Kevin Bronson on November 18th, 2011

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[Updates on three bands we’ve previously covered:]

Heywood, “Spectacular Violence” – In August we reported that Summer Darling frontman Ben Heywood had completed a solo album, “Skills for the Long Emergency,” a concept record about the societal chaos that ensues after the West depletes its natural resources. The album has been picked up by SoCal-based Velvet Blue Music, which will release it Dec. 13. Heywood has also been playing in Pyyramids, the new project fronted by OK Go’s Tim Nordwind, and has a project in the works with ex-Piebald singer Travis Shettel. “Spectacular Violence” is a rip-roarer. Live: Jan. 12 at the Bootleg. [Previously: “Whispers From the Fire.”]

Electric Flower, “Circles” (via RollingStone.com) – The tag-team sonic assault of guitarist Imaad Wasif and drummer Josh Garza (Secret Machines) announced itself in October with a three-song EP that melds Wasif’s freaky-good wailing with Garza’s tower of power behind the kit. Of the six-minute track, Wasif told Rolling Stone: “This song wrote itself in a pure narcosis, in collaboration with Josh Garza, a drummer and idea man who is so good it’s scary.” Sounds like it too. Live: Tonight at the Troubadour, opening for Cold War Kids. [Previously: “Four16.”]

Saint Motel, “At Least I Have Nothing” – The furiously fun L.A. quartet is releasing a 7-inch on Nov. 28 with this song, as well as “Puzzle Pieces.” Frontman A/J Jackson characterizes this new song as the antithesis to the party anthem A-side. “In some ways,” he says, “‘At Least I Have Nothing’ is a f*cked-up look at the bright side of utter despair. When you have nothing, maybe that nothingness is actually something … freedom.” This change-of-pace song only stokes anticipation for a full-length album from the foursome. Live: Dec. 2 at Origami Vinyl. [Previously: “Puzzle Pieces” and the video for “Puzzle Pieces.”]