On the heels of their single “Up All Night” featuring the legendary Nile Rodgers reaching No. 27 on the Alt Radio Chart earlier this year, The Ramona Flowers dropped by the idobi Radio Studios in North Hollywood, CA, to put on a special performance of their dance-worthy 2022 single, “California.” The four-piece group, comprised of vocalist Steve Bird, guitarist Sam Dyson, keyboardist/guitarist Dave Betts, and drummer Ed Gallimore, stipped down the sun-soaked single for a more relaxed tonality.
“‘California‘ is a song about self-development, making a positive change to be a better version of you, for yourself and others,” lead vocalist Steve Bird shared of the track at the time of its release in March 2022. “It’s about making a family and being an eternal optimist in the face of adversity. This song is also about a very real worry of conceiving a child and the impact of that as a man if you can’t deliver that for the person you love.”
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In contrast to the synth-laden soundscape of its original rendition, the stripped-back live performance of “California” showcases the song’s natural versatility through a mellow tonality. Propelled by the delicate stop-and-go interplay of two acoustic guitars and the rhythmic pulse of the tambourine, each strum and tap injects the track with an undeniable intimacy. As the chorus unfolds, “Articulating/All those crazy/Thoughts and notions swirling round your mind/Is all the rage in California/I just wanna prove to you that I can make a wonder,” the song transforms into a soaring declaration against the backdrop of the understated instrumentation.
Check out The Ramona Flowers’ stunning live performance of “California” below. Be sure to tune in later this week for another live performance with The Ramona Flowers captured at the idobi Radio Studios.
