Kevin Bronson on August 10th, 2018

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“This is the longest set we’ve played … or maybe ever will play,” Maria Zardoya told a capacity crowd at the Skirball Cultural Center on Thursday night as the Marías headed past the hour mark of dispensing their languid psych-jazz torch songs.

The occasion was Week 3 of the six-week Sunset Concerts at the Skirball. The nights in the comfy semicircular courtyard feature just an opening DJ (Dublab veteran Hoseh established the vibe on this night) and a headliner.

So Thursday night proved a tall order for the young Los Angeles band, who have released only one, six-song EP. Instead of falling back on performing a bunch of cover songs, or extending their own with a lot of noodling, the Marías gave their young fans (and plenty made the trek up the Sepulveda Pass) something special: a slew of new songs from their forthcoming second EP, “Superclean, Vol. II.”

Highlighted by the single “I Don’t Know You,” those songs made for a hazy summer concoction in the soft hues of the Skirball, with its stage backed by a pond, surrounded by greenery that softens the building’s stone edifice and draped in sparkling overhead lights. Zardoya’s buttery voice glided through the dreamy instrumentation, occasionally trading off with drummer Josh Conway’s vocals, and the crowd reacted exuberantly whenever trumpeter Gabe Steiner or guitarist Jesse Perlman engaged in a little scene-stealing.

The Marías’ new EP will be out Sept. 28.

The Skirball Sunset Concerts series continues next Thursday with Ranky Tanky, Aug. 23 with Kishi Bashi and Aug. 30 with Gili Yalo.

||| Live: The Marías play Aug. 19 at Viva Pomona. They also perform at the Tropicália Music & Taco Festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach on Nov. 3-4.

Photos by Jazz Shademan