After living in Los Angeles for some time, Maria Taylor moved back to her hometown of Birmingham, AL to record her fourth solo album, entitled "Overlook," out now on Saddle Creek. Widely known as one half of Azure Ray, Taylor has also been making a name for herself with her honest lyrical style and luminous vocals. Her southern roots are ever present on the new album with the use of lap steel guitar, banjo and organ, making for a sweet yet potent sound. Starting in October, Taylor will tour the country in support of the album, including a stop at The Echo on October 20th. Taylor is offering a free download of the track "Bad Idea?" on her web site. – Karla Hernández
Maria Taylor – Matador 

Spindrift is redefining what is means to create an album experience. Over the past few months, the LA outfit has been working with various talented directors to come up with short film movie homages to accompany the music to their recently released Classic Soundtracks Vol. 1. Their most recent addition to the growing collection is a collaboration with directors Jean Balest and Sam Barnett, on "Theme from Ghost Patrol", to create a throwback clip to the glory days of B-movie horror. Recreating scenes from Ed Wood’s quasi-legendary films, Glen or Glenda and Orgy of the Dead, Spindrift and Balest and Barnett create a cheesy yet creepy visual piece to blend in perfectly with the dark rock sounds of the music. It’s a treat for the eyes and ears. If you want to see this in all its old Hollywood glitz and glam, check out the band’s record release party at the Echoplex on September 8th, where you can see all the videos and hear the music in person. Fresh off a touring stint with Kurt Vile and prepping to tour with the Black Angels, Spindrift is a force to be reckoned with. Doors for the Echoplex show are at 8:30. 21+. – Taylor Lampela 

You can always tell when a group of musicians have fun when making an album. Hoping to create a “soundtrack to something new,” the LA-based alternative rock band, Annie Automatic, did just that when creating their debut full-length, Don’t Look Down. The album exhibits just how adventuresome the brazen quartet can be in standout tracks such as “Don’t Look Down,” “Dear, Charlie,” “Kings and Queens,” and "Miss McKenzie". Annie Automatic has also released a comic book , “Killer in Disguise,” about a ravishing high heeled rebel hell-bent on fulfilling her revenge. “Killer in Disguise,” which was a hit at San Diego Comic Con, expands on the concept of the band’s songs and provides a different forum for them to release music. – Nicole Dawley

It may be a bit of a misnomer to relegate Sleeping Bags as shoegaze revivalists. Though their guitars slightly touch on some distortion, the trio are more keen on executing shrouded, but nonethelss emotive, choruses than clouding their compisitions with melodic fuzz. Their debut single, Park, spurred a rhythmic dose of expansive textures that echoed the shimmering riffage of British alternative groups such as Adorable and Catherine Wheel. Proving there’s more than meets the eye, new single  "Pehr" starts with a rollicking groove – throughout its seven minutes, a slathering of diffusive guitars bounce all over a recurring drum pattern that grasps and refuses to let go. This is a band that embraces spontaneity without discarding the importance of effects-laden embellishments – though the sessions for their self-titled debut were recorded in merely two evenings, they took the needed time to branch out the album’s poignant ambience. "Sleeping Bags" will be released on September 13 via Ester Everywhere.

This Labor Day weekend, the city of Los Angeles bids farewell to the long stretch of American music festivals with its very own on a major scale. Taking place at the Los Angeles Historic State Park, the 8th annual FYF Fest (formerly known as Fuck Yeah Fest) will host a cusp of higher profile independent artists that will include the likes of headliners Broken Social Scene, Explosions in the Sky, and the recently reunited Death from Above 1979. But one of the festival’s pleasant surprises is the inclusion of Hermosa Beach’s very own The Descendents, whose self-deprecating punk anthems continue to influence a brethren of younger hardcore and pop punk bands. Other hotly-tipped L.A. artists in the bill include: No Age, Avi Buffalo, Off!, Nosaj Thing, and Cass Mc Combs, alongside others. Though FYF prides itself with infantile whimsy (the stages are named after each Ninja Turtle), its strong lineup proves that is is seriously committed to deliver an experience on par with other top tier festivals. The festival website also features a list of local record stores where you’ll be able to purshase admission.

They say that punk bands are in their prime when they’re still young, crass, and defiantly apathetic. So it makes sense that FIDLAR isn’t really preocuppied at the moment with tax deductions or college for that matter – their vicious garage anthems are all about existing in the now, being politically incorrect with a purpose and, you know, having some unabashed fun on a Friday night. In fact, for a band that seems so "misguided" by instant gratification, their emblematic acronoym (Fuck it Dog, Life’s a Risk) speaks to anyone who simply wants to prevail against any form of resistance. "Wait for the Man" comes and goes in barely two minutes with an exhilirating barrage of sloppy chords and hoarse harmonies. And considering how infectituously catchy it is, I have a feeling they’ve been doing their homework even if the dean wouldn’t approve. Before making a potentially epic appearance at the Echo on September 11th, they’ll be playing an all ages show at Timewarp Music tonight at 8 pm.

FIDLAR – Wait For The Man from Black/White Iris Music on Vimeo.

The Moor’s self-titled debut album does not sound like a debut. The eight tracks that comprise the record are so masterfully crafted—the blend of synthesizers, pianos, guitar, drums, and haunting vocal melodies create a chillingly vast wall of sound—that you could swear this band has produced an album before. But no, although the duo has been making music together since 2008, Erika Daking and Josiah Steinbrick decided to take their time releasing their freshman effort, and with the help of some amazing contributors—Josh Klinghoffer (PJ Harvey, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Simon Lord (Simian, Black Ghosts), and Bryan Hollon (Boom Bip, Neon Neon) with finishing touches by mix guru Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom, The Strokes)—the psychedelic, dreamy twosome has created quite the impressive debut. – Katrina Nattress

Warm Winter by themoor 

Residencies in Los Angeles just seem to keep getting better and better. There have been so many great ones all summer and it looks like the fall is setting up to be just as fantastic. As August comes to a close, and the dreariness of September and the repercussions (school starting again) begins to loom on the horizon, keep your chin up and check out Big Black Delta’s residency at the Satellite every Monday in September. Recorded entirely on a laptop computer, his songs possess a homemade professionalism and charm to them. Big Black Delta is the solo project of Jonathan Bates, formerly of LA-based Mellowdrone, and it’s one that challenges the traditional notions of electronic and pop music. It’s at once catchy and off-putting, so you can only hold on and take the ride. In particular, the song "Capsize" off the succinctly descriptive BBDLP1, out September 26th on Coming Home Records, Bates self describes it as sounding "like being woozy on a ship full of reckless dicks." Which is, well, accurate. Check out Big Black Delta live at the Satellite and then pick up his record and have a good time with people who are reckless, but nice. – Taylor Lampela

 Act As If are officially added to the growing list of musical guests who have graced El Cid’s historic stage. The Los Angeles indie rockers will perform Tuesday nights in September and October. Act As If’s latest single, "About Saying and Meaning Goodbye", is having new fans say hello. The single, along with a few other tracks, have been featured on various commercials (Apple) and television shows (Jersey Shore—fist pump!). – Nicole Dawley

 Looking for something to do this coming Thursday? The super intimate Bootleg Theater will be rocking out to the spasmic sounds of LA natives White Arrows. Their new single "Get Gone" has made the sound of artificial handclapping sound more fun than ever before. Combining pulsing synth lines over plucky guitars and vocals with an attitude, it’s sure to be a real crowd pleaser. The song will be released as a 7" single off Ooh La La Records on September 6th. The show, this Thursday August 25th, is only 8 dollars, so why not end the summer months with a bang? 21+. – Taylor Lampela

White Arrows – Get Gone

Heading out to Sunset Junction this weekend? Even if the the fate of the festival is still in question (hopefully not!), we’re still commencing the weekend festivities with "The Show", a music and arts show located right in the heart of Los Feliz. Acts include the classic psych-folk sounds of Dylan Trees, the retro space musings of Justin Webb, and a smattering of heartwarming country courtesy of Coyote. It all starts at 7:00 pm this Thursday, August 25th at Best Fish Taco in Ensenada.

It would be a lie to describe RACES (formerly Black Jesus) as anything but indie rock. The band’s got all the formulaic indie components— straightforward songwriting; guitar, bass, drum, and piano setup; male/female vocal parts—but that same straightforwardness intrigues its listeners, and the melody resonates in their eardrums long after the last chord is strummed. This catchiness has landed the Los Angeles-based sextet a spot on the oh-so-wonderful Frenchkiss label, as well as gigs with The Get Up Kids, Joy Formidable, and Telekinesis this summer (and the band hasn’t even released a record yet!). RACES self-recorded and produced debut LP is slated for a fall release. Below is a list of September tour dates. – Katrina Nattress

9.10 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s w/ Joy Formidable

9.11 Costa Mesa, CA Detroit Bar w/ Joy Formidable

9.13 Santa Barbara, CA Soho club w/ Joy Formidable, Telekenesis
9.14 Los Angeles, CA El Rey w/ Joy Formidable, Telekenesis