The members of Crown Chakra believe that there’s a mysticism about Monterey, considering it hallowed ground for being the site of Monterey Pop and a birthplace of the Summer of Love.
Crown Chakra includes Dylan Greig on lead vocals and 12-string guitar, his partner Bethanie Marie on drums and newly acquired bassist, Keith Dilliplane, who plays a Hofner bass similar to the one Paul McCartney preferred.
Marie says this is a special year for the group because it marks the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love; it’s also special because of the debut of their self-titled LP, to be released at Friday’s show. One of the highlights of the album fits the theme: “Haight Street Soul” is a tribute to Haight and Ashbury streets in San Francisco before gentrification toppled the pavement promenade.
Crown has a kind of broad appeal that transcends generational divides. It’s not abnormal to see young people who identify themselves as punks and EDM fans standing next to a baby boomer in Dockers at their shows. Their classic sound recalls bands like The Doors and Jefferson Airplane with a familiar, purist psych rock sound that belongs in popular music’s conscience. It’s a sound driven by Greig, who shreds his 12-string like a man possessed by the his idols, Hendrix and Santana.
The band has a reputation for being one of the hardest-working bands in Monterey, both in the eyes of their fans and among fellow artists like Trevor Lucier of the band The Proudest Monkeys. “They have come a long way from their beginnings of being a nostalgia-driven jam band,” Lucier says. “They blossomed into a well-received live act through their undeniable drive.”
Marie describes the band’s sound as “garage rock revival,” a well-represented genre in Monterey. Their brand of rock is heavy, with an emphasis on mood, psychedelia and live energy. “[Performing] is everything I want it to be,” Marie says. “It’s spiritual and electrifying.” Local singer Tiffany Decker, who is gaining traction through songwriter showcases throughout the Peninsula, opens.
CROWN CHAKRA and TIFFANY DECKER 7-11pm. Friday, March 3, Valley Greens Gallery, 16 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. No cover. 620-2985, www.valleygreensgallery.com
Editor's note: This story has been update to reflect the following correction: The type of bass is a Hofner, not Hoffman, as originally reported.