Prieta was a Sacramento rock 'n' roll band active in the late 2000s and early 2010s, repeatedly described by Submerge as one of the city's best straight-up rock acts.[1][2] The band drew on blues, classic, psychedelic, punk and metal influences and was frequently (to the members' own bemusement) compared to grunge and retro-rock acts.[1]
At a glance
- Sacramento band; described as "Sacramento's own" and "one of Sacramento's best rock bands."[1][2]
- Core lineup: Alex (Alexander) Ayers (vocals), Mat Woods (guitar), Ian McLachlan (bass), Brian Breneman (drums).[1][3]
- Released the EP Sleep All Night, recorded at The Hangar with Joe Finocchio.[1]
- Self-described as "an honest-to-god rock 'n' roll band," resisting comparisons to grunge and retro-rock revival.[1]
- Announced it was "calling it quits" in late September 2011, with a farewell show planned at Harlow's.[2]
Origin and local status
Submerge consistently identified Prieta as a Sacramento band, calling them "Sacramento's Prieta"[1] and "one of Sacramento's best rock bands."[2] Their activity was rooted in local studios and venues, and they spent "many years and many dollars" trying to build their name "in this region and beyond."[2] These origin cues place them firmly as a local act rather than a touring band passing through. The members rejected the idea that their sound was a deliberate retro stance, with Ayers noting they were "kind of dumbfounded" by the recurring "classic" and grunge comparisons.[1]
Lineup
The band's interviewed lineup was Alex Ayers on vocals, Mat Woods on guitar, Ian McLachlan on bass, and Brian Breneman on drums.[1] Frontman Ayers is also referred to as Alexander Ayers in later coverage.[3]
Sound and approach
Prieta's music was characterized by a late-'80s/early-'90s spin on 1960s and 1970s blues, classic and psychedelic rock, with Submerge tracing a range from first-wave acts like The Stooges to desert/stoner metal like Kyuss.[1] The members cited touchstones such as Black Sabbath and Creedence and described their philosophy as emulating "bands that did a great job" rather than chasing novelty.[1] They resisted comparisons to grunge (Soundgarden) and retro-rock revival acts (Wolfmother), with Breneman framing their work as "back-to-basics" blues-based rock and Woods summarizing the band as "no frills... an honest-to-god rock 'n' roll band."[1] Their stated recording goal was a stripped-down sound that captured the band "playing in a room together."[1]
Releases and recording
- Sleep All Night (EP): recorded at The Hangar with band friend Joe Finocchio, who worked out of Different Fur Studios in San Francisco. The band emphasized minimal production and capturing a live-room sound.[1]
- New album material (2011): By April 2011 Prieta was working on a new album using a different process — their practice space was Ira Skinner's Alley Avenue Recording Studios, allowing them to record, master and release material a couple of tracks at a time.[3] The first two completed songs, "The Company You Keep" and "Lifted Away," were mastered by Joe Johnston at Pus Cavern Studios and released at a gig at Luigi's Fungarden.[3] Woods described this as "a different direction," incorporating more keys, laptops and electronic elements.[3]
Scene relationships and shows
Prieta was part of an interconnected Sacramento rock community. Garage-rock band Goodness Gracious Me cited Prieta among the "local favorites" they had gigged with, alongside Lite Brite and Musical Charis.[4] In March 2011 Prieta and Lite Brite shared a St. Patrick's Day all-day bill at The Golden Bear (2326 K St., Sacramento).[5] Prieta also appeared on the 2011 White Noise Festival lineup, the sixth edition of Harley White Jr.'s benefit festival, held at the Torch Club on Sept. 11, 2011, to support the Roberts Family Development Center.[6] Frontman Alexander Ayers represented the band as a contestant at the first Non-Drummer Drum-Off at the Westfield Downtown Plaza Mall on Dec. 4, 2011.[7]
Breakup
In late September 2011 the band posted on Facebook that they were "tired" and "cranky" — likening themselves to "if a grumpy old man were a band" — and were stepping back, "maybe forever."[2] They stressed they remained "good buddies" but wanted to try other things.[2] A farewell show originally scheduled at Harlow's for October was pushed to December 2011 due to a band member's injury.[2] The show ultimately took place on December 17, 2011 at Beatnik Gallery in Sacramento, with a bill that included Lite Brite, GGM, The Kelps, The Phantom Jets, Reggie Ginn, and Marcus Cortez — the last concert Prieta is recorded as having played.[8]