The music of Big Star lives on and on, the legendary Memphis quartet’s albums having over the past decade received belated recognition as classics and their influences ringing loud and clear in the work of next-generation guitar bands. With the huge “Big Star Third” performance coming Saturday [see below for more], it’s important to note […]
Sunset Junction is barely more than three weeks away? Time to plan. Here’s how to get tickets, and after the jump, the complete set times (with one “special guest” still to be announced):
Story and photos by Matt Draper In 1983, after his fanzine and club night had culminated, a Scot named Alan McGee formed an imprint he called Creation to release records from like-minded friends. “73 in 83”, a single from art-rock band The Legend! became the label’s first release after McGee secured a £1,000 loan. Though […]
Mark Sovel (aka Mr. Shovel) is back in business of premiering new tunes – the former music director of the dearly departed Los Angeles FM station Indie 103.1 (2003-’09) has launched an online video series. Residing on his new website MrShovel.com and on Vimeo, Sovel’s series takes the name of his old local music show […]
Mark your calendar: Three photographers whose work I have been privileged to publish at varying times on Buzz Bands LA are mounting an exhibition beginning Friday at Ballard’s Artwork Framing & Gallery (1568 Sunset Blvd.) in Echo Park. The group show will feature a mix of portraiture, performance and candid photographs by Sterling Andrews, Jeff […]
File under first (and strong) impressions: That small group of people you might have seen pinching themselves on Tuesday night in Silver Lake were the invitees to an intimate listening party for Neil Young’s new album, “Le Noise” (due Sept. 28). The party was at the lakeview manse of Daniel Lanois, and both the host […]
I’ll start this item with full disclosure: I’ve been friends with John Girgus since I wrote this piece about Aberdeen’s “Homesick and Happy to Be Here” for my former employer over eight years ago. The album has held up well, and with bands such as the Pains of Being Pure at Heart and the Radio […]
I hear “reality show” and “VH1” and my skin crawls, and this vapid exercise in party music is representative of why Los Angeles gets a bad rap. But I post it not because of Official Hot Mess’ forthcoming reality series, nor because of the cameos by Flava Flav and Adrienne Curry (whoever she is), but […]
Happy Independence Day, everybody. And now for something new – a new National Anthem, written by Robert Schneider of the Apples in Stereo. It was part of the NYC radio program Studio 360’s “Redesign the 4th of July Challenge,” and the song is titled “Beauty of America.” Let the fireworks begin. Download it here.
Here’s an encouraging note for the bands around town who try and try and try some more: Leslie & the Badgers’ self-released album “Roomful of Smoke” (which we loved when it came out last year) has been picked up by Nashville-based label Thirty Tiger (home to Elizabeth Cook, Justin Townes Earle, Jim Lauderdale and Those […]
