Started in 2005 by singers/multi-instrumentalists Shana Cleveland and Nicolas Gonzalez, The Curious Mystery present a very curious crossbreed of musical styles. Rooted in indie rock — with tinges of ’60s psychedelia, Americana, bluegrass, film noir, and lo-fi — they were sometimes billed as a junkyard band in their earlier shows, due to a penchant for incorporating a random assortment of instruments in their sets. Along with hybrid instruments built by Gonzalez (a gourd with steel rods sticking out of it, played with a bow, for one), it wasn’t uncommon to see melodica, autoharp, banjo, and unpredictable household items like plastic tubes and baking utensils at a Curious Mystery show, alongside the traditional trio of guitar, drums, and bass.
