We’ve been working with our director pal Matthew Desotell, handpicking music for the webs shorts he’s been making for Venice Beach-based denim demigods Hudson Jeans. More to come, but first up is a trio spots featuring the music of Superhumanoids and Sumsun (x2!), two of our favorite unsung artists.
13 Principles, with “A Crowded Hour” by Superhumanoids
The ever-sharp Nitsuh Abebe recently made the argument in his Why We Fight column that beauty in music, often maligned as the hallmark of generic appeal, needn’t be linked to dullness every time. In a world where Kurt Vile and Cass McCombs exist, it’s a point that’s hard to deny. Not that I’d want to. I’ll happily chase your No Ages, Wavvess and Fidlars through the garages, basements and vegan outposts of Los Angeles till the day I die, but I’ll never stop swooning to the pretty stuff, and there’s a lot of it going around locally these days.
Expect future posts on folks like Luke Rathborne and House of Wolves, over whom Jeff Buckley’s ghost looms large and glorious, but for now, I just wanna give love to Superhumanoids, who are currently recording their LP debut to be released next year. That’s their recent EP, Parasite Paradise (Hit City U.S.A.), streaming below, but do yrself a favor and hit the jump to watch their videos, which are also rare and pretty and sometimes a little strange. Toothy beauty.
Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Cheer Up Charlie's (Kathryn Yu)
For the final day of SXSW, I went big, big, big. Though I saw close to 40 bands over the duration of the conference, nearly half of those were notched on Saturday. Memorable moments not included in my Spin coverage below: Catching Wallpaper’s Ricky Reed when he leapt into the crowd at Vice Bar, head-nodding to Shlohmo’s beat-burbling set at Daedelus’ Magical Properties showcase, rocking out to the chillblues/blueswave of Writer in a dusty field at Cheer Up Charlie’s, and shredding my arm hopping a fence whilst trying to get in to see Big Freedia at Mess With Texas (turned out her set was long over, and there wasn’t actually a wait to get in). Yeah, you could say I went out in style.
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.”
N.E.R.D. kick it with Clifford (so Team Jacob)
We’re finally, truly all caught up on two weeks of intense blogging for West Coast Sound. We’ve saved best for last — here’s the highlight reel expressly designed for your reading (and viewing, and listening) pleasure.
(all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)
* Can a Yeasayer RMX save the Virginia Beach-born, Hollywood-bred band from it’s nearly decade-long obsolescence? “Hot-N-Fun,” featuring Nelly Furtado, is neither of the things that its title suggests.
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 Franks, 'Duh' EP
New tunes in the INCHES column! Get over there already!
On Saturday, the Aquarium Drunkard blog threw an all-day indie rock gala at the Echo and Echoplex. Sixteen bands on the rise (local and otherwise) dropped in to deliver solid sets that went well into the night. Surfer Blood was the main attraction, but the Coathangers slew the competition, which was a stiff mix of excellent acts like Superhumanoids, Active Child, Best Coast, and Gamble House. Photos and full review here, via LA Weekly.
Here’s another outtake of Crook Kid Coathanger in action.
Rock 'n' roll 'n' Tecate (Chris Martins)
Chris Writes Things 