In the past eight years, CHON have gone from playing local shows in their hometown of San Diego to a spot on the Billboard 200 and tours with Animals As Leaders and Circa Survive. The easiest category to put CHON in would be instrumental, but that doesn't do the band justice. On their debut full-length Grow, CHON incorporate prog rock and jazz with lightning quick picking, staccato drumming and buoyant melodies, creating a sound that's fresh, exciting and wholly their own. (They even add vocals to a couple songs, Can't Wait and Echo.) There are intricacies to the songs on Grow, but the band's approach to writing music is simple and organic. We have fun writing this kind of music, says guitarist Mario Camarena. We don't take it too seriously; it's just music we naturally write. I hope people who enjoy our stuff have fun listening to it.

Specs