Ventura County's exploding music scene has just served up another red hot Rock 'N' Roll band who, though not a new act, has just touched off their first album entitled MAYDAY. The debut album, written over two years and recorded in the band's posh rural studio located in an old barn near Ojai, represents the tight and intuitive collaborate effort focused on shaping each individual track. The result is a unique musical journey that on one song might blend influences of the Greatful Dead with Blue Oyster Cult, while on another shoots through hints of bluegrass and jazzy arrangements on its way to a twist of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Strong percussion, melodies and vocals maintain the band's pumped-up classic rock feel that makes your hairs stand on end. But it's the well placed harmonica, sax and other musical goodies that keep listeners wanting to dig around MAYDAY's enticing grab bag of tunes.
~Christopher Fielder
Shades of Day in the Press
"...Anyone caught in the Ojai foursome's crunchy twin guitar attack will know that this band understands and embodies the spirit of the age. Not the ACTUAL 70's, mind you, but the glorious neverland 70's that exist only in the minds of music geeks under 30 who, somewhere along the line had the good fortune to discover the first decade or so of the Stones. Rock and roll from before it was exiled from the garden, from before it knew it had anything to be embarrassed about..."
- Chris Klimek Ventura County Reporter
"...Classic 70s-inspired wailing cock-rock, but with more than a hint of romantic chivalry that soon has the guys in the crowd fired up, and the girls standing in a slippery little puddle.... With wailing vocals, searing guitar hooks, and a punch-tight rhythm section, they take the phrase in your face literally, and they deliver on that promise. Hold on to your hat, cuz your assll belong to Shades of Day..."
- Brier Random Santa Barbara Independent
"...For some strange reason, my first impression of this song was "Foriegner meets Soundgarden"...what a great combination! The guitar work is extremely retro-70's, the vocals are early to mid 90's, and the song gives an overall impression of modern rock. The musicianship of this song is simply to die for! I love the recording quality of this track, professional all the way. Lyricaly strong, structurally strong.... An awesome track....let me know when I can buy the CD!!!..."
Review of Love Ain't Gonna Break Me Mixposure.com
"...There are a few rock 'n' roll cliches that are as tiresome as they are true. The show never starts on time. The thirstier you are, the more invisible you are to the bartender. The T-shirts cost too much and the prettiest girls are always with the band, in this case, Shades of Day..."
- Bill Locey Time Out
"...Every once in a while a random visit to the club results in a new favorite band. This last Friday night at the Velvet Jones club in Santa Barbara I had one of these moments. The band was Shades of Day...The singer is shirtless and swales and swings with the feel of a famous Plant. The drummer is literally Animal from the Muppets - shirtless and all. And the guitar player, well not only did he spend more hours than most perfecting his pentatonics he friking rips em to shreds. Not without merit is their bass player who through enough deep end punch to make it vibrate your ass off the stool and end up on the floor. Just the kind of player I like, reluctant and solid...So keep an eye out for a chance to see these guys play and surf on over to their site for a few listens to what may be the debut of the year and are by far my favorite local rock band..."
- Unknown - Streethound.com
"...Upon finishing the building of their rural studio which they appropriately christened the Barn in 2004, the group wasted no time utilizing the equipment they had just installed. It took them two years to complete the album because, James explains, their music and knowledge of the recording process evolved at such a rapid pace they had to constantly re-record material they felt wasnt up to par with the stuff they were doing only a few weeks later. But the end result appears to have been worth it: the album is muscular, melodic and strikingly mature..."
- Matthew Singer Ventura County Reporter