Tar Queen lay down some psych vibes at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 5, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Self-proclaimed stoner rock band Tar Queen opened a free show at the Montreux Jazz Festival’s Rock Cave last week with the rolling psychedelic number “Roger Mojo.”
The song is a new single in 2016 from the quartet, hailing from Freiburg, Switzerland, and it marks an exciting evolution in the band’s sound since the release of their last album — 2013’s Continuum. I didn’t know any of this before walking into the Montreux Jazz Festival of course, but it was a terrific experience to pick up on new discoveries like Tar Queen at the renowned festival, particularly Swiss bands like these gents that deserve a wider audience.
Listen to the groovy, pulsing “Roger Mojo” by Tar Queen on Bandcamp:
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=1436399836 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Together, vocalist and guitarist Mitch Jungo, vocalist and guitarist Michel Cotting, bassist Ott Maradan, and drummer Jean-Marc Wenger cut quite the group. Vocalists Mitch and Michel sing with swagger and passion. Ott wears his instrument low, symbolizing the deep sounds of his bass, and Jean-Marc hits a hot drum while looking like a cool beatnik.
Tar Queen soon play “No Limousine, No Chardonnay But a Black Suit” from their 2013 album, and it carries the same sort of buzzy beats as their new material. And while it has a similar psychedelic vibe, the song is certainly not as heavy and layered as the hypnotic new “Roger Mojo.”
The Rock Cave at Montreux, which holds about 400 people, becomes quite full of the band’s fans as well as curious passerby happy to enjoy a free show. And Tar Queen deliver a show, blasting the audience with waves of hard guitar rock.
Other highlights from the band’s 10-song set include sparkly new single “The Swimmer,” a nostalgia-invoking strummer that allows them to get a little loose. They close out with the title track from Continuum, a brief psych slow jam that spotlights their versatility with their guitars.
To date, Tar Queen have become most popular in their home country of Switzerland and in neighboring France. With their English-language lyrics, buzzy psychedelic hooks, and rock-n-roll swagger, however, they have the potential to gain a bigger audience! Keep your ears open for these guys, and check out their Bandcamp page for more songs, particularly as they seem to be in a busy time of recording!
Meanwhile, the Montreux Jazz Festival, which runs through this Saturday, is offering up a surprisingly full, diverse, and fulfilling free line-up if you happen to be in Switzerland. (Read our general thoughts on the festival and its free programming from my visit last week.)
Here are some pictures of Tar Queen from their show at the Rock Cave at the Montreux Music Festival on July 5, 2016.
