Local Bands to Watch: Stonefox and the Pretty Faces, Both at City Limits on Friday

(Photo via Stonefox's MySpace page)

Stonefox is a garage band in the purest sense of the word -- except, perhaps, for the fact that they did most of their recording in living rooms. But they did accomplish the entire recording for their first full-length LP, Dead in the Sun on "barely professional" equipment. Following what they dubbed a "discouraging recording experience," vocalist Jordan Asher, lead guitarist David Barnard, drummer/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Rosenthal, and bassist Ross shunned studios and red tape for the boundless expanses of their own collective creativity. Pardon the smell of patchouli surrounding that last bit. It's just part of the vibe you get from listening to Stonefox. Raw and emotional, funky, bluesy and a bit psychedelic, their sound is dripping with more Sixties flavor than a magic brownie.
The Pretty Faces (photo via the band's MySpace page)

Friday night at City Limits, they share the stage with the Pretty Faces, a family band of sorts who draw from a different set of retro influences. Comprised of Jeff Thorslund on vocals and guitar, his wife Hannah on guitar and backing vocals, and Jeph's brother Tom on drums, the Boca-based trio kicks some serious ass. Inspired by vintage punk and garage acts like Big Star, the Stooges, the Clash, and the Velvet Underground, they do their role models justice, churning out overdrive-laden power pop worthy of the CBGB of old. The band released its debut album, Lipstick Kiss, to decent underground buzz in 2004, and the sophomore follow-up, Another Sound, is slated to drop some time in early 2009.

Stonefox and the Pretty Faces perform with Ex-Norwegian, Tongues of the Heartworm, Fire Zuave, and Jupiter One. Friday, January 9, City Limits, 19 NE 3rd Ave., Delray Beach. Show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is free for those 21+ before midnight; $5 for everyone after. Ages 18+ with ID. 561-279-8222; www.citylimitsdelray.com.

-- Christopher Lopez