Psychedelic Rock from Stray Owls

Hailing from the town of Mebane in North Carolina, Stray Owls are a rock outfit walking their own path. The trio features the talents of Jerry Kee on drums, mandocello, keyboards and bass, Matt French on guitar and keyboards and Scott Griffiths on guitar and bass, with each member also adding their vocals to the sound.

Although their influences stem from classic rock, with nods to iconic acts like Pink Floyd, Stray Owls’ sound is truly original. Their music also pulls from the retro-futuristic indie pop stylings of bands like Grandaddy, creating a unique blend of genres that cuts across various rock sub genres.

The result is something familiar yet entirely new, offering a listening experience that appeals to both classic rock aficionados and those with a taste for experimental indie sounds. First unveiling their shared sonic vision in 2017, they released their debut album, A Series of Circles, followed up by a double single the next year before their sophomore record, Stray Owls Versus Time and Space, dropped in 2020.

Having spent three years crafting their third LP, they’ve just released the twelve-track album When the Going Gets Weird. Bringing us the opening track and second single lifted from the record, they share the song titled “Hey Now Now,” a superb showcase of the psych rock side of their musical output.

Opened by bright instrumental plucks, the crash of drums ushers in a bold arrangement of guitar layers and lively percussive patterns. With subtly spacey vocals delivering punchy lines above, a gripping sound casts an anthemic rock sound that filters a 70s-tinged vibe through the band’s kaleidoscopic stylings.

Flowing with splashing cymbals and rolling drums, the epic instrumentation collides as catchy vocal hooks forge an instantly memorable sound. Drifting through moments of hazy dreamscape and rousing choruses, “Hey Now Now” sees Stray Owls deliver a sound that’s thoroughly timeless and entirely compelling from start to finish. As they continue to impress with their mix of distinct songwriting and pure musicianship flair, Stray Owls have marked their return in truly spectacular fashion.

Listen to Hey Now Now below