Photos by Pedro Paredes // Written by Kevin Quandt //
Craft Spells with The Bilinda Butchers //
The Chapel – San Francisco
July 17th, 2014 //
A sold-out crowd greeted the return of once-local band Craft Spells to the heart of the Mission for a stellar evening of post-new wave tunes – new and old. Leader of the pack, Justin Paul Vallesteros, came out swinging with quick jabs, playing with a rabid enthusiasm on his meticulously crafted songs from most recent release, Nausea (Captured Tracks), as well as old favorites peppered in. It was evident that the majority of the room were familiar with these cuts, and showed their adoration to this rising star.
A recent move to Seattle was a shock to fans, but on this night, it was as if Vallesteros was the current local rock hero, never missing a beat. His sound was infectious to those who were new to Craft Spells as he wove the classic sound of Robert Smith and the Cure with more contemporary acts such as DIIV and Beach Fossils. Expect to hear more from Craft Spells as they settle back into a regular routine of touring.
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