Moon Darling, Murder Hornets and The Ragged Jubilee (Free show)

Free show 21+ Moon Darling is a psychedelic rock band originally bred in Seattle and later based in Los Angeles. Formed by guitarist and vocalist Michael Julian Escobar and drummer Michelle Nuño, the group blends 1970s-style muscular psych-rock with dreamy, bohemian and nostalgic grooves. The progressive, more than dreamy, bohemian psych rock exuberance of “Welcome Back”, by Seattle bred / Los Angeles based psych rockers Moon Darling, cuts a wide swathe of layered, cross-generational sonic mysticism. At least that is what I am feeling, bold tightly wound musicality that feels birthed from late 70’s classic blues rock bop colliding with heavy metal psychedelia and those harmonic minor scales that feel potently raga middle eastern during the musical bridge. The song goes full circle, artistically tribal on a global scale and so potently grounded in alluvial soil. All the attitudinal artistry here is compelling, from the mellotron-esque drones, Eliza Karpel’s savage bass lines, funky organ downbeats, the incredible guitar work and the swing and sway of guitarist extraordinaire Michael Julian’s high register vocal potency. So cool, so impactful. From the Los Angeles duo’s upcoming sophomore full length “Hearts To Blame”, due out September 25, 2026. Rooted in the relentless emotional swings of seasonal depression during the band’s time in the Pacific Northwest, “Welcome Back” captures the disorienting rhythm of extreme highs and lows. Its signature guitar trill and lick draws directly from vocalist and guitarist Michael Julian’s deep admiration for Spaghetti Western cinema and the iconic film scores of Ennio Morricone. This influence lends the track an appropriately distinctive cinematic sweep as the video was shot entirely using Kodak Charmera Keychain Digital Cameras. “There was something really attractive and fun about the simplicity of this camera, and the vibes and aesthetic of the track,” said the band. “It really packs a punch with the quality, and we thought it would be an authentic way to capture each other’s POV in real life, sans phones.” -Robb Donker Curtius