Chief

Chief

Formed at NYU, Chief is yet another profiteer that headed west in the current gold rush of indie folk. The Santa Monica quartet has the right look and sound, with relaxed harmonies that suggest CSN&Y by way of Fleet Foxes, especially in sun-kissed opener "The Minute I Saw It." The band's full-length debut, however, still turns up drier than Laurel Canyon. Like most of Modern Rituals, "Nothing's Wrong" because it was assembled piecemeal in Pro Tools, stiff and lifeless. "In the Valley" and "Wait for You" could almost pass as Americana versions of the Walkmen, were it not for the dreadful lyricism, the latter lamenting, "My heart is aching and I'm scared, but I don't care." The languid guitar rock of "Breaking Walls" and "This Land" would be better suited for Christian radio. Therein lays Chief's hidden draw: Your parents might like it. (2:20pm, Austin Ventures stage)