Latest Review: Magic Lantern - High Beams

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 [...]

Dead Meadow, Darker My Love, Entrance at the Echoplex

Entrance at the Echoplex by Amateur Chemist

I’m a little behind here because I’ve been so busy this week, but on Sunday night Scott and I headed out to the Echoplex for L.A. Record’s 25th issue release party with Dead Meadow, Darker My Love, Entrance, and Phantom Family Halo.

This night was actually my first time down in the Echoplex, which is really nice, with great sound, big stage, two bars (much needed if you are familiar with busy nights at The Echo upstairs), and a pretty good amount of seating located through out the room. Unfortunately we missed Phantom Family Halo as we saw the band loading out as we were walking in. The night started out chatting up the folks behind the L.A. Record who have a lot of cool stuff going, including a 7″ release from Devon Williams.

After short while Entrance took the stage and launched into their psychedelic blast to the past rock n roll that transports you back forty or fifty years. Both Scott and I had caught them at 6th Street Warehouse back in May where they thoroughly impressed, and this time was no different, solidifying their place in our “must see live bands” mental list.

Entrance - Grim Reaper Blues (mp3)

[audio:http://www.teepeerecords.com/bands/entrance/audio/entrance.mp3]

Up next were locals, Darker My Love, who were emerging from the studio where they have been working on a new album. I had seen Darker My Love once before during their July 2006 residency at Spaceland, and remember digging them live just as much I did their debut self-titled release. Playing a lot of new songs, I got the distinct feeling that the band and their new album are deviating from the path they set forth on with first release. I will withhold any real criticism of the new material until I hear their recorded versions, though I will say that in a live setting the new songs and the old songs don’t jive so well togther.

Darker My Love - Summer is Here (mp3)

[audio:http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/mp3s/darkermylove_summerishere.mp3]

Finally in what seemed like an eternity of a change over, Dead Meadow came out and cranked up the volume. It is amazing the amount of sound this 3-piece can make, often times sounding like they had two guitarists. Unfortunately at about the 3rd or 4th song into their set the Echoplex’s fire alarm system went off, and even though you couldn’t hear the sound it made, the bright flashing lights were definately a distraction. It was at that point we decided to call it a night, learning from a friend later that the alarm and lights never ceased the rest of the night.

Dead Meadow - At Her Open Door (mp3)

[audio:http://www.inflightatnight.com/audio/dead_meadow_at_her_open_door.mp3]