Japanther may be the hardest-working punks to come out of Brooklyn. Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek are rowdy, loud and definitely too absurd for your parents. No matter where Japanther goes, mosh pits ensue, but it doesn’t mean that Reilly and Vanek are just messing around. Counting their collection of 7-inches, EPs and albums (and […]
Stay calm, stay cool: ‣ Port of Los Angeles’ Lobsterfest continues for one more day where the Blasters (pictured above), Jail Weddings, Battleme, Capt. Jeff & the Chum Buckets and Neveready close out the festivities in San Pedro. ‣ The legendary Little Feat headline the El Rey Theatre. ‣ Avicii still caters to electronica fans […]
Today’s going to be a scorcher, but there are plenty of shows to keep you cool: ‣ The Walkmen and Milo Greene do a second SoCal show together this week. This time they’re at the Observatory in Orange County. ‣ Canadian electronic band Austra [pictured above] brings their “dark wave” to the El Rey Theatre. […]
Although Jillinda Palmer recently celebrated the release of a solo EP, the Damselles & the TC4 are still set out to release a full-length debut. And who wouldn’t be happy about that? When you need some good ol’ fashioned doo-wop with an tight backing rock band (whose name honors former Sea Level Records proprietor Todd […]
The Vaccines‘ new album “The Vaccines Come of Age” is boldly titled, but has the U.K. quartet really come of age? Well, they now have songs that are longer than 2 minutes and they’ve gone beyond the hook with their songwriting this time around. But there’s still this aloofness that Justin Young, Freddie Cowan, Arni […]
[A few new cool tunes from upcoming albums…] El Perro del Mar, “Walk On By” – No, it’s not a Burt Bacharach/Dionne Warwick cover, but it’s just as smooth with a sensual filter. Swedish pop-songwriter Sarah Assbring, aka El Perro del Mar, will finally release a follow-up to 2009’s “Love Is Not Pop,” and “Walk […]
Jens Lekman has never been one to hide his emotions, and that may be one of the most compelling things about him as a performer. His combination of wry humor and stark gloom gives the Swedish indie-popper’s confessionals a sense of melodrama and melancholy few contemporaries approach. Lekman’s previous single “Erica America” prompted one to […]
Lots of choices for your Friday fun: ‣ San Francisco’s the Fresh & Onlys [see their video for “Presence of Mind”] team up with Terry Malts for a show at the Echo. ‣ The Heavy [see their video for “What Makes a Good Man?] play the El Rey Theatre with the Silent Comedy as support. […]
If you’ve been looking forward to Efterklang‘s forthcoming album, “Piramida” (due Sept. 24 via 4AD), their latest single “Apples” will stoke your anticipation even more. As the percussion gently brushes the keyboard melodies while horn arpeggios bob underneath Casper Clausen’s baritone, the 4 minute and 15 second song is a beautiful orchestration. It’s a dynamic […]
Ah, the thrills of spur-of-the-moment romance. In the Features‘ video for “Another One” – a track off their excellent album “Wilderness” – a young couple gets a room, only to find they maybe should have gotten a better room. The rodents who have already staked their claim to the motel sure can play indie-rock. But […]
