The Heavy Guilt is an unlikely blend of divergent influences meeting in the middle to form something raw, fresh and potent. Based in San Diego, the band’s first album, Lift Us Up From This, features Josh Rice on the keyboard and Alfred Howard on lyrics and percussion, both former members of the K23 Orchestra. Newcomer Erik Canzona is on vocals and the band is rounded out by Sean Martin on the electric guitar and Jason Littlefield on upright and electric bass. On the kit is Jason Smart, formerly of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and frequent collaborator with Fareed Haque. These bold players, not yet household names, are driving their stake hard into the soil of great American rock music.