Photo by Lenny Gilmore
When four of the six members of Secret Colours left the group last year, it came at the worst time possible. The Chicago band had just released its second album, Peach, to building acclaim, but frontman Tommy Evans and drummer Justin Frederick decided to quickly pick up the pieces. They recruited bassist Eric Hehr and guitarist Mike Novak to fill out the rest of the band before heading to Dripping Springs to work with producer Dan Duszunski. Secret Colours recorded a number of leaner, meaner songs and split them up between two EPs: Positive Distractions I (released before SXSW) and Positive Distractions II, out April 29. On this second EP, the band takes its cues from ’60s psychedelia, but refract the sound through a jagged sensibility. “Heavy & Steady” moves between southern California and Swinging London, all built on a steady groove. The reinvented Secret Colours comes to Austin for Psych Fest in early May–be on the lookout.