Mini-Interview: The Soft Hands

Long Beach's The Soft Hands are jangly and nervous and exciting -- everything that you like about older SoCal acts like The Minutemen, but fresh and new. In short? They make you want to jump around a lot.

Just listen to their song I Hope So and try not to bob your head up and down and/or back and forth within the first twenty seconds. Even those without a pulse will find it catchy, frenetic, and fun.

They're playing our FREE Let's Independent! event next Tuesday night at Boardner's of Hollywood (with The Karabal Nightlife and The Savages) and if you're not already all kinds of excited about it already, you should read the interview below with them and download a few tracks.

How you are you guys doing today?

Good. Good. Good. We're all doing very good.

How long have you all been playing together now?

Almost three years.

How did you meet?

Through the miracle known as Craiglist. Not much you can't get from that thing, though depending on how frequently you use it, a good doctor and lawyer might be handy.

Matt met Elizabeth first, then a couple of months later the Craiglist stork brought us Casey.

What does the name of the band mean?

It could stand for patience and an openness to all ideas and all possibilities. Google seems to think it has something to do with softcore porn literature and religion.

I was thinking it some self-effacing comment about being over-intellectual... What are your favorite and least favorite things about being a band down in Long Beach?

The Long Beach we know is seriously like Cheers. It's small and everybody knows your name. However, we have yet to run into Rhea Perlman or Woody Harrelson or Cliff Claven.

There's a nice diversity in musical styles and personalities of the bands down here but everyone is eager to help, support, and share for the most part.

Least favorite thing is that due to the fact the most national level indie bands play on LA, the music scene here, albeit highly concentrated and wonderful, is not as widespread over the general populous as it is in some places. Still bands in Long Beach are taken care of treated well by the venues and crowds.

You guys are believers in the "no leader, no lagger" philosophy, right? How does that work?

Basically, we're all too scared to give each other orders for fear of what fury we might unleash on each other, but at the same time, we really like being in a band together, so we still get stuff done. So everybody carries there own weight without the use of scales or orders.

I've read that "all of your songs happen purely accidentally."

Um, in some senses they do, but at the same time, if you listen to us or see us live, we play in a fairly basic three piece fashion, so we're not necessarily just throwing out random notes or playing sprawling dissonant epic collages.

Basically, the three of us got together eager to make music. We didn't know each other at all and none of us wanted to tackle the other what to do or what was "right." So what happened was a lot of random pieces were assembled without a blueprint of what we weere aiming for. We've never got together and said, "let's make this type of song."

How did your five-song cd come together?

We recorded with two nice gentlemen named Chris Heckman and James Achor. At the time, they were managing a band who's singer I've know since childhood and in the tradition of friends doing friends favors, they kindly had us up for a weekend to record us at a very generous rate at their fantastic studio in the scenic hills of Glendale. Thanks, Chris and Joe!

Are you planning on recording new material soon?

We are recording a full length album in July to be released in September by Fidotrust Records. Fidotrust is a new label started in Long Beach by some really amazing friends of ours. They recently released a comp of all Long Beach bands called "Trust Us: A Long Beach Comp." Its got songs by over 24 really great bands from down here and we highly recommend it to all intelligent life beings

What's next for you?

Record album. Release album. Tour. Tour. Tour. Tour.

On a personal level, Casey is in search of the perfect burrito, Elizabeth is fixing up this really cool old bike she found, and I am trying to invent the dream machine.

Last question: What are you listening to these days?

Well, we all live together and we've been covertly leaving mix cd's in front of each others doors. So lots of mix cd's? Is that too evasive. Do we actually need to say what we're really listening to and then have the entire readership of Radio Free Silver Lake judge taste in music? ;)

We do always like to listen to whatever song The Happy Hollows leak to their Myspace page. Also, the Long Beach Comp has been in roation at the house

That's it. Thanks so much for your time.

Thank you, Joe.

DOWNLOAD:
- I Hope So MP3
- I'm On Fire MP3
- Up The Ladder MP3

The French Semester Album Release

It pretty much says it all in the headline, doesn't it? Breezy lofi pop group The French Semester have their first album Open Letter To The Disappeared arriving tomorrow, but you can order it online today. (Scroll down for an MP3 that will likely convince you to do just that.)



Click here for a radio interview on ISGOOD w/ John Hershfeld and here to find out where they're playing next.

DOWNLOAD: Winter Song MP3

Video Free Silver Lake: Mezzanine Owls & Le Switch

This month's free residencies at Spaceland and The Echo feature heartbreakers Mezzanine Owls and Le Switch, respectively, so here are some new and old videos from both...

The Monday Show Low Down (Or "Someday They'll Find Us And We'll Be Diamonds...")

If you hadn't noticed yet, the city started adding water to the Silver Lake reservoir a few days ago. It's more than half full now after being drained for a few weeks because of an excess amount of bromate.

I never got any pics, but it's not the most photogenic spot on its best day, I guess...

Anyway, here's what this week is looking like in live music in LA:

Monday, May 12
- Le Switch, Division Day, The Henry Clay People, & Princeton @ The Echo (FREE)
- Indie 103.1 Presents...Check One Two Mondays w/ Film School, Everest, The Savages, & Castaneda @ The Viper Room
- Porterville, Aanchors Aaweigh, Daniel Ahearn, & Legs On Sale @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Poi Dog Pondering & Abra Moore @ The Troubadour
- Surrender The Pink, Fire At Play, Gild The Lillies, & Johnny Sixpack @ Mr T's Bowl
- Nikki & Aaron Embry, Kimberly Linn, William Fitzsimmons, & Lukas Haas @ The Hotel Cafe
- Mezzanine Owls, We Barbarians, Eagle and Talon, & The Black Kites @ Spaceland (FREE)

DECISION:
For a way-too-involved look at your Monday night music choices in May, go right fucking here...




Tuesday, May 13
- Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Port O’Brien, & The Black Watch @ The Echo
- Avi Buffalo, I Make This Sound, The Breakups, & Los Trendy @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Gran Ronde, Sleepercar, Aushua, & Republic Tigers @ Spaceland
- Dracula Mountain @ The Troubadour
- The Silver Pines, Thousands, & Fantastic Ego & Echo Curio
- The Carrots, The Muslims, Stammer Famine, & PROTECTME @ The Smell
- KCRW Presents Dr. Dog, Willoughby, The Billionaires, & The Western States Motel @ The Hotel Cafe

DECISION:
I like what I've heard from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Port O'Brien, but that Dr. Dog and The Western States Motel show at The Hotel Cafe sounds pretty good, too.

Wednesday, May 14
- Queen Kwong & Spider Problem @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Langhorne Slim & Ferraby Lionheart @ The Troubadour
- The Yoshida Bros @ The El Rey
- Kassia Conway, Marcus Very Ordinary, & Jenny O @ Tangier
- Dub Club @ Echoplex
- Jeff Ramuno, Charts and Maps, Ars Poetria, & The Nocturnes @ Mr T's Bowl
- Indie 103 presents CLUB MNE w/ Efterklang, Slaraffenland, & Karin Tatoyan @ Spaceland

DECISION:
East side? Maybe check out Karin Tatoyan or Queen Kwong. West side? Ferraby Lionheart is pretty damn impressive live.

Thursday, May 15
- Hearts of Palm UK, Jon Ruf and Mr The Teeth, Lady Tigra, Fiction Company @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Bow and Arrow, Kuato, & Sasquotch @ Echo Curio
- The Ivy Walls, Blue Jungle, Winston and the Telescreen, & Windy City Gentleman @ Spaceland
- Miss Derringer, Love Grenades, & Tour De France @ Bordello
- Burlesque-a-Go-Go, Mama Suki, & Hell Surfers @ Mr T's Bowl
- Eisley @ The El Rey
- Palms, An Horse, & Katy Davidson @ The Smell
- South, Silver State, Ki: Theory, & Johnny Lloyd Rollins @ The Echo
- The Little Ones, Ra Ra Riot, & Army Navy @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
Yeah, all of you lazies have to travel all the way over to The Troubadour to see pop merchants The Little Ones, Army Navy, and Ra Ra Riot play. I know, I know...

Friday, May 16
- LA Underground Presents Shiloe, Repeater, & The Hundred Days @ Bordello

- Kathleen Edwards @ The Troubadour
- Radio 4 @ Spaceland
- Discount Cruz to Hell, Fuji Minx, Romak and the Space Pirates, & Slowmo Erotic @ Mr T's Bowl
- Queen Mae & The Bells, Telematique, Mimes of Wine, & Hell-Kite @ Echo Curio
- Naked on The Vague, Megafuckers, SWFT WNGS, David Scott Stone, & Laco4te @ The Smell
- The Proclaimers @ The El Rey
- KCRW Presents Jesca Hoop & Salt and Samovar @ The Hotel Cafe
- American Music Club, Gordon Gano and The Ryan Brothers’s -- Followed by Club Underground @ The Echo
- Dim Mak & Echo present: Turbo Records Party @ The Echo
- Jack Wilson Jr, Dustin Fire, Tall Tales (from Ventura), and Deepakalypse @ Pehrspace

DECISION:
Those KCRW folks sure love them some Jesca Hoop and Salt and Samovar...

Saturday, May 17
- Earlimart, Voxhaul Broadcast, Siggy, (DC Release Party), Light FM @ Echoplex
- Hang The DJs @ The Echo
- The Minibosses, Totally Radd!!, Fatigo, & Bossk @ The Smell
- Matt Costa & The Delta Spirit @ The El Rey
- Street People, Crosswalk, & Dirty Branches @ Echo Curio
- What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Dead Trees, & The Whipsaws @ Spaceland
- The Hour of the Shipwreck Album Release Event w/ Tales of Banyon @ The Lofto
- The Dirtbombs @ The Troubadour
- Nightshift 2nd Anniversary, Versailles, Demonika and the Darklings, & Experiment Perilous @ Mr T's Bowl
- The Bentleys, Tremellow, & The Nixes @ The Brewline

DECISION:
There are a lot of great shows on Friday night, but getting a chance to see Earlimart play tracks off of their new album is far and away my favorite pick. (Light FM are bonus rad.)

Sunday, May 18
- The Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club PROM w/ Fol Chen & Castledoor @ All-Star Lanes
- Grand Ole Echo: Stonehoney, Leslie & The Badgers, Band of Annuals (feat. Members of Cub Country) @ The Echo (early)
- Part Time Punks w/ Jeremy Jay, The Sea Lions @ The Echo (late)
- February Fifths & Leviathan Brothers @ Tangier
- Buffalo Eye, Amps on Ten, & Run @ Mr T's Bowl
- Kissing Cousins & The Hectors @ Spaceland
- Blake/E/E/E/E & Tim Rutili (Califone) @ Echo Curio
- Tall Hall w/ De Novo Dahl, Low vs. Diamond, & Carolina Liar @ The El Rey
- Murder By Death, dios malos, & Gasoline Heart @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
Going to the Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club Prom with Castledoor and Fol Chen could be one of the finest days of your (post) high school life. (We'll be renting a room at the Super 8 and drinking Boone's Farm Strawberry Wine afterwards... Fuck yeah!)



That's it. Please let me know if I missed anything.

Interview w/ The Savages

LA's The Savages are one of those acts that you hear, immediately like, and want to shake your friends by the shoulders and say, "You have to hear these guys!!" (Such was our experience, at least...)

We checked in with members William, Kilo, and Mark over Instant Messenger earlier this week and the conversation follows below.



RFSL (1:04:20 PM): Hey! How are you guys doing today?
Mark (1:04:40 PM): doin well
Mark (1:04:55 PM): how about you?
RFSL (1:05:22 PM): I'm doing pretty well. Got the day off and my game just came out today.
Mark (1:06:59 PM): cool i am a cod4 fan myself
RFSL (1:07:25 PM): I used to work on Medal of Honor and am a big COD4 fan. Just beat GTA IV last week.
RFSL (1:07:28 PM): So how long you guys been playing together? How did you meet?
William (1:08:23 PM): Mark and I played around a little musically but headed in The Savages direction last Nov.
William (1:08:56 PM): I moved into a house with Kilo and he came to a recording session at Chermak one weekend. [Edit Note: Chermak Studios is run by Tim from The Movies.]
William (1:09:19 PM): Jumped on the keys and now we're here
RFSL (1:09:33 PM): When did you start playing out?
William (1:10:25 PM): We had our first show out in December
RFSL (1:10:35 PM): Where was that?
William (1:10:44 PM): The world famous Zen Sushi
RFSL (1:10:48 PM): Ahhh.
RFSL (1:11:33 PM): I caught you guys at The Movies' cd release show at Bordello. That was a great night.
Mark (1:12:17 PM): yeah that was a lot of fun
William (1:12:19 PM): that night was a special night for sure. a lot of fun. We missed you at the afterparty
Mark (1:12:38 PM): yeah afterparty
RFSL (1:12:50 PM): Good times?
William (1:13:05 PM): yeah man.
William (1:13:19 PM): we're having a retro-electro party this friday.
William (1:13:53 PM): You are invited. Kilo will be doing some djing
RFSL (1:14:18 PM): Many thanks. I've got the girlfriend's moms staying with us, but I will see if I can get out.
RFSL (1:14:31 PM): So you're recording at Chermak Studios?
Mark (1:15:22 PM): yes we have been recording there on and off for a couple months... its been really great working with tim, he has a place over there
Mark (1:15:51 PM): typo he has a great place over there
RFSL (1:16:13 PM): Yeah, I can imagine. I've gone to shows where he's done sound and he's phenomenal.
RFSL (1:16:26 PM): And The Movies are one of my favorite bands in town.
RFSL (1:16:39 PM): How did you end up over there?
William (1:16:47 PM): Yeah they're great.
William (1:17:53 PM): We started hangin' out with Tim. He mentioned he had a studio one night. Took him up on it.
William (1:18:28 PM): Have you heard the legend of the Chermak Chicken?
RFSL (1:18:50 PM): What is the Chermak Chicken?
William (1:19:11 PM): Aaaaaaaah. I'll let Tim tell you about it.
RFSL (1:19:17 PM): Ha, ha.
RFSL (1:19:27 PM): I've seen the Spuds MacKenzie lamp there, which I covet.
RFSL (1:20:20 PM): So I understand that you guys have a personal philosophy where you try to avoid digital shortcuts?
RFSL (1:20:30 PM): Or how would you explain it?
William (1:22:08 PM): Well we don't exactly try to avoid digital shortcuts. We embrace the benefits of technology in our music and otherwise, but we do try to encourage the traditional forms of human connection when possible.
RFSL (1:24:05 PM): So you place a lot of importance on shows?
Mark (1:24:17 PM): absolutely
Mark (1:24:59 PM): it is all about the enchantment of the live show
RFSL (1:25:28 PM): When do you play next?
Mark (1:26:12 PM): the viper room may 12th for check one two
RFSL (1:26:31 PM): Excellent. With Everest and ...
William (1:26:40 PM): Film School
RFSL (1:26:55 PM): That's a great fucking line-up.
William (1:26:58 PM): I'm a fan of theirs. Cool vibe on the tunes
William (1:27:08 PM): yea for sure
William (1:27:46 PM): So Joe how long you been doing RFSL?
RFSL (1:28:29 PM): The guys at Radio Free Chicago asked me to do an LA version of their site two years back and change.
RFSL (1:28:55 PM): (They're our older, smarter, more handsome brother.)
Mark (1:29:03 PM): cool man are you from chicago?
RFSL (1:29:34 PM): Yeah, I grew up going to The Metro and seeing Naked Raygun. Left before Tortoise, unfortunately, but caught Ministry a lot.
RFSL (1:29:39 PM): Shellac.
RFSL (1:29:51 PM): Where you guys from?
Mark (1:30:01 PM): i love naked raygun
RFSL (1:30:18 PM): They toured a few months back!
Kilo (1:30:36 PM): they need to come out here
Mark (1:31:20 PM): kilo is from new york
Mark (1:31:51 PM): i'm from colorado
William (1:32:09 PM): I'm from Denver where the air in thin, the women are a tough and the mountains spectacular
RFSL (1:32:14 PM): No one in LA is really from LA, are they?
Mark (1:32:22 PM): i know right?
RFSL (1:32:55 PM): So how would you guys describe your music? I'm terrible at doing that. I'd say there's a psych rock influence, but it also reminds me of early Black Sabbath. That doesn't do it justice, though.
William (1:33:23 PM): Dude Black Sabbath. That is a new one.
Mark (1:33:28 PM): thats a new one i havn't heard black sabbath yet
RFSL (1:33:38 PM): I love that first album.
William (1:33:56 PM): Yeah yea
Kilo (1:34:17 PM): i've heard judas priest
RFSL (1:34:39 PM): It's got to be kind of annoying hearing people mention bands they think you sound like. When I was in a band, people said we sounded like Psych Furs and The Strokes.
RFSL (1:34:48 PM): I was like ... really?
Mark (1:34:52 PM): haha
William (1:35:18 PM): lol. I like to talk about our music in terms of what it makes me feel or imagine.
RFSL (1:36:38 PM): What does it make you feel or imagine?
William (1:37:07 PM): Depends on the song.
RFSL (1:37:34 PM): Let's say Light Your Lamps.
RFSL (1:37:46 PM): (Because I'm listening to that on your myspace page right now.)
Mark (1:38:00 PM): awesome thats a great tune
William (1:38:05 PM): Overall music composition is an imaginative process for us.
William (1:38:35 PM): You begin writing and the song starts creating the story and the dream in your mind and heart.
William (1:39:00 PM): From there it is a discipline of letting the music take the lead.
William (1:39:23 PM): Light Your Lamps will tell you a different story than it will tell me.
William (1:39:39 PM): I would love to hear your take on the song.
RFSL (1:40:24 PM): I can see/hear what you're saying. A lot of songs might not do that, but a song like Light Your Lamps is more experiential [sp?].
RFSL (1:41:01 PM): It's like taking a journey or tripping. It's kind of impossible not to get caught up in it.
William (1:41:09 PM): exactly.
RFSL (1:41:56 PM): It must be incredibly damn fun writing a track like that.
Mark (1:42:08 PM): oh boy u bet!
RFSL (1:43:11 PM): You guys writing a lot of material right now as you're recording or how does that work?
Mark (1:43:12 PM): that song on the myspace is actually a rough one take jam. the finished version is pretty damn similar but with keys
RFSL (1:43:24 PM): Looking forward to hearing it.
Mark (1:44:58 PM): actually we have a lot of material but one of our weakness is recording it, we sort of procrastinate in that department
RFSL (1:45:35 PM): Why is that?
Kilo (1:45:39 PM): we are a live band
RFSL (1:45:38 PM): Ahh.
RFSL (1:46:01 PM): When's the cd coming out?
William (1:46:42 PM): that is TBA soon.
RFSL (1:47:36 PM): Is it a full album?
William (1:48:45 PM): Don't know yet.
Kilo (1:48:57 PM): we come up with new stuff every other week and try to record it as much as can
RFSL (1:49:50 PM): Cool. Anything else new on the horizon? Tour or residency?
William (1:50:27 PM): We've got some great shows coming up.
Mark (1:50:39 PM): and some fun parties
Kilo (1:50:48 PM): but we would love to go on tour
William (1:50:56 PM): Really looking forward to your night at Boardner's on the 20th.
RFSL (1:51:07 PM): Thanks. I'm really looking forward to it, too.
RFSL (1:51:27 PM): I would love to see you guys play with Xu Xu Fang.
William (1:51:30 PM): Just having fun and mixing it up.
William (1:51:44 PM): I like XUXU. I've seen them a few times.
Mark (1:51:47 PM): yeah that would be cool
William (1:51:56 PM): They have a certain magic.
RFSL (1:52:07 PM): Yeah. Definitely.
RFSL (1:52:19 PM): So last question for you: What are you listening to these days?
William (1:52:20 PM): That would be a great combo
Mark (1:53:13 PM): strauss thus spoke zarathustra
William (1:53:35 PM): Mark that's a good one.
Kilo (1:54:31 PM): i like to listen to mum,m83,the movies ,danger digitalism mia
Mark (1:54:55 PM): yeah the movies are pretty sweet
RFSL (1:55:08 PM): That new cd is fucking great.
William (1:55:08 PM): Some of the sounds coming out of france, suicide. anoraak.
Mark (1:55:20 PM): totally
Kilo (1:55:49 PM): too long of a list but we like to dance
RFSL (1:56:00 PM): Heh.
RFSL (1:56:02 PM): Right on. Well, that's all I've got for you guys.
William (1:56:20 PM): cool man. we'll see you on friday. hope you can make it out.
Mark (1:56:29 PM): allright joe it was great chatting with you
RFSL (1:56:31 PM): Thanks so much for your time.
Mark (1:56:35 PM): looking forward to Boardner's
RFSL (1:56:38 PM): Thanks! Will try to make it out.
William (1:56:44 PM): Thanks for having us on. We love what you are doing and appreciate it for sure.
Kilo (1:56:46 PM): peace joe ill have a beer bong waiting for you

Let's Independent! on Tuesday, May 20th w/ The Karabal Nightlife, The Soft Hands, & The Savages

It's less than two weeks away from our next FREE Let's Independent! event at Boardner's of Hollywood. If you already have plans, it's a shame because, yep, you'll have to break them.

Because we have the co-headliners of indie rock spookies The Karabal Nightlife, Long Beach's finest (and loudest) The Soft Hands, and The Savages, the psych rock act that people are still talking from when they played with The Happy Hollows and The Movies at Bordello a few weeks ago. For all the details and to hear/download tracks from the bands, go right here. (And Dewar's is sponsoring again, so we have some $3 drinks specials.)



Ossum poster by Christine Hale. Come back later for an interview with your new favorite band...

The Wednesday Show Low Down (Or "The Feel Good Blockbuster of The Summer Arrives...")

Whew! The reviews are starting to filter in for my latest game, which came out yesterday, and they've been pretty positive. It's an action/puzzle hybrid for the Nintendo Wii called BOOM BLOX, made in conjunction with Steven Spielberg, who came up with the original idea.

I guess I can finally say that Mark Mothersbaugh -- who was the lead in Devo and handled the soundtracks for most of Wes Anderson's films -- did the music for it. No surprise: it sounds pretty amazing.

Anyway, enough about me and mine, here's a look at how the rest of the week is shaping up for shows in LA:

Wednesday, May 7
- Dub Club w/ The Lions @ Echoplex
- Cex, BARR, Ecstatic Sunshine, & Abe Vigoda @ The Echo
- Club NME w/ The Oohlas & Solarcade @ Spaceland
- The Heavy @ Bordello
- No Little Kindness, Dollar Dollar, Mooey Moobau, & Kind Hearts and Coronets @ Mr T's Bowl
- Kennedy & Kazai Rex @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Old Toy Trains, The Preacher’s Son, & Derek Halet @ Tangier
- Vetiver & Kelley Stoltz @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
The combo of SF groups Vetiver and Kelley Stoltz is what everyone seems to be talking about for tonight.

Thursday, May 8
- (((eagle winged palace))), Ben Sollee, Fern Knight, & Lion of Panjshir @ Silverlake Lounge
- The Morning Benders CD Release Party @ The Echo
- The Figgs, Bobot Adrenaline, Francisco the Man, & Jonny Polansky @ Spaceland
- Rolling Blackouts @ Charlie O’s
- D Numbers, Bougarelli, & Colorforms @ Echo Curio
- Codpiece, The Deepsea Goes, Clark 8, & Teen Wolf! @ Mr T's Bowl
- Hawnay Troof, Car Clutch, URXED, Flesh Unitard, & Winners @ The Smell
- Tapes n Tapes, White Denim, & Miniature Tigers @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
If you missed psych folk harmony act (((eagle winged palace))) at our last Let's Independent! event, here's another chance. Catching Colorforms at Echo Curio could also be fun.

Friday, May 9
- The Parson Redheads' EP Release Party w/ The Movies, J. Tillman, & The Monahans @ Spaceland
- Classical Geek Theatre & The Central Second Collective Present Death to Anders, Fol Chen, Solar Powered People, & Layer @ The Scene
- Tapes n Tapes, White Denim, & Ben Sollee @ The Troubadour
- Club Underground w/ Lemon Sun & The Rosewood Thieves @ The Echo
- Abe Vigoda, Mutators, Modern Creatures, & Birth @ The Smell
- CD Release Show w/ (Sounder), Little Wings, Slings, & Lateral Hyetography @ Echo Curio
- Todd Nicodemus, Roady Skaggs kills, The Sundowners, Ojos Rojos, & Rover's Pinky @ Mr T's Bowl
- The Donna's 15th Anniversary Quincenera Show @ The Viper Room

DECISION:
Tough call on Friday night between the great pairings of The Parson Redheads (it's their new EP release party) and much-loved act The Movies at Spaceland and the freakishly good lately Death To Anders and head-turners Fol Chen at Classical Geek Theatre's show at The Scene.



Saturday, May 10
- Dark Meat & Restaurant @ The Echo
- Descarga! with Boogaloo Assasins, DJs Sloe Poke, Dubweiser, & Loslito @ The Echoplex
- Air Traffic, Sky Parade, Eagle Seagull @ Spaceland
- Palms & The Mantles @ Echo Curio (afternoon)
- Native Fauna & Fort King @ Echo Curio (evening)
- Chupacobra, The Black Widows, Wild Weekend, & The Blessings @ Mr T's Bowl
- Captain Ahab, Juiceboxxx, I.E., & Small Breed @ the Smell
- Indie 103.1 Presents... Northern State, The Dollyrots, Killola, The Trucks @ The Knitting Factory
- Duke Spirit @ The Troubadour
- The Highland Park Music Festival w/ The Monolators, Braille, Naima Earth, Downtown Union, Ghosts, Machinists, Pizza!, Boxviolet, Seasons, Fol Chen, & more @ Zeppelin Music Store

DECISION:
The Highland Park Music Festival starts at one behind Zeppelin Music and is well worth going to for The Monolators and Fol Chen alone. (Haven't heard many the other bands yet...)

Sunday, May 11
- The Grand Ole Echo w/ Dave Gleason, Tornado Magnet, The Fallen Stars, The Holler Dopers, MC Chris Morris, & DJ Cuz’n Roy @ the Echo (Free - early)
- Part Time Punks @ The Echo (late)
- Jay Fuckcisco, kid infinity, E n E, Luna is Honey, & Michael Nhat @ Mr T's Bowl
- This Show is the Rainbow, Captain Ahab, & Cinderella Motel @ Spaceland
- Alex and Sam & February Fifths @ Tangier
- Bad Dudes, Mute Socialite, Polar Goldie Cats, & Howl @ the Smell

DECISION:
I've got nothing for Sunday. Anyone have any recommendations?

That's it. Did I miss anything? Please lemme know.

Everest's Album Arrives Today

It's been said before and better that local indie rock act Everest are something of a "super-group," what with members ranging from Sebadoh, the Folk Implosion, Earlimart, Great Northern, and more. Or as Prefix put it, "Name an indie rock band that you like, and chances are that one of the guys in Everest has some connection to the group."

Their much-anticipated album Ghost Notes is out today on Neil Young's Vapor Records and they're playing tonight at seven at Amoeba Music to help usher it in.

After that, they have several shows in SoCal (including next Monday at The Viper Room with Film School and The Savages) before performing on Late Night With Conan O'Brien on Friday, the 16th and heading to Dublin, Ireland for a show at, yep, a frigging castle with Neil Young.



All congrats to the group, who besides putting on a fantastic live show are incredibly nice guys... Success? They got it coming.

Planning Out Your Monday Nights in May...

I've spoken with a few folks at shows recently who are experiencing considerable consternation about which of the free residencies they're going to catch tonight.

And I definitely second that emotion because it means choosing between two of LA's best live acts right now, the wonderfully bedraggled, fall-down-the-stairs pop of Le Switch versus the fuzzy, dreamy, and lush sounds of Mezzanine Owls.

But assuming that you need to see both groups at least once each this month, it's really a question of which night has the best collection of backing bands ... or, in some cases, what other shows might be going on those nights, too.

So here's a list of what each Monday is looking like, that you might plan to see "X" one week and "Y", the other...

Monday, May 5
- Le Switch, Frankel, Amnion, Seasons @ The Echo (FREE)
- Mezzanine Owls, Wait.Think.Fast, Minipop, & In Waves @ Spaceland (FREE)
- Porterville, Mason Reed Acoustic, French Semester, & Honeybreath @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Indie 103.1 Presents Check One… Two w/ Rademacher, The Henry Clay People, Ride on Rides, & I Make This Sound @ The Viper Room
- Tim and Eric Awesome Tour @ Echoplex

DECISION:
This is probably the toughest call of the whole month... On one side, you've got Le Switch w/ thinkin' feller's pop Frankel, the frankly kind of magical act Amnion, and Seasons (haven't seen yet), while the other is Mezzanine Owls w/ the happily loud In Waves, San Francisco dream pop act Minipop, and hard-to-describe-but-good Wait.Think.Fast., who should be performing some of the new material they recently recorded with Aaron Espinoza from Earlimart.

And to complicate it all just a bit more, Rademacher, The Henry Clay People, and I Make This Sound are over at The Viper Room...

Monday, May 12
- Le Switch, Division Day, The Henry Clay People, & Princeton @ The Echo (FREE)
- Indie 103.1 Presents...Check One Two Mondays w/ Film School, Everest, The Savages, & Castaneda @ The Viper Room
- Porterville, Aanchors Aaweigh, Daniel Ahearn, & Legs On Sale @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Mezzanine Owls, We Barbarians, Eagle and Talon, & The Black Kites @ Spaceland (FREE)

DECISION:
Okay. So, this week, there's also Film School, Everest, and The Savages at The Viper Room... That's a fucking amazing line-up, but if you absolutely had to see those acts separately, Film School are playing with Swervedriver and Xu Xu Fang later this month, Everest is playing a free show at Amoeba tomorrow, and The Savages are at our next Let's Independent! event (more on that soon)... But sure, there's a lot to be said for catching them all at once.

Then, playing with Le Switch are the staggeringly good live Division Day, the ubiquitous Henry Clay People, and the pop harmonies of Princeton, while Mezzanine Owls have dream poppers The Black Kites (who we just interviewed -- scroll down), the experimental and fun Eagle & Talon, and We Barbarians (former members of The Colour).

Monday, May 19
- Porterville, Silver Needle, Bang Sugar Bang, & Branden Mayer & The Hidden Powers @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Mezzanine Owls, lovelikefire, The Henry Clay People, Eli Paperboy Reed @ Spaceland (FREE)
- Le Switch, Adeline and The Philistines, I Make This Sound, NapTunes @ The Echo (FREE)
- An Evening with El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li @ The El Rey
- Destroyer & Devon Williams @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
Mezzanine Owls have a pretty eclectic line-up this week, what with soul singer Eli "Paperboy" Reed, San Francisco's lovelikefire, and the hardest working indie rock band in show business, The Henry Clay People.

Then, Le Switch gots Adeline and The Philistines (which Aaron from Le Switch also plays in with Brian and Stevie from The Movies), the much-liked I Make This Sound, and NapTunes (Le Switch drummer Joe Napolitano's other band).

Meanwhile across town, El Perro Del Mar are playing at The El Rey and Destroyer at The Troubadour.

Monday, May 26
- Mezzanine Owls, The Quarter After, Asteroid 4, EXITMUSIC @ Spaceland (FREE)
- Le Switch, Vanessa Micale, The Minor Canon, & The World Record @ The Echo (FREE)
- Porterville @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Indie 103.1 Presents...Check One Two Mondays w/ Foreign Born, Willoughby, Rides On Rides, & Restaurant @ The Viper Room

DECISION:
And this last week of May, Mezzanine Owls have the breathy and dark EXITMUSIC and Le Switch have really damn good melancholy pop act The Minor Canon and The World Record, who I haven't seen but like what they have online. (I don't know the other bands they're playing with.) And The Viper Room? The ecstatically rocking Foreign Born.

(Photo by Abigail Noveen.)

Mini-Interview: The Black Kites

Online dictionary Wikipedia says that dream pop came about when bands like Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance “began fusing post-punk experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into sensual, sonically-ambitious soundscapes” and that its focus is “on ethereal textures and moods, rather than on propulsive rock riffs.”

And though that description's a bit monocle-twirly, it’s probably a bit smarter than the “overwhelmingly fuzzy, wistful, and often sad” line I was working on, so let’s go with it...

We recently spoke to LA’s modern day purveyors of this sound, The Black Kites, about their secret past and upcoming plans. But first, let's take a look at their video for their song Paper Heart, which made its online debut just today.



RFSL (2:02:29 PM): Hey!
Nicki (2:03:32 PM): Hello!
Evelyn (2:03:38 PM): Hello
Nicki (2:03:46 PM): How's it going?
RFSL (2:04:06 PM): Going well. Trying to un-hangover from the wrap party for my game last night.
RFSL (2:04:15 PM): Largely successful!
Nicki (2:04:21 PM): Great! Where was it at?
RFSL (2:05:16 PM): It was at The House of the Blues in one of the back rooms. You wouldn't think a party for a Wii puzzle game would be too much of a rager, but... tequila.
Nicki (2:05:46 PM): Haha.. That’s awesome. A Wii puzzle game?? I can’t wait!
Nicki (2:06:03 PM): I’m really into Smash Bros..
Evelyn (2:06:19 PM): I heard it's a great game.
RFSL (2:06:31 PM): Lemme dig up a quick link...
RFSL (2:06:32 PM): How are you guys today?
Nicki (2:06:43 PM): We're great, we just played a live acoustic set over at killradio. lots of fun
RFSL (2:06:45 PM): Oh, that's great.
RFSL (2:06:43 PM): Who's show was it at killradio?
Nicki (2:07:11 PM): It was on "is good" with Jon hershfield. He's a great guy.
Nicki (2:07:21 PM): I think it should be archived tonight. [Editor's note: It is right here.]
RFSL (2:07:35 PM): Oh, cool. That guy does great stuff.
Nicki (2:08:25 PM): Yeah, Jon is awesome. he has tons of great bands on his show. It was fun because we had to learn to play our songs acoustically.
RFSL (2:08:26 PM): What work do you guys do?
Evelyn (2:09:03 PM): We work on commercials
Nicki (2:09:03 PM): Alan, me and Evelyn work together on commercials in the art dept. We're building a shipwreck today!
RFSL (2:09:53 PM): Wow. That's pretty great.
RFSL (2:10:02 PM): How did you all meet and start playing together?
Evelyn (2:10:38 PM): I'll let Nikki explain since I came in later in the game.
Alan (2:10:54 PM): Nicki and I were in a band together called, Cinders. Evelyn and Nicki had another band called together, Nevers. Nicki got us all together.
Alan (2:11:03 PM): That was about two years ago.
Evelyn (2:11:08 PM): One big happy family
Alan (2:11:30 PM): Marcel, our drummer, joined around January of last year.
RFSL (2:12:41 PM): How are The Black Kites different from your old bands?
Alan (2:12:50 PM): We changed the name because there was a band called, Cinder, that was on Geffen. I'd never heard of them, none of us had, but before it became a prob we changed it.
Evelyn (2:13:07 PM): Now there are keys and no drum machines.
Nicki (2:13:37 PM): Well, Cinders was me and Alan on guitar and bass with some old ass drum machines we had to reprogram between each song.
Nicki (2:13:48 PM): It was nuts.
RFSL (2:14:04 PM): Ha.
Evelyn (2:14:19 PM): Alan also had long hair. That was insane.
Nicki (2:14:19 PM): But fun. But we needed an upgrade and Evelyn came along right at the perfect time. Completely changed the sound. For the better! Thank god.
RFSL (2:14:54 PM): Ahh. What's the name from? Is it from the medium-sized bird of prey (thank you google) or the movie based on the 1992 journals of visual artist Alma Hajric or do you just like black kites?
Nicki (2:15:00 PM): And the Nevers are really just a little side project Evelyn and myself and my friend David do. We make tracks on garage band and do nothing with them. But it's always a good time.
RFSL (2:15:09 PM): Ah, cool.
Nicki (2:16:18 PM): Hah.. Alan really likes the bird and its Australian connection. We also like the image of a black kite in the sky. And there’s an electrical connection. Thank you, Ben Franklin.
Nicki (2:16:45 PM): Alan was also born in Australia, so that’s why it means something to him.
Nicki (2:17:27 PM): I think we need to check out that movie.
RFSL (2:17:45 PM): Yeah, me too.
RFSL (2:18:35 PM): So I know this is a painful question, but how would you describe your music?
Alan (2:19:12 PM): Well, the kids down the hall from us in the rehearsal space say we're dream pop.
RFSL (2:19:14 PM): There's something on your myspace page to the effect of "songs that could make a sad person dance."
Evelyn (2:19:16 PM): I think a fan put it best "Pink Floyd on Speed."
Evelyn (2:19:28 PM): Sounds about right.
Alan (2:19:44 PM): I agree!
Evelyn (2:19:46 PM): Hopefully cry as well.
Nicki (2:20:24 PM): So to sum up, we're dream pop you can dance and cry to if you're on speed and like the Floyd
RFSL (2:20:34 PM): Ha ha.
Evelyn (2:20:35 PM): Exactly
RFSL (2:20:08 PM): Your influences are pretty varied... Velvet Underground, Jesus & Mary Chain, Birthday Party, and Black Sabbath.
Alan (2:20:36 PM): We love all those bands. At least I do.
Alan (2:20:50 PM): Especially black Sabbath
RFSL (2:21:00 PM): I love early Black Sabbath...
Evelyn (2:21:06 PM): Me not so much except for the Velvets and the Chains
Evelyn (2:21:40 PM): They were a great inspiration for The Cardigans as well
Nicki (2:21:41 PM): We all are influenced by many different bands, so that helps a lot with what we bring to the writing process
Evelyn (2:21:54 PM): Word.
Nicki (2:22:22 PM): Alan is stuck in the 70's most of the time
RFSL (2:22:15 PM): Cool. How did your EPs come together? When did you record them?
Nicki (2:22:55 PM): We work with a really really great producer/engineer named Will Kennedy.
Nicki (2:23:31 PM): He has recorded and produced our last two EPs, he kind of fell into our lap by luck and we plan to work with him on upcoming album
Evelyn (2:24:19 PM): It's great when a producer gets your sound and pushes you beyond what you thought you’re capable of
Nicki (2:24:32 PM): The All Wrong EP was recorded in the summer of 06. And Paper Heart EP was recorded summer 07. And we are finally planning on having a full length out at the end of this year. we're really excited about our new songs
Evelyn (2:24:36 PM): Will did that for me especially while recording vox.
RFSL (2:25:22 PM): That's great. When are you guys recording? You're working on writing new songs now?
Alan (2:26:04 PM): We plan to record the album late summer/early fall. and yeah, we're writing new stuff now. since the beginning of the year
Alan (2:26:24 PM): And I think I speak for the whole band when I say it's going famously
Evelyn (2:26:47 PM): We've been trying some of the new stuff live
RFSL (2:26:51 PM): Excellent. Glad to hear it. How is it different from the EPs?
Evelyn (2:27:17 PM): More cowbell.....no I think it's just becoming a bigger sound
RFSL (2:27:25 PM): Heh.
Alan (2:27:30 PM): I agree with Evy.
Alan (2:27:52 PM): Also, I think we have a better sense of how to arrange the parts we want to maximize them in the songs.
RFSL (2:27:43 PM): You guys just finished a video for Paper Heart.
Nicki (2:28:24 PM): It involves Evelyn taking flight!
RFSL (2:28:37 PM): Like in Superman?
Evelyn (2:28:52 PM): More like Wings of Desire.
RFSL (2:29:00 PM): Ah, even better.
Evelyn (2:28:40 PM): I have wings in it and everything.
Nicki (2:28:41 PM): And snow!
Nicki (2:29:31 PM): It was directed by Michael Grodner. He's done stuff with Kill Me Tomorrow and some other really good bands. he's a great guy. We had a blast.
Nicki (2:29:40 PM): Sooo much work to make a video though. phew
RFSL (2:29:39 PM): Since you do commercial work, did you have a hand in the video's creation?
Evelyn (2:29:48 PM): Yes.
Nicki (2:30:02 PM): Well, we were the entire art dept.
Evelyn (2:30:20 PM): We were in charge of purchasing x-mas lights, candles, etc.
Nicki (2:30:42 PM): Michael was really great about working with us on the concept. we were able to get our two cents and collaborate on the idea for it.
Evelyn (2:30:46 PM): Thank you, 99 Cent Store.
Evelyn (2:31:47 PM): It was my first experience working with a goth camera crew. It was amazing.
RFSL (2:32:07 PM): Wait. What's a goth camera crew like?
Evelyn (2:32:52 PM): They were great.
Nicki (2:32:57 PM): Haha. Well, they were amazing. We felt right at home.
Evelyn (2:33:27 PM): How they worked those long hours in make-up and creepers was inspiring.
RFSL (2:33:41 PM): It must be hot filming outdoors in LA wearing all black.
Alan (2:33:42 PM): They put us to shame.
Nicki (2:34:00 PM): Maybe that’s why they made us do a night shoot!
RFSL (2:34:10 PM): !
Nicki (2:34:15 PM): It all makes sense!
Nicki (2:34:30 PM): I heard someone on the crew saying BYOB: bring your own blood.
Evelyn (2:35:03 PM): Nikki refused to wear make-up so it wasn't as sticky for her as it was for me.
Evelyn (2:35:06 PM): lol
Alan (2:35:08 PM): In all seriousness, Justin, the director of photography, was really great and inventive. Super nice guy.
RFSL (2:35:16 PM): You guys have some goth leanings yourself, right? I mean you have the Sisters of Mercy cover.
Evelyn (2:35:24 PM): Guilty
Alan (2:35:28 PM): Oh, yeah. We can't help ourselves.
Evelyn (2:35:28 PM): As charged.
Alan (2:35:53 PM): Spiritual kinship.
Evelyn (2:36:02 PM): If Alan’s stuck in the 70's, I’m stuck in the 80's.
RFSL (2:35:56 PM): I almost got a Sisters of Mercy tattoo in college.
Nicki (2:36:03 PM): YOU WIN!
RFSL (2:36:05 PM): Gotta love those guys.
Alan (2:36:21 PM): So do we. I hope they like our cover!!!
Alan (2:37:02 PM): We've been flirting with the idea of ripping off Peter Murphy and letting Evelyn enter the stage hanging upside down.
RFSL (2:31:39 PM): Heh. So, what's next for you? You're playing at one of Mezzanine Owls' free residency nights at Spaceland next month, right?
RFSL (2:31:39 PM): That’s going to be fun. Mez Owls are great live.
Evelyn (2:37:10 PM): They're amazing.
Alan (2:37:18 PM): That will be a GREAT show.
Alan (2:37:24 PM): We're very excited for it.
Alan (2:37:58 PM): Btw, before I forget, we want to say how much we dig radiofreesiverlake. And we're not just kissing your ass.
RFSL (2:38:09 PM): Thanks!
RFSL (2:38:18 PM): What else is coming up for you guys?
Evelyn (2:38:34 PM): Writing... Lots and lots of writing getting ready to go in the studio
Nicki (2:38:43 PM): Hmm well just writing and playing more live shows. Hopefully out of town, so start getting ourselves out there a bit more.
RFSL (2:39:22 PM): Have you guys gotten to tour out of town much?
Evelyn (2:39:42 PM): A little we just got back from San Francisco
Nicki (2:39:49 PM): Well, we did phoenix (my hometown) last year or so, which was basically a show for my friends. But about a month ago we played SF with Loquat.
RFSL (2:40:08 PM): That's great.
Nicki (2:40:09 PM): It was so wonderful. SF is a great place to play
Evelyn (2:40:11 PM): We had a great turnout one of the best shows we've played yet
RFSL (2:40:17 PM): Where was it at?
Nicki (2:40:42 PM): We hit up Napa valley on our in and managed to get in heavy rotation at Goosecross Cellars. Haha. That’s how we roll
Nicki (2:40:48 PM): We played at Cafe Du Nord.
RFSL (2:41:14 PM): Ah, that place is great. It's like a smokey little bar w/o the smoke.
Nicki (2:41:22 PM): Exactly
Nicki (2:41:30 PM): Our goal is to get sponsored by a winery.
Alan (2:41:47 PM): It'll save us a lot of dough
Evelyn (2:41:54 PM): Mos def.
Nicki (2:41:59 PM): Cafe Du Nord is awesome. Such nice people. Good sound.
RFSL (2:42:06 PM): I would like to get the site sponsored by Cazadores' tequila.
Nicki (2:42:16 PM): Now you’re talkin!
Nicki (2:42:29 PM): Radiofreesilverlake brought to you by Cazadores.
RFSL (2:42:51 PM): I figure it already is brought together by Cazadores. We should make the relationship official.
Nicki (2:43:01 PM): Exactly. This is how we feel about Syrah.
RFSL (2:43:05 PM): Well, I don't want to keep you guys too long. Just one more question to wrap it all up... What are you listening to these days?
Evelyn (2:43:31 PM): Phosphorescent. Album Leaf
Evelyn (2:43:52 PM): This Will Destroy You.
Alan (2:43:55 PM): Well, I love the new death cab single that 8 minutes or so. And The Stones' Some Girls album.
Nicki (2:44:56 PM): I really like that new Foals album. the new Hot Chip is pretty great too. And Loquat is always on my ipod at some point throughout the day
RFSL (2:45:30 PM): Excellent. That's all I've got. Thanks so much for your time!
Evelyn (2:45:45 PM): My pleasure, Thanks for having us.
Nicki & Alan (2:45:47 PM): Thank you so much, Joe!!