The musical clan known as Jail Weddings has had a busy summer promoting its newest EP, "Four Future Standards," which was released in late May. After doing a quick run up the West Coast last month, the 9-piece band recently played a show in LA on July 28th at the Echo Country Outpost. While listening to the four songs on "Four Future Standards," it quickly becomes evident that this is a versatile band. It is hard to describe the sounds in so many words. Each listen to the album could conjure up a completely new way to recount the tales told. Frontman Gabriel Hart could live a double life. Each rock ballad is delivered with such a punchy twist and swagger that he could be mistaken for a Vegas showman. Or maybe the raw emotions reveal a past in punk music. Whatever the case may be, Jail Weddings produces a big production that brings to mind western movies and old time radio. Lush tones are added through violins that seem to beg for sympathy and a unit of female back-up singers chime in at the most opportune moments. With only four songs, one can only hope that a longer second act is right around the corner. – Karla Hernández

Certified skater’s choice, The Shrine is a long-haired L.A-based three-piece at a border between two flavours of heavy which they define as ‘psychedelic violence’; three dudes who go digging into their favourite blasts a la MC5 & Co, ‘all-American’ R&rR to bring their loud, furious, but mainly OH-SO-SATISFYING fuzz-freak show to a present where clicks disappear for the sake of some messy head-banging antics made of string-shredding prowesses and efx abuse. After a debut 7” (produced by Black Flag bass player Chuck Dukowski) released in 2010, the band dropped a couple of weeks ago (July 10th) a first album, Primitive Blast, a restless trash-punk-something nine-track sample of their range. You can listen to demo versions of those on bandcamp, and purchase the record here. Before they head for Europe with Fu Manchu in September, note that The Shrine will be on stage at The Satellite on August 4th, and headlining a show at The 3 Clubs on August 10th. – Tracy Mamoun

If you miss the good ole’ days when a rock band consisted of the basic four – vox, guitar, drum, and bass without the extra baloney, then you absolutely have to check out the sexy, back-to-basics rock ‘n’ roll of Burning Jet Black. Like many other bands that try to revive rock’s golden era with a few chords and nothing but the truth, BJB isn’t exactly rehashing the sounds of your dad’s old records. Their music actually veers more on the authentic but still rooted in old school with a modern twist. 

Listen to the first single ‘Magazine Girl‘ or the sexy swagger of ‘Waiting For Tomorrow‘ off of debut EP ‘The Modern Egotist‘, and fall in love with their legit guitar driven rock in the likes of the Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age, hell, even The Doors. Hailing from Los Angeles and previously from the band The Whiskey Saints, they decided to dump the old band name and adopt BJB in response to the new tunes. This easy-on-the-eyes and oh so good to your ears basic four is David Bloomfield (guitar), David Sparrow (vox/guitar), Jeff Bell (drums), and Rob Hughes (bass). Catch them at the Tin Can Ale House in San Diego August 4!

Vanessa Silberman and Jessica Goodwin, the duo that make up Diamonds Under Fire, have recently released their new single “Sunshine”, a definite add-on to this Summers playlist that should please fans of Best Coast. With vocals that resemble a rose, delicate and beautiful but containing thorns to add toughness and a nonchalant guitar and drum set up, this track is bound to be set on repeat. “Sunshine” is grunge pop ear candy. Already hooked? Don’t miss out on these ladies live. Suit up in your 90s grunge gear and see them perform on August 16th at Viper Room as part of the Sunset Strip Music Festival, and on the 27th at the Bootleg in LA. – Margarita Castellanos

Lord Huron, the project of Ben Schneider, will release their debut full-length album, entitled “Lonesome Dreams,” on October 9. The album’s first single, “Time to Run,” plays like the band’s mission statement. Schneider, who grew up in Michigan before moving to Los Angeles, combines the campfire-by-the-lake feel of his hometown with the sunny and upbeat ambiance of LA. While listening to the single, one can simultaneously picture oneself singing along by the eponymous Lake Huron and while driving 80 MPH down the freeway. Lord Huron will kick off their fall tour with a hometown show August 24th at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Listen to “Time to Run” streaming below. – Joshua S. Johnson

When Justin Miner wanted to put a fork in his previous band, Fight From Above, he didn’t just jump into another project but decided to take a break from music away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. So he took a trek up the California coast, seeking solitary confinement in Central and South America where the only music to reach his ears was the sound of the oceans and mountains. After coming back home, he tagged wife Kate Miner, brother Jeremy Miner and a few friends to form the West-coast indie/folk sound of Miner. Their current EP Hey Love is energetic and intimate, think Edward Sharpe or Tallest Man On Earth, giving off that California laid-back charm. It’s the kind of music that you can listen to while camping in the redwoods reading Kerouac.

After four months of working with producer Ethan Allen, Mad Planet will release its sophomore album entitled "Ghost Notes" on August 28th. The nine-track album was recorded in three different studios, which include Royal Triton and Red Star Recording in Silver Lake and Hicksville Trailer Palace in Joshua Tree. The band has crafted an album that can be most easily described as a sonic boom. The first single, ‘Pieces of You,’ demonstrates a fine-tuned approach where songs start off low and soft and then burst with dark and heavy tones, while vocalist Cooper Gillespie keeps the sound elegant with her airy singing.

Other tracks like ‘Inside Outburst’ and ‘I Want You’ show the softer side of the band. Even though the overall tone is still a bit dark and cold, the emotions are rich and enchanting. Both songs incorporate catchy melodies and captivating beats. The ’80s influence is evident in the sharp and mystifying synth notes, but there is something very futuristic in the music of Mad Planet. Underneath a strong sense of control, lay jittery emotions that signal to some type of sea change. It is hard to tell what that change will be, but all the matters is the exploration through the sonic landscape. The band will be playing a show on Wednesday at the Writer’s Room in Hollywood and they will celebrate the release of the album on August 28th at the Satellite. – Karla Hernández

Pebaluna is a fast upcoming indie-folk quartet revolving around the songwriting of singer Lauren Coleman which, as soulful as it gets, maintains a light-heartedness that can’t fail to seduce. Catchy blend of acoustic instrumentals and a soft-yet-powerful voice, the band’s output beautifully illustrates that old ‘less is more’ cliché. Skipping at ease from low to high notes with nonchalant grace, swaying from folk arrangements to groovy soul and more, scatting even, Coleman proved in the Acoustic EP a confident versatility which the ensemble will be exploiting further in a first album to be released on September 18th. You can catch Pebaluna at L.A’s Hotel Cafe on August 24th, and as a teaser here’s ‘No I Can’t’, first single off the upcoming record.- Tracy Mamoun

Anywhere but where? Nowhere in particular. If there’s a more fitting name for a band then Anywhere fits this LA/SF outfit to a tee. More on that later. Putting the pieces together, Christian Eric Beaulieu (Triclops!) joined forces with Cedric Bixler (The Mars Volta) in 2010 in Los Angeles. Months down the line, the duo laid some tracks at The Melvins practice spot in DTLA and Beauliue killed two birds with one stone – playing live on Mike Watt’s (The Stooges) "The Watt from Pedro Show" and getting Watt to lay bass on the tracks. Still needing a vocalist, Beauliue enlisted Rachel Fannan (Bay Area’s Sleepy Sun). And the rest is history!

Fast forward to 2012 and they have a single out, "Dead Golden West", from the self-titled LP dropping July 24th on ATP Records. The music is eastern acoustic punk in the likes of Sandy Bull or Sir Richard Bishop. There’s ups and downs on this record – from the rapid speed of punk to light and enchanting in a medley of acoustic and electric sounds, geographic diversity, and even sci fi electronics that make the band that’s not just going somewhere musically speaking but anywhere.

Sometimes simplicity says it best. It used to be a standard in the dawn of rock n’ roll, when big shot producers would scout for that perfect three minute pop song in hopes of causing a dancing frenzy. We may be past those "glory days" as they say, but an artist like Dominique Pruitt finds great inspiration from the classic formula established after rhythm and blues achieved widespread popularity – with a gospel-esque backbeat, Pruitt’s earthy voice pulses out the song’s uncomplicated lyrics with resounding clarity while its tidy surf guitars and pounding rthythm section give it a jittery, sing-a-long feel. Sounds like a refreshing antidote to endure this blazing 90 degree weather. – Juan Edgardo Rodríguez (@juanerodriguez)

Xu Xu Fang have been lighting up the LA music scene over the last couple of years with various EPs and compilations. Now, the band is ready to give the world a full-length album. Ethan Allen (not to be confused with the American Revolution hero of the same name) will produce the currently untitled debut. Allen will undoubtedly bring his experience with psych-rock bands, including LA’s Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, to properly foster a sound fitting of Xu Xu Fang’s large musical ambitions. The band has yet to release an official single, but they have provided an eight-minute preview that includes snippets of prospective songs and a spoken-word vignette about a guy who really doesn’t want to hear his fortune. Check out the preview below. – Joshua S. Johnson

Boldly stepping away from the ’80s beats and horror sounds of Giza, their 2010 debut EP, Aaron Ross and Matthew Arkell (aka Gatekeeper) designed their first full-length album "Exo" as an immersive listening experience. On the edge of danceable despite big beat and techno rhythms, the twelve tracks salute the world of high-definition in a series of vivid sonic landscapes built around samples and three-dimensional effects.

Provided that you’re equipped with a decent set of headphones or speakers (without which the textures may fade), you can already stream the album as a continuous mix, courtesy of Hippos In Tanks. For once though, it may be wise to reserve judgement for a few days; on July 17th, ‘Exo’ will be released along with a ‘first person gaming environment’, purposely designed by Tabor Robak to set a context for the narrative. Now that’s an intriguing package. On a side note, the duo will be performing a show on August 11th at Los Globos. – Tracy Mamoun