For the first week of the new year, The Satellite hosted free shows in partnership with Moheak Radio, Grimy Goods, and Downtown Lobby. A great way to lure fans in on cold nights usually spent recovering from overeating and the doldrums of returning to the nine-to-five grind. I ventured out on Tuesday to check out Midwest transplants, Line & Circle, whose anthemic indie rock is drenched in nostalgia. They played an impressive set that proved that while they may be new to LA, they came prepared. Lead singer, Brian Cohen’s vocals harken back to an era before whining was proof of a frontman’s vulnerability, with a haunting quality that at times evoked Robert Smith. Bass player, Nathan Gammill was working so hard, he vacillated between standing eerily still while his fingers danced like lightning across his fretboard, to a mere bob of the head. The theme of the night was maturity – in skill level, and in the feeling evoked through the music. Somehow, their songs give you the sense that they are lamenting heartbreaks and lessons learned from a youth long past, while it’s clear they are right in the midst of it all. But, don’t mistake me, this was not simply a buttoned-up masters class in rock. When Line & Circle hit the stage, they brought the energy up to eleven, and kept it there without hesitation throughout the entire set. A solid set of Indie Rock tunes, just the way you want them – without irony, gimmicks, or arrogance. The duo, turned studio five-piece, recently released a 7” on White Iris Records, which boasts the likes of Beast Coast, Electric Guest, and NO. Check out the single, “Roman Ruins,” below, and keep your eye out for these up-and-comers. Rounding out the night, Blonde Summer brought their slacker pop to the opening slot, while The Ross Sea Party closed it out to a packed house, proving they are one to watch. – Jacqueline Caruso

Photo courtesy of Leslie Andrew Ridings