Barn Owl (US)

Psychedelics, infrasound and drones: it might not be the apocalypse, but it’s not your dad’s rock and roll either. The San Francisco-based group Barn Owl follow closely in the footsteps of Earth and Sunn O))), although they themselves admit to finding inspiration in the work of John Coltrane. Their third album, Ancestral Star, released on Thrill Jockey Records in fall 2010, is a fascinating journey beyond the boundaries of music and human perception. Listen to the album that “Drowned in Sound” calls “a record that many could admire, but few could truly love,” but don’t expect a note-for-note rendition on stage — Barn Owl gigs consist mostly of improvisation. The direction their show takes depends on you, as well.