A cult to follow, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians’ soulful sounds burrow into the hearts of their devoted and faithful followers. This four member band is fronted by Dwayne (lead singer, rhythm guitarist and lyricist) and accompanied by Jessica (bassist/organist) , Cary (lead guitars) and Bryan (drums), and lists musical inspirations and influences as diverse and as far reaching as their global following. The SRD’s manufacture catchy and sometimes dark tunes and have built upon the foundations of seasoned blues artists and the bands of the psychedelic eras, both past and present, to carve a niche unique to themselves and their generation. “When you’re in between everything, what does anything mean?” Existential concepts and thought is riddled throughout the entirety of their music, leaving the listener with the sense that they have company and comfort even when alone. They preach the gospel of a generation now at the helm. Unlike traditional cults and organized religion, the sermon is simple. Nature is the way. Our generation is spiritual and internal, yet we are the first without God. “You came in on this life, and you’ll leave all alone.” We take responsibility for the circumstances of our lives, for conventional wisdom has shown us only to place blame because of happenstance and disappointment. “And if you dream of beauty, love and freedom for us all - you have to realize that nature is the law.” And lastly, letting go of your “self” is a responsibility entrusted to humanity, for being lost is the human condition. It is a sermon that previous generations may find cold and dark as our fathers scratch their heads pacing the floors of their suburban homes pondering its significance, but truly, the message echoes the voice of a generation that is transfixed on realism and aware of the cruxes of life rather than a hope for a long-shot miracle. “We don’t know how it started; we don’t care how it ends. Who the hell needs a pardon when you don’t believe in sin?” The word of the SRD’s. Not lost in the message, is the underlying connotation of hope and solace. Rooted deeply in their music, is a clear appreciation of life’s peaks and lulls. The SRD’s hold steadfastly to the belief that even if life is nothing but a series of incidents and accidents, we are enabled by a divine spark to endure and best every swell. Having recently licensed their debut album to the German label “Beyond Your Mind Records”, the Davidians are awaiting the release of “Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs” set for May 18th, 2007 in 16 E.U. nations. This band is all about digging life and giving thanks and praise to the people, places and things that make it such a soulful and  extraordinary experience.  “Well, here I am.  I've found my place. My time is now in time and space. This big old world I was born to face, I’m gonna do it right.  I'm gonna make it great.” This mass has ended. Go in peace.            Written by M.Wesley

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Song

By Simon Minter / DISKANT

The Davidians were featured on the excellent Psychedelica Volume One compilation with the reverb-heavy, swooning 'Getting By'. This is included here on this twelve-track album, which follows similar stylistic themes to that track: blissed-out shoegazing guitar music with one foot in the dreamy Californian desert of the late '60s, the other in the introspective, effects-drenched world of Ride, Slowdive, Spiritualized, the Telescopes and so on.

As the album goes by, the mood rarely deviates from a sleepy-eyed, drowsy tempo. Vocals are delivered in a soft drawl that heavily recalls Richard Ashcroft when The Verve were at their best (circa A Northern Soul, as if you need to know), and the music is a fantastic blur of echoed, sweet guitar, with Hammond organ tones filling out the background. It's to the Davidians' credit that they don't let the soporific nature of this music dip into a dirge - it's carefully handled and contains enough melodic richness and drug-addled hypnotic grooviness to keep things fresh.

The music also steers clear of a kitsch '60s bubblegum trap by introducing dark elements that create a foreboding sense of night on tracks like 'Inbetween Everything' and 'Don't Get Hung Up', with brooding basslines and thick swells of sound that create a fog of sound that hovers in the room. Final track 'No Tomorrow' sees the album out with a pained and desperate sense of anguish - bluesy guitar lines developing into a mantra of noise that ends up exploding into itself.

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians

By Jonathan Green

In this ever-shrinking world, we tend to see blips in our expectations of what cultural products various geographical areas can produce. For example, you can find beautiful Scotch made in Asia and excellent Sushi in Halifax. In the Stevenson Ranch Davidians, I found some great British pop from sunny California.  The band has recently released a self-titled EP of lush, dark, dream pop that would not sound out of place on a mixed CD with The Doves and The Verve. I had to know more so I tracked down head Davidian, Dwayne (the bandmembers only seem to go by first names) to ask him to put my mind at ease about this cultural anomaly. 

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians head for the stars

By Paul Zimmerman, First Coast News

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians is a trip to outer space with stops at the moon and the afterlife. Songs lackadaisically swirl about and envelope your stereo as they lift you skywards into the heavens. “Subliminal Lover,” and “Better Day,” for example, are snoozy gloriously lazy tunes perfect for sunny afternoons. While “Nothing’s Cliché,” is also subdued it is far from being trite and sounds like Jason Pierce on a West Coast holiday; the song is a hit waiting to happen. On the other hand, “No Tomorrow,” is the best song the Dandy Warhols never wrote! It’s a cynical and sedate rocker that is the EP’s peak.

Whether in space or back on Terra Firma The Stevenson Ranch Davidians is a solid psychedelic trip that while passive is never lifeless. It’s an impressive debut that only hints at how much potential this band has. The hardest part for The Stevenson Ranch Davidians will be making music that some how stays rooted firmly on the ground while reaching for the stars. That shouldn’t be hard because they are one with the universe after all!

Review from Britain's Music Press
03 Mar 2005 by Dr Nick

This record is absolutely stunning, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians make beautiful laid back trippy indie rock. They’re from Los Angeles but have a very English sound that is instantly likeable this band could very easily come out of Manchester which they actually list as one of their influences, at the same time they have a very distinctive sound that is their own. Opening track ‘Nothing’s Cliché’ is breathtakingly beautiful with the melodic guitars perfectly complimenting the vocals with the deep bass and slow drumbeat making this song absolutely perfect. As ‘Getting By’ starts though you begin to realize that this band really are something special and that all six tracks are going to be equally as good as the first. ‘No Tomorrow’ which sounds a like a slowed down chilled out version of The Music and ‘What Goes Around’ which reminds me a little of recent R.E.M (new adventures in hi-fi, reveal etc) are further highlights.