By Jed
1) RFSL has been a long time supporter of Le Switch, formerly The Switch, the now no longer existent local band of which Aaron Kyle was the lead singer. The various "Switch" incarnations always incorporated an element of "Americana" and "Country Folk", but Mr. Kyle's new project, Geronimo Getty (click for additional new tracks) has allowed him to focus more closely on these specific genres. Watch the new video for "Darkness Hides", in which Mr. Kyle is haunted by ghosts (special effects!) Notice some familiar names in the band's lineup: Lead Guitar: Chris Harrison, Bass: Seb Bailey, Violin: Morgan Gerstmar, Drums: Brian Soika. It's directed by Art Blevins. Geronimo Getty will be playing at 1642 Beer and Wine on May 27.
3) Iceland's FM Belfast has released a stop motion animated video for their smash dance single "Stripes", off their excellent 2011 release I Don't Want to Go to Sleep Either. Not unexpectedly, it prominently features underwear, and mockery of Borko.
Watch this short animated video about FM Belfast visiting the Faroe Islands (the nearest island group to Iceland), and how it inspired the creation of their song "Tropical." It's narrated by FM Belfast's vocalist Lóa H. Hjálmtýsdóttir, who is also a cartoonist. The video is directed by Sean Pecknold, brother of (surprise!) Fleet Foxes' singer Robin Pecknold. Not to go too far off on a tangent, but Sean Pecknold also directed this recent video by Here We Go Magic.
4) Finally, speaking of the Faroe Islands, Faroese singer/songwriter Guðrið Hansdóttir has just put up a solo live video for a new song "You Have Diamonds", which was recorded a few days ago in the woods in Finland. Her 2011 album Beyond the Grey was one of my favorites of the year, I think she has a wonderful voice, and refreshing lyrics.
No mention of the Faroe Island would be complete without a reference to Oregon resident Matthew Workman's Faroe Islands Podcast. Mr. Workman is, by all accounts, obsessed with the tiny Faroe Islands, even to the point of having received an expenses paid visit by the minister of tourism, as thanks for so promoting the nation. FYI, the Faroe Islands have a population of just under 50,000 and speak the living language most closely related to Icelandic (the writing looks almost identical, but the pronunciation is surprisingly different).
Do you have a video you'd like me to share with the Radio Free Silver Lake readership? Local L.A. Band? Icelandic band? Faroese band? Do you sing in the now extinct "norn" language? Email me at RFSLJed at gmail dot com.
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