Inflight At Night

The Datsuns were one of those “The” bands lumped in and swept up in the retro rock craze of 2001 and 2002 that saw bands like The Hives, The White Stripes and The Strokes rocket to stardom. While gaining quite a bit attention in the U.K. and Australia (their largest neighboring continent), The Datsuns never really gained a strong foothold in the U.S., which would explain why their 2006 album, Smoke & Mirrors, (after craze had skidded to a halt) was never released stateside. A real shame actually, because Smoke & Mirrors is the band’s finest release to date.

Check out “System Overload” (mp3) from Smoke & Mirrors which though not released in the U.S., I bet you can pick up at Thursday night’s show.

I actually bought Bon Iver’s (aka Justin Vernon) For Emma, Forever Ago after only hearing “Skinny Love” and reading what Duke had to say about it (I completely missed it the first time around when it leaked last year), and have found myself completely smitten with it.

Check out “Skinny Love” (mp3) from For Emma, Forever Ago out now on Jagjaguwar.

I meant to catch Bon Iver in Austin last week but alas it wasn’t in the cards, luckily for you and I, Bon Iver will be playing at The Echo with Phosphorescent and I just happen to have a pair of tickets to give away. I’m not sure if the show is sold out or if it is too late to purchase advance tickets (there are none available on Ticketweb), either way there’s a good bet that this show will sell out, so it would be wise to try to win ‘em here.

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.

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+

I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for the young Nashville band, Be Your Own Pet, an abrasive pop punk group led by the fiery Jemina Pearl who spits biting jabs all those who’ve crossed her or are just plain old lame. Hell, if it’s good enough for Thurston Moore, it’s good enough for me.

BYOP’s new album, Get Awkward comes out March 18th and you can stream the song, “The Kelly Affair” (wma) or (mov), a nod to cult classic film, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

To enter to win a pair of tickets to see Be Your Own Pet and The Raveonettes at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa on Sunday March 2nd, just fill out the form below and tell us in the “message” box what type of animal you would like to come back as in your next life.

Be aware that the show is 21+ and is in Orange County.