[I’d like to welcome birthday boy Kevin Haskins to the fifties today. The weather’s nice up here.] My top 3 reasons to be out among you tonight: ‣ The New Pornographers, boasting their original lineup and a pretty undeniable new album, “Together,” play the first of two nights at the Fonda Theatre, with the Dodos […]
[I swelter, therefore I am. … Oh, and happy birthday, Jeremy Enigk. Come back soon.] Top 5 reasons to be outdoors this weekend: ‣ The Swell Season, She & Him and the Bird and the Bee team up for a hand-holder of a concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday night. ‣ MGMT gives you […]
Really wish I hadn’t thrown all my bell-bottoms away. It’d help to be in uniform for Dusty Rhodes & the River Band, the Orange County sextet who continue their winsome bear hug of classic rock on their third album. The self-titled, self-released collection is their first after parting ways with SideOneDummy Records, and although it’s […]
The title track from the Gaslight Anthem’s new album “American Slang” makes me wish I still had that Chevy Malibu from my teenage years. Like a lot of material on the New Jersey rockers’ follow-up to “The ’59 Sound,” it’s a pedal-to-the-metal anthem, with frontman Brian Fallon blaring his blue-collar sensibilities like the Boss – […]
Director Matt Creed really nails the dark melancholy of Chief’s “Night & Day” in his slick video for the Santa Monica harmonizers. The quartet’s debut “Modern Rituals” comes out on Domino on Aug. 17; Evan Koga talked about the band’s emergence in New York City and subsequent move back home with me last month. ||| […]
[Taking pause this morning to reflect on the passings of George Steinbrenner and Harvey Pekar.] My top 4 reasons to go out tonight even though it’s the 13th: ‣ Spirit Animal celebrates the release of its debut album “The Cost of Living” with a show at the Bootleg Theater. Get two songs for free here […]
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 […]
The Outline are back to following their own diagram. It’s been four years to to the week since the L.A. rockers’ debut album came out and they headed out on the road, first on the Warped Tour and then as support for hardcore guys Saosin. Both tours seemed odd for the music on the aptly […]
Yes, this video’s a year old now, but I’ll use it to reinforce a familiar Buzz Bands mantra: early arrival recommended. If you are subjecting yourself to the overwrought strains of Kings of Leon tonight at the Hollywood Bowl (or if you’re there for indie-rock veterans Built to Spill), get to the amphitheater early for […]
[Sorry I’m a little late with this today, I was all flustered trying to think of what to do for Jessica Simpson’s 30th birthday Saturday.] My top 5 reasons to slam in the earplugs this weekend: ‣ When I first heard “Hippies” and posted “Friendly Ghost” in March, I knew I’d be hooked on Harlem. […]