Random dispatches: Swervedriver, Foster the People, Beachwood Sparks, Cold War Kids, Le Switch, Cults, Dawes, Races, Dublab fundraiser with Devendra

Kevin Bronson on
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From the depths of my reporter’s notebook (yeah, I still carry one):

‣ Swervedriver’s recent blast from the past at the Echoplex felt like a class reunion. Could’ve sworn I recognized two dozen faces from their great performance a couple years ago at Coachella. And it’s not out of the question that Adam Franklin and mates could convene to make some new music, I hear. Bring it on.
‣ Beachwood Sparks played a backyard party over the weekend and allowed as how they have just finished a new album.
‣ The death today of celebrated American painter Cy Twombly recalled an interview I had with Cold War Kids frontman Nathan Willett last year. The Kids’ had intended to title their third album “Wilder Shores of Love” and use Twombly’s painting as cover art but could not secure the necessary permissions. The “Mine Is Yours” cover designed by artist/bassist Matt Maust might have a little of Twombly’s DNA.
‣ Good profile last weekend in the L.A. Times on Foster the People, whose single-laden album “Torches” is afire even if Mark Foster’s backstory is a bit fuzzy. Included was the revelation that the band is being sued by music attorney/blogger Brandon Dorsky, who claims to have managed the band before it took off, a claim contested by Foster the People’s current handlers. Juicy bits. Wanna read the lawsuit? Download it.
‣ He huffs and puffs a little bit, but Alexander Laurence at the Portable Infinite points out the similarity between Cults’ song “Bumper” and Richard Swift’s “The Bully,” which resulted in Swift getting a songwriting credit for the track. You can decide for yourself, but it says here that the critical embrace of Cults is absolutely jaw-dropping considering how preening and derivative the album is as a whole.
‣ Sad to report that Silver Lake’s Le Switch is apparently calling it quits. Their Aug. 19 gig at the Satellite is being billed as their final show after two albums and two EPs in five years.
‣ Wow, Dawes and Jonathan Wilson get a gig touring with Jackson Browne in Spain, his schedule says. Now that’d be something to see.
‣ Already looking forward to Races’ residency that kicks off next week at the Bootleg. Their album is finished and will be titled “Year of the Witch.” Expect takeoff.
‣ And Dublab’s Creative Cultivation fundraising dinner is coming up July 19 – not only is Peanut Butter Wolf doing a VJ set, but Devendra Banhart will provide what they are calling “a site-specific musical surprise.” $100, probably worth it.