Radio Free Silver Lake

The L.A. Show Low Down (Or: This column is slightly delayed)

by Brad Roberts

The week begins with Memorial Day, not only to commemorate the sacrifice of our soldiers and veterans, but to remind ourselves that, as a nation, we are still a work in progress. Hopefully, more evolution is in our future. Also, those of us who covered or worked (or simply attended) the Silver Lake Jubilee have a full day to recover  It was....quite a party!  Thank you Rob Danson for the photo.

I will get this post fleshed out and published later today. In the meantime look over the schedule and I'll (gently) tell you where to go later.

Band Spotlight: The Deadly Syndrome

by Joe Fielder

We're pretty happy to hear that LA's The Deadly Syndrome have a new album on the way soon.

Their debut The Ortolan didn't quite capture their fantastic live show (or at least as well as their early demos), but their second release Nolens Volens was one of our clear favorites of that year. It was one of those albums where you kept listening for weeks and months, regularly changing your mind about which track was your favorite.

So, yeah, we're really looking forward to Spirits of the Stairs coming out on August 7th. 

Here's are a few songs from them, both old and new:

Video Free Silver Lake: Junior High, Henry Clay People, Minor Me, Cardoza, Steed Lord, Sigur Ros, Lo-Fi Sugar

By Jed

1) Junior High are a San Diego based synth pop duo whose work hearkens back to the grand old days of synth pop -- the early 80s.  Or the early 2000s.  The new video for "PSA" is shot in the style of a public television show, and includes a number of 1980's signifiers, which you can identify for yourself if you watch the video.  The purpose of the Public Service Announcement is to encourage partying.   They play tonight at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, the 80's nostalgia capital of the Western Region.

Giveaway & Show Spotlight: Lonesome Heroes, Western States Motel, Olentangy John at the Outpost

By Kathryn Pinto

Indie and western duo the Lonesome Heroes came to our attention when their guitarist and singer Rich Russell shared some of his teriffic photos of the Lonely Wild's show at South By Southwest in Austin this spring. One of the best things about being part of the music community is that you can reach out to someone as a photographer and  it turns out that he his own excellent band and--extra bonus--the other half of the duo is a talented and inventive visual artist, too. This Saturday May 26 the Lonesome Heroes play the Echo Country Outpost along with perennial RFSL favorites The Western States Motel and Olentangy John. Lonesome Heroes' singer/dobro player Landry McMeans has a weeklong exhibiton of cardboard relief art works at the Outpost from May 21-27. Set times are:  6pm-Art reception/ BBQ, 8pm- Olentangy John, 9pm-Lonesome Heroes 10pm- Western States Motel

The Lonesome Heroes come to Los Angeles as part of a three week tour in support of their debut full-length Daydream Western, a deserted highway stretch of country-tinged indie rock winding through the places in between Brooklyn and Texas.

In celebration of this show the Lonesome Heroes are giving away two Lonesome Heroes gift packs that include a CD, Landry McMeans art print and a big Texas welcome to the show (the Echo Country Outpost is a non-profit, donation-only space). To enter, send an email with your full name and any comments to RFSLpinto@gmail.com, include "Lonesome Heroes Saturday at the Outpost" in the subject header. We need to receive your email by NOON Friday. Winners can pick up their gift packs at the Outpost the night of the show. Good luck to all and hope to see you there.

 

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The Lonesome Heroes play the Echo Country Outpost Saturday, May 26 with the Western States Motel and Olentangy John. The show starts at 6pm on the patio with BBQ, refreshments and bands. Entry is by donation only, but $10 donations are warmly appreciated. 

 

Band Spotlight: The Henry Clay People

by Brad Roberts

On Monday, May 14, I decided it was time to catch up with The Henry Clay People (photo at right by A. Dola Baroni) and find out what they're up to. The last year has been topsy-turvy for the band as they shed band members, pursued solo and side projects, released an EP, and refocused their priorities. So I RSVP'd for the "School Night!" they headlined that night at Bardot in Hollywood. I saw that they would not be performing until 11:45, so I didn't even venture over there till 10 PM, thereby missing Les Deux Love Orchestra, who seemed to set Bardot buzzing. Sorry I missed it.

I've been to a few "School Nights!" and really enjoyed them all. It's very different to be among a Hollywood crowd on the roof of the Avalon, across from the historic Capitol Records Tower, being so used to the laid back hipsterishness of the Silver Lake area. But it's always a little lonely as there are usually only one or two people there I even know, Kevin Bronson is one, and I wanted to share this unique and stunningly beautiful venue with everyone.

Well, the east side decided to venture westward to see The Henry Clay People on this night and, as I walked in, I noticed one, two, four, six, twelve people I know. It takes a while because the club is so dark and atmospheric it takes a good ten minutes for your eyes to adjust to the low level lighting. It would be great for cats! Many, on their first trip to Bardot, were appropriately impressed for, no matter the Hollywood element, the crowd here seems somewhat more down-to-earth and human than the bizarre creatures that populate the street level clubs on Hollywood Boulevard. Maybe it's the KCRW influence.

The L.A. Show Low Down (Or: "Where Have You Been? What Have You Seen? All The Peace When You Come Following, I'll Tell You It's Worth It All...")

 by Brad Roberts

Get ready for the beginning of summer. This coming weekend combines Silver Lake Jubilee 2012 with Memorial Day, which is perfect in that we get a full day to recover before the work week begins. Kathryn Pinto and I will be your on-the-ground correspondents, while photographers Miriam Brummel and Zoe-Ruth Erwin will be documenting  the event. There's so much to recommend here that I'll just say what I will try to see each day under the daily listings. Overall, Kinky and Autolux are the hot bands headlining on Saturday, while Aloe Blacc and The Soft Pack bring high-profile name support to the Sunday line up. With so many great bands playing on six stages all the time, the best plan is probably to go with no plan, and just end up seeing whoever you run into as you wander the circuit. That's my advice. At this point it looks like the weather will cooperate with temperatures around 70 degrees and partly cloudy skies clearing as the days go on. It would be great not to fry on the pavement.  

Beck is playing a sold out show at El Rey Tuesday night, while shows I'm looking forward to include another band with Harley Prechtel-Cortez called Half/Blood who have a show with  Johnzo West at Harvard & Stone on Wednesday night and Auditorium at Bootleg Bar on Thursday.