SOUND RENAISSANCE REVIEW

Singer/songwriter, Bodie Plecas, leads California alt/indie-rock band, Picnic Tool. Also joining Plecas, the band features bassist Goffrey Moore and drummer Larry Aberman. 

After moving between Chicago, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania, Plecas settled in California where he recently formed Picnic Tool. On their debut EP, Einstein, the band’s sound encompasses the fuzz-driven base of 90s alt-rock with added elements of rock n’ roll, punk, and powerpop.

The opening track, “Einstein,” kicks the EP off with powerful guitar hooks and Chuck Berry-esq rock n’ roll simplicity. Moving forward, none of the tracks travel the same plane. Plecas brings a slew of influences to the table. The buoyant guitar riffs and unruffled vocals of “Chinese Heart” reminded me of classic Dinosaur Jr. “I Love the Truth” falls somewhere between the feathery songwriting of Tom Petty and alt-rock buoyancy of 90s era Weezer.

The EP ends with “… About Gurls,” a no-frills rock n’ roll anthem. Out of the four songs, this one is the catchiest. Everything from the bright riffage to the clever use of reverb makes this song stand out. Overall, Einstein emits some solid earworms.