Not to obsess, but Cillie Barnes’ single “Brainwash” possesses about everything you’d want in a pop song, except maybe an easy way to categorize it. Razor-sharp lyrics, alternately sung and rapped (reminiscent of the Neighbourhood), a spry melody, a rhythm you’d imagine crowds could bounce along with – the woman behind the Cillie Barnes persona, […]
Have a wonderful Wednesday: ‣Â Woodkid, originally scheduled to make his L.A. debut at the Luckman last November before Superstorm Sandy confounded his travel plans, brings his highly cinematic music to the Fonda Theatre. The musical persona of French director, graphic artist and songwriter Yoann Lemoine (who’s done video for a host of A-listers), Woodkid released […]
Anybody else looking forward to Make Music Pasadena? The Saturday of free shows at multiple venues throughout Old Pasadena is coming June 1, and last week the festival announced a lineup featuring the likes of Tanlines, YACHT, We Are Scientists, Robert Delong, Taken by Trees, Superhumanoids, Las Cafeteras, Hunter Hunted and more (with a local […]
Happy Tuesday: ‣ His Purple Majesty, Prince, and 3rd Eye Girl play Grove of Anaheim. ‣ Kurt Vile & the Violators stops by the Echoplex in support of his latest album “Wakin on a Pretty Daze.” [That’s Vile’s video for “Never Run Away” above.] San Francisco’s the Fresh & Onlys and New York’s Steve Gunn round […]
The album “I Thought I Was an Alien” may be slated for an official Stateside release June 11 via Community Music, but chances are most fans of French chanteuse Stéphanie Sokolinski – aka Soko – will already know all 14 songs by heart.  Whether she’s acting in films or writing musical letters (like “I Just Want to […]
Graham MacRae has covered a lot of turf in Los Angeles. He worked for a major label; he now runs his own promotions firm; and he’s an illustrator (though he calls them “elaborate doodlings”). He even once co-owned a locally famous Echo Park record store (RIP, six years ago this month). MacRae’s songwriting has been […]
The first single from Boardwalk establishes the L.A. duo as aspirants to the legacy of the likes of Mazzy Star and Slowdive. Originally starting as a collaboration between Mike Edge and Amber Quintero, Boardwalk was joined by Mark Noseworthy (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) on guitar and bass, and the band is finishing up […]
Kan Wakan, the Silver Lake band whose sophisticated take on orchestral rock, Americana and soul quickly won them a following after they debuted last summer, has joined the diverse roster at Verve. Known at the outset as Oren Lyons before yielding to the wishes of the Native American rights advocate and changing their name, the […]
First Monday in May: ‣ Canadian rockers Born Ruffians, touring behind their third album (and first for Yep Roc) “Birthmarks” [“Needle” will get your day started right], play a sold-out show at the Troubadour, supported by Moon King and Avid Dancer. ‣ Hunter Hunted head up a big bill at It’s a School Night at […]
Incoming: Born Ruffians, Kurt Vile, the Parlotones, Laura Stevenson, Tom Odell, Joshua Radin, Jihae, Dave Stewart, Woodkid, Bleached, Akron/Family, Quantic, Meiko, Dead Sara, Yo La Tengo, Of Montreal, Pierce the Veil, Kate Nash, Pepper, Rhye, Tea Leaf Green, Cloud Cult, Face to Face, Tom Jones, Marina & the Diamonds, Jim James, Chrome Sparks, Zee Avi […]
