At my first Dazzling Strangers show at Kimo’s in San Francisco last year, the Chris Streng-led band ripped through a roaring cover of the Electric Prunes’ “I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night.” I was with a group of friends that evening, and since none of them were familiar with the original classic 1960s psych rock single, they misheard it as “I Had Too Much to Drink Last Night,” and one could hardly blame them. Chris did appear drunk, and a few days later, he confirmed it as fact through an email. This cat became more curious by the minute.

The curiosity factor increased yet again when I spun the Dazzling Strangers’ debut album, The Stars Are Ours. Only one song, “Single Girl on a Sunday Morning,” even remotely resembled what I recalled hearing on stage at Kimo’s (…and guess what? You can relive that show along with me since I covered it for Popdose). Not only that, I couldn’t tell you if that particular song was even played. There were drones, acoustic guitars, light electronic beats, blips and bleeps, and not always in the same song; whereas the live presentation I heard was a loud, raucous rock band tearing it up like Mission of Burma were the new big thing. (more…)