Where the buffalo roam

Mothers, hide your children. A massive, ugly, brown van with Venetian blinds, drawn shades and a mustached driver could be driving to a city near you. It’s Buffalo Creek, and after six years of playing for keg beer at backyard Chico parties, this quartet of rock ‘n’ rollers is planning to snake its show through Northern California to road test its tried-and-true danceable rock on the virgin ears of strangers.

Buffalo Creek is all grown up. The past couple years have turned these backpack lugging students into nine-to-fivers, and along with their diplomas came an established, more mature sound, plus a brand-new record that is clearly the boys’ pride and joy.

“It’s great!” says vocalist Bryn Loosley, his laugh echoing through the cluttered, box-filled back room of Chico’s Sound Source. “This is the first project we feel like we really are behind 100 percent. In terms of audio it sounds great, and we’re really proud of all the song writing. This is the first record we’re really excited about.”

Gritty vocals, smooth harmonies and an obvious old-school country influence make up Signal to Noise, the 13-track album to be honored, and sold dirt cheap, on the road and at an upcoming LaSalles CD release party. Often referred to as a “jam band,” Buffalo Creek, says drummer Nick Bearden, has properly entertained hip-hoppers, reggae enthusiasts, old folks and many, many young bucks. “When we first started, we just wanted to play Merle Haggard songs," Loosely muses. "We’ve become, kind of slowly a straight American rock band."