Video Free Silver Lake: Manhattan Murder Mystery, Quasi, Mouse's B'Day Party, You Say Party! We Say Die!

By Jed

1) If you haven't seen it yet, RFSL friend and busy man about town photographer Simon Cardoza has just released a new video for local post-punkers Manhattan Murder Mystery's "Parking Lot."  
Watch the video below, and read Classical Geek Theatre's Ben "Mouse" McShane's profile of the band here:

Manhattan Murder Mystery - Parking Lot from Simon Cardoza on Vimeo.

Album Review: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo

By Seamus Simpson

The new album from the BRMC starts with a strong musical statement in the title track “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo.” It lays out where we are going on this musical ride: foot stomping beats, fuzzed out bass lines, screaming guitars, and lyrics you can chant to.

Having followed this band for years now, beginning with their incredible self-titled debut album I have been amazed by the change and growth of the band over the years. That said I wasn’t real sure about the dramatic shift in sound they took with their album Howl, which saw them change from the dreamy fuzz of JAMC and hazy vocals of Love and Rockets towards straight up blues. I can’t say I was a big fan at first. Over time though, they have managed to win me over by finding a way to mix the two distinct sides of their songwriting styles into a new hybrid of blues and shimmering shoegaze.

Ticket Giveaway: The Happy Hollows at The Troubadour this Friday, March 12

By Joel Robinson

Tuesday salutations out to all Radio Free Silver Lake readers. Tuesday is here with another excellent free show entry opportunity. This week brings free admission to a reader and guest to this Friday's terrific offering over at The Troubadour.

That offering consists of The Happy Hollows, along with The Veils, and Twilight Sleep. For a bit of prelude on this one, see Brad's opening comments as found in yesterday's L.A. Show Low Down. Promises to be an excellent evening throughout.

In their own words, the event will serve as "a very special SXSW kickoff show" for The Happy Hollows as they prepare to head to Texas. Seeing as we know they need no reason to put on a kick-a$$ set, we can only guess how much fun this evening will be.

So come on out and help wish our local faves all the best for their roll on out of town and through SXSW. Joined on this night by The Veils (as described by Brad yesterday) and locals Twilight Sleep, this one shapes up as enjoyable for all.

For a chance at attending for free, if you are 21 or older, drop an e-mail to "RFSLjoel(at)gmail(dot)com.” Include "SXSW-bound Happy Hollows" in the subject line and your full name (and any other comments you may have) in the e-mail text. Be certain we receive it by 10:00 am on Thursday, March 11, and you are in the mix!

Luck out to all! -jdr

(show art as above by The Happy Hollows very own Sarah Negahdari)

The Henry Clay People Sign to TBD Records

by Joel Robinson

News flash: Local favorites The Henry Clay People have announced that they've signed with TBD Records. The label will release their sophmore album Somewhere on the Golden Coast this  June (closer than ya' might think). In advance of this release, the band will be touring extensively, including a thorough presence at SXSW in the next couple weeks.

For more info, have a visit to the blogs linked below:

• Classical Geek Theatre

• Web In Front

• Buzzbands.LA

CONGRATS GUYS! The hard work is paying off. Keep it up! - RFSL

Photo by Jeff Koga.

The L.A. Show Low Down (Or: "You Know, I Wish This Day Could Keep On Goin' And Last Forever...")

by Brad Roberts

A good crop of shows this week with The Happy Hollows headlining show at The Troubadour, along with the incredible New Zealand via London band, The Veils, being my big recommendation. Big ticket giveaway through Radio Free Silver Lake now available. The last year has been an incredible one for The Happy Hollows, between touring to the other coast and getting signed to Autumn Tone Records, not to forget their residency and a series of great local shows, now they're on their way to SXSW, and here's our chance to wish them well.

The Veils are a band I have loved for a long time and am flabbergasted that they're not more well known. Finn Andrews possesses one of the best, most soulful voices in all of the indie genre. I first saw them in 2007, in their video for "Advice For Young Mothers To Be", with those babies floating up into the air, and was intrigued by what looked like Quakers doing rock and roll. Upon purchasing Nux Vomica, I was bowled over by the range of styles this band covered and took advantage of the opportunity of a two night engagement at Hotel Cafe in August '07, to see them twice. As incredible as they were on record, it didn't prepare me for how electrifying they were live. Relieved to see the "Quaker-thing" was just a fashion statement, this band can rock hard and break your heart all in the same song. They are also headed to SXSW.

Unfortunately this show is on the same night as the birthday show for Mouse, of Classical Geek Theatre (as well as a Radio Free Silver Lake contributor) at Pehrspace which I will be sorry to miss because Jack Wilson Jr. is scheduled to perform as well as Downtown/Union and Stoned at Heart.

Lots of bands are stopping by L.A. on their way to Austin, Texas, like Wild Yaks, and local bands about to set out for the festival, like The Watson Twins play last minute shows before taking off. I'm really happy that his Orchestra, responsible for my favorite album last year, have a date at Silver Lake Lounge, opening for Red Tide.

Can't believe I'm ending my first year of Show Low Downs, but it's been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined and I look forward to the next year...which begins inside.

Interview: Everest

by Joe Fielder

Not content to leave listeners waiting too long for a follow-up to 2008's Ghost Notes, the lads in LA indie rock supergroup Everest have a new album (On Approach) due out on April 20th.

We recently checked in with lead Russell Pollard to ask a few quick questions about the upcoming release and what's next for the band.

Hey, Russell. When did work start on the album? Who did you record with?

We began writing new material while on tour in November of 2008. A few of the songs on the new record were written around that time, House of 9's and Fallen Feather. I wrote Unfortunate Sea in a hotel room in Toronto on that tour. I guess work "officially," started last September. Fritz Michaud recorded the record at a studio in Northern California called Prairie Sun. Rob Schnapf Mixed the record in Los Angeles.

What can people expect from it? How have you changed?

Expect that the new record doesn't exactly dovetail with our first record. We've grown into a different band over the last couple of years. Our goal was to make the record we'd be impressed with, so we forced ourselves out of our comfort zone. 

What's the title of the album in reference to?

Many different things. It ties in with the album artwork but it also expresses that we feel we're still getting there, we will always be trying to get there.

What was the best moment you had while recording it?

Listening to the finished product on Vinyl at home!

What are your show plans this summer, for LA and beyond?

We are playing this Friday, March 5th at The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. Tour plans are in the works for April/May and we'll be heading out to Tennessee in June to play Bonnaroo.

Profile: Benjamin Hoste, This Ain't a Scene

by Kathryn Pinto
(Photos by Benjamin Hoste)

Ben Hoste is the kind of guy who will stop you mid-flip through a vinyl bin and say, “Wait. Stop. You really need to buy this record. Do you know these guys?” and then launch into a genealogy of all current and previous members going back four band generations. Hoste needs you to know this band, and he doesn’t reserve his enthusiasm just for the ladies. (Although when I observed him at the opening of SNAP, his photography show at Origami Vinyl, last Sunday the particular girl browsing the record bin was very easy on the eyes.)

Recently Hoste launched one of the freshest additions to the LA music blog lineup, This Ain’t a Scene. “Interviewing singers from some of the best bands in the Silver lake music scene,” Volume One is composed of twelve issues, each devoted to a band member interviewed and photographed by Hoste in the singer’s home, most recently Corinne Dinner of the Hectors.

Show Review: "When You Awake" 2nd Anniversary Show and a word on The Magnetic Fields

by Brad Roberts

 

Last week, on Friday, February 26, 2010, I ventured out for the first show in a week, to attend the second anniversary bash for "When You Awake" at the Bootleg Theatre. I saw a super set by Leslie and the Badgers, who melt my heart every time I see them. The headliner was Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats, who I was anxious to see, but who I had to miss to get out of there in time to get a ride home. Sorry to miss his set, but I've seen him before and I will see him again.

 

But it was a very festive audience, all done up in capes, like some kind of Halloween in February, hosted by Jody Orsborn, who had gathered a huge crowd of well-wishers. The theme of Halloween, Badgers, Owls and Bats was reflected in the fine poster by Patrick Gerrity (above). Admirers of her terrific "When You Awake" blog that has done so much, in a relatively short time, to promote and inspire local country/indie bands who surround us in Los Angeles, seemed happy to have the opportunity to thank her.

Video Free Silver Lake: Eagle and Talon, Miniature Soap, Everest, Hold Your Horses, OK Go

By Jed

I came home late last night from an amazing performance by the Magnetic Fields (at the Wilshire Ebel Theatre (completed in 1894!!) to a broken computer, so will be slightly shorter on words this week.

1) Our dear friends Eagle and Talon recently performed 4 songs for Groupee.  Looking and sounding good as always, here's "Hot Caught.":

Be sure to check out the other three songs hosted on the Groupee site here.

2) A very charming performance by Miniature Soap (Kelli Anne Noftie) at Pehrspace, along with Jordan Hudock of Marvelous Toy:

3) For those eagerly awaiting a new release from L.A's Everest, be prepared to soon wait no more.  "On Approach" will be out on April 20, and look here, a short promo video for the album to get you even more hyped up:

4) When I was a senior in high school, I, along with a good portion of my graduating class, took an art history class which, in my case, introduced me to most of the major works, virtually of which I had been previously unfamiliar. Full of enthusiasm for these images, I, as well as a few others, would sometimes attempt our best to act out the poses from the more dramatic arrangements. We were largely unsuccessful (although I took pride in once partially capturing the depicted by upside down crucifixion of St. Peterde Zurbaran). Paris, France's Hold Your Horses, on the other hand, are entirely successful in their video for 70 million:

70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L'Ogre on Vimeo.

6) When not trying to get young people excited about politics, stirring the folks up about the music industry's business model or posing for Banana Republic ads, OK Go is also known for making some darn clever music videos. The video for "This Too Shall Pass", featuring an unusually complex Rube Goldberg machine does not disappoint in that department. While I think the song is not quite the quality of Here It Goes Again, the video involves even greater feats of coordination:

Click here for a nonembeddable earlier music video for the same song and featuring the Notre Dame Marching Band.

Did I miss anything? Let me know at rfsljed a gmail dot com.

Show Reminder: Chickens in Love, Saturday at the Echoplex

by Kathryn Pinto

A couple weeks back we told you about Chickens in Love a benefit for 826LA, the writing and tutoring center in Echo Park.

The one-day all ages MINI MUSIC FESTIVAL takes place this Saturday March 6 from 1:00-7:00 PM at the Echoplex featuring The Submarines, Summer Darling, The Pity Party, and special guests Dianna Agron from GLEE and Thao Nguyen! Get your tickets.

Many Los Angeles bands have supported this project by participating in the songwriting workshop, recording covers of the students’ songs and performing at the live show. Proceeds from the show keep the free writing and tutoring programs at 826LA going strong for some terrific kids.

The Weirdos, “Weird Group of Bandits”

More video...