigger shows, most notably with Franz Ferdinand at the Wiltern Theater. Other notable live acts The Gems have performed alongside include Together Pangea, Peach Kelli Pop, and Bane’s World.
Now, in 2019, The Gems made their return. On Independence Day they released two songs, “Alone Time/Undone”. Like the EP before it, the single was recorded at Jazzcat Studios in Long Beach. The songs are softer and more emotional than their previous release. Speaking with genres, the single can be best described indie rock with melancholic undertones. Nevertheless, the band still provides quality musicianship with a touch of flare. The synths pair perfectly with Thurston’s yelp in between verses on “Undone”. Though, the most impressive part of this single is how much improvement the band has shown in just two short years. Their technical abilities are present throughout the tracks. In “Alone Time” drummer Jackson Fox lays down some of the sickest fills my ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing.
Photograph by Andie Mills
As the title suggests, the lyrics are gloomy. Both of the songs paint a picture of an intimate relationship gone sour. They describe the pain of heartbreak and all the bad things and that come with it, such as gossip and ensuing awkwardness in social settings. It’s an unpleasant situation that most of us have found ourselves in. At least in Thurston’s case, these girl problems are making him some hits along the way.
Along with releasing music, The Gems are doing a string of live performances. They will be playing a house with local bands Super Lunch and Not That Bad on August 2nd in Long Beach. They will also be performing at two free festivals: the annual Los Angeles Festival, Echo Park Rising on August 18th and at Long Beach Festival, Happy Sundays on August 25th. The Gems are on the brink of something amazing. With an album on the way, it’s a surprise that they remain unsigned. Hopefully someone, in some big high rise record label headquarters, reads this article and picks up the phone. Because the Gems are truly a gem.
Photograph by Maya Lee
Follow The Gems on Instagram: Here.
And listen to their new single on Spotify down below.
