Farmer Dave Scher: Still Tripping

When I found out the California dreamer Farmer Dave Scher was about to come out with a new album, I couldn't help smiling. Best known from previous bands Beachwoods Sparks and All Night Radio, Dave is now releasing Flash Forward to the Good Times on Kemado Records come August 18. I’ve always been a big fan of his psychedelic trips of music with All Night Radio -- first encounter was way back in 2003 at the Bowery Ballroom for Sub Pop’s music showcase. When I chatted with Dave, I thought he’d been beamed from 1969 due to his verbiage, aesthetic, and of course his tunes. (Quite an impression this musician made on my ears.)

So when his new album reached my mailbox, there was yet another smile on my face. Surprisingly, its direction has changed—just slightly—compared to Dave’s sounds that I’ve come to adore. Don’t get me wrong ... if you’re in the mood to smoke a little weed and go far out, like way far out, Flash Forward to the Good Times will be a perfect choice. Yet there’s an element of big band arrangements peppered with a subtlety of country twang on tracks like “Flash Forward 2 the Good Times” and “Bab’lone Nights.” My favorite songs retreat to his spacey-surfer vibe—“You Pick Me Up” and “Surf Out Sunset” will definitely be on repeat during summer drives to the beach.

Dave’s playing in Brooklyn tonight with Jenny Lewis at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Hopefully I can make both his show in da’ Burg and Santigold’s set back in Manhattan at Terminal 5. Tough to execute, but you never know. However, I heard threw the grapevine that he’ll most likely come back again to New York City sometime this summer. Stay tuned!