The Happy Hollows’ debut album “Spells” is at turns exhilarating, experimental and excruciating – as if the Pixies, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bikini Kill and Bis got together to compare anxiety attacks. Its yelpy, guitar-spiked sketches, couched every so often by unfailingly catchy shout-along choruses, are at least nervy, if not downright neurotic. It’s far too […]
Spider Problem is a trip to the ER waiting to happen. The L.A. quartet’s thrashy spazz-rock is a throwback to the days of unhinged punk – yeah, maybe like the Germs, whom Spider Problem has supported this year on tour. (At least, it’s the 2009 incarnation of the Germs, with actor Shane West channeling Darby […]
Should be a homecoming atmosphere tonight at Spaceland, where Division Day plays its first local show since the release last month of “Visitation,” the L.A. quartet’s superb sophomore album. Dangerbird Records labelmates Bad Veins, along with Lovelikefire, are also on the bill. … Nine Inch Nails (supported by Mew and Queen Kwong) play the Palladium […]
The Highland Park assemblage known as Seasons are a glorious mess. The seven- or (sometimes) eight-piece makes lovingly off-kilter neo-psychedelia full of palpable energy and exposed nerves, startlingly pretty one moment and earplug-worthy cacophonous the next. Their new “Summer” EP, recorded with Timothy James (the Movies), arrives just in the time for the end of […]
First thing you need to know about His Orchestra is that “Field Guide to the Wilds,” the debut album that saw a quiet digital release back in February, is one of the most enchanting indie-pop albums you’ll hear this year. Its winsome mix of string-, glockenspiel- and keyboard-flavored confessionals reminds me of the likes of […]
L.A. noiseniks No Age have a new EP coming Oct. 6 – the four-song “Losing Feeling” will be released digitally and on 12-inch vinyl. (Sign up at the Sub Pop website to stream it.) Underground heroes Randy Randall and Dean Spunt seem to have lengthened their songwriting attention span here, to great effect. The guitar […]
[Happy birthday, Tony Kanal. As for you, Los Angeles: My, what a big show list you have …] Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, who were gorgeous in the summer evening air at Sunset Junction, hang around town for another show, tonight’s at the Echoplex, rather curiously billed with Swedish rockers Dungen. … Fresh […]
[One in a series on new music from L.A. environs:] Mellowdrone has spent the past couple of years picking up the pieces – after its promising 2006 debut “Box,” the band was dropped by Columbia and a couple of members fell by the wayside, leaving the core duo of Jonathan Bates [pictured] and Tony DeMatteo […]
[Birthday greetings go out to Tori Amos on Saturday. And I’ll probably forget something, but here’s what’s in store for the weekend – I’ll have a separate item on Sunset Junction a little later …] Today: Welsh indie-pop septet Los Campesinos! [pictured] swing back through town for a show at the El Rey Theatre. Last […]
When I last checked in with End Roulette, the L.A. quartet was just getting comfortable with its new moniker, having decided not to fight the power after the Minnesota-based alcohol and drug treatment facility objected to their using the name Hazelden. Since then, the band appeared on MTV’s “Road to the VMAs” show, getting nominated […]
