Los Angeles flew to Paris for a weekend with the Ooh La L.A. festival, sponsored by Goldenvoice, KCRW and the French Consulate, among others. The El Rey theatre, one of LA’s prettiest and most elegant venues, was home to three nights of the hottest acts in the French music scene. Saturday Oct. 1st was the night of the electronic music showcase. You knew it was going to be a LA-Paris infusion night when the DJ spinning tunes before the night began was playing French covers of popular American songs such as "These Boots Are Made For Walking" and "Paint It Black". A fascinatingly diverse crowd showed up spanning the ages and the cultures. It wasn’t unusual to hear snippets of rapid French conversation taking place everywhere.

The first act of the night, Chateau Marmont, were a band straight from Paris whose arpeggiated 80’s style synths and vocoders paired with rock n roll drums and bass was like stepping into a nightclub twenty years ago. Yet their sound seemed so modern. Adding some grunge and dirt to the sound, it was so deep, the old wooden floorboards of the theatre started to shake. And the same phenomena occurred when DJ Cam took the stage to a simple set up of samplers, a turntable and a computer to create these sounds and frequencies that should not be audible to the human ear. On both sides of the spectrum. If the floor was shaking before, that was merely a tremor.

After the crowd had warmed up, in terms of drinks and dancing, the real party began when Etienne de Crecy took the stage for another round of electronic explosions. The crowd rushed the front to be a part of the fun. Again, on a stark stage, the lights bounced off the lights and the crowd. The bass was beyond intense. It was deep and dirty, and the audience was transported from downtown LA to an underground club somewhere in the outskirts of Paris. The music inspired many different dance styles from ladies on a night out who’d had a bit too much, to the lover’s melding together to the one guy dancing like Frankenstein as a robot. Etienne de Crecy really showed the crowd how much American electronic music has developed out the ideas first created by the European movement. I bet all the kids wearing tails and leg warmers at EDC, etc. don’t know that.

Under the strobes and within the pulsing beats, LA was given a special taste of live music from across the sea. Everyone wanted in and didn’t let go until the equipment clung onto those notes to the bitter end. – Taylor Lampela

As The Drowning Men are currently on their 23-date U.S. tour alongside The Airborne Toxic Event, they are gearing up for the release of their full-length, The Beheading of the Songbird; initially self-released, but will receive its official retail release on October 25th. The album has an interfusion of folk and roots Americana, Eastern European ethnic folk and other awesome randomness parallel to Arcade Fire, The Decemberists and My Morning Jacket. – Nicole Dawley

Drool Brothers are bringing their sardonic, fuzzed out groove rock to Fenix 5-4 to celebrate their new EP, "Decoupage". The Whittier, CA band are known for their exciting but unique live shows at unique places. They like to cross pollinate artistic mediums with their art rock by playing museums and galleries, and try to include artists from different mediums on the bill. Given this, Fenix 5-4 is an upcoming eastside venue whose artistic yet circus atmosphere compliments the Drool Brothers frenetic colorful music. The Drool Brothers will have copies of their new EP on hand, which includes “Tube Tops and Go Go Boots” and a cover: a warped, fuzzed out version of Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You.” Also available, colored vinyl giveaways and over 100 varieties of beer. Don’t miss all the frenzy at Fenix 5-4 on Friday, October 28.