L.A.

Lovett’s “Highway Collection” drops today + SXSW shows

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Lovett plays clean-sounding, well-rounded rock music with a Southern twist. Composer, producer, and frontman Ben Lovett is renowned for writing award-winning scores for films like "The Signal" and "The Last Lullaby", but has been focusing on the band’s personal work as of late. "Highway Collection" is a dynamic compilation that is much different from Lovett’s former releases. "Eye of The Storm" is full of acoustic guitar, haunting violins, the weeping cello, and eerie falsettos, creating a dark atmosphere much like the music video itself. The video, full of impressive and out-of-this-world special effects, was Lovett’s first experience with acting in front of a blue screen. Directed by Chris Alender and shot by Craig Kief, the video tells a story of a lone skycaptain letting go of the things he loves and driving his ship straight into the eye of a destructive storm. The fast-paced and even danceable track "Heartattack" is full of trumpets, trumbones, tambourines and hand clapping, giving it a  1920’s swing feel with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. It’s safe to say that Lovett doesn’t lack diversity.

The highly anticipated album "Highway Collection" comes out today, just in time for SXSW, and should be nothing short of a modern-day masterpiece. Read out full interview with Ben Lovett HERE.

Jenna Putnam

 

L.A.

Slang Chickens Go On Mini-tour, Making Pit Stop @ SXSW

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Slang Chickens are finally hitting the road, ditching their month-long February residency at The Echo for a mini-tour of the great South West. The LA quartet will be performing two shows at SXSW in Austin, BD Riley’s on March 16th with The Growlers, and the Pinpoint Music Party on March 17th.

Slang Chickens sophomore EP "My Floor" is set to be released this Spring but both the CD and EP can be preordered online here. The opening track for the EP is “My Floor”, a refreshing country spirited and rock ‘n’ roll driven track. Slang Chickens roam in uncharted territory with an original sound sure to rope in the fans.

Margarita Castellanos
 

L.A.

Phlying Saucer covers “Firework” By Katy Perry – Free Download

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Ah, the cover song. They can breathe life into tired old tracks or expose them to whole new audiences. Browsing BandCamp late one night, I came across LA’s Phlying Saucer and their astute pop punk cover of Katy Perry’s "Firework". I know you may be thinking of the Fearless Records Punk Goes Pop collections, but I swear it’s more charming than that. And, besides, it’s free so what have you got to lose? Throw it on your iPod and feel a little less ashamed because you know every word.

The band’s next show is 3/20 at The Viper Room

-Angelo Lorenzo

L.A.

Black Kettle at SXSW

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If you’re into female power duos like Meg and Dia or Tegan and Sara, then make some room in your collection for Black Kettle. This partnership comprised of Keeley Bumford & Kailynn West has everything going for them, except the fact they aren’t sisters. Sweetly honest pop is their specialty and we don’t have to wait long for their EP, due this month. From the bits and slices I’ve heard, I’m on the edge of my seat for this one.

They’re be playing SXSW at the following:

Carousel Lounge SXSW
March 15, 2011, 6:00 pm
Austin, TX

Cherrywood Coffee House "Indie Radio Rocks the World" SXSW Showcase
March 16, 2011, 7:45 pm
Austin, TX

$2 Show SXSW Showcase Party!
March 17, 2011, 5:00 pm
Austin, TX

Berklee’s HRR 6th Annual Official SXSW Party
March 18, 2011, 1:00 pm
Austin, TX

SXSW Boston Family Dinner Showcase @ the AMOA
March 18, 2011, 6:45 pm
Austin, TX

-Angelo Lorenzo

L.A.

HoneyHoney Monday residency at The Bootleg Theater through March

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Nothing soothes my musical soul better than a good dose of folk infused jazz. With smooth soulful vocals and blusey mellow guitar melodies, duo Suzanne Santo & Ben Jaffe of HoneyHoney put the two-step back into the dominating LA indie shuffle. Their cover of Smashing Pumpkins “1979” almost tops the original, taking a great alternative oldie and giving a fresh spin without losing their novelty.  “Come on Home” drenched in bluegrass roots with driving bass drum, cranked up guitar and rivating violin medleys by Santo. HoneyHoney are currently on tour with Xavier Rudd to expose and trot out their newly released album First Rodeo.

If you can’t find the time to become a groupie and join them on tour, you’re in luck, because HoneyHoney will be sharing an intimate anonymous evening of music and free-form love with you every Monday night at the Bootleg Theater through March (14th, 21st, 28th).

-Margarita Castellanos

 

L.A.

Other Mountains debut album “Fernweh”

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Other Mountains new full-length album "Fernweh" really hit home for me. Lately I’ve had this nostalgia for the kind of music I grew up with, back to the days of Saosin or adolescent Bright Eyes. The kind of music some referred to as…dare I say it…"emo". I never understood why  people took that word as a bad thing…I mean, if music isn’t composed of pure emotion, then what is it? Anyway, the songs scrape the deeper parts of the heart and soul, in ways I can only compare to that of Sigur Ros or Explosions In The Sky. The album starts with twinkling keys and climbing violins, throwing you straight into the overall mesmerizing feel of the record. The faster paced "Mure" ends with crashing cymbals and the instruments seem to scream in your face. The falsettos foating over haunting piano keys in "Swann" create a dark, eerie element. Their music puts you into a sort of trance, so it’s easy not to notice the lyrics right away. But the closer you pay attention, the more you notice how well-written the words are…in an almost Shakespearean way. "Say aloud before you go: ‘Oh, the heart could it think, it would surely stop beating. And the mind could it feel, it would surely stop reeling.’ I’m yours. I’m still yours. You are heaven. You, our heaven. There is life before death, I know." make up the track "Hopscotch". 
 
Matthew Oden and Marc Kohlbry said a lot of the inspiration for the record came from their travels to Japan. They are currently offering a free download of their "Japan EP" on their website, before the release of "Fernweh" on March 14th. You can also listen to the first track, "Do They Have Souls? I Don’t Know" here. As Kohlbry told us, "After failed relationships, lots of beer at El Prado in Silverlake, and the accidental discovery of Matt’s voice in a church at 3am with a bottle of whiskey, we decided to make a record in a final attempt at feeling. Not sure if it worked." Well, it worked for me.
Jenna Putnam

 

L.A.

AM and Shawn Lee at The Hotel Cafe, March 7th

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Los Angeles’ own AM will be joined by beatmaker from across the pond Shawn Lee at the Hotel Cafe tomorrow night, March 7th.

The collaboration between AM and Lee started when AM heard Lee’s Music and Rhythm album on local stations KJAZZ and KCRW and reached out to Lee online, becoming quick friends. The two decided to record together after AM played guitar on a few of Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra shows (including KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic”) in the summer of 2010. Lee, armed with a four-track and other vintage tape machines in his London studio, started sending AM drum and percussion beats in December while AM wrote and recorded songs over the grooves, adding guitars, Casio synths, vocals and occasional bass. Lee sprinkled in bass, keys, guitars, glockenspiel and other assorted instruments to finish things off. The two commented on each other’s work in real time on Facebook for fans to follow-along. The LA to London co-production has resulted in a completely unique brand of electronic soul that promises to get people moving.

-Angelo Lorenzo

L.A.

Kyle Nicolaides on Merrifield Records’ Twins compilation

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You’ve waited long enough — now you can get your hands dirty with it. The jam packed Twins compilation, including Santa Barbara native Kyle Nicolaides, was released this month on Merrifield Records. The album contains his dirty ditty of a single “Howl”, a jam that captures the essence of old time rock n’ roll at its raunchiest. Nicolaides vocals carry a blues swagger reminiscent of Jack White (The Raconteurs), Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), and Matt Shultz (Cage the Elephant) over smoking guitar riffs.

You can stream the compilation and even download a few samle tracks including Nicolaides’ "Howl", on Merrified Record’s website.

-Margarita Castellanos

L.A.

The Body Rampant to appear on DJ Rossstar Punk Rock Show Wednesday, March 9th

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Perhaps I’m jaded or maybe my tastes have changed, but LA seems to breed fewer talented rock groups than in past years (I remember the excitement of circulating a bootleg of Saosin’s white album in highschool, or seeing A Static Lullaby locally.) J.M. Lopez’s solo project turned rock band, The Body Rampant, is restoring a bit more hope to my ears.With a style that can only be described as an updated version of the "Drive Thru" sound, conjuring the melodies of The Early November, Hidden In Plain View, the band hit the studio with producer Casey Bates (Gatsbys American Dream, Portugal. The Man, MxPx, Chiodos) for their EP, Transient Years, due early April.

Catch the band on DJ RossStar’s Punk Rock Show next Wednesday, or head over to the band’s MySpace to listen to two tracks from the EP.

-Angelo Lorenzo

L.A.

Best of LA #31-Black Apples

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 We continue our "Best of LA Countdown", covering each day another artist that made our Year Ends Best of LA Poll list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel, DJs, and our writers and readers).

Recently featured as our "CD of The Month", The Black Apples are fully backed by The Deli. These Echo Park natives take the influence of gritty, New York City style rock and combine it with the psychedelic garage sounds of the West Coast. Far-out reverbs, skate thrash, and rock ‘n’ roll angst never gets old. Catch the guys playing at Bootleg Theater on March 23rd, and The Echoplex on April 22nd.

 

L.A.

Best of LA # 32- Infantree plays the Sattelite Wednesday, March 2nd

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We continue our "Best of LA Countdown", covering each day one of the artists that made our Year Ends Best of LA Poll list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel, DJs, and our writers and readers).

Alterna-folk group Infantree will be playing The Satellite (the recently renamed Spaceland), Wednesday the 2nd with A Hawk and a Hacksaw.

The band’s haunting layered melodies are its crowning glory and are apparent on tracks like "Workhorse" and "Oil Can". While taking a more reserved and melancholy route than their more upbeat genre-mates, they maintain a sense of humor: choosing to carry the trend of their album cover and dress up as roosters for their video “Mourning Glory”.

Being one of my favorite semi-recent discovery, I’m happy to announce that Infantree will be playing on Conan a few weeks from now on April 5.

-Angelo Lorenzo