Astoria, NY-based Side Saddle employ the power of pairing earnest delivery with infectious rhythms.
The band’s video for the single “Halcyon” places the highly optimistic song behind a collage of biking comrades who spend their day off busking the streets of Astoria, eating foot-long sandwiches and slipping craft beers into their unsuspecting Starbucks cups. It is a leisurely ride through the band’s stomping ground, which is obviously a large point of reference for the group.
Their recently released debut-album, The Astorian sounds a little like the love child of Death Cab for Cutie and Mumford and Sons in its kinetic ability to draw the peppiest aspects out of any given genre.
Lead singer Ian McGuinness’ hooky melodies are supported by futuristic jug band nuances including foot stomps and relentless tambourine shaking—a very modern sounding take on the current folk revival that finds its footing in the urgent power of indie pop.
