Although the salutation "Mister" is singular, Mister Heavenly is no one-man show. A trio of innovative musicians makes up the band: vocalist/keyboardist Ryan Kattner (Honus Honus of Man Man), vocalist/guitarist Nicholas Thorburn (Islands) and drummer Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse). Add in appearances by comedic actor Michael Cera on bass for some past tours, Mister Heavenly is a star-studded act that actually lives up to the hype.
While not radically diverging from the styles of their members' respective full-time bands, Mister Heavenly’s sound stands out in the retro-wave indie rock sea. Creating a self-described "doom-wop" sound, the band focuses on catchy melodies that meld the washed-out cooing of Thorburn and the more eccentric, gruffer crooning of Kattner. The band's debut album "Out of Love" from August 2011 gives a taste of their key-heavy, bouncy tunes, notable for vocal harmonies influenced by classic doo wop and single-note guitars riffs echoing surf rock.
Gallery photos by Kelsey McClure.
