Brant Bjork is a cornerstone of the Palm Desert stoner rock scene, having drummed for the legendary Kyuss and played with Fu Manchu, De-Con, Mondo Generator, Vista Chino, and Stöner. Like those bands, his Trio draws from Sabbath-inspired heaviness while infusing it with the energy and ethos of hardcore punk. Their latest album Once Upon A Time In The Desert continues that lineage with swagger and groove.
The Café de la Danse is not full, yet the crowd is entirely committed. Heads bob, bodies sway, feet move, and hair flies. If I did not know better, I might think many in attendance had taken the word “stoner” quite literally.
The trio format allows every player to stand out. Mario Lalli’s bass locks into thick, bouncing lines while Mike Master drives the rhythm with crushing, hypnotic precision. Bjork unleashes his heavy, blues-soaked riffs and lysergic solos on his Stratocaster, channelling Sabbath and Hendrix in equal measure. The songs flow and mutate, sometimes simmering, sometimes exploding, always drenched in fuzz and wah, with molten bass and thunderous drums. The mission is simple: to melt your mind and move your body. Mission accomplished.
