Heron Oblivion

Heron Oblivion formed as a psych-folk quartet based in San Francisco, maintaining close connections to Philadelphia’s underground circles through singer and drummer Meg Baird’s earlier work in Espers and Watery Love as well as her solo releases on Drag City. The remaining members bring deep roots in West Coast psychedelic and indie rock: guitarist Noel von Harmonson and bassist Ethan Miller both played in Comets on Fire, von Harmonson also appeared in Sic Alps and Six Organs of Admittance, and Miller later launched Howlin’ Rain and Feral Ohms. Guitarist Charlie Saufley previously belonged to Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound and later collaborated with Baird and Six Organs. The four players came together in 2013, drawn to shared reference points that stretched from Neil Young & Crazy Horse through British folk-rock acts such as Fairport Convention to Japanese psychedelic noise bands like High Rise. From those touchstones they build expansive, pastoral, occasionally unruly psych explorations anchored by Baird’s sweet, birdlike vocals. Their debut performance took place in April 2014, opening for the War on Drugs, and they subsequently toured alongside Kurt Vile and Cass McCombs. Sub Pop signed the group in 2015, issuing their self-titled debut album in March 2016; two years later they self-released the live recording The Chapel, captured in San Francisco, in late 2017.