Psychedelic-rock band Legend of Bigfoot will release its first EP at Winterland in Bremerton this Friday in preparation for a full-length album later in the year.
Legend of Bigfoot, a band with Tacoma roots that frequents the Kitsap music scene, will play at 9:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 27 at Winterland, 1220 Sylvan Way, Bremerton. The band’s first EP will be for sale throughout the night.
The band has been focused on releasing an album to the public and the four-song EP is a step in the right direction, lead guitarist Jason Flom said.
“We’re really looking forward to playing Winterland,” Flom said. “I am hoping this gig will draw more of a fan base from the Kitsap area.”
The name, Legend of Bigfoot, came from the two founding members’ Northwest roots. Flom and lead singer and band founder Mike Krushka grew up in the 1970s, a time when Bigfoot was becoming a true Northwest legend.
“It’s a popular legend around here and I was actually reading a book about Bigfoot while we were coming up with a name,” Flom said.
With music influences from bands like Pink Floyd, Black Crowes, Led Zeppelin and Screaming Trees, the sound that emerges from the stage is not typical for a Northwest band.
Krushka formed the band with a particular sound in mind and the only thing that has changed is how “spacey” the music has become, Krushka said. When he was younger, Krushka went to events like Endfest at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, where he saw bands such as Radiohead and Soundgarden that played songs with imaginative themes.
“It always blew my mind to see bands on stage,” Krushka said. “Now that I am on stage I want to try and blow people’s minds.”
Krushka adds a level of talent and creativity to the band that makes him stand out on stage, Flom said.
“Mike has a kind of Jim Morrison persona,” Flom said.
Krushka does not try to be like Morrison, but as a singer who was influenced by Morrison in the past his on-stage presence may take that form at times, Krushka said.
Krushka and Flom were the only members of the band when it was formed and have worked together since disbanding their previous groups.
Flom was familiar with Krushka’s music and knew he wanted to work with him. A well-timed phone call right after Flom left his last band sealed the deal.
“I was becoming really anxious to play some gigs, but the groups I had played with in the past just were not up to it,” Flom said.
The six-member band includes: Krushka as vocalist, Flom as lead guitar, bass player Paul Lyon, rhythm guitar Stanford Mead, keyboardist Andrew Childs and drummer Michael Haley.
Lyon is the newest member of the band and Flom said they have been catching him up to speed to get ready for their upcoming shows.
After the release of its EP, Bigfoot will work on a full-length album which it hopes to release next spring, Krushka said. The EP will act as a prelude and help build a following, he said.
“This EP will get us into people’s homes,” Flom said. “And a full-length will hopefully turn some heads.”
