Ever since the globetrotting phenomenon known as Sam Sparro first hit Los Angeles, he’s captured fans fancy with his slinky electro-soul. Now the Australian ex-pat is dishing out a free EP to tide listeners over until his new album “Return to Paradise” is completed. “Pink Cloud” offers a mostly instrumental title track, in all its […]
[Sunset Junction, other Junction functions, shows by legends and a show by Legend, shows in massive amphitheatres and shows by people with egos the size of amphitheatres – what a weekend. When am I going to find time to celebrate Serj Tankian’s birthday?] Once through the weekend, real … slow … like: Friday highlights: ‣ […]
L.A. quartet Saint Motel has been busy working on new music to follow up the release last year of the six-song, six-video “ForPlay.” One of those tunes, “Dear Dictator,” is a dramatic rock stomper that’s always been one of the highlights of the foursome’s sets, and now it gets remix treatment from electro maestro Sam […]
House music in Buzz Bands’ house? Occasionally. Especially when it’s as wildly eclectic as Basement Jaxx, the U.K. duo of Felix Buxton and Simon Radcliffe. The twosome has returned with “Scars,” theirs sixth album and best since 2004’s “Kish Kash,” featuring all kinds of four-on-the-floor flavors and an impressive lineup of guests, including Yoko Ono, […]
[Steve Perry and his platinum-selling pipes turn 60 years old today; let’s hope that’s a high note …] It’s being billed as the last L.A. show before Chromeo heads into the studio to make a new album – the Montreal electro duo plays to a sold-out Key Club tonight. And after that show, there’s a […]
[Second of two parts] The past few years, in the halcyon days when I toiled for the local newspaper, I wrote an annual L.A. music review, handicapping the bands I thought might, for one reason or another, have the stuff to break out of the local scene. Following are my Bands to Watch 2009 [and […]
