Brothers Damien and Eric Wendel are harnessing the power of YouTube to promote San Jose’s music scene with a new online series called “Different Spaces.”

For the last year and a half, they’ve been recording videos of San Jose bands in the space above Café Stritch. The videos are shot with multiple cameras, with professional audio capturing the live performances with no overdubs.

“San Jose has good bands that people don’t hear about,” says Damien. “These good bands don’t get a lot of exposure partly because they are from San Jose. The SJ music scene is disparate and divided. We hoped that making these videos would help spotlight the talented bands that are making music here and would help them connect to different fan bases as the styles and geographic locations of the bands that are a part of Different Spaces change.”

Ironically, the name “Different Spaces” references what they thought would be a primary element of the videos—that they would shoot each video in a different location. But thanks to Maxwell Borkenhagen, co-owner of Café Stritch, they were able to do many recordings in the former home of SoFa Lounge, which was at the time simply collecting dust. But now that Café Stritch is open, that space is no longer available, and they have to return to their original concept of filming bands in different locations. They have also moved away from the original idea of only filming San Jose bands, though locals will always be a highlight.

Some of the bands they’ve shot videos of include the Record Winter, Amonie, Breathing Patterns, and Ugly Winner.

After a decade of refining their moody instrumental indie rock round, South Bay band Amonie are finally ready to release their debut record, Last Rites, which could mark the beginning of a whole new phase for them.

“It’s great because this is the first time we’ve heard ourselves professionally, like a very polished version of us. You can totally hear parts better now. I was like, ‘I didn’t know that guitar line existed,’” says drummer Nick Eros.

Despite how frequently and methodically they’ve always rehearsed, each member has always had the freedom to exist in their own bubble, playing whatever parts were most meaningful to them.

“We’re four soloing musicians who happen to work together,” Eros says.
But spending five long days in the studio together has brought the group cohesion and a better understanding of how to make their individual parts fit together better.

“We’re trying to work with each other. It’s almost like we’re an a capella band, in the sense that we’re four voices. When people sing together and harmonize, they don’t purposely clash with each other,” says bassist Dan Barrera.

The group spared no expense making a proper full-length debut record. They recorded the record in January at Tiny Telephone, John Vanderslice’s studio, whose client list includes Magnetic Fields, Spoon, Death Cab For Cutie, The Mountain Goats and many other respected names in indie music.

When Jeff Brummett isn’t busy working at Streetlight Records, he’s playing guitar and singing in Doctor Nurse, one of San Jose’s best indie rock bands, featuring heavy psychedelic and folk influences and a balance of lush vocal harmonies and carefully textured instrumentation.

Their song craftsmanship is surprisingly sophisticated, better even than a lot of touring psychedelic-influenced indie rock bands. Mood and understated emotional intensity are at the forefront of every song, usually starting out mellow, using repetition and layering to give the songs a slow and powerful buildup. While Doctor Nurse has only been around a couple years, Brummett is no newbie to the San Jose scene. We asked him to share the spots in San Jose he knows and loves.

What part of San Jose are you from?

I live in Willow Glen and there’s this particular homeless guy I’m fairly obsessed with. He is always madly scribbling what looks like crazy scientist Aztec symbols in this book. Whenever I give him some dough, I’m tempted to ask him about it, but ultimately I don’t want the mystery revealed. The not-knowing is the thing. Unless he’s making blueprints for a time machine or something—I definitely want in on that.

What’s your favorite place outside of San Jose?

Costa Rica is a magical land filled with green trees, monkeys and banana milkshakes. Can’t beat it, and their capital is named San Jose.

What’s the best show you’ve seen in San Jose?

This one is easy. In 2008, the Blank Club had Extreme Elvis, Neil Hamburger and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy on one bill. The stars were aligned that night in ways I’d never conceived. The Ledge left the stage during a song leaving the band to finish without him as he went and caught the bus. Neil Hamburger did the Colonel Sanders/Sally Field joke and Extreme Elvis (after um, “marking his territory”…. yes, what you’re thinking is absolutely correct) eventually led the crowd to the street for an acoustic sing-along rendition of “Suspicious Minds.” Did I mention that he was completely naked? Sublime.

Who’s your favorite local band?

Well, I loved Worker Bee so much I am now in a band with two of the members. I’ve gotten sneak peeks of the new Plantain and Ugly Winner records and they are really, really good. Totally looking forward to the Amonie record coming soon. The new Sourpatch record is great. It seems like a bunch of folks will finally be releasing material this year. Very cool.

Where’s your favorite place to get a drink in San Jose?

Good Karma has an amazing selection of high-end beers. They have such great variety and are always getting new and unique brands. They have events with exclusive brews that you can’t find anywhere else. Ryan Summers is the best host in town and all the staff there are incredibly nice and welcoming and don’t yell at me when I’m hanging in the back getting in their way.

Where’s a cool spot for new threads?

I’m the most unfashionable dude ever. Black and Brown is pretty much the only place I go. Last time I went there, I scored this corduroy jacket and Irene who works there said that I liked “grandpa clothes.” She was right. Plus, they have cool art and music shows and are generally awesome people.

What’s your favorite spot for a cheap bite in San Jose?

Me and my buddies have been obsessed with Taco Bravo for years. I can’t say I’ve actually eaten there in a long time, but what other place can you order an item off the menu item called “The Boneyard.” I work down the street from there and one of my favorite pastimes is driving by and counting the number of people waiting in line during breakfast time. The record? Eleven people wanting Bravo at 10:30 am. The world is a wondrous and mysterious place. Plus, the dudes who work there go to the same bank as I do.

What’s the best thing about living in San Jose?

A few things I guess. The group of talented, creative geniuses/doofuses I hang with truly make this place all worthwhile. The close proximity to the greatest radio station on Earth, KFJC. Joey Myers still lives here. Plus, that beer-batter thing at the SJ Giants game is kind of a hoot. Did I mention Bravo already?

Where’s the best place in San Jose to go relax?

Funny you bring that up. Every Cinco De Mayo I like to put on a nice velour jogging suit, whip up a little chamomile tea and take a leisurely stroll down Santa Clara St. and soak in all the stabbings. Very zen.

Where’s the place to see a show in San Jose?

Unquestionably the Gingerbread House. It’s by far my favorite place to play. They get a lot of touring bands that are under the radar and are real independent musicians scraping by, driving through the country just having a good time. The bands don’t have to worry about drawing a crowd, because there’s always enough friends to fill it up. You don’t have the stress of club owners and promoters being bummed on the lack of support. The room sounds amazing and Todd and the crew who live there are such great people. They open up their house to let strangers do their art, which is definitely a very generous and selfless act. It’s an important bubble in our little scene here.

What’s San Jose’s best kept secret?

R & D Liquors on Willow has free hot coffee!

Syrus Fotovat is rarely seen without a tie, and he wears his majestic fro with pride. He is one of the helpful experts that can assist you in purchasing or selling a guitar at the Guitar Showcase Swapshop. When he’s not giving expert advice on musical instruments or zipping around town in his Volvo wagon, he and his bandmates do a little thing they like to call Amonie.

Amonie is Nick Ereso on drums, Dan Barrera on Bass, with Noel Huh and Syrus on guitars. As Syrus puts it, “It doesn’t mean anything and there is no easy way to remember it.”

Although people may have trouble remembering the name of the band, the music is quite memorable. The tracks Amonie create are big, almost orchestral, feedback riddled, shoe gazing at times, filled with delay, accentuated by massive cymbal crashes, and probably not something you can dance to.

“I feel like I’ve always been pretty transparent as far as my influences go, but I tend to rip off bands like Mogwai, Mono (from Japan), and Godspeed You! Black Emperor pretty blatantly,” Syrus says.  “Of course, I try to cover it up, but those bands make music that I find very important to me musically. Of course, I’m speaking for myself, I’m sure the other guys have influences I don’t know about.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

He’s also not afraid to give local artists their due, “I’d have to say my two favorite bands in San Jose right now are Doctor Nurse and Worker Bee. Yes, they’re my friends, but I’m not getting paid off in any way. I tell them all the time.”

Amonie just finished their forthcoming album at Tiny Telephone in San Francisco, and their current offerings can be found on Facebook.