Bands to Watch, 2009

[Second of two parts]

The past few years, in the halcyon days when I toiled for the local newspaper, I wrote an annual L.A. music review, handicapping the bands I thought might, for one reason or another, have the stuff to break out of the local scene. Following are my Bands to Watch 2009 [and after the jump, a recap of my 2008 list with how those bands fared]:

Afternoons. Not to be confused with the Welsh pop group the Afternoons. As if Arcade Fire, the Polyphonic Spree, the Mamas and the Papas and high school marching band were doing a pop opera in the middle of Silver Lake Boulevard. Unsigned. [See also: Friday's post.] Stream the demo of “Say Yes” (the song artist Shepard Fairey made the poster for):

Avi Buffalo. Labels are already checking out this group of teenage prodigies from Long Beach/Los Alamitos, smitten by their sweet, adventuresome folk rock. The band has no proper recordings but they did a session with Groupee.com. Above: a performance of “Remember Last Time” captured in Raymond Richards’ studio.

Kenan Bell. La Crescenta’s finest rhymer backs his brainy hip-pop with an ace rock band. Unabashedly fun, without playing to the same lowest common denominator that Shwayze does. Unsigned. Check out videos and songs from Bell’s in-studio session for Groupee.com here.

The Bolts. Catchy, radio-ready Irvine quintet, masterminded by teen-aged brothers Addam, Heath and Austin Farmer (nephews of ex-Beach Boy Chris Farmer), remind you of the Killers if they were on 1970s prime-time television. Unsigned. Stream the title track of their self-released album, “Like a Fantasy”:

Crystal Antlers. The Pitchfork-endorsed Long Beach quintet made a lot of noise with the helter-skelter psych-rock on their self-released EP. A big European tour looms before the band releases its debut album on Touch and Go. Stream: “A Thousand Eyes”:

The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra. With a funny name only a watchmaker could love, the orchestra is at the top of a heap of good indie-pop outfits on Eastside scene, operating deftly in the penumbra of Belle & Sebastian. Singer Kelli Noftle is departing the band just as they get to work on a full-length; replacing her will be key. Unsigned. Stream “In a Dream”:

The Happy Hollows. Yes, this trio was on my 2008 list too, but things have developed glacially for them. Their free EP was a a tease; their full-length debut may not come out until spring or summer, but word is it might have some powerful backing. Stream “Lieutenant” (from the EP):

Local Natives. Another fine product of Long Beach, this five- or (sometimes) six-piece crafts tightly wound, winsome and sometimes polyrhythmic pop that’s heavy on the harmonies and imagery. Unsigned. Stream “Airplanes”:

Nico Vega. Rockin’ three-piece centered around the acrobatic vocals of Aja Volkman shows quite a bit of range on its debut album, due Feb. 3. It won’t hurt that they are backed by MySpace Records either. Stream “Gravity”:

Red Cortez. Formerly known as the Weather Underground, this quartet churns out urgent, soulful rock that serves as the canvas for frontman Harley Prechtel-Cortez’s passionate storytelling. Already local blog darlings and club favorites. Unsigned. Stream: “End of an Error”:

Other artists big and small to keep your ears open for: Sara Lov, the Sweet Hurt, Spinnerette, the Soft Pack, Richie James Follin, Airlines, Jason Diaz, Digital Noise Academy.

Photos: Afternoons (Tomthy Norris); Kenan Bell, Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, Happy Hollows, Local Natives, Nico Vega, Red Cortez (Bronson); the Bolts (Jack Russo); Crystal Antlers (Touch and Go Records).

Now, that Bands to Watch 2008 list:

Castledoor: Still trying to find an outlet for their pristine pop. Released one fine EP, “‘Til We Sink.”

The Deadly Syndrome: Club favorites now working on their sophomore album.

The Airborne Toxic Event: Did all right for themselves.

The Happy Hollows: Like I said, slow …

King Elementary: Split up, became King Comrade, and …

Low Vs Diamond: Made a critically well-regarded debut album, toured like crazy.

Metro Station: Its electro-emo made them big headliners among the crooked haircut crowd.

No Age: Made noise everywhere — critically, commercially and fronting the scene it represents.

Dusty Rhodes and the River Band: Did as well as any young band making retro rock could; at work on a sophomore album.

Shwayze: Malibu’s party animal rapped his way onto radio, and into a reality TV show.

Sam Sparro: Electro-soul crooner scored a hit on both sides of the pond — and a Grammy nomination — with “Black & Gold.”

Note: Those bands were mentioned in a story published Oct. 25, 2007, that also name-checked the following artists as “New and Notable”: Foreign Born, Great Northern, Sea Wolf, Culver City Dub Collective, Secretary Bird, Jesca Hoop, The Broken West, Lavender Diamond, Test Your Reflex and Robert Francis.

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