Biography
Drawing from 1960s psychedelia, reggae, and African musical traditions, the alt-folk ensemble Bad Weather California fashions soundtracks suited to any spontaneous gathering or intense experience. Formed in 1998 under the name the Love Letter Band, the project issued several releases through Stewart Anderson of Boyracer on his 555 label before a series of personnel shifts prompted a rename to Bad Weather California, after the preferred moniker California proved unavailable because of an existing Los Angeles roots-rock act. Core personnel include singer/guitarist Chris Adolf, guitarist Adam Baumeister (Littles Paia, DJ Freedom Hater), bassist/guitarist/backing vocalist Joe Sampson (A Dog Paloma, Wentworth Kersey), and drummer Logan Corcoran (M Pyres, Team Awesome). Adolf and Baumeister first connected via the home-recording scene of the late 1990s, while a mutual acquaintance introduced Adolf to Sampson by 2002. In fall 2006 the group joined Mount Eerie on tour, followed a year later by a single issued on Happy Happy Birthday to Me and a spring 2008 appearance supporting Daniel Johnston. The ensuing winter marked the first performances alongside Akron/Family, initiating an extended association, after which the band unveiled its debut album Young Punks on States Rights. Entering 2011, Bad Weather California enlisted Akron/Family singer/multi-instrumentalist Seth Olinsky to track the follow-up Sunkissed at High Bias Studios in Detroit, bridging the wait with a limited-edition collection of demos and live recordings on St. Ives. The balance of that year included shows with Meat Puppets and another single for Fire Talk; early the next year the band again toured with Akron/Family while placing Sunkissed on the Akron/Family imprint Family Tree.
Albums
