Brother, the other band NME has touted as part of their revival dubbed “The Return of the Great British Guitar Band,” arrived at the Satellite for their Los Angeles debut on Tuesday. It didn’t take long for frontman Lee Newell to immediately introduce skeptical ears to his cocky banter, but thankfully the Slough-based band’s eight-song […]
It’s a huge Saturday with shows cinematic, theatrical and fantastic: ‣ British orchestral rockers Tindersticks this week released a deluxe boxed set of six scores they created for the acclaimed films of Claire Denis. Highlights from the project, “Claire Denis Film Scores 1996-2009,” are being staged in seven shows worldwide, and only two in the […]
[Local festival notes …] ‣ Quite a lineup for this year’s Make Music Pasadena, the one-day festival June 18 that features some 300 artists at more than 30 venues in the City of Roses. The Morning Benders (pictured), Ra Ra Riot and Best Coast top the diverse bill, which also includes Saint Motel, Jenny O, […]
Not only have L.A. sextet White Arrows picked up a lot of steam in recent months, they’ve proven themselves to be a little bit broader than the “electro Strokes” label with which they were immediately tagged. Frontman Mickey Schiff and bandmates work a little psychedelia and blues into the palette, and as White Arrows’ live […]
There’s a bounty of riches on this fantastic Friday: ‣ Prince is back for another thrill ride at the Forum. ‣ The Airborne Toxic Event completes its string of album-release week shows with a gig at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre featuring teaturing the Calder Quartet. ‣ Tennessee rockers Royal Bangs [see our posts from […]
Beware, dog lovers. The Belle Brigade (who we profiled about a month ago) just released a video that takes their anthem “Losers” to another personal level. The optimistic doctrine, via soft harmonies building up to a crash of drums and a triumphant chorus, has become the favorite closing number for fans at live shows with […]
The icy electro of Hang Glider sounds as if it’s manufactured by those legendary ghosts in the machines – you know, the ones who are doing the remixes for the next Terminator dance party. Hang Glider is, in fact, the home-studio ministrations of L.A.-based Mike Puretz, who sings, plays all the instruments and does all […]
Like a lot of good, Britpop-inspired rock, the music of the Boxer Rebellion can feel larger than life. The London-based quartet (with an American frontman, Nathan Nicholson) makes swoon-worthy anthems that recall Editors or a more virile Coldplay, songs that have attracted U.S. fans in droves. The band went the independent route, self-releasing their third […]
Of shows big and small and in between: ‣ Dirty Beaches, whose spooky, minimalist synth-pop has gotten a lot of love in the blog world, visits the Echo, with Bell Gardens and Neverever supporting. That’s the video for Dirty Beaches’ “Lord Knows Best,” above. ‣ Prince resumes his run of shows at the Forum. ‣ […]
If there’s anyone who does acoustic melancholy properly with depth and sincerity, it’s doe-eyed Irish artist Conor O’Brien. After the demise of his former band, the Immediate, O’Brien went on to release music under the moniker Villagers and the reception has been positive with 2009’s “Becoming a Jackal” (released on Domino Records) earning a shortlist […]
