Heavy Gus - Notions (2022)

Born of the stark beauty and bittersweet desolation of the high desert, Heavy Gus blurs the lines between grungy garage band fare, hazy surf, and dreamy indie rock on their captivating full-length debut, Notions. Bristling with live-wire electricity, the collection is lean and spare, fueled by distorted guitars and a driving rhythm section, and the performances are loose and organic to match, captured spontaneously in the moment with little room for overthinking or second-guessing.

Heavy Gus formed in 2020 in the high desert of Bishop, California. Songwriting couple Dorota Szuta and Stelth Ulvang (of The Lumineers) teamed up with drummer Ryan Dobrowski (of Blind Pilot), and the trio’s organic chemistry nudged them to drive cross-country to live-record in Nashville. Reminiscent of bands like The Breeders or Acetone, Dobrowski’s tasteful drumming paired with Ulvang’s instrumental landscaping provide a familiar cushion for Dorota’s lush guitar tones and vocals.