Saturation Opener: Phoenix and the Turtle

Thursday night at the Mission Tobacco Lounge, ZAPP Thursdays hosts the first night of Saturation Fest’s cornucopia of musical talent, including a band whose name I would draw all over my PeeChee if I, in fact, were still in high school in the 1980s – Phoenix and the Turtle.  Since time travel is not in fact possible, it’s up to you to check out this group that defies easy categorization.

Phoenix and the Turtle was initially formed to play at the funeral of the members’ friend – and the name may have come from an allegorical poem about death by William Shakespeare.  Their music – usually a blend of violin, piano, drums, and guitar – is certainly adequate for such a memorial, but it’s also excellent contemplative music and is perfect music-to-sway-to.  Their songs run the gamut from lush arrangements that can evoke a tumble down the rabbit hole to simple, sweet melodies, anchored by the innocent voice of their female singer, Valerie.

Phoenix and the Turtle recently released a new EP this year on Fluttery Records, called Swallow Up the Moon.  Come see them Thursday, May 27 – Saturation Fest’s Opening Day – at the Mission Tobacco Lounge, 3630 University Ave., Riverside, CA, some time between 9 pm and 2 am.  They are playing alongside Sunshine Factory, Matt Coleman and Chad Villareal (Mustard), and The Murky Water District.

By Amber Garza