Space Raft “Paper Airplanes” b/w “Iron Eagle” 2016. Dusty Medical Records. Tonight we’re heading to Anodyne to see Space Raft open for another Dusty Medical Records artist, Greg Ashley (his record release show), and Phylums (also on DMR). We’ve seen Space Raft bunches of times – I’m pretty sure all four of the guys in the band live in our neighborhood – and most recently I caught them at Calliope’s record release show a couple of weeks ago where Space Raft’s brand of psychedelic power pop provided a light introductory touch opening for Calliope’s heavier brand of stoner rock.

Both “Paper Airplanes” and “Iron Eagle” have a chill 70′s rock vibe, without sounding old or stale. The guitar, vocals (Jordan Davis) and keys (TJay Christenson) provide a brightness to the solid rhythm section (Tyler Chicorel on drums, Jon Heibler on bass). The sunny sound has me longing for outdoor summer shows (one of the first times I saw Space Raft was up in Appleton at the Mile of Music festival a couple of years ago where they played in the back of an alley, lit by a brilliant patch of sun on a perfect August afternoon).