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South San Gabriel

Keeping track of the distinctions between Centro-matic and South San Gabriel could be a full-time effort, if one were so inclined. Based in Denton, Texas, Centro-matic once titled an album South San Gabriel Songs/Music, only to give a splinter faction of the participating musicians—meaning Centro-matic and more friends—the name South San Gabriel and release that album in Europe under the new band name.

South San Gabriel includes the four core members of Centro-matic, plus additional members, but we’ll get to that shortly. You might be inclined to say that Centro-matic material tends to be more rockin’, with SSG its mellow, literary counterpart, and Will Johnson’s solo material as…well…usually (how shall I put this?) skinny-dipping in the abyss—but it would be a gross oversimplification. Each of these projects shares all of the aforementioned respective qualities and more. What is distinctive about the release of Dual Hawks is that we get the chance to hear side-by-side the various ways in which Centro-matic and South San Gabriel complement and play off of each other—sort of the full-length equivalent of a split single.

From Discogs:

Essentially South San Gabriel is a side project of Centro-Matic featuring all four performers of said group joined by guest musicians. Compared to Centro-Matic the music of South San Gabriel is quieter, more introspective and subdued. Their name appeared first in 2000 on the Centro-Matic album "South San Gabriel Songs/Music" causing singer/songwriter Will Johnson and his fellows to use that name for future projects of a quieter nature. The first "real" appearance of South San Gabriel was the split 7" Stark Miami Mines / Satisfy You with Okkervil River in 2002.

From Lastfm:

South San Gabriel, like Centro-matic, emanates from Will Johnson's immense vault of songs. While Centro-matic is best known for their bombastic, fuzz-laden rock songs and Johnson's solo recordings tend toward the sad and sparse, South San Gabriel is the outlet for Johnson's open-ended, hallucinatory pop songs. Featuring a revolving cast of players, including all the members of Centro-matic, it takes on a family and friends collective-like mentality. Often, performers meet for the first time minutes before a set, and this sort of improvisational/communal spirit shapes the wandering nature of South San Gabriel. Though relatively unknown in the United States, South San Gabriel is a known and well-loved venture in Europe, an odd reversal of fortunes for the boys of Centro-matic.