Sarah Bethe Nelson – Weird Glow LP Burger Records

Vinyl LP pressing. With her breathy voice and knack for catchy but artful melodies, SarahBethe Nelson sounded like a precocious indie pop newcomer with the release of her 2015 album, Fast Moving Clouds. The truth is Nelson wasa seasoned veteran of the California music scene when her solo debutfinally expanded her reputation outside her hometown. Nelson was bornin Sacramento, California in 1977 and grew up in the nearby foothills. In 2004, she formed the roots rock band Prairiedog with Rusty Millerof Jackpot; the group released it’s first album, To Set Your Calendarson Fire, in 2006, and with the help of musician and producer KelleyStoltz, cut a second album, The Golden Hour, in 2011. Founded inSacramento, Prairiedog had settled in San Francisco before theyfinally called it quits in 2013. Nelson then found herself with abatch of songs that reflected a different creative direction than herold band had. Many of the tunes were informed by Nelson’s job as abartender at the Mission District tavern the Make Out Room. Teamingwith a handful of musicians she’d met through her days with Prairiedogand her nights at the Make Out Room, Nelsonbegan crafting a moody andexpressive new sound, and she once again teamed with Stoltz to cut herfirst solo project. Fast Moving Clouds was picked up for release bythe well-respected California indie label Burger Records, and itimmediately made an impression with bloggers and critics, especiallythe song “Paying,” written from the perspective of a woman working ata watering hole confronting a man who has broken her heart and maxedout his bar tab. Her follow-up, Oh, Evolution, was recorded by PhilManley (the Fresh & Onlys, Moon Duo) and released in early 2017.