Words & Photos by Abbey Braden

SERENA MANEESH, 4:30PM, STILLWELL STAGE

Abbey says: Serena Maneesh was the one band that I knew absolutely nothing about upon attending the festival. I (sheepishly) assumed that they would be the token Anouska-Vashti-Devendra folk act during which I snap 30 seconds of pics, hit the open bar, and catch some zzzz’s on the boardwalk. Well, as usual, my assumptions bit me in the arse and my pace quickened as I approached the Stillwell Stage, drawn in by the sounds of their song “Sapphire Eyes” flooding that side of the amusement park. “Drain Cosmetics” confirmed my interest–I needed to hear more, and now.

This band has something for everyone–a motley mix of instruments and band members that manage to pump out some escalatingly coherent epic sounds. The tattooed Valkyrie chick with a bass guitar, the lead singer swathed in a fringed shawl and perma-pout, and the seemingly buttoned downed guitarist that trash his equipment deliver just short of ostentatious. It’s more of a “we embrace everyone” kind of vibe, which definitely applies to their music. Somehow they miss being obnoxious (note the singer only has a SINGLE scarf wrapped around the mic–the boy knows he hasn’t reached Steven Tyler status yet) and manage to mellow each other out. The sound levels didn’t do them justice however so I am definitely looking forward to the next gig.