New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Check out the videos for Deli favorite Tristen’s songs "Matchstick Murder" and "Baby Drugs." If you pay close attention, you just might see some other members of the infamous Holly House Collective in there too!
Tristen: "Matchstick Murder" from Tristen on Vimeo.
TRISTEN: "Baby Drugs!" from Tristen on Vimeo.
If Nosaj Thing‘s sound chemistry weren’t hypnotic enough to your liking, then check out his video show collaboration with Fair Enough in a multimedia orgy this Sunday at Downtown Independent. Details and additions on the bill below:
There’s a lot to say about ambient rock outfit theendisthebeginning: They’re large. Aside from being a 6-piece outfit, their music is all about soaring vocals and big prog-rock landscapes to the likes of As Tall As Lions and Circa Survive. Tracks from their debut LP master machine [sic] offer layers upon layers of well produced space sonics and tight performances, making their first impression a truly memorable one. But it is in the live avenue where we’ll see how far theendisthebeginning can take their tracks. We’ll be keeping tabs with them.
*Date Corrected* Just when you thought we couldn’t possibly shove enough Christmas joy down your throat, think again. The good people at L.A. Record host local natives Local Natives for a night of music, holiday gift giving and general all-ages awesomeness at The Echo on Tuesday, December 22. Bring non-perishable cans of food for charity and Local Natives will give you a Christmas present (present TBD). Advanced tickets are $5, at-door for $10. Fans would probably like to know that the group are touring Europe until March just after this set, so this’ll be your last chance to see them until they come back all Europe’d out.
Downtempo singer/songwriter Meredith Meyer pens music for the lost with the execution of a silent rock star. Under her signature whisper is a confidence that puts her in the company of Lex Land and Miranda Lee Richards, all while never scaring any of us away with truly haunting (and very Kate Bush-inspired) pop tunes. Recent weeks saw the release of Meyer’s second full-length It’s Spooky To Be Young, whose tracks she’ll be previewing Thursday night at the Garden Party. (IsGoodMusic / EVFA / Sweet Heat PR present Meredith Meyer at the Garden Party, 542 S. Alameda, LA — 9 p.m.)
For the last three years, Aimee Mann‘s annual Christmas Show has provided variety holiday entertainment with the help of A-list indie buddies from all walks of life (thespian, musical and comedic) and this year’s no different. This Sunday at Largo, the three-night event kicks off with two nights of music with Zooey Deschanel, Ben Gibbard, Mann’s husband Michael Penn and an expected number of surprise guests. The first two nights are completely sold out, so your only chance of getting in will be for Tuesday night’s show. With a past guest list including Paul F. Thompkins, John C. Reilly, Patton Oswalt, Amos Lee and Jackson Browne (just to name a very few), we’d suspect just about any night is a pretty fucking good night if Aimee Mann is your host.
I’ve been meaning to write about Gatekeeper for a while now, and I just found out that No Coast has a few copies available so I thought now was a good time. Back in October Fright Records released the latest EP from the frighteningly talented producer Gatekeeper. Optimus Maximus is a dark and electronic album that delves into the depths of the macabre. The album is available digitally at I-tunes, but I recommend the limited edition granite colored vinyl edition. Fright is a strange German label “dedicated to exploring the realm of serial killer symphonies for back alley discos of the macabre.” Gatekeeper was their first signing and clearly a perfect fit.
CMJ Music Marathon is a time to discover the brightest young stars in the music industry. We at The Deli had our hands full with 2009’s festivities and had a hard time picking our favorite bands. Savoir Adore not only was one of my personal favorite artists of this year’s festival, but they also played The Deli’s 20th issue launch party, opening for showegaze Zaza, who graced that issue’s cover. They put on a great live show. I recently sat down with Paul Hammer – we discussed CMJ Music Marathon and future touring plans. – Read Nicholas Palumbo interview with the band here.
If you weren’t already thrown into the Christmas spirit by the massive amounts of wet snow on the sidewalks this morning then let Moneypenny finish the job with another great mixtape. Spandexxxmas Mixtape (mp3) features some classics, lots of samples, and dance tracks from Felix Da Housecat, Green Velvet ft. Kid Sis, Fatboy Slim, and more. Moneypenny has also produced a Christmas single of their own which consists of two covers. The “A” side is “Christmas Time is Here” (from Peanuts) (mp3) and the “B” side is surprisingly a cover of Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (mp3). Nothing says Christmas like Joy Division.
Moneypenny will be performing a DJ set at sponsored by Puma and DJ Hero at Belmont Army Surplus on December 9th. They will also be hosting “After Dark” at The Art Institute on December 11th, and playing a live set at Darkroom’s Ghosts of Christmas on December 12th.
Someday, Rachael Sage will make her punk album, a stripped-down collection honoring Joan Jett, one of her heroes. At the moment, though, she’s compelled to make what she calls “cinematic” and “textured” music—expertly crafted piano pop that, however intricate, seems destined for the Top 40. If Sage’s admiration for Jett comes as something of a surprise—her latest album, “Chandelier,” is more along the lines of Vanessa Carlton or Tori Amos—it’s characteristic of her wide-ranging talent and ambition. Another of her idols is Meryl Streep, and in 7th grade, Sage adapted “Sophie’s Choice” for a school theater project. Later, she earned a degree in drama from Stanford University. – read Ken Partridge interview with Rachel here.
Meah!, a wild garage-funk band out of the Pilsen neighborhood, released a spastic 7” on Sophomore Lounge Records this past September. The other side of the 7” was provided the Louisville band Phantom Family Halo. Meah! contributed two tracks and the first is called Kids/Summer and it is aggressive, unpredictable, pure fun on vinyl. Meah! has been a part of the scene for the last three years, and have gained a reputation for loud and uncontrollable live sets. You can stream both tracks on Meah! myspace page.
Wednesday night Aaron Phipps played the debut show of his solo project, Junkyard Girls, at Bongo Java’s After Hours Theatre. His sound is bred on the keys and occasional autoharp, but for his live performances he is supported by a full band and backup vocals. Junkyard Girls is dark Baroque pop, add electronics, drop the pop.
Aaron is heavy on the drama (familiar from his days in We are the Wind); his hand gestures and extravagant burst of song accentuate solid piano riffs. Aaron rolled onto stage in ripped tights and red hot pants, a little disheveled androgynous mess, and obviously annoyed at Bongo’s 10:45 curfew. He performed the first three songs under the guise of a mustard and maroon masquerade mask the likes of which are appropriate for a Carnival.
I was expecting a six-song emotionally charged singer-song-writer set, and while I got that, he kept it diversified. Aaron’s third song, “Tell ‘em I sent ya,” which he played with an autoharp on his lap, felt more like a sexy samba than something from a writer’s night in the attic of a coffee shop. Two favorites songs were “Phantosmia,” a macabre tune about love, risk and doom, and its antithesis, “Nice to Know You, Sir,” a light melodic doo-wop-pop song.
Junkyard Girls is working on a record Aaron hopes to release in the coming year. You can catch Junkyard Girls at his next Nashville show at the Springwater on January 14 with Spider Friends. – Victoria Read
