LA / LBC / OC
Long Beach’s Magic Lantern have finally gone and released a new sonic document after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. Eagerly anticipated by those who have been biding their time waiting for the band to get on with their uber limited cassette only and CD-R releases (their Self-Titled CD-R was limited to 30), “High Beams”, the band’s latest opus [...]
News Bytes Twitter
During my fifth listen to Pinback’s new album Autumn of the Seraphs, I finally realized its flaw – it’s too good, and for that matter Pinback (the immaculate offering of Rob Crow and Armistead Burwell Smith IV) is too damn good. I don’t mean this in the jocular ass-patting way that is used in sports - I’m serious!
Music adorationists (aka, nerds) such as myself have few opportunities to engage in discussions outside the realm of good and bad music. Typically it’s either “this is shit” or “this is great” and while both assertions provide satisfaction, a more fulfilling occurrence is the falter of an artist we love. More than once have I participated in late night (more than slightly intoxicated) debates about the relevance and genius of an artist such as Radiohead (basically Thom Yorke), taking the defensive position even though there have been songs and even whole albums I find many faults with. But that’s not the point. Read more »
Dark Meat originally uploaded by sandwich!
Recently I have been having a kind of crisis of faith. Not the religious kind, but rather a musical one, where I have been of been drained of any sort of enthuse over music. Thankfully Dark Meat had decided to go on a US tour just around this time and booked a show at the all ages diy venue, The Smell.
Dark Meat’s set last week at The Smell was completely revitalizing, belting through a 30 minute set that ranged from what could be best described as “a marching band on acid” or a “southern hippie tent revival”. I can’t even begin to imagine how the 11-piece group from Athens, GA does a full US tour where I bet they aren’t making more that $200 a night, and that’s probably a good night. But here they were playing Los Angeles to a small but extremely enthusiastic crowd that were just as happy as I was that they finally got see Dark Meat live.
For a taste of Dark Meat’s live set, goto Southern Shelter to download an entire one from a show at the 40 Watt earlier this year.
Download “Three Eyes Open” (mp3) from their excellent debut release, Universal Indians.
[audio:darkmeat_threeeyesopen.mp3]
Universal Indians is out now, get it from: Insound | Amazon
With a name like Film School, and words like goth, indie and shoegazer appearing in various compound-forms when reading descriptions of their new album, Hideout - one may be prompted to avoid it like the plague, or embrace it like herpes. All VD humor aside, references to The Jesus and Mary Chain as well as My Bloody Valentine have been plentiful in discussion of this latest release from the Bay Area quintet, led by Greg Bertens, and for many that’s enough to love it or hate it without ever taking a listen. Being only a casual fan of the aforementioned bands myself I was unsure of how the album would strike me, but having faith in the quality of Beggars Groups’ roster I knew it deserved a fair chance.
Hideout draws you in gently with “Dear Me”, a fairly straightforward song thick in distortion and a chorus full of Bertens long-drawn syl-la-bles, as if to say “it’s okay, eyeshadowed emotional waifs, follow us.” Read more »
Sunday, September 9th: The Spires @ The Echo
Last time you saw them was for the Velvet Underground night, but this time this Ventura duo will be doing thier own thing.
[audio:http://www.beehouserecords.com/mp3s/Autumntime.mp3]
The Spires - In The Fine Autumn Time (mp3)
Monday, September 10th: Airborne Toxic Event @ Viper Room
West siders take note, get out and see Airborne Toxic Event, they’re really good and put a great show, read my short interview with their vocalist Mikel here.
[audio:tate_movingon.mp3]
The Airborne Toxic Event - Does This Mean Your Moving On (mp3)
Tuesday, September 11th: Maserati @ Silverlake Lounge
The closest thing to a perfect night of instrumental rock that isn’t tinged with metal. w/El Ten Eleven
[audio:http://www.temporaryresidence.com/mp3s/maserati_theworldoutside.mp3]
Maserati - The World Outside (mp3)
Wednesday, September 12th: Spoon @ Henry Fonda
Spoon are doing three nights at the El Rey, this is the third and final night. I guess any night would be good if you have tickets, just the shows mentioned above on Mon. and Tues. are quite good.
[audio:http://toolshed.biz/asset/resource/6547/07_The_Underdog.mp3]
Spoon - The Underdog (mp3)
Thursday, September 13th: Ferraby Lionheart @ Troubadour
Did you read Scott’s review of Ferraby Lionheart’s new album, Catch The Brass Ring? Really that should be enough to get you to this show. Oh and supposedly The Brunettes are good, though we haven’t listened yet. w/The Brunettes and Mezzanine Owls
[audio:FerrabyLionheart_3_Vermont_Avenue.mp3]
Ferraby Lionheart - Vermont Avenue (mp3)
Friday, September 14th: Sea of Air @ The Smell
Sea Of Air are local and I am just now getting into them. The bill overall on this night is really good, so it definitely it is worth the trip downtown. Also on Saturday at Spaceland. w/Suishou No Fune and Pocahaunted
[audio:seaofair_rockandlive.mp3]
Sea Of Air - Rock and Live (mp3)
Saturday, September 15th: Great Northern @ Lobster Fest
Listen I know we recommend a lot of Great Northern shows and have gushed about them constantly, but really how can you pass up Great Northern and lobster. Really?
[audio:http://www.eeniemeenie.com/TheMiddle.mp3]
Great Northern - The Middle (mp3)
Photo by thedamnblue, with a couple more here and here
I have had this post sort of semi assembled for a couple weeks now but never posted it cause it a) I wasn’t there and b) too much time passed since this thing took place, but today as I was doing a little house cleaning behind the scenes at inflight, I decided to pull this post out. Not so much for what occured, but more because, fuck I totally love this band right now.
If you were at Fuck Yeah Fest a couple weeks ago or regularly read Buzz Bands, then you probably saw read this, but if not, here is a link to the entire article recounting the author’s (not Bronson) first night at FYF4 and pasted below is the specific part of the article that I want to point out.
Leaving the Echo behind in a race to see Greg Ashley — he of the giant pop obfuscation that is “Medicine F* Dream” — I was waylaid by an iconic act of guerilla rock ‘n’ roll that goes back as least as far as the Beatles’ “Let It Be”: A sloppy, scrappy little quartet from Garden Grove called AM, which had neither applied for nor been invited to play the festival, set up on the sidewalk two doors down from the Echo and began to play an impromptu set of good-times garage-rock. Explaining the tactic, co-lead singer Fonzie said, “[Heck with] venues, [heck with] shows. We’ve got a portable generator!”But what should have been a nice little diversion became an ugly little incident when two bouncers from the Echo decided that the foursome posed a clear and present danger to the festival and attempted to shut it down. Taking a cue from Ringo, the kids kept playing despite some unnecessarily aggressive alpha-male posturing. Instead of waiting for the end of the song to issue his decree, however, one of the muscle-bound bouncers actually tackled singer-guitarist Felipe mid-riff, railroading the skinny non-threat against the iron security gates along Sunset, knocking his guitar — and probably his spine — right out of tune. That was the end of that.
Like I said before I wasn’t even going to post this because I wasn’t there, but what changed my mind was watching American Hardcore this evening and just being pumped on A.M. (fyi, they are not hardcore, the movie just got my blood flowing) for doing what they do - just days after the Fest, A.M. went up and busked around San Francsico.
Anyways, this isn’t meant to stir up shit, just check out A.M., they just put out a brand new cassette. Yes, I wrote cassette.
Download “Tired” (mp3)
[audio:am_tired.mp3]
and “Message To Here” (mp3) from their album 1998 on Paper Made.
[audio:am_messagetoher.mp3]
