Meet Sweet Ultra

Stunning soundscapes and visceral lyricism

Local indie rock band Sweet Ultra drops a full-length album this month, and they want you to come party with them.

The four person band is composed of Blue Snider (vocals), Josh Cox (guitar), Canon Edmondson (drums), and Matt Oliver (bass). Their music runs the gamut from heavy Nirvana-like songs to Pink Floyd-ian ethereal psychedelia. Their single—“Worlds Collide”—is a rockabilly tune that conjures cool Westerns and Tarantino.

Many of the songs—brought to life by Snider’s powerful tenor—feel heartfelt and personal, if not outright autobiographical. One speaks of the narrator’s complicated relationship with his brother. The occasionally angsty lyrics belie a theme of choosing love over anger and harmony over hatred—a topical note in divided times. “Worlds will collide,” sings Snider, “no hate no pride.”

Though their lyrics wax philosophical and some of the songs remind one of dreamy Sixties psychedelia (think Traffic or Ultimate Spinach), the band also cuts some angular, incisive tracks that would put Queens of the Stone Age to shame. On “Now,” Cox crafts riffs that fuse the exoticism of Josh Homme with the minimalism of Larkin Poe. Even Ultra’s more distended tracks entrance and beguile, serving as a nice contrast to their slicker Brit-pop-esque songs.

In particular, fans complement Snider’s voice. As frontman of the band (though not necessarily its leader), he also likes to make audiences laugh.

“I make a few jokes sometimes,” Snider said. “—I’ll say we’re an ICP cover band, or I’ll be like, ‘You guys like ICP?’ or ‘Our next song is an ICP cover.’”

When Oliver, Cox, Edmondson, and Snider first started playing together, the band formed quickly. It wasn’t long before the group started composing songs.

The individual members came together through a circuitous route. Edmondson was partly inspired to take up music when he met Cox in middle school. Edmondson was also influenced by his older brother.

“My brother was a musician when he was seventeen. He was playing all over ... I’d always watch him. I ended up asking for a drum set from my parents, and they didn’t really like that idea, ‘cause I kind of gave up on most instruments that I played. “

“[Drums] are the instrument I feel I was meant to play,” Edmondson said. “When I was a kid, my brother was two years older than me, and he excelled at every instrument. Everything he touched, he would just be automatically good at. And drums was one of the things he didn’t play, and I just fell in love with them. It’s the funnest instrument to play, hands down.”

Because his brother was so talented, Edmondson felt that he almost lived in his brother’s shadow when they were growing up. Times have changed, though. Now, Edmondson’s older brother asks Edmondson to play with him, and has showered his younger brother’s music with praise.

“My brother has nothing but good things to say about me now. It’s weird. I remember being that kid that was watching my brother play, and now my brother wants me to play with him. It’s just weird to be in that position.”

Cox, who was the sole songwriter in his previous band, said he now enjoys collaborating with other musicians on composition, and experimenting with odd chords to create unique soundscapes.

While Ultra’s music is a hybrid of many genres, Oliver labels it “indie rock.”

“By the way, I thought ‘indie music’ was Indiana Jones music,” said Cox.

“This music belongs in a museum!” Oliver said.

Oliver—a true Renaissance man—mixed, mastered, and produced the album, in addition to creating the band’s website.

“[Matt]’s our Donatello,” Snider said.

The band is excited for their new full-length release show on September 30, which will double as a release show for local band Carlton Hesston, who will also perform. Marie Curie will open and Molten Sun Projections will provide a psychedelic light show.

There’s talk of a surprise at the end of the show—so, stick around.

Sweet Ultra and Carlton Hesston album release with Marie Curie
$10 | Saturday, Sept. 30 | 10 p.m.
For location and to RSVP, visit facebook.com/ultrasweetultra