Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Eyedress has put out a new song called "Let’s Skip To The Wedding", along with its video. Idris Vicuña, the mind behind Eyedress, goes full force with his dream-pop stylings that smack of Ariel Pink and Drab Majesty. His droning voice hums over twinkling synths and lo-fi guitars in a simple ode to love that lasts just under two minutes. Short, sweet, and filled with the kind of vibe that’ll make you want to fall in love, Eyedress — who just moved back to California from spending time in Manila — is bound to make Los Angeles fall in love with them. Take a look at the video for "Let’s Skip To The Wedding" below. – Will Sisskind
02/14: Leila Sunier drops debut EP “If Only To Bleed Out The White Noise”
On February 14th, Leila Sunier will drop her debut EP, If Only To Bleed Out The White Noise. Though the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter has already seen some press from American Songwriter and Audiofemme, her new EP will mark the first full introduction of her work to the masses. In the six songs on the EP, Sunier explores electric dance-pop hooks and moments of quiet reflection with her guitar; you can hear these elements mingle on tracks like "Ghost", on which Sunier’s soft voice adds pulses of muted energy. Take a listen to the track in the music video below, and enjoy the rest of If Only To Bleed Out The White Noise when the full EP comes out on 2/14. – Will Sisskind
02.16: The Paranoyds play homecoming show at Alex’s Bar after whirlwind tour
You’re wondering what you can call "the sound of the 2020s". The Paranoyds seem to have their finger on the pulse in their prog-rock, new New Wave, punk-tinged melange, which powers their energetic live shows. The band have taken their set on the run through the last few weeks; they’ll close out their whirlwind nationwide Global Warming Tour with a show at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach on February 16th. On this tour, the band have pledged to donate one dollar of every merch purchase to helping end the Australian brushfires. The show at Alex’s Bar will be your last chance to help the band help others, as well as for you to get some sweet merch from them in person for a while.
The Paranoyds put out their latest album Carnage Bargain last fall, and on it you can hear them dabble with sounds influenced by The B-52s, Blondie, and other proto-punk pioneers. Take a listen to the album below, and catch The Paranoyds when they come home on February 16th. – Will Sisskind
02.14: Massage plays free V-Day show at Highland Park Bowl’s Indiepop Party
Forget the flowers, the candy, and the expensive gifts. Bring your date, your significant other, or yourself to Highland Park Bowl for a free show featuring LA’s top jangle poppers Massage. Massage play a smattering of shows every year, and this performance at Highland Park Bowl — free, by the way — makes for your first opportunity to see the band in 2020. Joining Massage are San Francisco’s Starry Eyed Cadet, as well as Dummy, an indie supergroup made up of members from Wildhoney and Expert Alterations. You may not find a cheaper or better V-Day event than this, so get your bowling arm and dancing legs ready and head to Highland Park Bowl on February 14th for a free night of fantastic music. Take a listen to the title track from Massage’s 2018 LP Oh Boy below. – Will Sisskind
02.13: Moaning plays a free show at the reopened Moon Room
If you recall the dust-up at the Atwater Bar last year, you may have written off the space — as well as the Griffin — as a place to catch live music in LA for good. But never fear, because the Moon Room has opened its doors on that site, and shoegaze alt-rockers Moaning will play a free show there on February 13th. The trio have a new album called Uneasy Laughter dropping in March, on which they’ll debut their more synth-friendly sound. While the usual doom-tinged drum & bass and abrasive guitars aren’t going anywhere, Moaning have brought a few new instruments into the mix to add a little texture to their tracks. It’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you dance, and it’ll make you want more. Take a look at the video for the album’s first track "Ego" below, and catch Moaning at the Moon Room on 2/13. – Will Sisskind
02.09: Tropa Magica bring smoky psych rock to La Santa
Fans of Thee Commons will find that the brother duo of David and Rene Pacheco have rebranded to become Tropa Magica, taking their psychedelic cumbia punk and infusing it with smoky, funky sounds. They’ll bring their act to La Santa for a performance on February 9th. The Pacheco brothers put out their debut record as Tropa Magica near the end of 2018, showcasing their affinity for music which blends world beats and pop together into infectious dance tracks. They’ll play several shows this spring up and down the West Coast to introduce old Thee Commons fans and new Tropa Magica fans to their tracks. Take a listen to the sultry "La Flor" below. – Will Sisskind
ROBOTS&BALLOONS releases third single from debut EP “I’ll Be Fine”
Grammy-nominated producer Eric Denniston, releasing music as ROBOTS&BALLOONS, put out his third single "I’ll Be Fine" this past week; it is the third single from his upcoming debut EP Stranded. With grungy tones and a persistent bassline, "I’ll Be Fine" explores themes of loneliness and isolation stemming from the ending of a romance. The song pushes, but it knows when to pull its punches, simulating the feelings of someone messing with your head. The emotion comes through in "I’ll Be Fine", and it further sets the stage for what’s to come on Stranded when it drops later this year. Take a listen to "I’ll Be Fine" below. – Will Sisskind
02.24: SXSW-bound Kills Birds plays Gold Diggers
Kills Birds have a slate of shows coming up in the next few months, which means that more cities across these United States will have a chance to catch their wild live antics. They kick things off with a hometown gig at Gold Diggers on February 24th, and from there, they’ll take their act on a wild ride up and down the West Coast. Once they’ve done that, they’ll head down to Austin for SXSW, where they’ll entertain the masses who have heard of them through big names such as Reggie Watts and Kim Gordon. Should you have that Monday night available — or, even if you don’t — you should go throw yourself around the room to the fierce tracks that Kills Birds have to offer. The band released their debut album last year; for an idea of what you’ll experience from their stage show, take a listen to "Volcano" below. – Will Sisskind
Blame Baby releases sophomore indie single “The Floor”
Blame Baby have captured the essence of early 2000s emo, injected it into pop punk circa 2020, and released a catchy little offspring called "The Floor". This follow-up single to their debut "Headcase" further showcases the band’s ability to craft steady indie pop songs around serious subject matter. Guitarist and lead singer Jesse Johnson attacks privilege and greed from the viewpoint of someone who can see the misery inherent in incessant wanting, while bandmates Omar D. Brancato and Matt Tucci back him up on the rhythm and bass. The band’s first single of 2020 sets the stage for more to come this year; take a look at the lyric video for "The Floor" below. – Will Sisskind
02.02: Slaughterhouse lead stacked Super Bowl bill at Moroccan Lounge
You may neither root for the 49ers or the Chiefs, and that’s okay. Head down to the Moroccan Lounge while everyone else chokes down chicken wings and beer for a stacked indie bill with Slaughterhouse supporting Seattle’s Monsterwatch. The group put out a couple of new singles back in November, and have remained active throughout the winter hitting the stage. The Moroccan Lounge show is their first of the month, and the period of increased performing points towards more to come in the spring and summer from the punk quarter. Take a listen to Slaughterhouse’s cover of X’s "Nausea", their latest single, and run to the Moroccan Lounge on February 2nd to hear them play live. – Will Sisskind
02.08: Americana artist Pi Jacobs releases new album at Hotel Cafe
Americana artist Pi Jacobs returns with her new album Two Truths and a Lie, which she’ll release at a show at Hotel Cafe on February 8th. Inspired by the theme to the show Justified, Jacobs’ new album blends percussive elements and hip-hop infused beats into her rootsy rock rhythms and melodies. Jacobs wrote Two Truths and a Lie as an homage to women who have fought injustice and oppression throughout history; however, in the writing process, she found some stories about herself had blended into the mix. The album drops everywhere on February 21st, but a music video for the track "Rearview" — a song about survival — is available for you to view now. – Will Sisskind
02.01: Ginger Root plays mini-series premiere party at Junior High
The funk-forward DIY crew Ginger Root are gearing up for a little tour in March, but on Saturday, February 1st, they’ll perform some music as part of the premiere of Hole Man at Junior High. If you’re unfamiliar with Ginger Root’s sound — which blends funk and indie elements along the lines of Toro Y Moi, Vulfpeck, and Jay Som — you’ll want to discover it at this show, as you can pay nothing to get in. This free show will also get you into the premiere of the new mini-series Hole Man, additional performances by RENDER BOY and Jesse Herb, and art and zines for sale from creators Tessa Lowe and Seannie Bryan. If anything, this event’s a great chance to support Junior High, a non-profit space dedicated to highlighting marginalized voices with radical empathy and anti-oppression activism. Get yourself familiar with Ginger Root’s music by watching the video for "B4", posted below. – Will Sisskind