L.A. experimental quintet Tes Elations make music that is hypnotic and even eerie, but most of all, it’s intriguing. Barrie Rose’s vocals coo as much as they yelp between the fluid cello lines, wailing guitar and potent drums. Together, Rose, Isaac Takeuchi, Christopher Votek, Andrew Lessman and Alex Noice are a conglomerate of musicians who […]
Well, well, well … three brothers named Blackwell and a single called “Farewell Well Well.” Not a bad introduction to Canto, a teenaged trio taking on gritty blues-rock. Siblings Seamus (vocals/guitar), Aidan (bass) and David (drums) seem to like things in threes – their debut album is titled “Ha Ha Ha,” and it mashes Zep-inspired riffage […]
The Helio Sequence’s exercises in Eno-influenced pop peaked with 2008’s gorgeously cinematic “Keep Your Eyes Ahead,” but longtime collaborators Brandon Summers (vocals/guitar) and Benjamin Weikel (keys/drums) have reloaded for their first album in four years. Judging from the first two singles, “Negotiations,” due Sept. 11 via Sub Pop, furthers the Helio Sequence’s explorations in deeply […]
The “Nuggets” boxed sets are more fun than this. Really. The exploration of 1960s surf-rock by the Los Angeles quartet Allah-Las feel like a laboratory experiment. They’ve nailed the sound, perfected the vibe and aced the test – much in the same way pop genius Todd Rundgren did in 1980 with his recombinant Beatles chords on […]
Must be the heat. Today’s installment of the Buzz Bands LA Show on Moheak Radio is heavy on the heavy stuff – from the adrenaline-charged punk rock of the Henry Clay People to the dirty blues of Wake Up Lucid (each of whom has a local show coming up). Also in this week’s two-hour dollop […]
Your Friday fun, and there’s lots of it: ‣ Norah Jones’ new album is called “Little Broken Hearts” and tonight she takes on a big full amphitheatre, headlining the Hollywood Bowl. Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons open. ‣ Jack White does the first of two nights at the Shrine Auditorium behind his new album […]
The Peter Kaaden-directed video for the Raveonettes‘ latest single “She Owns the Streets” is a rather literal interpretation. But on a hot summer day like this, it’s nice to see a clip where someone still owns their surroundings no matter the people or the location. The song brings the Danish duo back to their dream-pop […]
Singer Greta Valenti invokes the adage “Rode hard / and put away wet” in Well Hung Heart’s first single “Devil,” and you could certainly say that about the electric blues in general. It’s all been done, with varying degrees of fury, fuzz and filth, right? Maybe, but the form is in pretty capable hands here, […]
French electro duo Justice returns to SoCal one more time this year when Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay headline this year’s edition of HARD’s Haunted Mansion, titled “Day of the Dead.” The duo, who rocked the Coachella main stage for two weekend in April, will be joined by the likes of Diplo, Major Lazer, […]
The New Limb have grown by leaps and bounds since the Orange County-bred, L.A.-based quintet released “Sounds People Can Hear” in 2010. Their lushly orchestrated indie-pop, riding the sky-blue boy/girl vocals of Joey Chavez and Lauren Salamone Perez, goes straight for the jugular and mostly hits the mark. Chavez certainly does with his emotive falsetto […]