Hop in the car and take the trippiest road trip/hike/bonfire party of the summer. Check out the video for Incan Abraham’s latest video of title track “Sunscreen” from their latest release. Their luscious and layered psychedelic pop is the perfect soundtrack to your own summer adventures. Just make sure you’re not the first one to fall asleep! Also, the band will be playing every Tuesday night this June in residency at the Central S.A.P.C. Entrance is FREE, so there’s no excuse for not stopping by. 21+.

~Taylor Lampala

Summer is finally here and what better way to officially kick off the season of sun and generally carefree times than with a day full of both of these things? Come on out to the Indie West Fest at the Ventura County Fairgrounds this Saturday June 4th. With 30 bands scheduled to appear on four stages, there will be something exciting happening every moment. Boasting a diverse lineup, there’s music for all of your discerning tastes. Check out the haunted bluesy surf-rock of the Growlers or get lost in the blissful electronica of Mad Planet. Jam out with The Tender Box in two different languages; the band’s second LP features songs in both Spanish and English representing their southern California roots. Also, if you missed He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at their awesome residency at the Satellite, you can make up for it here.  This festival is a great place for people who love to make and listen to music to come together in a beautiful setting. Tickets are available online. It’s only $35 for the whole day, so don’t be the one to miss out on a day of fun, friends and great music.

~Taylor Lampala

Taking the business of documentaries in a new direction, Efterklang pairs up with French director, Vincent Moon, creating a film with the simple idea that it lasts as long as an album. Appropriately titled ‘An Island,’ the 50 minutes film takes place in August 2010 outlining Efterklang’s journey of performance and collaboration with local musicians on an island off the Danish coast. Although "An Island" is essentially a DVD package, it also harbors a special live EP entitled “ Live at the Roskilde Festival 2010."  As an extra bonus, everyone is encouraged to set their own price for the album.  The avant-garde group of Efterklang and Vincent Moon have added new twist; fans can visit the DVD’s site at www.anisland.cc and view the film for free by arranging or attending a Private/Public viewing party.

~ Mary Broadbent

KICKSTARTER PROJECT – vincent moon & lulacruza in COLOMBIA from Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes on Vimeo.

Starting their reign of terror in the Indie music scene in September 2009, in that sliver of time, Dante vs Zombies have become surreal outlaws of the live “Sing-n-Dance-along” show by their own admission.  Their first release, "Yes I’m Stalking You/Branded By Nuns" 7" now out on Albino Crow, sounds like a trippy, psychotic journey into a Roger Corman romp fest. Fun? Indeed. Groovy? For sure! These cats know how to live it up and surely their residency on Monday nights at the Echo in June will get your blood boiling and your bum shaking.  9pm/21+/FREE

~Michele McManmon

Dante vs. Zombies – Yes, I’m Stalking You from KR Videos on Vimeo.

Whether it’s heartache, nostalgia, or contentment, the reasons an artist might be compelled to transmit an explicit feeling to an entire body of work will always be a mystery. Jimmy Gnecco has always been inspired by sorrow – when he began his career as the main songwriter of Ours, he utilized a brooding rock sound to balance his personal affliction in a grandiose manner. But something happened along the way: while those years brought a connectedness with his audience, he also felt that he had left those closest to him. After eight years of absence, the prolific songwriter found a way to reconnect that passion with “The Heart”, a set of mostly acoustic songs that may seep with melancholy, but also provide a hopeful air. Gnecco still hasn’t lost his driving force – a fragile falsetto so passionate that it can shatter glass at its most powerful. 

– Juan Rodríguez

Thursday night, Silverlake Lounge hosted a throng of girly folk bands, including current Readers’ Poll contender Sue Scrofa. The five-piece outfit started off the night of girl power…FULL REVIEW

It’s always nice when you get a birthday present…for someone else’s birthday. In honor of their one year anniversary of becoming a band, LA-based A House For Lions is offering their debut EP I Want Us To Be Remembered for the low price of whatever you want! For a limited two week span, the band is offering their simultaneously upbeat and relaxing folk-rock blend on their Bandcamp site as a name-your-own price deal. Their mellow songs are perfect to listen to in the evening with the perfect mixture of a sense of nostalgia and outdoorsy guitar melodies to keep you in a good mood. If you’re looking for some new summer jams, return the favor and pick this up to support a great upcoming band and enjoy these tunes for yourself. As an added bonus, on Friday May 27th, they’ll be playing a show in the intimate space at the Hotel Cafe at 11pm. Pre-sale tickets are only $5. Sounds like the perfect way to close up a long, busy week. 21+. ~Taylor Lampela

He’s My Brother She’s My Sister proved that the only few common threads of the residency were riveting music and unpredictability. Each week brought on new themes… Read More

Silverlake was sunny and cool on this Sunday afternoon. Raheem Cohen played nice smooth grooves which was a beautiful way to start the day. Future Ghost had a Silversun Pickups vibe, not just because they’re a 3 piece, but because of their smooth indie rock jams. Tommy Santee Klaws soothed the crowds with an eclectic world folk vibe that was sweeter then honey in a warm cup of tea. By 3pm the 2,500 crowd count from Saturday was likely to have been matched once again. One trick Pony provided trippy folk rock that’s like a pop rock explosion for your ears. The Swarms performed their 1st ever show outside the Jubilee illegally, rousing a small crowd with their a 60’s Psychdelic rock. Unfortunately, their jam was shut down by the police. Slang Chickens rocked it up with a proto Ramones style. The Black Apples exude a Chris Robinson-jamband vibe of dark pop surf rock. Their tunes are best described as kitchen sink rock. Crystal Antlers has perfected a indie rock style all their own and was the stand out performance of the day. Their unique thrashy style grows out of their garage sound, and is completely incomparable. The night fell as We Are the World danced and vamped Euro Electronic grooves to close out a glorious jubilee 2011.

~ Michele McManmon

Pop quiz: What does Sue Scrofa mean? Give up? I did too when asked this question. Sue Scrofa is the scientific term for our pudgy four-legged friend the pig, which just happens to be Southern songstress Alyssa Crisswell’s favorite animal. In 2006, the young musician started writing songs under this moniker, recording in her home state of Alabama while on breaks from college. Two years later, she released her first album, Alabamulance, and since has wrangled up some fellow musicians and relocated to Los Angeles. The band released its second album, White Cat, this past November. The album highlights Crisswell’s knack for writing (not to mention her beautiful, folk-goddess voice), as well as her strong Southern roots with appearances by instruments like the banjo and upright bass. Check out the quartet this Thursday, May 26, at Silverlake Lounge. $8. 21+.                 ~Katrina Nattress