Also I Like to Rock series brings Graffiti6, the Soft Pack, Grouplove, the Henry Clay People (and more) to the Hammer Museum for free shows in July

Kevin Bronson on
9

Appearances by rising U.K. sensations Graffiti6 and southern California standouts the Soft Pack, Grouplove and the Henry Clay People highlight this year’s seventh installment of the Also I Like to Rock series at the Hammer Museum. The free shows in the museum’s courtyard – held at 7 p.m. every Thursday in July – also feature Eastern Conference Champions, Hanni El Khatib, Milo Greene and Lady Danville.

The series is co-presented by KCRW, and DJs from the station will do sets around the live performances. Museum members and KCRW subscribers will enjoy VIP privileges for the shows, which are all ages and open on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is $3 after 6 p.m. beneath the museum (10899 Wilshire Blvd.), and during the series the galleries stay open until 9. This year’s Also I Like to Rock is the second curated by Buzz Bands LA.

After the jump, the complete rundown on the lineup:

Thursday, July 7, 7 p.m.

Graffiti6 + Eastern Conference Champions

KCRW DJ: Dan Wilcox

British rockers Graffiti6 were formed in 2008 around the talents of singer-songwriter Jamie Scott and DJ, writer, and producer Tommy D., who has worked with the likes of Jay-Z and Kanye West. Together they craft a heady, upbeat blend of soulful electropop that falls somewhere in between the Beta Band, Morcheeba, and Gnarls Barkley. The duo’s “psychedelic Northern Soul” is a feast for the ears.

The triangulation of Bucks County, Pa.-reared Joshua Ostrander and Greg Lyons along with L.A. guitarist Melissa Dougherty, Eastern Conference Champions fashion indie-rock that can go from ferocious to tender in a heartbeat. The trio gained attention last year when its song “A Million Miles an Hour” was featured in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack and kept the momentum going with the April release of their new album Speak-Ahh.

Thursday, July 14, 7 p.m.

The Soft Pack + Hanni El Khatib

KCRW DJ: Chuck P

Launched in 2008 in San Diego by guitar-playing friends Matty McLoughlin and Matt Lamkin, the Soft Pack rocketed to success in 2009 with a punk-meets-garage rock sound inspired by the Modern Lovers, the Fall, the Velvet Underground and the Ramones. With bassist Dave Lantzman and drummer Brian Hill, the foursome released its self-titled debut in 2010 on Kemado Records and has toured the world, including dates at the Coachella and Lollapalooza festivals.

A multi-instrumentalist who serves as singer, songwriter, and producer for his one-man band, Hanni El Khatib wields a sinewy guitar and a wry, whiskey-glazed voice to fashion a mix of bluesy garage-rock soul and malt-shop music for those who drink them spiked with bourbon.

Thursday, July 21, 7 p.m.

Grouplove + Milo Greene

KCRW DJ: Eric J. Lawrence

Los Angeles-based quintet Grouplove came together on the island of Crete, where two friends from New York, Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi, met future bandmates Sean Gadd, Ryan Rabin and Andrew Wessen at an art residency. Finding immediate chemistry, the fivesome moved to L.A. to refine and record an EP of ambitious pop marked by sweeping anthems and soaring harmonies. A full album is due this year.

New L.A. pop quintet Milo Greene formed when former UC Irvine classmates Robbie Arnett, Andrew Heringer and Marlana Sheetz reunited for songwriting sessions and, finding common ground in the harmony-laden pop of the 1960s and 1970s, emerged with a batch of undeniably engaging material. They have since expanded their circle by adding Curtis Marrero and Graham Fink and are currently recording songs for their debut release.

Thursday, July 28, 7 p.m.

The Henry Clay People + Lady Danville

KCRW DJ: Chris Douridas

The Pavement- and Tom Petty-influenced rock of L.A.’s the Henry Clay People is informed by the sibling revelry of Joey and Andy Siara, who trade jibes, jabs and guitar licks in the quintet’s hyperactive, angsty tunes. Their third album “Somewhere on the Golden Coast” came out in 2010 on TBD Records and the band followed it up this spring with a punk rock-influenced EP, “This Is a Desert.”

Indie-pop standouts Lady Danville were born when Michael Garner and Dan Chang – natives of Danville, CA – met Matt Frankel at a tryout for UCLA’s Awaken a capella group. Not content simply to harmonize, the threesome took up instruments and embarked on a songwriting campaign that earned them acclaim with tune “Tired Magician” and eventually gigs opening for Ben Folds, Dashboard Confessional and Jack’s Mannequin.

Photo from 2010’s opening night of Also I Like to Rock by Laurie Scavo