Photo by PETE TROSHAK
There are a few things you need to know about Bleeding Rainbow. 1) they have been praised by both surviving members of Nirvana 2) they once were known as Reading Rainbow but changed their name after being chided by Carrie Brownstein and one too many stupid questions about LeVar Burton and 3) they might be the best band you’ve never seen. The band started out as an indie duo of husband and wife Rob Garcia and Sarah Everton, but last year expanded to a four piece by adding lead guitarist Al Creedon and drummer Greg Frantz. Last year they also signed with a record label and recorded the excellent, just released Yeah Right. Thursday night they played a homecoming/record release show at cozy Johnny Brenda’s to a Valentine’s Day crowd of lonely hearts and couples with good taste in music. Bleeding Rainbow’s music teeters on the line between shoegazing guitar pop and Sonic Youth style noise, bobbing and weaving between the two styles creating an uncompromising and joyous sound. It is music meant to be experienced loud and live. Among many highlights during last night’s powerful performance was a surging delivery of “Pink Ruff” – three minutes of heartbeat throbbing bass, primal drumming, squalling guitars and desperate vocals by Everton — that left the crowd a little shell-shocked but grinning ear to ear. — PETE TROSHAK