Since he forsook Los Angeles for New York City last year, Steve Cooper – the man we first knew as the Gray Kid and who was last spotted dazzling us in the kitchen – released “The Cost of Living,” the first album from his electro-funk party band Spirit Animal. The first single, “Ant!,” offered undeniable […]
Top 5 shows for a busy midweek: ‣ British dance-rock trio Friendly Fires, last spotted here in 2009 flexing their muscles behind their Mercury Prize-nominated debut, return for a show at the Roxy to debut songs off their forthcoming sophomore album. Superhumanoids open. ‣ Great L.A. songwriter night at the Satellite, where Ferraby Lionheart (Remember […]
New Orleans pop acolytes Generationals turned our heads in 2009 when Park the Van Records brought their vans through SoCal to show off wares from their first album “Con Law.” Songwriters Grant Widmer and Ted Joyner haven’t lost any of their pop chops – Generationals’ new album “Actor-Caster” (out March 29 as the follow-up to […]
L.A.’s Foster the People have expanded their band with two more members since we last saw them at the Satellite (formerly Spaceland), but the buzz surrounding the electro-pop group has grown into a massive swarm within the last month as they put their energy into not one but two residencies during January. To cap off […]
If Aaron Bruno is having another close encounter in the video for “Sail,” it’s merely another chapter in the AWOLNATION frontman’s continuing obsession with all things outer space. The song (along with “Burn It Down,”) debuted last summer on the L.A. band’s first EP for Red Bull Records – a caffeinated concoction of celestial synth […]
So much free music, so little time: ‣ Red Cortez kicks off its residency at the Satellite by releasing the first of this month’s four free EPs. [Watch this space for a link later today.] Supporting tonight will be Herman Dune (frontman David-Ivar performing solo), the Silent Comedy and Rocco Deluca. ‣ Very good lineup […]
The Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble performs tonight at First Fridays at the Natural History Museum. Webcast begins about 8 p.m. here.
Portraits by Laurie Scavo Downloads and videos appear below There is a felicity to Los Angeles about which I never want to become cynical. The waitress who hands you pancakes at Millie’s might be in a big movie two years later. The kid at the Apple store is working on animation that’ll knock your socks […]
[Birthday greetings go out today to Tim Booth of James …] Top shows leading up to the weekend’s big football game: ‣ It’s Har Mar Superstar’s birthday party too – Sean Tillman is turning 33, and his band is kicking off a Friday residency at the Satellite with Giant Drag and Marijuana Deathsquads. Har Mar […]
The vision of British animator and designer Chloe Rodham is behind the new video for DeVotchKa’s “100 Other Lovers,” the first track to emerge from the Colorado ensemble’s forthcoming album “100 Lovers” (out March 1 on Anti-). Rodham nailed the band’s Eastern European feel, which Nick Urata and mates expand on sonically on the follow-up […]
