They’ve taken away the Jeopardy question that was their original name – what is a Flying Tourbillon Orchestra? – but the band now known as Walking Sleep hasn’t changed its approach: indie-pop with boy/girl vocals, sharp/fuzzy edges and a sunny/dark disposition. The sextet’s debut album “Measures” will finally be out May 25; it’s been a […]
[Happy new year, everybody. Buzz Bands was away on some vocab rehab for a couple of weeks, but now we return to help you lurch – did I say lurch? I meant ease – into a new decade. I hope to have some changes in the coming weeks; for now, get your year off to […]
[Birthday greetings go out today to Simon Le Bon … and here’s what’s in store tonight:] Critics have heaped accolades on Sunset Rubdown’s latest album “Dragonslayer,” a labrynthian blast of image-heavy art-rock. The Montreal-based ensemble, led by Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug, ends the U.S. leg of its tour tonight at the Troubadour, where tUnE-YaRdS opens. […]
[We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.] Haven’t had a chance until now to tout the new Cave Singers’ sophomore album, “Welcome Joy” [download below], a nice slice of laid-back folk that came out in August. The Seattle band hits the Echo tonight. … Swedish quartet Sahara Hotnights kind of vanished from my radar […]
[Here we are, Sunset Junction hangover and all, starting another great week of shows:] One of the most memorable sets last April at Coachella was Friendly Fires’ early-afternoon assault in 100-degree (give or take) heat in the Gobi Tent. In fact, I’ll venture to say it was almost superhuman – both on the part of […]
Who knows when the Henry Clay People are going to have time to record a follow-up to “For Cheap or For Free” – besides upcoming tour dates with the Airborne Toxic Event and a date Aug. 7 at Lollapalooza, their name is on a list of local bands slated to play the Lobsterfest on Sept. […]
[Getting back into town today after a little road trip. Thanks to my pinch-bloggers the past few days; happy birthday to Stewart Copeland; and here’s a full plate of music goodies from which to sample tonight:] My trip to the heartland yielded a good read or two, including this Riverfront Times interview with Son Volt’s […]
[Twenty-seven years after the Grammys anointed her best new artist, Sheena Easton celebrates a milestone birthday today. Cheers to her as we rocket into the final week of the month …] Yes, the Henry Clay People’s residency at Spaceland this month has been raging, but they are not all the rage. Two other Monday night […]
[It’s Jesse McCartney’s 22nd birthday today. Is he still a big deal, or is 22 over the hill in that world? In keeping with that theme …] “It’s Spooky to Be Young” is the new album by L.A.’s Meredith Meyer [pictured]. Her sophomore effort, produced by Bill Racine (Rogue Wave, Mates of State, Mark Gardener), […]
[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 […]
