Photo of Daisychain by Michael O’Connor
Platypus transformed into a psychedelic rock sanctuary on July 12th as Daisychain’s “She’s a Freak Tour” performed on stage, supported by St. Louis’ own Neighboring Villages and Dusty Heels. The night felt like a love letter to psych rock’s storied past, and a vivid affirmation of its definite future.
Neighboring Villages opened with gritty guitar work and a punk-metal sound, setting the tone with warm and glowing red lights. A highlight of this band were the harmonies being sung between artists, showcasing each individual’s impressive vocal sound.
Daisychain—a femme-fronted trio from Chicago consisting of Nickole Regala (bass and vocals), Sophia Williams (guitar and vocals), and Frankie Sripada (lead guitar)—were able to pull the crowd in with bluesy and moody riffs. Taking initial inspiration from Pink Floyd and Velvet Underground, the band stood with these roots, then pivoted in their own unique direction, bringing in a garage-rock vibe to the venue. Experienced producer Sylvia Massy was able to help Daisychain polish their sound throughout their career. She helped them turn 100 demo tracks into a 10-song album, turning their new release into one meant for a live audience (clearly represented in their performance Saturday night). Regala and Williams’ vocals were raw and resonant, especially during the track “Waste Your Time.” Sripada’s talent on guitar also deserves serious praise—as the complexity of their solos were far from beginner-level. Together, the trio created a sound that was not just skilled but musically artistic as well.
Closing out the night with their first performance ever was Dusty Heels. Their lead singer’s voice had such a strong, resonating power to it (mighty impressive for a debut show), and stuck with the blues/rock vibe for the night. As the final chords were played, the bands made a clear representation that psychedelic rock still has new stories to tell. The show served as a testament to the genre’s enduring heartbeat, amplified by new artists and a crowd eager to feel every riff. | Michael O’Connor
