Little Sur

Hailing from Northern California, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers have a penchant for a sound that transcends their Bay Area roots. The band mixes strands of country, soul, ‘60s garage and ‘70s AM gold, offering a refreshing confidence and songcraft on their debut album, without sacrificing the live character that has brought this band to such prominence after only a few years of touring. While still a fixture on the West Coast, songs like “Little Too Late” with its wisdom-filled hooks, the lovely “Hey Stranger,” the aptly-named “Deep Water,” the charming “Go Go Go” and the ruminative “Always Come Back” pack a subtle-yet-dense musical and lyrical punch, suggesting that Bluhm and her homespun band, including husband Tim Bluhm of the Mother Hips, are ready for not only the rest of the States, but also much more.