Inflight At Night

The Duke Spirit deserve to be a lot bigger band in the US than they currently are, and hopefully with the release of their new album Neptune, they will become just that. Out already on iTunes and in stores on CD/LP on April 8th via Shangri-La Music, Neptune is as close to a perfect album as it gets (stream it here).

To enter to win a pair of tickets to see The Duke Spirit at The Echo next Wednesday (3/5), just tell us which planet you would travel to if they let you on the space shuttle.

Howlin Rain’s new album Magnificent Fiend hits store shelves this coming Tuesday via American Recordings and Birdman Records. Led by Ethan Miller (Comets On Fire), the man and his band are a site to be seen. Miller, an incredible vocalist and guitarist, belts it out and spazzes out while shredding crazy solos.

If you missed Howlin Rain a couple weeks back when they opened for Black Mountain at the Troubadour or their secret last minute set at Que Sera in Long Beach, YOU REALLY NEED to go to Spaceland on Wednesday (3/5).

And hey you’re in luck, ’cause we’re giving away a couple pairs of tickets. To enter all you have to do it tell us who your favorite “classic” rock band is.

Download “Dancers At The End Of Time” (mp3) from Howlin Rain’s new album Magnificent Fiend.

Orange Sunshine, the early Blue Cheer worshipping Dutch 3-piece named after a particular kind of LSD from the mid-1960s known for it’s orange color, and supplied by The Brotherhood of Eternal Love a southern California-based LSD commune, will hit Los Angeles this weekend.

Formed in a squat in The Hague, Netherlands in early 1999, Orange Sunshine have spent close to a decade honing their 60’s raw psychedelia infused blues rock n’ roll and capturing it on tape using instruments and recording techniques that are the most true to the era they strive emulate. Hell the band even managed to put one over on many record collectors with their first release when they said it was from an excavated acetate from an obscure ’60’s group.

Orange Sunshine play White Slave Trade (122 Glendale Blvd in Echo Park) tonight (2/29), at the Scene Bar on Sunday (3/2), and in Long Beach at Que Sera on Monday (3/3). All shows are with San Francisco’s Dzjenghis Khan.

Download “Balls Knockin” (mp3) from Orange Sunshine’s 2006 release, Bullseye of Being.

Local Los Angeles quartet, Mezzanine Owls, released a brand new digital EP/7″ this week on new start up label JAX Art, the label founded by Rockinsider.

Comparisons to Jesus and the Mary Chain, Ride, and Bright Eyes are being thrown around concerning the band’s amped up sound (in comparison their 2006 full length release), and I fully agree, though maybe I should explain the Bright Eyes reference. Singer Jack Burnside has a similar vocal delivery as Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, that teetering on the edge of a breakdown warble, I think it is what gets the girls.

The more I listen to the new self-titled ep, the more I like it, especially the songs “Drift and “Snow Globe”. “Drift” the opening track is a huge anthem that builds and builds until it crescendos at the chorus and then ends, all the time being anchored by Burnside’s melancholy vocals - a juxtaposition that is present in all their songs. My other favorite song, “Snow Globe”, has a heartbreaking verse that is counteracted by it’s uplifting chorus. In fact most Mezzanine Owls songs take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotional ups and downs, usually leaving you on a high note (thanks).

The 4-song EP is available on all the usual digital retailers, though I recommend picking up the limited (500) 7″ that contains “Snow Globe” and “Temporary Health” and comes with a download card for all 4 songs (including “Drift” and “Ghost Ship” the 2 non-7″ tracks).

Mezzanine Owls play The Echo tonight in celebration of the release of the EP/7″ and will be accompanied by Frankel, Eagle and Talon, and The Mae Shi.

Download “Snow Globe” (mp3) from Mezzanine Owls new JAX Art ep/7″.

Mezzanine Owls new 4-song ep is out now, get it from: iTunes | Amazon MP3 | JAX Art

Today has been really shitty (read paying lots of money to get car fixed) and I really don’t have the patience to deal with posting up any tracks myself, so instead just grab them from rcrdlbl.com (BMW, enjoy your free ad on IfAN, how about we work out some deal where you give me a car).

White Denim were introduced to me a while back by my Car Stereo (Wars) friend who was kind enough to pass along their ep and forewarned that soon everyone would be jocking these guys. Yep. The EP, Let’s Talk About It is pretty good, especially for the drunken party atmosphere where everyone is looking to fuck and get fucked up (tonight’s show, check).

White Denim have a kind of 60’s pysch-pop hyperkinetic Kinks thing going on. The percussion is all over the place and guitar really loose, but everything is steadied by a strong vocal lead. And it is around those vocals that we can all let out a collective sigh of relief that James Petralli’s vocals have a normal masculine tone, there’s no annoying whiney off-key howls or yelps here.

See White Denim tonight at 6th Street Warehouse (or sometimes known as Dave’s Warehouse), and again tomorrow early (like 8:30pm) at Spaceland when they open for British Sea Power and Colourmusic. I recommend tonight’s show at the warehouse, the atmosphere should be way more tuned towards White Denim’s vibe.

Holy Fuck create fucking crazy instrumental electronic-y analog rock (no computers people), A Place To Bury Strangers are loud as fuck, plus locals, In Waves, are opening this motherfucker up.

To enter to win a pair of tickets to see Holy Fuck, A Place To Bury Strangers, and In Waves at Spaceland this Saturday March 1st, just fill out the form below and tell us in the “message” box what swear word you use is too much.

March 1st: Holy Fuck w/A Place To Bury Strangers, In Waves @ Spaceland (1717 Silverlake Blvd) | $10 | 21+