Strawberry Alarm Clock - Wake Up Where You Are (2012) review

If you know anything about LA’s vibrant
psychedelic scene in the 1960‘s, than you’ll recognize the band name Strawberry
Alarm Clock. Their first single and most
popular “Incense and Peppermints” made such a huge impact, airing on numerous
radio stations across America and featuring in the motion picture Psych Out, we
were certain Strawberry Alarm Clock was going to be equivalent in America as
The Yardbirds in England. However, SAC
went through several different band members over the years and never released
another album for decades, leaving us high and dry.

In March of 2012, all that changes when SAC
put the pieces together with band members Gene Gunnels, Mark Weitz, Randy Seol,
George Bunnell, Howie Anderson, and Steve Bartek. Their latest 14 song album “Wake Up Where You
Are” takes you back to that long-forgotten, euphoric California. Out of the gates you’ll be in the middle of
what started the entire 1960’s psychedelic era.
‘Mr. Farmer’ startles you into an acid-rock frenzy and has you thinking,
“I thought these dudes were in their 60’s.”
‘Charlotte’s Remains’ will have you gazing out into the swelling surf
with its guitar-swirling, woozily long-winded drone. Although it took SAC over 40 years to release
an album, the stellar album is worth the wait.
If you caught their performance at this year’s Echoes West Fest in LA,
you’ll know Strawberry Alarm Clock hasn’t missed a beat from their hit single
back in 1967.

Review made by Shawn Butzin / 2012