John Lennon, The Beatles, Neutral Milk Hotel, Spoon, Destroyer, Bowie, The La's, The Bees, The Who, The Kinks, T-Rex, The Walkmen, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, Lee Hazlewood, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, White Stripes, Serge Gainsbourg, Caetano Veloso, The Eels, Elliot Smith, Iggy Pop, Rain Parade, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Fugazi, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Arcade Fire, Townes Van Zandt, Trackstar, Gilbert and Sullivan, Blur, Jeff Buckley, Dwayne, Wilco, Geraldine Fibbers.
“…the Nightlife’s shape-shifting music would side-wind from a twinkling slow groove of acoustic, whisper-sung balladry, to throat-tattered, howling rock—often within the same song, with singer/guitarist Jesse Davis’ reverbed shouts dovetailing into the hazy beauty of bassist Lindsay Mancha’s glimmerglass vocals, while drummer Courtney Olsen kept the music from spiraling into the ether…with the punk/folk schizophrenia of songs like “Cicadas (Sing and Wake the Dead)” the band whirled and spun from arcing whiplash rock to chugging, sunny indie-pop, setting both the eclectic tone for the evening and the musical bar dizzyingly high.” – Web in Front
“I've seen [the Karabal Nightlife] play at least five times now, mostly at Isgoodmusic.com Presents events, and I can safely say that Jesse Davis is a rock god. How many times does a guy like me really use the term "rock god?" Sounds silly, but there's just no other way to state it.”
– Jon Hershfield, IsGoodMusic.com
"The Karabal Nightlife has a knack for spirited performances and a showmanship charm orchestrated in such a way to pull the audience into the act. Always feeding off the pulse of the crowd, the Nightlife refuse to disappoint...Lead singer/guitarist Jesse Davis, whose masterful artistry is the ability to draw the group to the bridge, is both reminiscent and independent of the late Jeff Buckley or the even later James Brown..." - Psychedelic LA Underground
“The band has a mysterious sound that matches their unusual name, and L.A. music-goers who have been lucky enough to be entranced by the band have nothing but love to give back. Jesse Davis (vox, guitar, keys), Lindsay Mancha (bass/vox), and Courtney Olsen (drums/percussion) preserve suspense in their music as it ranges from folk to pop to rock with an irresistible groove. However, as they continue to be unpredictable in genre classifications, there is also a remarkable precision in their songwriting.” – BeatCrave.com
“This is music that is as sincere, open, honest and genuine as it comes. Their gentle, twisty sweeping tunes and epic, Beatles-esque harmonies bury themselves in your subconscious and resurface when you least expect it…” – The Devil Has the Best Tuna
“…[The Karabal Nightlife’s] knack for onstage frolic is as known to locals as their brilliant T.Rex meets Dinosaur Jr. sound...” – LA Underground
“Los Angeles trio The Karabal Nightlife released a promising full length record called The Other Shore in 2006. There was an earnest angst to their playing and the songwriting was quite good ('Sea of Sleep' and 'I Need a Girl' come to mind). The songs the band played for us in [the Groupee.com] session were impressive, seeming to bring a slightly darker, edgier tone to the table.”
- Groupee.com
“Much in music now is fad and karaoke. The Karabal Nightlife is the real deal.”
- SFBurning.com
CLICK HERE to order "The Other Shore"... $9.00 shipped in the US, $13.00 UK and other
The Karabal Nightlife
John Lennon once said "...the poets, musicians and artists are of the age- not only do they lead the age on, but they also reflect the age."
The Karabal Nightlife strive to do just that. Through combining thought-provoking lyrics, pop sensibility, and a raw indie rock sound, the Los Angeles three-piece's music reflects the current world climate of fear, questioning, and hope. Whether the band is combining developed songwriting with post-punk guitars or folk-inspired minimalism, the songs evoke visions of an imperfect but beautiful world.
Music was always second nature for Karabal Nightlife singer/guitarist Jesse Davis. The songwriter was surrounded by musical dramatists during his earliest years. His grandfather Leonard Rosenman composed the music for such films as “East of Eden” and “Rebel without a Cause”, and collectively, Davis’ family placed a high importance on music prior to his birth. His mother played flute, his aunt played violin, his grandmother, the piano.
Davis flirted with a variety of instruments before devoting himself to guitar during high school. After playing with a variety of bands, he realized he wanted to start work on a project that would truly be his own. The musician was always drawn to artists that had something to say (John Lennon, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bob Dylan), and he too wanted to form a musical unit that would both draw listeners in and challenge them. Davis began writing an assortment of songs, and in the summer of 2004, he started playing shows in Los Angeles with bassist Lindsay Mancha and original drummer Dan Grayson. In 2005, this first incarnation of the Karabal Nightlife began work on their debut album, "The Other Shore". The trio spent over a year creating the record. The result was an eclectic musical journey that demonstrated Davis' expansive range as a songwriter and the band's collective imagination.
Upon completing the album, drummer Courtney Olsen joined the Karabal Nightlife as third member. Currently, a rotating cast of musicians join Davis, Mancha, and Olsen to round out the band’s live sound.
The Karabal Nightlife will be heading back to the studio this summer to record a follow-up to "The Other Shore".
Ah... The exuberance and transparency of youthful passion. I may remember those times, but had I forgotten, I would have remembered them here... All the best from the Piney Hills...
Hey Guys! Hope you can make it out to the show this Thurs. Sept. 17th @ Juanita's we're playing w/ Levator (Seattle, WA) and The Electric Children. 5930 York Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90042
Yeah my pseudonym is an attention getter and sounds a helluva lot better than my nerdy real name. Is snakebite some kind of drink? Totally clueless- NYUCK NYUCK NYUCK
