Alan Moore, Unearthing (Lex Records)
Alan Moore
“Watchmen mastermind Alan Moore narrates his biographical tribute to his mentor/colleague Steve Moore over a score by Crook&Flail, a.k.a. Subtle’s Adam ‘Doseone’ Drucker and Fog’s Andrew Broder.”
Grade: A (via The A.V. Club)
Sea of Bees, Songs for the Ravens (Crossbill)
Sea of Bees, 'Songs for the Ravens'
“Multi-instrumentalist Julie Baenziger hails from Grandaddy’s stomping grounds, California’s Central Valley, and like her onetime neighbors, she has an impeccable knack for infusing despair with charm.”
Rating: 3.5 stars (via Spin)
A list of recommended L.A.-area shows for the coming week (plus clips for instant gratification). Click “details” for descriptions. More after the jump.
The Scenesters Run LA: 14 bands, 4 dead hipsters, 1 hilarious whodunnit.
14 bands, 4 dead hipsters, 1 hilarious whodunnit.
>>BUY TICKETS HERE<<
>>LISTEN TO THE BANDS<<
FOR AN EXTRA $5 AT THE DOOR, COME BACK ALL WEEK!
The Vacationeers and Funny Ha Ha (music journalist Chris Martins) are proud to announce the lineup for a week-long film + music series at Los Angeles’ Downtown Independent theater starting Friday, August 20.
We’re dubbing the event “The Scenesters Run L.A.” because: one, this is the seven-night theatrical run of the award-winning film, The Scenesters, a music-inspired black comedy/murder mocumentary set in Silver Lake; and two, the talent amassed for this 14-artist bill does, indeed, run L.A.
Both L.A. Times and L.A. Weekly have previewed the event, giving away exclusive MP3s from bands set to attend (Spirit Animal and PAPA, respectively). They also shared the news that rising L.A. beat scene star Baths is Sunday’s secret headliner.
Each night, the film voted “Best Comedy” of the Hollywood Film Festival and “Most Interesting” of Slamdance will show at 8:00 p.m., followed by two live performances — from acts as diverse as the Franks, Captain Ahab, Glamorous Pukes (members of the Airborne Toxic Event and M83), Jeans Wilder, Le Switch, Big Search (Matt Popieluch of Foreign Born), and many more, including secret special guests.
Tickets to see both the film and the music are $10 and can be purchased in advance through the Downtown Independent’s website. A handful of the bands are actually featured in the film, and many plan to use the setting to their advantage, which means a big-screen audio-visual feast.
WATCH THE TRAILER ON YOUTUBE
RSVP TO THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK
The full schedule:
DAY 1: FRIDAY, AUGUST 20
A secret special guest of the funkiest persuasion (hint: IT’S WALLPAPER!) headlines with support from Sister Mantos, lo-fi mutant disco from the City of Angeles. Expect video galore.
DAY 2: SATURDAY, AUGUST 21
Spirit Animal, the band fronted by former rapper and epicurean blogger Gray Kid, bring the live soul, while Le Switch — who’s name ties into one of the film’s murders — specialize in loud folk and earnest indie rock.
DAY 3: SUNDAY, AUGUST 22
San Diego’s sun-damaged tropical chillwave beacon Jeans Wilder opens for L.A. beat scene star Baths, who will be playing from his nothing short of mind-blowing Anticon Records debut, Cerulean.
DAY 4: MONDAY, AUGUST 23
Slang Chickens, of Los Angeles, provide the garage rock grind and some purty folksy notes, while their cross-coastal brother band (literally) New York’s PAPA grace us with some epic-flavored mini anthems.
DAY 5: TUESDAY, AUGUST 24
The insane two-man techno-rap wrecking crew Captain Ahab headline. Meanwhile, an all-star lineup of the country-western Misfits cover band Glamorous Pukes will feature members of the Airborne Toxic Event, M83, Mariachi El Bronx, Learning Music, Saul Williams’ band and more.
DAY 6: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
Foreign Born singer and Fools Gold guitarist Matt Popieluch makes hi-fi layered bedroom folk as Big Search. With a secret special guest SWEATERS, who hail from L.A.’s storied underground.
DAY 7: THURSDAY, AUGUST 26
Show-stoppers The Franks present a ripping array of raw, hook-laden econo jams, and Lord Huron sound something like Paul Simon on glo-fi drugs singing inside of My Morning Jacket’s grain silo.
Bell Gardens: pretty pop grows from Stars of the Lid's ambient soil
For its debut EP, L.A. super-duo Bell Gardens wastes no space, laying down seven shining slices of SoCal pop that belies the pair’s background as an ambient music maven and an experimental electronicist.
Get over to INCHES already!
Dntel, producer for the Postal Service
Quick blog bits from around the L.A. underground (and up). Share ’em.
(all stories via West Coast Sound, via L.A. Weekly)
* An atmospheric opening with a looming bass line eventually breaks into the kind of low-key four-on-the-floor while chopped horns, strings and vocals enhance the dueling dynamic of chill vs. hyped, in Dntel’s remix of Bath’s “Rain Smell.”
A list of recommended L.A.-area shows for the coming week (plus clips for instant gratification). Click “details” for descriptions. More after the jump.
* Region:Hollywood
Music: Empire of the Sun
Vitals: The Music Box on Wed.-Fri., Aug. 11-13
(details at L.A. Weekly)
Former roommate of Amy Winehouse, Neon Hitch
By Olivia Forman
For your sampling pleasure, we’ve gathered some free MP3 listens. Take a look at Neon Hitch’s Snoop Dogg-approved cover of “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” a Toy Selectah Remix of the gettotech Mexicans With Guns, a N.A.S.A. remix by Boombotz, a new track from post-punk the Drums, and a banger from hip-hop crew the Metermaids.
Check out the songs after the jump.
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, 'Where the Messengers Meet'
There’s something worrisome about a family band that makes dark music, but it works for young Seattle quintet Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band.
Grade: B (via The A.V. Club)
Sunn O))) meets Desert Sessions as Goatsnake reissues 2.5 classics
Fresh, totally evil, repressed (as in, reissued) sludge metal excellence from Goatsnake on Southern Lord Records. For fans of Queens of the Stone Age, Black Sabbath, Foo Fighters, Sunn O))) and Desert Sessions.
Get over to INCHES already! Free MP3, plus a chart from Origami Vinyl.
Chris Writes Things 