Kevin Bronson on July 3rd, 2014

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The Bixby Knolls have long repped the dark underbelly of rock in L.A. – although not the costumed bombast of the city’s metal history, nor the practiced indie cool of bands that have made downtown-adjacent neighborhoods their home. No, they’ve been like having a Primal Scream in the neighborhood, a quartet whose gritty but hopeful anthems reflect the sense of desperation Los Angeles can yield after the sun goes down. Their late-2012 debut “Near & Undear” was years in the making, the band having to clear one hurdle after another. And in some ways, their new EP “Tomorrow Never Comes” (out next month) represents another chapter in their story. “Although we feel the tunes still express the raw melodies and energy [on] the first album, there’s a more sinister overtone to these tracks … written in a moment of personal despair,” says singer-guitarist Curt Barlage. Here’s to exorcising that despair by fighting the good fight.

||| Stream: “Tomorrow Never Comes”

||| Live: The Bixby Knolls play Aug. 2 at the Echo.

||| Previously: “Runnin’ and Runnin'”