Kevin Bronson on February 27th, 2026

0

(Editor’s note: Three tracks herein — marked *** — had not made it on to Spotify at time of publication, owing, ostensibly, to distribution hiccups. The recaps about the songs are included here; we’ll add them to the playlist when they land.)

Welcome to the jam-packed Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 376), which boasts newly released music from Towa Bird, Social Distortion, Evangeline, The Womack Sisters, Talker, Stolen Nova, The Pretty Flowers, Maria Taylor, Angelo De Augustine, Spencer Hoffman, Lean, Gal Musette, Cheekface, Rose’s Pawn Shop, Marika Che, Grace Inspace, Landroid, Common People, Lucy Clearwater, Inner Wave and a bunch more. And as a cherry on top, it closes with a track from Linda Perry’s forthcoming solo record.

Previous Buzz Bands LA playlists, with liner notes, here.

Anita Mills contributed to this roundup.

■ Talker, “Gold Rush” — Celeste Tauchar returns from her foray in the duo Desperate Hauswives to her solo project Talker, today releasing “Gold Rush.” It’s Talker’s first new single since her debut LP, 2024’s “I’m Telling You the Truth.” That album revealed a measure of cathartic veracity; the windswept anthem “Gold Rush” implies that minding the truth is damn hard. “It’s not a gold rush / it’s a dustbowl,” is Talker’s metaphor of choice. Behold the video, directed by Tauchar and Andrea Martin. Live March 5 at Permanent Records Roadhouse, with Fime and Joe Evil.

■ The Pretty Flowers, “To Be So Cool” — The Pretty Flowers (Noah Green, Sam Tiger, Jake Gideon and Sean Johnson, all of whom have earned their merit badges in L.A.’s indie scene) are ripping their way toward the March 27 release of their sophomore album, “Never Felt Bitter.” Second single “To Be So Cool,” the follow-up to “Came Back Kicking,” is emblematic of their adrenaline-fueled (not to mention defiant) indie-rock. Live at March 27 at Healing Force of the Universe.

■ Towa Bird, “Gentleman” — Filipino-British artist Towa Bird cut a wide swath through rock styles on their album “American Hero,” released in 2024. Now the L.A.-based shredder returns with the riffy, sexy single “Gentleman,” along with a stylish video.

■ LEAN, “Lost & Found” — “Lost & Found” marks the first single from songwriting-production duo LEAN (Kyle McCammon and Stephen Johnson) in more than three years.

■ Evangeline, “Over It” — Today brought the release of the self-titled album from Evangeline (fka Eva B. Ross, born Evangeline Barrosse, songwriter, producer, journalist), a swoon-worthy batch of modern pop with folk flourishes that reads like a well-crafted diary. “Evangeline” features collaborations with three producers, Grant Milliken, Dillon Casey and Max Shrager. “Rooting for You” “I Would Now” and “What Are You Doing Later?” are the gateway drugs to “Evangeline,” which kicks off with the sublime “Over It.” Live Saturday at Healing Force of the Universe.

■ Angelo De Augustine, “Mirror Mirror” — Angelo De Augustine introduces his fifth album, “Angel in Plainclothes” (out April 24) with the single “Mirror Mirror.”

■ Maria Taylor, “Never Thought I’d Feel New” — Shimmering in the way her finest songs have and imbued with wide-eyed hope, “Never Thought I’d Feel New” is the second single from Maria Taylor’s first solo album in seven years, “Story’s End,” out April 3 via Conor Oberst’s Million Stars Records. “This song says exactly what it means – melodically, musically, and lyrically,” says Taylor, who credits longtime friend Nik Freitas with an assist in writing the chorus for the song, which was co-produced with Brad Armstrong. “It’s about how rare and fortunate it is to feel new again. It’s about breaking out of the confines of our own thoughts. of other people’s thoughts. It’s about letting go, gaining clarity, and feeling alive.” Live April 10 at Sid the Cat Auditorium.

■ Spencer Hoffman, “Bouquet” — Prepare for some goosebumps: “Bouquet” is the follow-up to singles such as “Cherry Picker” and “Dandelions” — the final sampling we’ll get before the release of his sophomore album “Cherry Picker” on March 13.

■ The Womack Sisters, “You Went Away Too Long” — Every note and every harmony worthy of their formidable bloodlines, L.A. trio the Womack Sisters (BG, Zeimani and Kucha) have signed to Daptone Records and released the new single “You Went Away Too Long,” produced by label co-founder Bosco Mann (aka Gabriel Roth). The trio are granddaughters of the legendary Sam Cooke, daughters of Cecil and Linda Womack (Womack & Womack) and nieces of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bobby Womack. “This song holds a deep meaning that’s different for each of us,” the Sisters say. “Imagine precious time stolen from your life, slipping away like sand through an hourglass, as your loved ones slowly forget the sound of your laughter. ‘You Went Away Too Long’ is a song about love and life interrupted.” Live March 21 at Santa Ana Stadium for Old School Love; April 23 at the Greek Theatre, opening for Thee Sacred Souls; and Aug. 14 at the Hollywood Bowl, opening for Al Green.

■ Valley Boy, “Diana Gets an Email” — Songwriter James Alan Ghaleb Amaradio has announced the the May 1 arrival of his debut album, “Children of Divorce.” True to its title, the LP is a collection of stories about young people like him, children of divorce. “‘Diana Gets an Email’ is the compassionate eye of adulthood turned towards the author of some of my most cruel childhood memories — my first girlfriend,” the songwriter days. “As much as everyone’s story deserves its due, something about remembering the single email a year she got just broke my heart even after a year of writing these stories, so it had to be on the record. I have no idea where she is now but I hope she’s well, and if she ever hears this, I hope she likes it.” Live March 24 at School Night at the Airliner, along with the Vices and Steven Bamidele.

■ Grace Inspace, “Blurry” — Friendly reminder that Grace Inspace’s (Grace Garner) new EP “Heavy Hair” is now available via TODO Records, featuring a collaboration with JDM Global (Josh Mehling) on the track “Blurry.” Graner says of the track that follows “Helium Balloon”: “”Blurry” was born from those heady first moments of meeting someone you instantly click with, when the world blurs at the edges and they pull sharply into focus. Josh Mehling — one of those friends who’d fallen head over heels alongside me – sent me the track, and I wrote all the lyrics on the drive to his studio, looping that infectious hook over and over. I knew he had to sing on it too, because this love story was all of ours.”

■ The Undercover Dream Lovers, “Banging My Head” — The follow-up to singles such as “Prom Queen” and “Lies Lies Lies,” the stinging “Banging My Head” is the latest single from the Undercover Dream Lovers’ third album, “Atomic House,” out March 20. More known for making engaging psych- and dream-pop, TUDL’s Matt Koenig spreads his wings on this LP, as this new indie-rocker (and “Lies Lies Lies”) suggests. ***

■ Eliza Noxon, “What The Waiting Was For” — Friendly reminder that Eliza Noxon’s debut album “Good Monsters With Bad Habits” drops today. A follow-up to “One More Round,” “What The Waiting Was For” is a bright rock track with feel-good lyrics, and a killer guitar riff. ***

■ Cheekface, “Hostile Street” — The new single from Cheekface (Greg Katz, Amanda Tannen and Mark “Echo” Edwards) comes advertised as a humorous takedown of “aggressive street furniture,” but as always with the talk-singing L.A. trio, Cheekfreaks find uncomfortable truths beneath the songs’ rapier wit. “Hostile Street” marks Cheekface’s second release since last year’s fifth album, “Middle Spoon.”

■ Gal Musette, “Want” — The follow-up to “Have,” the single “Want” is the latest dose of folk-pop finery from Gal Musette, aka Grace Freeman. Do we detect a thematic trend? Sally the Kitten co-stars in director Autumn Palen’s video.

■ Sam Blasucci, “Chancez” — En route to the April 17 release of his fourth album, the double-LP “Physical Dream,” Sam Blasucci today releases the six-song EP, “La Miel,” a grouping of a half-dozen mellow, healing songs from the 28-track full-length. The EP includes “Delicadeza,” released earlier this month. The EP, Blasucci says, “is the honey to the largely wounded inner world of this record. Literally translated to ‘honey,’ it feels the most energizing and soothing to what I see as our collective wounds. Soothing to the damaged throat and voice that we’re now just dusting off. Largely influenced by my teachers, friends, caretakers and musical mentors in Coahuila, Mexico, as well as my upbringing in Los Angeles of course and those musical heroes and friends of mine in that incredible hometown of mine that built me up and taught me what I’ve expressed in my recordings.” Here’s the video for “Chancez.”

■ Zachary Baker, “Lighthouse” — Zachery Baker (Zacky Vengeance when he’s shredding in O.C. metalcore titans Avenged Sevenfold) has gone solo, announcing his debut alt-country album “Dark Horse,” dropping April 3. “Lighthouse,” is a heart-felt guitar ballad following the title track.

■ Landroid, “Hank the Dragon” — This just in from the High Desert: Landroid (Cooper Gillespie and Greg Gordon) have released their first single in three years, “Hank the Dragon.” Their aptly titled album, “Constellation,” is on the way.

■ Inner Wave, “Sweet” — Friendly reminder that “See You When I Get Back,” Inner Wave’s new 13-track album drops today via Nettwerk. “Sweet” is a fun bass-heavy tack following “Only For Your Eyes,” and “If You Like.” Live May 30 & May 31 at The Regent.

■ Social Distortion, “Born to Kill” — O.C. punk legends Social Distortion will release their eighth album (and first in 15 years) on May 8. “Born to Kill” (here’s the video for the title track) finds the band lacking nothing in intensity, even after frontman Mike Ness’ bout with tonsil cancer in 2023 and subsequent treatment. Live Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 at the Palladium.

■ Host Family, “Explain It to Me” — L.A. quintet Host Family (Imogen Lolos, Zac Hernandez, Spencer Stange, Cameron Burt and Todd Knaak make shoegaze-adjacent indie-rock with boisterous, swirling guitars, airy melodies and cherubic vocals. Their debut EP, “Extended Play,” was recently re-released via Pleasure Tapes and Candlepin Records, and there’s a lot to like if you’re a fan of melodic shoegaze pioneers or more contemporary artists such as Mirah and Bar Bar Italia. Live March 10 at the Airliner, with Gaadge, Drauve and Smother, and March 16 at El Cid, with Figure Eight.

■ Rose’s Pawn Shop, “Going Out in the World” — Friendly reminder that “American Seams,” the fifth (and finest) full-length from Rose’s Pawn Shop, is out today. File under big-heart, sharp-minded Americana that hews to folk and country traditions but finds currency in political (the title track) and personal (the release-week single “Going Out in the World”) reflection. Live tonight at Pappy & Harriet’s, with the Far West, and Saturday at the Hotel Café.

■ Lucy Clearwater, “Love a Friend” — The affecting lullaby “Love a Friend” is the latest single from, and the closing track on, Lucy Clearwater’s forthcoming album “People ≠ Possessions,” out May 17.

■ MacGregor Burns, “Never Leave Me Alone” — “Never Leave Me Alone,” featuring Kosta G on bass and production by Luke Temple, is a slice of ’70s-era blue-eyed soul and the latest reveal from singer-songwriter MacGregor Burns’ new album, “My Corner.” The LP, which also boasts previous singles such as “Kids These Days,” “Let Yourself Go” and “She Never Took a Chance on Me,” is out April 17.

■ Ian Cobiella, “Trial By Fire” — In search of something more, classically trained piano player Ian Cobiella now dons the title of singer-songwriter, dropping “Trial By Fire.” Cobiella says: “I’ve recently spent some time looking at my past just for the sake of it; to be honest about it and to laugh at myself, in all of its ridiculousness and immutability. “Trial By Fire” captures exactly what that feels like — giving everything I can, getting the opposite outcome, and somehow being fine with it.” Watch the black and white music video here.

■ Troialexis, “Time Waits” — Troialexis is the nom de tune of native Midwesterner Troi Henderson, whose buttery, etheral vocals are the calling card on the handful of singles she has released so far. “Time Waits” is her latest foray into alt-R&B.

■ Common People, “Dear Worry” — L.A. rockers Common People will release the new, Brad Shultz-produced EP, “Games,” on April 3, and “Dear Worry” is the follow-up to their January single “Rain.” “‘Dear Worry’ is a love letter to that voice in your head,” singer-bassist Konrad Ulich says. “An honest reflection on worry that is less so about overcoming negative emotions as it is learning to live with them.”

■ GENA, “Doyouwannabwitastar!? — GENA is a collaboration between experimental soul-jazz singer-songwriter Liv.e (Halee Olivia Williams) and drummer-producer Karriem Riggins. Today brought the release of their album “The Pleasure Is Yours.”

■ EVRO, “House in the Hills” — EVRO is the solo project of singer-songwriter, producer and multimedia artist Matiss Evreoux. Today brought the release of EVRO’s debut EP “Romance in Saturn’s Return,” a five-song collection of dark pop/indie-rock. Of “House in the Hills,” he says: “I wrote it in about an hour while staying alone in a haunted-feeling apartment in Sunset Plaza that I was house-sitting for a week. The melody and feeling felt very natural and just flowed through me. At the time I had ‘Human Sadness’ by The Voidz and ‘Comment te dire adieu’ by Françoise Hardy on repeat, and I think that atmosphere shaped the emotion of the song.”

■ Marika Che, “Little Cures (Come Right on Time”) — The follow-up to “Saint Charles Avenue,” the day-brightener “Little Cures (Come Right on Time)” is the second single from Marika Che’s first solo album, “Bright Flame” (out April 8). “At first glance, ‘Little Cures (Come Right on Time)’ is about the hundreds of little things we do throughout the day, week, or year, to ease the pain of living,” the former front-person of Tangerine says. “Every little moment has to be endured, so I get by with these little cures.”

■ Presley Regier, “If I Was With You” — L.A. native Presley Regier has earned acclaim for his deft feel for pop songs, releasing two EPs, racking up formidable streaming numbers and rubbing shoulders with some of modern pop’s hottest enablers. Luka Kloser is a producer on Regier’s new single “If I Was With you.”

■ Carmela, “You’re So Boring” (feat. Gideon Gable) — Anna Carmela Young (formerly one-half of the duo Thrift) first released music under her solo project Carmela in 2020, with her debut album, “New Stranger,” arriving in 2022. Her latest single, the electroclash-adjacent “You’re So Boring,” is a barbed takedown of small-town culture and its embrace of the “American Dream.” Live Saturday night at the Vine in Long Beach.

■ Stolen Nova, “Shame” — Stolen Nova is the latest project from Josh Landau (The Shrine), who has set aside his previous band’s stoner rock in favor of tasty psych-funk. “Shame” (watch the video) is the project’s second release since their self-titled EP in 2024.

■ Nymphlord, “Garden” — Lauren Records will release singer-songwriter Nymplord’s (Tia Rabinovitz) debut album “Shedding Velvet” on May 15 featuring the track “Garden.” Rabinovitz says of the track that follows her previous single “Star”: “It first came to me in a conference room, mid-meeting. That’s the one thing I’ll say in favor of an office job – being steeped in beige for that many hours a day really has a way of pressurizing your creativity.” Nymphlord is office chic amongst shrubbery in the music video here.

■ Lecx Stacy, “Safe in Your Hands, I Clasp” — L.A.-based Lecx Stacy grew in Ramona and matriculated to music as a youngster, after his brother died and left behind a trove of musical equipment. His sound has morphed over his two full-length albums, and the powerful new single, “Safe in Your Hands, I Clasp” exudes a dynamic as powerful as the emotions that inspired it.

■ Cailin Russo, “Take Me Home” — “Take Me Home” is the first single from Cailin Russo since her song “Bad Things” (originally released in 2018) took off online after it appeared in the finale of “Heated Rivalry.” Live March 25 at the Moroccan Lounge.

■ Kid Lightning, “Solitary Cloud” — “Solitgary Cloud” is the first ful-band release from songwriter Will Munroe’s solo project Kid Lightning, an “existential banger” produced by Brenda Carsey.

■ Giovanna, “Gone Awry” — Giovanna Hamed, aka Giovanna, is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Orange County. Her new stand-alone singe “Gone Awry” showcases old soul vocals against a heavy pop-rock ballad. ***

■ Grace Kay & Kirsten Izer, “Why Am I Like This” — Art-pop artist Grace Kay and indie-pop songwriter Kirsten Izer combine their talents on the electro-pop stand-alone single “Why Am I Like This.” Kay says: “‘Why Am I Like This’ is about getting caught in a cycle of habits that don’t serve you.”

■ Linda Perry, “Beautiful” — You know how we usually end these playlists with a cover song? This is kind of the inverse of that. “Beautiful” was penned by legendary producer, eventual Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and onetime 4 Non Blondes bandleader Linda Perry for Christina Aguilera< who released it in 2002. Now Perry has recorded the song, which will appear on Perry’s first solo album since 1999, “Let It Die Here,” out May 8. Watch the video, directed by Sara Gilbert.