William James McAuley III – who makes music under the much less lawyerly name Bleu – fashions some of the most irresistible pure pop in these parts. (And in other parts too, since Bleu was just named “Best Boston Artist That Doesn’t Live in Boston.”) His 2010 release “Four” was financed by a Kickstarter campaign, […]
Taylor Locke has all the makings of a pop star. He has the comportment of a rock frontman, the requisite guitar licks and a boyish tenor that sounds oh so earnest when he belts out all those songs about girls. He has apprenticed as guitarist in the L.A. quintet Rooney. And suddenly, about two years […]
[Birthday greetings go out today to Portishead’s Geoff Barrow …] Tonight’s top 3 ways to get an earful: ‣ The Satellite (f/k/a Spaceland) will be decked out in black light and ready for an alien invasion to welcome the L.A. debut of Epic Ruins, the stoner rock project of L.A.-based drummer Jordan Richardson and his […]
My top 4 midweek outings: ‣ The Walkmen (joined by Japandroids) headline the Music Box behind the release of their fifth album “Lisbon.” ‣ AA Bondy, whose set was one of the highlights of the recent FYF Fest, plays Spaceland along with fellow folkie JBM. ‣ Power-pop Bleu (whose new album “Four” will be out […]
With too much music for the incredible shrinking record industry to nurture, artists are increasingly turning to fan-funded strategies to help get their work manufactured and marketed.. Add disco-funk quartet Casxio, indie-rockers the Deadly Syndrome [that’s their new Aurelien Levitan-directed video for “Armrest,” above”] and singer-songwriter Bleu to the list of artists trying to finance […]
[I will let the rest of the Internets fill you in on the new albums by OK Go (recommended) and Vampire Weekend (not). Here are some releases of L.A. interest, some of which I’m late to catch up to:] Jason Boesel, “Hustler’s Son” (Team Love) – The last of his Rilo Kiley bandmates to bust […]
[Indie pop goddess Tanya Donnelly celebrates a birthday today.] Excellent night to be at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, where Foreign Born supports their sophomore album “Person to Person” with The Veils opening. … The Datsuns [pictured] are back with a raucous new album “Headstunts” and are playing at the Echo with locals Spirit Vine. […]
