The husband-and-wife music makers Thurlow return with “Through Your Eyes” to follow up their debut single, “The Hour Glass.” While both songs off of their “Spokes” EP showcase lilting melodies on top of their soft electro-pop instrumentation, Jacqueline Caruso’s vocals gracefully slide to the forefront on this new track. Husband Augustus Green has charming intonation […]
While we’re dealing with all things Philadelphia (see previous post), here’s an introduction to Summer Fiction, the vehicle for singer-songwriter Bill Ricchini. The Philly-based Ricchini makes effortlessly gorgeous pop that sounds as if it could have crackled from the AM radio of my youth. Summer Fiction’s self-titled album came out in December – and “Throw […]
The long-awaited album from L.A.’s Eastern Conference Champions, “SPEAK-AHH,” finally arrives April 26, and its distinctive synthesis of twin-guitar atmospherics, aching narratives and rhythm-fueled urgency makes it a keeper. It’s been a steady climb and plenty of artistic growth for the trio since their last full-length, “Ameritown” (2007) – two highly regarded EPs, “Santa Fe” […]
The fractured folk music on Amanda Jo Williams’ forthcoming album “Mary’s Big Feet” is much like L.A. audiences has seen her live – unpredictable and unvarnished, with scratchy guitar supporting her girlish voice, vocal acrobatics and from-the-mouths-of-babes moments. She recorded the album (due April 26 on the NocturnalSol label) herself in GarageBand, so it represents […]
Singer-songwriter-composer Christopher Pappas crafts songs with such exceedingly tender moments you’d think he possesses some sort manual on the tenuousness of the human condition. Reared in New Hampshire and recently relocated to Los Angeles from Boston (where he fronted Northeast favorites the Everyday Visuals), Pappas launched his new project Miracle Parade as a series of […]
Sometimes opposites attract, and when it comes to the L.A. band Coyol, the vocals of members Céleigh Chapman and John Isaac Watters couldn’t differ more. However, songwriting is where the two have come together for strong funk-influenced folk-rock. With Watter’s avant-garde vibrato and Chapman’s bright raspy tone, the juxtaposition only gives this duo more charisma […]
Murfreesboro, Tenn.’s Those Darlins return with “Screws Get Loose” to follow up their wild self-titled debut from 2009. Jessi, Nikki, and Kelley Darlin plus drummer Linwood Regensburg once again blur the lines between country and punk so well they’ll have you moshing in your worn-out leather boots, breaking beer bottles or at least grinding on […]
Stone Darling have indeed become quite the darlings in L.A., thanks to their whispery, soul-laden harmonies. They’re the latest group of ladies to make reverb-drenched tunes to soundtrack California’s sunny days. However, Liv Marsico, Lindsay Dawn, Mikki Itzigsohn and Paige Stark take the simple yet sparkling Spector formula and spin pop with folk undertones for […]
[Three tracks from three bands who will be making their way through L.A. this weekend…] Middle Brother, “Me Me Me” – Folk-rock supergroup Middle Brother, which consists of members John J McCauley III of Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit, hit the Echo on Thursday evening. Johnny Corndawg opens. […]
If not because of their music – a winning combination of back-porch Americana and classic pop – then Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan have become one of Los Angeles’ most dynamic duos on pure charisma. The twosome has become a Hotel Cafe favorite with its poignant blend of musical storytelling built from the simplest of […]
