Vetiver

Vetiver combine lush layers of acoustic strings and delicate vocals with a touch of carefree psychedelia. After moving to San Francisco from North Carolina, frontman Andy Cabic joined forces with singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart, violinist Jim Gaylord and cellist Alissa Anderson for Vetiver's self-titled debut, released in 2004. With guests including Joanna Newsom, Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval and former My Bloody Valentine drummer Colm O'Ciosoig, the album brought a warm balance between late '60s country rock, Americana and D.I.Y. minimalism that pleased the indie masses. Gathering more of Cabic's friends for Vetiver's sophomore album, To Find Me Gone, the group expanded and polished their sound with bigger beats and electric guitars. A follow-up came in 2008 with Thing of the Past, a collection of covers by singer-songwriters including Townes Van Zandt, Michael Hurley and Dave Brock, that revealed some of Cabic's favorite forgotten tracks from 1967-1973.