L.A. Times and Weekly Give Away Exclusive MP3s for ‘The Scenesters’ Music + Film Series

August 18, 2010August 18, 20102 Comments

Spirit Animal frontman Gray Kid shouts it out!

It’s true. We do run L.A. The Scenesters film will be screening for an action-packed week at the Downtown Independent starting THIS FRIDAY. And in honor of that, the two biggest publications n town have not only spread the word, but dolled out some free tunes for the cause.

Jeff Weiss over at L.A. Times dished out a little playful snark along with a free track from Saturday night performer Spirit Animal.

And Drew Tewksbury at L.A. Weekly dubbed the event “an independent eruption,” sharing a song from PAPA, who play on Monday.

News News: Ima Robot Reemerges, Frusciante in Swahili Blonde, Converse Collabo, Books!

July 6, 2010July 6, 2010

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

We’re getting caught up on two weeks of intense blogging for West Coast Sound. Here’s a round of straight news (“news news,” if you will), with a little playful vitriol thrown in for good measure (ahem, Ima Robot).

FEATURED: Ima Robot: New Side-Project of the Magnetic Zeros?*
John Frusciante in new indie super group Swahili Blonde
Best Coast, Kid Cudi and a Vampire Weekender for Converse
Flaunt Editor Kicks Off Publishing Imprint with Part Time Punks
The Elusive Madlib Gives First U.S. Interview in Four Years

(all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)

* “Just as the Magnetic Zeros’ reputation begins to eclipse the fame of Ebert’s former group, he resurrects the early-aughts dance-punkish outfit.“

Free Kutmah! L.A. DJ/Artist Faces Deportation

May 17, 2010May 17, 2010

The story’s already been told (and quite well, I might add) by L.A. music journo Jeff Weiss, but the word needs to spread yet further. One of the city’s most vital creative minds, DJ and visual artist Kutmah, a.k.a. Justin McNulty, has been detained by immigration agents and is being held in New Mexico while officials prepare to expel him from the country.

Kutmah is part of the larger Dublab collective, and one of the founders of the L.A. beat scene. Click on either of the banners above or below to sign a petition, or otherwise rally to stop this from happening.

News Roundup: FlyLo Announces Live Band, Dublab Launches Weekly, Liars and more…

May 8, 2010

Flying Lotus contemplates world domination.

Quick bloggy bits from around the L.A. underground (and up). Share ’em.

FEATURED: Lotus Announces Live Band, Release Shows*
Dublab Takes Over Fridays at Hyperion Tavern
Watch: Liars Debut Psych-Thriller Vid for L.A. Anti-Anthem
Learning Music Kicks Off Third Free Album-A-Month Series
MP3 Exclusive: Pollyn Covers ‘Tom’s Diner’ by S. Vega

(all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)

* “We’re trying to make people levitate. You won’t know where the floor is.” — Daddy Kev

COACHELLA 2010: The Belated Preview

April 19, 2010April 19, 2010

Charlotte Gainsbourg, shot by Andrew Herrold for Spin

So, I sorta spaced on this. On Thursday, LA Weekly released its annual Coachella issue and yours truly was all up in that ish. (Sorry, the long weekend has taken it’s toll on my creative juices.) While I realize the timeliness of this is a bit… untimely, since the focus is on L.A. artists, I’d like to get the word out.

Herein, you’ll find lots of good text on good performers from good writers like Jeff Weiss, Drew Tewksbury, Wendy Gilmartin and Daiana Feuer. I wrote on DJ Lance Rock, Devo, Edward Sharpe, the Glitch Mob, Mayer Hawthorne, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Julian Casablancas, and Thom Yorke. Dig it.