Show Review: Friend Folio III, with Roman Candles, Meho Plaza, Avi Buffalo

by Octavius

Saturday night, I headed out to Chinatown to catch some art openings, then off to Friend Folio III; a showcase of bands compiled by Classical Geek Theatre at Echo Curio. I was feeling under the weather (swine flu?) and the two beers I had while walking around Chung King Road didn't help. So, I arrive just in time to talk a bit with Meho Plaza in the back room about their new album and life in general. Roman Candles start just as Michael offers me a Tecate.

I've never seen or heard of Roman Candles before, but I quite enjoyed them. They did their set unmic-ed, unplugged, and pretty unpolished, just the way they like it. Tonight we were entertained by Chris and  Riley on accordion and guitar. Their pure unrepentant happiness just radiated through the room. Ah, to be young and happy for no reason.... These guys are so young, they're the type of band I won't recognize in a year after they grow that one last 1/2 inch. But they really were a lot of fun as they played like two kids performing in a college dorm room late at night. I only reconized the Jawbreaker song "Boxcar" which was one of my alltime favorite bands back in the early 1990's. Any band with this much enthusiasm has something going for them.

My friend Peter Choyce shows up, and we hang out outside while Meho Plaza sets up.

I've been a superfan of Meho Plaza since at least 2004. Now I have to say, Meho Plaza is one of my favorite bands from Los Angeles, period. There is no doubt in my mind, that they're one of the most under-rated bands in the city. They're recordings are partially synthetic instruments like synths and drum machines with the natural hollow body guitar sound you get in old surf tunes, without the surf melodies. Their music isn't really comparable to any other band, so I'll save you the analogies, but they're totally worth checking out. Anyone that knows about this band, loves the song "The Beach."

I see Mr. Avi Buffalo walking around outside, and I'm wondering why he's not at the Spaceland, where he's supposed to be performing. I ask the guy behind the desk, and he says Alma Mater's drummer is sick, so Avi Buffalo agreed to play. He just finished his Spaceland gig, and came straight over.

I was SO excited. I've actually never seen Avi Buffalo, and I've been listening to his demo for almost 6 months, every day. When he played Demolisten, I was out of town. When he played Pehrspace, he just finished. When he played at Aaron Embry's baby shower (?), I had to run to another party. I should have seen him play by now, and I'm kind of embarrassed that I haven't. So this was my moment to really be kinda star struck and finally see this guy play that I've seen around town and listened to over and over again.

It was just Avi and Devin on Guitars. There were no drums, no bass.... again very raw. Damn they were good. They requested all the lights be turned off. Occassionally the headlights of a cars turning would project their shadows clockwise around the room. It was definitely one of those moments when I felt we'd all say that we "were there" when Avi Buffalo played to 35 people at a small store in Echo Park. I know he's been recording with Aaron Embry, and it says on his blog that he's working out some finishing touches on the album at home. I can't wait for this album to come out!

I'm embarrassed to say that I just couldn't stay for Blue Jungle. There's been lots of buzz about them, and we've played them on KXLU, but I knew I was looking forward to two days of being in bed with this sickness...Luckily they're playing Demolisten May 8th, so I'll catch them next Friday.

Photos by Octavius