Growing up on a myriad of rock and alternative music the initial chords of “Jess” followed by the vocals and instruments immediately evoke feelings of the Deftones, films like the Crow, Strange Days, The Matrix, cyberpunk and grunge, Queen of the Damned, characters such as Lestat, modern rock idols like Billy Corgan, Kurt Cobain, iconic bands such as Korn, Pearl Jam, and more! Solid State Sunset have really nailed this niche sound that's a clear throwback to the entire 90s and early 2000s whilst also being intensely new feeling and progressive.
I feel like I have heard “Jess” before but only kind of, which is a good nostalgic feeling, is this part of the Underworld or Blade soundtrack? Swooping raspy vocals, an electric guitar solo, a good rolling rhythm of toms that remind me of the quite obscurely underrated Austin Texas band - Pushmonkey, and the mix on the vocals reminds me of the song Capitol by TR/ST.
Already as I am typing this article I’m on my 4th or 5th listen in a row, I honestly have lost track at this point because “Jess” is so nostalgic I keep running it back to figure out all the different bands, frontmen, vocalists, songs, films, moments, and sounds that it reminds me of, maybe that's impossible in a good way or perhaps it's something that would drive me mad trying to figure it all out but if you’re looking for a rock sound that’s a tad familiar but still new enough to be slightly out of your reach… Solid State Sunset are your new band to binge, with only 3 entries into their catalog you’ll be clamoring for more after listening through Jess, Fuck Berwyn, and Pretty Ghosts.
I always know a band is worth even more than what my taste can offer when my wife loves the music I play while writing my articles, in the case of Jess by Solid State Sunset the rock sound was too intoxicating to not immediately start a conversation about what lightning in a bottle moments it brought us back to, music makes us all feel and think different things so i wouldn't pretend to know how everyone should or would perceive songs or the bands and artists that write them but I would hope that upon listening to Jess that you would immediately be transported back to 1994’s Reality Bites (Ben Stiller directorial) - Solid State Sunset should be posthumously added to that soundtrack, that's how strong their ability to nail nostalgia really is! And I love that sound, and I love that about this band.
Artists tend to pride themselves on creating the new and distancing themselves from things already established, but as I get older, and learn more about myself, the world, art and music...I realize creating something new that also calls back to old and what’s been done before in many ways is harder to accomplish, and harder to do in a manner that’s palatable. I know Solid State Sunset is doing that perfectly.
After getting to talk a little bit more with the frontman Ernie, of Solid State Sunset, I learned that 90's kids truly did grow up and wished to make the cool, provocative, and emotionally powerful music we all grew up on!
Here's a bit more background on the new Chicagoland band: Hailing from Cicero, IL, this surf-grunge ensemble channels raw 90s rock energy. Founded in 2020 by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Ernie, the band solidified its lineup in 2021 with drummer Joey and bassist Joel. Recording and engineering collaborator Josh (2022-2023) formally joined as lead guitarist in 2024, completing the current roster. Entirely self-produced, their music emerges from a DIY basement studio—Ernie's homegrown creative hub—crafted with resourceful, hands-on ingenuity.
Solid State Sunset are sure to make a lasting mark on the music industry and bring back a sound us 90's kids all crave!
Click the links below to keep up with their music and socials!
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