Pretend are as haunting and majestic as the verdant monoliths of their home in Thousand Oaks. Members Luke Palascak, Timothy Ramirez, Michael Russell, and Joel Morgan have played together since 2005, and in winter of 2007/2008 they spread laid their roots and branched out in every direction, with shades of Slowdive, American Football, Sonic Youth, and Prefab Sprout influencing, but never overtaking their creations.
Melodic counterpoint, cymbal swells, and calculated dynamicism will bring listeners to their knees with reverence, hands outstretched and grasping. Songs are atmospheric and epic, so masterfully produced that fans of Owen, Caspian, and This Town Needs Guns will think it a travesty that Pretend are not more well known. They released the debut LP Bones In The Soil, Rust In The Oil late 2010, and have been quite secretive, but despite their lack of social media presence the group’s emotive shows in Westlake, Sherman Oaks, and Ventura have gained a cult following throughout Los Angeles and around the world.
Pretend will be performing the final night of Young Lovers’ residency presented with DKFM Radio at Pehrspace with SHEER and Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos) & Eric Gardner (Dot Hacker) — definitely a night you don’t want to miss. Their newest album Tapestry’d Life will release October this year. Listen to "Patternless Tide", part of a 2014 compilation from San Diego’s Topshelf Records. – Ryan Mo