UK’s more-than-lad-rockers Kasabian whipped a crowd of fist-pumping devotees into a frenzy at the Wiltern on Wednesday night. Having recently headlined Glastonbury, the band’s U.S. shows might seem a bit smaller but their sound is just as huge and their fans just as energetic. ||| Photos by Michelle Shiers They opened the night with “Bumblebee†[…]
Review and photos by Michelle Shiers “My parents just don’t get it,†said a 17-year-old fan from her front-row-center perch for the Orwells. She and her squealing friends writhed with anticipation for Chicago’s garage-rock five-piece just before they invaded the stage at the Fonda Theatre on Monday night. At a glance, the entire front row […]
Recap and photos by Michelle Shiers The stars – and the crowd – came out for Sunday night’s “George Fest: A Night to Celebrate the Music of George Harrison,” a benefit for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund originally scheduled for the El Rey Theatre but moved to the bigger Fonda Theatre because of ticket demand. And […]
Review and photos by Michelle Shiers Three years since their last release, the Kooks sold out the Wiltern on Thursday night touring behind their surprising fourth album “Listen.†After a couple of lineup changes and a bit of a reinvention, the Kooks have a new record that seems almost unrecognizable compared with the rough-edged Britpop […]
Almost every band seeks reinvention, their fans sometimes fear it, and critics expect it. Tampa, Fla., band Merchandise have moved from being a three-piece post-punk outfit with a drum machine, to being a noise-pop quintet with an ’80s-indebted sheen. Although Merchandise are presented as a pop band, they have retained the DIY ethos of their […]
Devon, England’s indie-folk songsmith and surf-enthusiast Ben Howard is due to release his sophomore album titled “I Forget Where We Were†on Oct. 20 via Island Records. Since the release of Howard’s 2011 debut “Every Kingdom,†he has performed at Glastonbury, has won two Brit Awards, has been nominated for the Mercury Prize and has […]
Brighton’s the Kooks have just released their fourth album “Listen” via Astralwerks Records. First track and one of three singles “Around Town†is a perfectly catchy opener and a good indicator of the unexpected album to come. With funky grooves and synth, the Kooks really begin to show off their new change. Leaving their previous […]
Buffalo-born, Orange County-based singer-songwriter Stacy Clark is back with her third album “Symmetry,” a collection of electro-pop with a real skip in its step. Clark has a knack for writing upbeat summery songs with a mainstream sensibility and a sound perfect for teen-drama soundtracks. Opener and first single “Figured It Out†is catchy with Clark’s […]
London singer-songwriter Jack Garratt has garnered buzz with his bearded brew of standout alternative R&B. His EP “Remnants†was released in July and shows off his sophisticated and meticulous style of soul-meets-indie-meets-ghostly synth. Vocally, Garratt is emotive and strong with a fierce falsetto and seductive growling depth. Songs “Worry†and “Water†are haunting with ambient […]
There is no better description of Slow Magic’s sound other than the self-described “sound made by an imaginary friend.†In a world desperate to categorize things, Slow Magic (artist and sound) manages to stay impressively enigmatic. New album “How to Run Away” will be released next week on Downtown Records and after an early sneak […]
