New bits: Sunset Junction, Princeton, Pehrspace
Kevin Bronson on
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If I had to guess, I’d say Sunset Junction is going to happen this year. I know its status still seems to be a subject of debate in some circles, but suffice to say things will be worked out in time for the big charity street fair Aug. 22-23. Can’t get anyone to clue me in on who the headliners might be, but the annual contingent of local bands is strong, as always. So far, on the rock stage: Warpaint, War Tapes, Love Grenades, Local Natives [pictured at SXSW], Nico Vega, Rumspringa, Miss Derringer, Nico Stai, Fool’s Gold and Gran Ronde. A nice start.
‣ L.A. indie-pop trio Princeton – which has signed with Kanine Records and will release its debut “Cocoon of Love” this fall – is performing at the Lincoln Center? Yes, it’s true. The band is playing tonight in NYC in conjunction with the Stephen Pelton Dance Theater on a program inspired by the life of Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group. All the songs on the trio’s 2008 EP “Bloomsbury” referred to members of the group.
‣ The Eastside and downtown DIY scenes will take a hit if the city steps up enforcement of shows mounted at art spaces and other unpermitted locales. But that’s what happens when people don’t rein themselves in a little bit. I see the charm in places such as Pehrspace, L’Keg, Echo Curio and their ilk, as well as a couple fun after-hours spaces I’ve visited downtown. But – and call me a fuddy-duddy if you want – I seldom see what I consider a good show at those spaces, and I frequently get nervous standing shoulder-to-shoulder and belt buckle-to-behind in small rooms that have only one exit.
‣ Fun stuff this weekend at Stories Books & Cafe in Echo Park – there’s a party tonight celebrating Mark Blake’s book “Stone Me: The Wit and Wisdom of Keith Richards,” with Bruce Duff DJing Rolling Stones rarities and the Henry Clay People doing a short set of Stones covers. On Saturday at 8, there’s a party celebrating photographer Sterling Andrews’ “Gooseberries,” with Sara Negahdari [pictured] of the Happy Hollows, Malcom Sosa of Rademacher and Andrew Lynch of the Poor Excuses performing.
‣ Glacier Hiking originally had a long-range plan to put out one EP every three months and see what happens. Then people got interested in the Ross Golan-Tommy Walter project, and now they’re getting ready to record their full-length debut with Neil Avron (Weezer, Fall Out Boy).
Kev Braw — I have to respectfully disagree. The DIY venues are SO necessary for new bands to work out their schtick! Sure, dive bars are still there for that purpose, but there’s something special about playing an art space or a tucked away location.
Interesting you promote a couple of events at Stories Books and Cafe – pity you won’t be there as you seldom see a good show at these spaces…
I agree with Meriah, LA is lucky to have it’s boutique art-space venues and the opportunities they offer to bands and music that would seldom get booked at a regular venue…
Yeah, I might be biased too… but small spaces allow many more bands to be heard than the weekly rotation of free residencies / bar-fests that the supposed music powers-to-be seem to offer…
as for not seeing any good shows, that kinda sounds a little insulting to your buzz bands, now doesn’t it.
Meriah: I didn’t say these shows *shouldn’t* happen, merely that they were in jeopardy because of the crowd and noise control issues; when given a chance to police themselves, people won’t. I’ve certainly seen enough art-space shows to know the value they offer in developing a band and a band developing a fanbase. Grant: There’s nothing in what I said that’s contradictory to Buzz Bands’ mission. When I go see a band and try to decide whether to write about them, I like to be able to actually see and hear the players, and I often don’t get that in stage-less rooms with sketchy PAs. (Occasionally, the stars align, as when I first saw Avi Buffalo at Pehrspace.) Ian: Your comparison is faulty. Signings, parties and in-store gigs conducted at book and record shops during business hours aren’t the same thing as art-space shows, where the venues are open expressly to host music and charge a “donation” at the door. … Unless you think I could actually do some curio-shopping at Echo Curio while a band is playing.