36 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com MUSIC A moment comes during any song by Katy Guillen & The Drive when you feel something different. The music is restless—not content to loll in the background. It compels you, but not to dance. The songs reach out. They can embrace warmly or shake with emotional vigor—eloquence set to the primal quality of garage rock. “Real tube amps, real guitar—that’s our formula,” Guillen says. “The songs are definitely not commercial.” Informed by blues and rock, there is a prowess to the music, one that Glide Magazine referred to as “a kick-ass throwback.” For Guillen, “songs” refers to that rare space where meaning and music engage the listener. “Set in Stone,” from their 2022 debut album Another One Gained, is plaintive, with Guillen’s lyrics calling out for a response that doesn’t come. Her guitar echoes the grief, but with a hopeful edge. “That song I wrote right after my former band ended,” Guillen explains. “There was no stability. I was missing that feeling. It was a song of growth.” Guillen (guitar) and Stephanie Williams (drums) formed The Drive in 2019. The Kansas City-based duo often perform in the stripped-down formation, showcasing their potent chemistry. Guillen explains that she writes with a full band in mind—bass, rhythm, perhaps keyboards—and their studio recordings include backing members. “We figure out live afterwards,” she adds. “Steph and I play off each other. We work well in a setting where people like live music and like songs.” Williams and Guillen have been together since 2012, when they started Katy Guillen and The Girls. The duo are set to release their second album, Make That Sound, next month. Guillen finds inspiration in the personal experience, with songs that celebrate liberation one moment—“Outcome” is a voice of encouragement for young women with an unrestrained verve and an inspiring guitar solo—then can sink into the throes of vulnerability the next. In “Goodbye Charlie” she strains to convince the listener “I’m getting there.” Their performance at Golden State Theatre will draw from both albums. Fittingly, they open for Robin Trower, a throwback to the guitar-god era. “We love bringing the guitar,” Guillen says. “That’s one of the things people respond to.” Katy Guillen & The Drive 8pm Monday, Sept. 29. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $55- $79. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com. LAVA DREAMS Power Up With a potent guitar sound, Katy Guillen & The Drive are a modern indie-rock throwback. By Dave Faries Stephanie Williams (left) and Katy Guillen (right) form a powerhouse duo. They open for Robin Trower at Golden State Theatre. GIFT One GET One MONTEREY LANES 2161 N. Fremont St., Monterey 373.1553 VALLEY CENTER BOWL 1081 S. Main Street, Salinas 422.9031 STOP IN TODAY AND RELIEVE THAT HOLIDAY STRESS! *Promotional gift card valid 1/2/15-3/31/15. Not valid for alcohol of for league fees. is Holiday Season, spread a little cheer …and keep some for yourself! Buy $100 worth of gift cards and get a $20 Promotional Gift Card FREE* Buy $50 worth of gift cards and get a $10 Promotional Gift Card FREE* Give the perfect gi that can be enjoyed by everyone on your holiday list, PLUS get a gi card for yourself! MONTEREY LANES 2161 N. Fremont St., Monterey 373.1553 VALLEY CENTER BOWL 1081 S. Main Street, Salinas 422.9031
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