“Combining elements of Pinback and Spoon, Handshakes are set to make a name for themselves in the sea of music that is the LA scene. But don’t be fooled by the introduction, the group features ex-members of Wintergreen, Sputnik Monroe and Controlling The Famous.” – FILTER MAGAZINE
We first introduced you to TV Girl several months ago [link]. The San Diego duo were just getting started and had yet to even play an LA show. The project uses samples such as Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me” to create mix media style pop music that many major publications in the UK are starting to take notice of. It’s unbelievably catchy stuff.
LA Readers: Earlier this month the band made their LA debut at The Echoplex opening for Letting Up Despite Great Faults. If you missed that show be sure to catch TV Girl tomorrow February 26th at Lot 1 Cafe In Echo Park. Echo Park locals Handshakes, lightmusic, and Pageants will also play. Full details right here.
Hands – armed with only a handful of demos available on their bandcamp page – have been making their mark across the Los Angeles club scene over the past few months. They have even opened for the likes of Deerhoof and Devotchka. This velocity seems a little sudden but their fantastic live show is quickly winning audiences over and seems to be setting the stage for perhaps something much grander. Is this the next band to break big out of Silverlake?
Hands will be headed to Austin next month for SXSW – schedule to be posted soon. LA Readers can catch the band tonight opening for Pepper Rabbit and Chain Gang Of 1974 at The Bootleg Theater. Download “Magic Fingers” below.
Tonight JAXART is absolutely thrilled to present The Sweet Hurt at Lot 1 Cafe as part of our “Lot 1 Series.” I first met The Sweet Hurt’s Wendy Wang several years ago through various recording opportunities and playing shows in the LA scene. Wendy has always been a musician’s musician. It is not unusual to see some of the best players in Los Angeles at her shows watching in awe. One can only hope that the rest of the world may soon discover the subtle yet sublime grace that surrounds The Sweet Hurt’s painfully gorgeous tunes.
Late last year Wendy silently released a full length album in between session work and touring gigs as a supporting player for acts like Priscilla Ahn and Bird & The Bee. This wonderful collection is just stunning in our opinion. Stream the full album below and get details about tonight’s show right here.
Pulse Out is a side project of So Many Wizards but the two bands might as well be on two separate planets. So Many Wizards excites Los Angeles audiences with lush arrangements and Italian style pop. Pulse Out on the other hand plays with a fast paced mix of surf, twee, power pop, and balls out punk rock reminiscent of The Buzzcocks.
Pulse Out just released a 7 inch and are offering up their debut EP – Which clocks in just under 9 minutes in length for FREE via BANDCAMP. Upon my first listen I was totally SOLD and sincerely hope this side project continues to release more amazing tunes. Download “One and The Same” below.
Silje Nes is a siren. The Norwegian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist was signed to Fat Cat Records after sending in what they refer to as a “unique and charming demo.” After a full afternoon watching videos of her performances I’m hooked as well.
Silje Nes’ new album Optiks was released in October. The album features her soft and sweet vocals surrounded lush soundscapes. It creates a haunting a surreal feeling that is perfect for a cloudy day.
She will be playing in Los Angeles THIS SUNDAY February 27th at Lot 1 Cafe with Stone Darling, Steffaloo, and Barrie Rose. Details can be found here or below.
Panda Bear has unveiled another track from his forthcoming album Tomboy. Getting way to excited about this one people. Download “Last Night at The Jetty” below.
Paw Tracks is pleased to present a listening party for Tomboy on Feb. 28th in LA at Malo Upstairs Lounge (4326 W. Sunset Blvd.) – there will be two separate listening sessions, one at 6pm that is open to all ages (rsvp to tomboyallageslisteningparty@gmail.com ) and one at 7:30pm that is 21+ (rsvp to tomboy21overlisteningparty@gmail.com ) Drinks and food will be available for purchase at both sessions, proper ID required.
Last week Radiohead announce that they would be releasing their 8th studio album - King of Limbs on Sat Feb 19th. Then on Friday they decided to jump the gun offering the album for immediate download at just 9 bucks directly from the band through their website – kingoflimbs.com.
On the same day Radiohead releasedthis video for the first single off KOL entitled “Lotus Flower” a dark and simple video featuring Thom Yorke and some pretty epic dance moves. The video almost instantly spawned a barrage a web parodies and social memes – my favorite of which being Dancing Thom – A Tumblr blog that invites people to submit videos of Thom’s skills set to some quite complimentary and contemporary singles. A few of my favorites posted below include “Walk It Out,” Thom doing “The Macarena” and “Wuthering Thom” which i personally dedicate to Eli from The Monolators.
I can’t believe I haven’t posted this yet. After about 30+ views this past weekend I thought It would only be appropriate. Dark yet clever and shows the duality of his personality. Tyler, The Creator and Odd Future are about to be massive.
Tyler’s sophomore album Goblin will come out on XL Recordings in April.
This weekend JAXART is presenting not 1 but THREE shows in Echo Park full of new music we really REALLY think you should check out.
FIRST UP – Colleen Green
We fell in love with her track “Worship You” in Fall 2010. Colleen now has a new 7 inch coming out on Hardly Art on March 1st. We think you should buy it now.
See Her live TONIGHT at Pehrspace with Disaster Speaks (Members of Tenlons Fort, Seasons, and Downtown/Union), Peter Pants, and The Monolators. Details right here.
AND FINALLY our third show is TONIGHT at lot 1 cafe in echo park with good friends Luna Is Honey, Tremellow, and Fantastica Bastidas! Luna Is Honey just released their new LP Sex Museum which you can pick up on bandcamp. Any track with KJ Tony is Pretty Much AMAZING. Details here.
I can count on less than 1 hand how many times I’ve written about hip hop on this site. It’s called Rock Insider after all. That’s not to say I haven’t been following what Odd Future aka OFWGKTA have been up to in the dark corners of LA. The group’s hardcore brand of hip hop is something you just can’t ignore. They dare to go there – and then some. Fact of the matter – They are INCREDIBLY PUNK. As a semi-reformed hardcore kid I fucking support that 100%.
Well since you guys have been so awesome lately we wanted to reward our loyal readers with the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to see Glass Candy at The Echo on Sat Feb. 19th or Ted Leo Solo at Eagle Rock Center for the Arts this Sunday Feb 20th!
An Evening with Ted Leo including…
A Solo Performance by Ted Leo
Q & A with Keith Morris & Ted Leo
Stand Up Comedy by Paul F Tompkins, Sklar Bros, Jen Kirkman, Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani. At Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
I don’t remember where I first stumbled upon Philadelphia natives Arc in Round. All I know is when this cinematic and lush tune comes up in my queue my ears perk up. The melody on the distorted keyboard perfectly compliments the smoky/fuzzy vocals.
“Black Jesus are a 7-member mammoth of a band featuring four handsome men and three gorgeous ladies that we’d all like to make our husbands/wives one day. When you hear them do harmonies you’ll want to marry them too, especially when you realize that they’re not even into the chorus yet and you’re already crying. A new record is out soon and we’re pretty sure all the cool bloggers will be putting it on lists 12 months from now.” -LA UNDERGROUND
HELP BLACK JESUS PUT OUT THEIR RECORD.
DONATE TO THEIR KICKSTARTER FUND AND PRE-ORDER THEIR DEBUT LP. DONATE HERE
Nothing says Valentine’s Day better than a personalized mixtape. We made our own little mix over at JAXART featuring tunes from Steffaloo, Chelsea Wolfe, Blackbird Blackbird, Tan Dollar and more. [link]
SmokeDONTSmoke has a whole list of other mixtapes to check out including another amazing mix from Fox Is The New Black. [link]
Who the ???? Is Arcade Fire goes viral. One of my fav new tumblr blogs based on reactions to Arcade Fire’s big Grammy win on Sunday. [link]
Indie Rock Cafe has 5 bands to watch in 2011. We 100% agree about YUCK. They are going to have a big year. [link]
Radioheadannounce their 8th studio album – King Of Limbs. Album is available on pre-order direct right now [link]
And Finally my CD drive on my ancient macbook just broke. What kind of external drive should I buy? Please leave any help or links in the comments.
Please enjoy this amazing free Valentine’s download from my future husband (hey, a girl can dream) Sutja Gutiérrez. You may remember we featured his FREE album last week. You can also pick up another free EP over at Distorted Disco.
Transparent posted yet another track off Van Nuy’s native Therapies Son‘s debut EP Over The Sea. The EP will be released in March through the blog’s label. I already pre-ordered mine on import. There’s something about 10 inch vinyl that makes us giddy around these parts.
Such a great track. If you live in Los Angeles be sure to catch Therapies Son TONIGHT opening up for Smith Westerns and Yuck at The Echo.
Chelsea Wolfe - where do I find the words to describe how mesmerizing her voice is. These are the songs mystics sing in lands least traveled – through cold mornings just before dawn in the wilderness through deep snow. Chelsea Wolfe’s music allows the listener to paint their own gothic scene with always a glimmer of light at the end. This kind of artistry is in short supply these days.
Chelsea’s new album The Grime And The Glow is out now on Pendu Sound Recordings. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Los Angeles readers can catch her LA release show this Saturday Feb 12th at Show Cave in Eagle Rock. Details can be found below.
Seriously how fucking great is this track? Mikey Sanders aka Blackbird Blackbird has done it again, This could be the happiest electro jam I’ve heard in ages and the whole thing has an underlying track of bird noises. I love discovering hidden gems.
