10 Artists to Watch 2006

>> Listen: Hear tunes from Comets on Fire and other Artists to Watch.

Psychedelia is something that comes naturally to us," says guitarist Ethan Miller of the LSD-free Northern California quintet Comets on Fire. He describes the original idea for the band, which he started in 1999 with bassist Ben Flashman, as "come up with a few riffs, crack a bottle of whiskey and bang out high-energy anthemic rock." As for Comets on Fire's hair-raising tangle of spiraling guitars, hellbent drumming and whooping-synth effects, Miller says, "Frankly, I couldn't imagine even attempting any of that shit on acid."

SOUND Comets on Fire's new album, Avatar, swings between extremes - the rolling thunder of "Dogwood Rust," the spidery-guitar dance of "Jaybird," the piano-ballad om of "Lucifer's Memory" - with an attention to detail that brings out the group's less obvious inspirations. Drummer-keyboardist Utrillo Kushner "has always had an obsession with Procol Harum," says Miller, also citing the band's interest in the post-blues Fleetwood Mac and acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke. "We're influenced by energies, not riffs."

COMET TAILS A lot of moonlighting goes on between records and tours. Miller has a bluesier side combo, Howlin Rain. Kushner unleashes his inner prog-rock under the solo alter ego Colossal Yes. And Chasny has Six Organs of Admittance. "Comets on Fire are a communal democracy," says Miller. "It's a release for us to be the kings of our small islands, outside the band. Then everyone brings good stuff back from their canoe trips." DAVID FRICKE

>> MORE: Listen to songs by the 10 Artists to Watch!