www.montereycountynow.com JULY 16-22, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 33 MUSIC Guitarist Bryan Cohen, drummer Zia Uddin and bassist Paul Christofferson were hanging out in Brooklyn a few years ago. Out of the blue, they hit upon a band name inspired by 1960s garage rock and doowop sound: The Jaws of Brooklyn. Despite the origin story, The Jaws of Brooklyn hail from Seattle—mostly. Two backup singers are traveling with the rest of the band out of Austin for a West Coast tour. But they liken their band caricature to a gang out of West Side Story. “It’s not like a real tough gang,” Cohen says. “It’s like a gang that might do a dance routine.” This is the band’s first foray into the jaws of Monterey County, but they’re already used to coastal cuisine—meaning they’ll likely fit in. The two backup singers were found when the band was performing at an event called Seafood Fest in Seattle last year. That kind of coastal atmosphere works well for the band’s 1960s rock sound. “We love playing spaces that have indoor/outdoor components to them,” Cohen explains. The only other thing that keeps the band going besides fun venues is coffee, which Cohen says adds to their foodiness. Coastal vibes and caffeinated beverages aside, the vocals of The Jaws of Brooklyn are brought to life by frontwoman Gretchen Lemon. Her cool voice has a surfy go-go tone to it, accompanied by clean guitar, groovy basslines and high-pitched, percussive piano. The band’s 2026 EP title track “Unstoppable” is the perfect theme for catching a sunset with your best friends. The Jaws of Brooklyn favors simplicity in melodies, lyrics and song titles. It’s the type of tone for light and long summer evenings reminiscent of not only garage rock, but girl groups and retro soul jams. Their 2025 EP Crush on You is one that could have been produced straight from that era— and unless you read the fine print on the vinyl case, you may think it is. The fact that each of their studio releases are pressed onto vinyl speaks volumes about the group. Cohen says they’re excited to travel here. Pop & Hiss does, after all, have plenty of vinyl to dig through, and great seafood is just around the corner. The stop in Monterey County is sponsored by local radio station KRML. The Jaws of Brooklyn performs 7pm Saturday, July 18. Pop & Hiss, 215 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. $5. All ages. popandhiss.net. KYLE ROTHWELL Time Warp The Jaws of Brooklyn drops into Pacific Grove with 1960s-inspired coastal tunes. By Sloan Campi Frontwoman Gretchen Lemon (center) leads on vocals, but The Jaws of Brooklyn brings together a choral medley of singers—who also share an interest in food and coffee. MO MANDEL RYAN RODRIGUEZ DAUOOD NAIMYAR JOIN US FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT OF COMEDY LIVE FROM THE BARREL ROOM. FRIDAY JULY 24 www.folktalewinery.com MORE GREAT TICKETED EXPERIENCES COMING SOON Bubbles, Brunch & Beats Dine in The Vines An elevated brunch experience accompanied by smooth grooves. Fine dining paired with amazing wines among a beautiful setting in the vines. DAUOOD NAIMYAR MO MANDEL RODRIGUEZ
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