Live band performance with guitarist, vocalist, drummer, bassist, and keyboard player on stage under colorful lights.

Ginger Molasses is a five-piece "thrift store rock" band based in Nevada City, California, blending the soul and grit of early '70s rock with a contemporary edge. Their sound recalls flipping through your cool uncle’s record bin in the garage, discovering albums you never knew existed, but, once unearthed, feel completely essential. The beating heart of the band is front-woman Tawnee Kendall, who, with her Tower-of-Power inspired fringed costumes and searing vocals, mesmerizes and ignites audiences. Ginger Molasses’ shows get people on their feet from the jump, with their arc of sultry grooves reminiscent of Rumors-era Fleetwood Mac, to powerful up-tempo soul-jams inspired by Ike and Tina Turner, Little Feat, and Joe Cocker. 

Currently semi-finalists for
High Sierra Music Festival

4 minutes • Audition for High Sierra Music Festival Band Contest • Live Audio

50 Second video • Demonstrates a mid-tempo groove, sultry commanding vocals, and dynamic performance • Live audio from Miner’s Foundry, Nevada City 2024.

45 second video • Demonstrates command of a large festival outdoor stage • “Starts to Spill” audio from 2024 EP release • Live performance from Truckee Music in the Park 2024.

60 second video • Demonstrating upbeat command of an audience and strong performance in a small space • Live audio from Crazy Horse Saloon, Nevada City 2024.

90 second video • Demonstrating high-octane performance on an energetic crowd-moving song • Live audio from Hometown Music Festival, Nevada City 2024.

Full Bio

Live band performance with lead singer wearing vibrant, colorful outfit and wings, guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist on stage.

Bottom of the Hill • San Francisco, CA • March 2024

Ginger Molasses is a five-piece "thrift store rock" band based in Nevada City, California, blending the soul and grit of early '70s rock with a contemporary edge. Imagine flipping through your cool uncle’s record bin in the garage, discovering albums you never knew existed, but, once unearthed, feel completely essential. This is Ginger Molasses.

At the helm is wild child Tawnee Kendall, who has been described as “lightning in a bottle, unleashed.” If Bowie and the Wilson sisters from Heart raised a kid together, it might be Kendall, who blends acrobatic, blistering rock vocals with a theatrical performance style.

She’s backed by a powerhouse lineup: On guitar, Bodhi DuLac’s classic rock leads tempt you to cut school and work and do things that are definitely inadvisable. Nick Overhauser’s creative, dynamic drumming was honed from years in international touring indie rock bands where he shared stages with The Flaming Lips and Sean Lennon. Keyboardist Lessley Anderson’s old school Wurlitzer and B3 organ grooves add that essential soul stank, while bass player Galen Krumel delivers insanely catchy melodic hooks reminiscent of Paul McCartney. 

Ginger Molasses has been electrifying stages across Northern California, sharing bills with bands like Boot Juice, Gold Souls, and Dead Winter Carpenters at iconic venues such as Bottom of the Hill (SF), Boom Boom Room (SF), Miner’s Foundry (Nevada City), and Truckee’s Music in the Park.  Their performances form a dynamic arc of sultry grooves reminiscent of Rumors-era Fleetwood Mac, to powerful up-tempo soul-jams that recall Ike and Tina Turner, Little Feat, and Joe Cocker. With their whimsical, at times absurdist, approach to lyrics and marketing, the band continues to build an engaged community of fans across its media platforms, bringing the party wherever they touch down.

In 2024, they released their self-titled, six-song debut EP on all major streaming platforms, with songs inspired by lust, outsider art, religious cults, and Covid-era paranoia. Now, Ginger Molasses is back in the studio, recording new songs set to be released as singles in 2025.

Like vintage bell bottoms that pop up randomly in a Goodwill and fit you perfectly, Ginger Molasses brings what was cool about the golden age of Rock into a modern context that, frankly, makes your ass look hot.  So kick back on your shag rug, grab your lighter where you stashed it in the macrame owl plant hanger, and get ready to wave it in the air.

Truckee Music in the Park • Truckee, CA • July 2024

Band performing on stage with guitarist, vocalist, drummer, bassist, and keyboardist under colorful lights.

Miner’s Foundry • Nevada City, CA • October 2024

Band performing on stage at a harvest festival, with pumpkins in the foreground and a "Ginger Molasses" sign visible.

Hoes Down Music Festival • Guinda, CA • October 2024

Listen to our debut album.

Our self-titled album was recorded at Light Rail Studios in San Francisco and released July 2024. We are currently in the studio recording more tracks which will be released as singles across 2025.

Band called Ginger Molasses posing for a photo outdoors, with five members in vintage attire, standing in front of foliage.

Connect with us.

gingermolassesband@gmail.com

Instagram | YouTube | Facebook

Upcoming

Past Events

  • Crazy Horse Saloon with Wreckless Strangers - Nevada City, CA - March 2025

  • Boom Boom Room with Lazwell - San Francisco, CA - February 2025

  • Crazy Horse Saloon with The Gold Souls - Nevada City, CA - November 2024

  • Miner’s Foundry Forty Fest - Nevada City, CA - October 2024

  • Hoe’s Down Music Festival (33rd Annual) - Guinda, CA - October 2024

  • Green Room Social Club with Katie Knipp - Placerville, CA - September 2024

  • Hometown Roll Call Music Festival (benefiting Yuba Harm Reduction) - Nevada City, CA - August 2024

  • Music in the Park with The Blues Monsters - Truckee, CA - July 2024

  • Honey Hills Music Festival - Nevada City, CA - May 2024

  • Bottom of the Hill with Dead Winter Carpenters + Boot Juice - San Francisco, CA - April 2024