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ENLARGE
What’s so anomalous about Sonic Anomaly?
It’s not that it’s got a frontwoman who sounds like Geddy Lee, nor is it that the keyboardist’s rock star name is his real name. And it’s not even that it doesn’t have a bass player, because the band is hoping to get one.
The anomaly is a singular sound.
“Our influence musically is bands like Pink Floyd, Rush, Genesis, Tool — but we don’t sound like a lot of bands were influenced by,” said guitarist Josh Wagner. “It really is a unique sound.”
Wagner and keyboard player Cimarron Sam played together in the South Shore band Dark Alliance, which dissolved a couple of years ago. The two teamed teamed with Wickerbox’s former singer, who goes by the name of Athena and played a handful of shows before taking a hiatus. They got back together and added drummer Jimmy Callian.
Sonic Anomaly has opened three shows in the past month and will have the stage in the Cavern at Rojo’s all to itself Friday, Feb. 20. The music starts at 10 p.m.
“We’ve been together since November,” he said. “The music is more mature than some of stuff were writing 10 months ago. I love working with Jimmy. He’s a great drummer, and Athena has a phenomenal voice. Her presence on stage is great. She really tries to connect with people.”
Both Sam and Wagner said people have told them Athena sounds like Lee, the singer for Rush.
“We’ve been compared to Rush, and in my opinion that’s a great compliment since were a progressive band,” Sam said.
Athena said he hasn’t heard of the comparison to Rush.
“I’ve always been referred to as Grace Slick,” she said. “I’m more old-style like k.d. lang, Grace Slick, old-stuff chick singers and ’80s long-hair bands.”
Sonic Anomaly played Rojo’s last month in the same bill as Rykord, which includes another Dark Alliance alum. Athena said the club’s owner liked the crowd the band drew.
“It’s rock with a metal edge that gets people dancing but not cause a mosh pit,” she said.
Sonic Anomaly has been playing all original songs but is working on some covers in order to play longer sets. Wagner is an accomplished harmonica player whom Pato Banton invited onstage to jam during a concert at the Shady Rest Amphitheater in Mammoth Lakes.
“I think we have a sound that’s definitely going to make it,” Athena said.
Now about that rock star name: Cimarron Sam said his name comes from a character in the John Wayne movie “The Cowboys.”
It’s not that it’s got a frontwoman who sounds like Geddy Lee, nor is it that the keyboardist’s rock star name is his real name. And it’s not even that it doesn’t have a bass player, because the band is hoping to get one.
The anomaly is a singular sound.
“Our influence musically is bands like Pink Floyd, Rush, Genesis, Tool — but we don’t sound like a lot of bands were influenced by,” said guitarist Josh Wagner. “It really is a unique sound.”
Wagner and keyboard player Cimarron Sam played together in the South Shore band Dark Alliance, which dissolved a couple of years ago. The two teamed teamed with Wickerbox’s former singer, who goes by the name of Athena and played a handful of shows before taking a hiatus. They got back together and added drummer Jimmy Callian.
Sonic Anomaly has opened three shows in the past month and will have the stage in the Cavern at Rojo’s all to itself Friday, Feb. 20. The music starts at 10 p.m.
“We’ve been together since November,” he said. “The music is more mature than some of stuff were writing 10 months ago. I love working with Jimmy. He’s a great drummer, and Athena has a phenomenal voice. Her presence on stage is great. She really tries to connect with people.”
Both Sam and Wagner said people have told them Athena sounds like Lee, the singer for Rush.
“We’ve been compared to Rush, and in my opinion that’s a great compliment since were a progressive band,” Sam said.
Athena said he hasn’t heard of the comparison to Rush.
“I’ve always been referred to as Grace Slick,” she said. “I’m more old-style like k.d. lang, Grace Slick, old-stuff chick singers and ’80s long-hair bands.”
Sonic Anomaly played Rojo’s last month in the same bill as Rykord, which includes another Dark Alliance alum. Athena said the club’s owner liked the crowd the band drew.
“It’s rock with a metal edge that gets people dancing but not cause a mosh pit,” she said.
Sonic Anomaly has been playing all original songs but is working on some covers in order to play longer sets. Wagner is an accomplished harmonica player whom Pato Banton invited onstage to jam during a concert at the Shady Rest Amphitheater in Mammoth Lakes.
“I think we have a sound that’s definitely going to make it,” Athena said.
Now about that rock star name: Cimarron Sam said his name comes from a character in the John Wayne movie “The Cowboys.”
