Years ago, the West Beach Festival hosted Shades of Day, an Ojai-based band whose infectious mix of rock, pop, and deep grooves nearly stole the show from their main-stage counterparts. Most recently, though, the band released its sophomore album, Take All Night, a 10-song CD that delivers a healthy sampling of the band’s musical interests. The root of the record is classic rock, but the guys keep things interesting by bending the genre to include strains of pop and dancehall. “One Flashing Light” and “Waiting on a Train” are bright, radio-ready songs, while “Sidewalk Sun” gives a nod to The Black Crowes-style hard rock. Other standouts include the catchy “Hollow Man” and “Life Is Amazing,” which highlights frontman B. Willing James’s rich tenor. It’s a solid attempt by a group that definitely deserves to be seen live, and one we think proudly represents the staying power of good old rock ’n’ roll.
Shades of Day
Take All Night