Howlin Rain

• Genre: Blues & Boogie Rock
• Hometown: San Francisco
• Howlin Rain Website

About

Howlin Rain founder and frontman Ethan Miller trades in the heavy psychedelia of his other band, Comets On Fire, for some country-tinged, bluesy rock. With rich melodies and vigorous, warbling guitar jams, Howlin Rain give a nod to the '60s San Francisco sound, as well as boogie and Southern rockers. There are hints of bands like the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead and the Byrds flowing through their freewheeling grooves, as Miller's ragged howls channel C.C.R.-era John Fogerty. Howlin Rain's self-titled 2006 debut featured Miller alongside John Moloney, leader of Sunburned Hand of the Man, and bassist Ian Gradek. After the band hit the road with Queens of the Stone Age, Moloney left the trio and Miller began writing for the band's follow-up album, Magnificent Fiend. Out in 2008, the record boasted complex songwriting and dense layering of intricate guitar, Hammond organ, electric piano and horns aided by a new lineup featuring guitarist Eli Eckert and multi-instrumentalist Joel Robinow of Drunk Horse, as well as drummer Garett Goddard.

- Stephanie Benson