Canadian quintet Jets Overhead landed on my radar in 2007 when a friend sent me one of those breathless missives that went something like, “Dude, you will love these people. And they’re giving their album away.” Indeed, the churning psych-rock on 2006’s “Bridges” had a lot to recommend it (and it’s not too late to […]
At 37, Harper Simon is having his coming-out party this week. The eldest son of Paul Simon releases his self-titled debut on Tuesday and kicks off a national tour on Wednesday, his pristine tenor out in front of fastidiously arranged songs of pop-Americana, some twangy and alll melodically sticky. The album took shape over several […]
[Apologies for the tardiness of this post. Your faithful servant was still reeling from the rawk-accompanied video montages they showed at the Cardinals-Dodgers game last night …] It’s a big night for Sean Tillman, who in his persona as disco party captain Har Mar Superstar launches into a U.S. tour by headlining the Echo. Har […]
Jump Clubb calls itself “an anonymous band from Beverly Hills,” which sounds really suspicious since nobody from Beverly Hills is anonymous, or evens wants to be. The act – which we hear may involve this electronic artist and member of the Def Jux family – this week released its debut album, “The Love of No […]
The Blakes rumbled onto my radar in 2007 with an EP and full-length album on the Light in the Attic label that sounded like a less coiffed (if you can imagine that) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The Seattle trio of brothers Garnet and Snow Keim and drummer Bob Husak follows that up with “Souvenir,” out […]
[A batch of local stuff you should be paying attention to …] The latest in the (almost) monthly songwriting series from Hello Dragon might be its best yet. “107” paints a sad little picture from downtown L.A. that will bring a smile to the face of anybody who’s surveyed the scene at Bar 107 on […]
There’s no shortage of aspiring divas these days (judging from the volume of e-mail exhortartions), but singer-songwriter Audra Mae has to rank as one of the most compelling young voices out there. The Oklahoma-reared, Los Angeles-based songstress is an old soul in a young package, with voice that inspires the likes of me to name-check […]
It’ll be a bittersweet night Saturday at Spaceland. Local pop quintet You Me & Iowa is splitting up after six years – and releasing their new (and final) album, “Aquarium.” “We feel we’ve reached a point where we need to explore new musical territory that cannot be achieved as the ensemble, You Me & Iowa,” […]
Funny thing happened after Eastern Conference Champions frontman Josh Ostrander lost his voice. His band kinda liked him. The singer of the L.A.-via-Philadelphia trio was known for his keening vocals that pinched every ounce of emotion out of the melody lines on the band’s wiry 2007 debut, “Ameritown.” But in 2008 after a U.K. tour, […]
Follow the synth lines, they will lead you to the Promised Land. Or at least a great warehouse party. That’s what you get with Radio Freq, the L.A. electro trio that just released its debut EP “Alive” (on iTunes and on Coming Home Records). The new project from longtime pals Ben Adams and Cliff Magreta, […]
