The Midweek Show Update: Blonde Redhead, Wolf Parade, Dr. Dog, Slint, & More

Did you see how goddamn amazing the line-up is for Sunset Junction this year? I mean, it’s like a mother- fucking cavalcade of excellent bands from here in LA...

There’s Division Day, Sea Wolf, Autolux, The Broken West, The Parson Redheads, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Movies, and Eskimo Hunter. NYC’s Blonde Redhead is also playing and there are still a few TBA slots, too.

Sure, it used to be free, but that’s still incredible for $12 a day. The weekend of August 18th and 19th looks like it’s going to be severely fun -- because nothing quite says summer in LA like a drunken party right in the middle of the street.

And did you see that Little Radio Summer Camp is starting up this week? It’s every Sunday from now until August 12th from noon to six at their downtown venue. There’s no cover, a bunch of great bands are playing, and they have waterslides and foosball and shit. This week is The Western States Motel, The Willowz, and The Pity Party and next Sunday is The Raveonettes, Brothers & Sisters, and “special guests.”

Here’s a teaser video w/ footage from last year’s events:



We’ve updated the concert calendar with these acts, too: Wolf Parade, All Smiles, Burning Brides, Starlight Desperation, Thee L.A. Gentlemen Callers, Sub Rosa, Lenka, Emma Burgess, The Mae Shi, Anavan, Tik Tik, Health, Abe Vigoda, Upsilon Acrux, The Locust, The Klaxons, VHS or Beta, Dr. Dog, Delta Spirit, The Teeth, and Slint. (See the right-hand column for dates and venues.)

Band of the Week: Ferraby Lionheart

I’m not sure if Ferraby Lionheart has a heart as big as all outdoors, but his music sure makes it seem like it. The LA singer/song-writer makes friendly, jangly pop that frequently elicits images of him strumming a guitar on the back of an old pick-up truck that's bouncing down a bumpy, dusty country road.

I’m late to the plate as far as Ferraby goes – Jax over at Rock Insider has been singing his praises for some time now – but I guess this write-up still precedes the release of his upcoming full-length album, Catch The Brass Ring, which is due out Tuesday, September 4th.

As Jax recently pointed out, there’s a three-song preview of it on his myspace page. Here are a few videos and downloadable tracks of songs off of his great EP, while we wait for more.





MP3s:
- The Ballad of Gus and Sam
- Tickets To Crickets
- Won't Be Long

Ferraby Lionheart's next show in LA is on Wednesday, June 20th at The Hotel Café.

New Release Tuesday: Satellite Party, The Amateurs, & More

Unless I'm missing something, today's going to be a pretty sleepy day for new national releases at your local music shop, but the local group Amateurs are wrapping up their Tuesday night residency at The Scene in Glendale with a record release party.

Here's some of what else is out:

Ultra Payloaded by Perry Farrell's Satellite Party
Rise by Herb Alpert
Scarred by Johnette Napolitano
In Glorious Times by Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sittin' in a Tree... by Juliana Hatfield & Frank Smith
Young Galaxy by Young Galaxy
Ultra-Octa-Doom by Kool Keith
Here by Hellogoodbye

The Monday Show Low Down (Or “Even When I’m Drunk, I’m Kind of Sober”)

As part of my ongoing celebration of the laziest weekend on record, I’m going to skip writing about, y’know, stuff and go right into what shows are looking most worthwhile this week.

At least, right after saying that I’m going to really miss Sea Level Records. The place has been a pillar of the local community and the folks there are super excellente and turned people here onto a lot of great bands. (They'll still be open for awhile, so go visit them and buy stuff.)

Monday, May 28
- Bodies of Water, Knifey head, The Mormons, & Miniature tigers @ The Echo (FREE)
- Gliss, Rocket, & Shiloe @ Spaceland (FREE)
- High Society, Savior Faire, & Tia Sprocket @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Phantom Plant @ The Roxy
- Acute @ Safari Sam's
- The Brobecks @ The Roxy Theatre
- Ambrose Akinmusire, Gerald Clayton, Kevin Kanner, Layabout, and Tim Green at The Mint
- Squiddo, Loose Ties, & China Smoke @ The Scene (Glendale)
- Nico Vega @ The Viper Room

DECISION:
Either of the free shows at The Echo and Spaceland are pretty tempting.

Tuesday, May 29
- The Amateurs Record Release Party w/ The Parson Redheads, Merle Jagger, & Light FM @ The Scene (Glendale)
- The Black Rose Phantoms, The Heart Attacks, Return of the Riot, & By All Means @ The Echo
- Redcar & Michael Eisenstein @ Spaceland
- Killola, The Binges, Virginia City Revival, HDR, & The New Fidelity @ Safari Sam’s (FREE)
- Repeater & Glacier Hiking @ The Troubadour
- James Combs & Kelly Demartino @ Bordello
- Lay Low, Unbusted, Crash Kings, & The Halos @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Nightfur, The Karabal Nightlife, & Kind Hearts and Coronets @ El Cid
- Voxtrot, Sound Team, & Au Revoir Simone @ The El Rey

DECISION:
I’ve been meaning to check out both The Amateurs and Nightfur, who are playing at different venues. Voxtrot are amazing live, but I’m not, like, made of money or something.

Wednesday, May 30
- Pink Mochi & Skates @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- The Arcade Fire & Electrelane @ The Greek
- Languis, Voco, J. Emery Blatchley, Jonny Mack, & P Swirnoff @ Pehrspace
- Loney, Dear & Great Northern @ The Troubadour
- Camarade Soleil & Papillon @ Bordello
- The Distants, Mary Andi, & Jupiter Blue @ King King
- Mary Timony & The New Trust @ The Echo
- Mospeada, Manhattan Murder Mystery, & Guppies @ The Scene (Glendale – FREE)
- Electric Soft Parade, BrakesBrakesBrakes, & Pela @ Spaceland

DECISION:
If you don’t have big bucks to see Arcade Fire and Electrelane, you really can’t go wrong with Great Northern.

Thursday, May 31
- The Black Pine, Xu Xu Fang, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians, & The Mountain Party @ The Echo
- Electrelane & Tender Forever @ The Troubadour
- The Hold Steady, Illinois, & Blitzen Trapper @ El Rey
- Big Search, Women and Children, J. Emery Blatchley, & Jonny Mark @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Sparta @ The House of Blues Sunset Strip
- Lenka, Petra Covich, & Blue Judy @ Spaceland
- Cydney Robinson & Camarade Soleil @ Bordello
- Cary Brothers @ Hotel Café
- Cecilia Noel and The Wild Clams, Naked Rhythm, & more @ Safari Sam’s
- Pedestrian @ The Roxy
- Castledoor & Great Northern @ The Prospector (Long Beach)
- The Screamin Yeehaws, Trophy Girl, Toothless George, & Battle Flask @ The Scene (Glendale)

DECISION:
The line-up at The Echo is really strong this Thursday night … The Black Pine were fantastic last time I saw them play… and folks down in Long Beach are in for a great night, too. Electrelane at The Troub should be well worthwhile, as well.

Friday, June 1
- First Fridays w/ Deerhoof & Autolux @ The Natural History Museum of LA County
- The Colour & Simon Dawes @ The Roxy
- Mika Miko, No Age, Japanther, & Matt and Kim @ The Echo
- Gliss, The Moderates, & The Cheat @ El Cid
- Shiloe, The Beautiful & The Damned, Bullet for Dali, & That Noise @ The Scene (Glendale)
- The Mother Truckers, Dead Rock West & more @ Safari Sam’s
- The Raveonettes Electric Duo, Midnight Movies, & The Meek @ Spaceland
- The Black Angels & Vietnam @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
Friday night’s a fuzzy toss-up between The Black Angels and Autolux. (Sorry, I know how you love the Deerhoof.)

Saturday, June 2
- Louis XIV @ The Roxy
- Ill Ease & Moving Picture Show @ The Scene (Glendale)
- Maroon 5 @ The Troubadour
- Moot Davis, Restaurant, & The Amadans @ The Echo
- Check Yo Ponytail w/ Green Velvet, GunsNBombs, & My!Gay!Husband! @ Echoplex
- The High Strung & Brimstone Howl @ Spaceland
- The Shys @ The Roxy
- The Good Listeners @ The Hotel Café
- Manu Chao @ The LA Sports Arena

DECISION:
I don’t really know any of these kids overly well.

Sunday, June 3
- Little Radio Summer Camp w/ The Western States Motel, The Willowz, & The Pity Party @ The Little Radio HQ
- The One AM Radio, The Good Listeners, Lay Low, & Cossack @ Tangiers
- FREE BBQ w/ Hairbrain Scheme, Oso, Zombies Ate My Nation, & Lazercats @ The Scene (Glendale – 4)
- El-Haru Kruoi, The Fresas, Alas Alak Alaska!, Chinatown Bakeries, & Adam Lipman @ The Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club at All-Star Lanes
- Grand Ole Echo w/ Dave Insley, West of Texas, The Western Continentals, Duane Jarvis @ The Echo (5PM)
- Part Time Punks: Section 25 @ The Echo (10PM)
- E>K>U>K, 1090 Club, & Bright Light Fever @ The Knitting Factory
- Pretty Girls Make Graves & Moonrats @ The Troubadour

DECISION
The One AM Radio are great and The Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club is always fun, but the Little Radio Summer Camp sounds pretty amazing.

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

Mini-Interview: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Our prettier and more demure sister site Radio Free Chicago recently caught up with LA's Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, who are currently touring in support of their latest album, Baby 81.

After taking a slight acoustic folk detour on their previous album, Baby 81 has been heralded as the band's "return to rock" or, in less favorable terms, a "return to form." Here's RFC's Brad Knutson quick conversation with guitarist and vocalist Peter Hayes about their new material and how its holding up so far live.

So, are you guys already tired of fielding questions about how Baby 81is your "return to rock?"

[laughs]...umm, it's come up a lot. I dunno...I didn't know we had left! [laughs again]

But you know what I mean right? Literally almost every piece written about the new record so far makes some reference to that.

Yeah, yeah...but as far as I'm concerned, Howl [the last BRMC record] was as much rock and roll as anything else to me. Maybe I'm off-base, maybe I'm way out of touch, but to me [rock] encompasses more than just loud guitar.

Speaking of those loud guitar parts on Baby 81, how is the new material coming together live?

It's good...[but] still working on stuff as far as putting it all together.

What songs are clicking the best so far?

Weapon of Choice...and 666 Conducer, we just figured out how to do that yesterday.

We weren't sure if that was going to work. We were trying to make it sound too much like the record and it wasn't really working as far the acoustic guitars. So we're probably going to amp it up a little more and make it more of a space-out kind of jam.

Looking into the future, how many more albums you think BRMC has in them?

Wow, that's a good question...I'd love to keep on making it as long as we can, [but] I really can't say you know? I think it's interesting as far how you see The Stones still going, you see Dylan still playing music...I really dig the idea of living this until you die.

That's kind of where I started, there's no back-up plan. You know, like mom and dad saying, "make sure you have something to fall back on"? That didn't happen [for me]. It's living this until it's over and I'm in to that idea, you know? And I'm hoping I'll be able to do that...and I'm hoping in this band, but you never know.

RELATED LINKS:
- Took Out A Loan MP3

Mid-Week Show Update: Ladytron, The Album Leaf, The National, LCD Soundsystem, Two Gallants, & More

Late, late, I'm so late... Gotta run off to work, but here's an update to the concert calendar first... Check out the right-hand column for dates and venues for all the following bands.

Light FM, Rademacher, El Olio Wolof, The Happy Hollows, Icebird, The Ghost Lullaby, Peter Walker, Versa Vice, Yes Me To Death, Mezzanine Owls, Redcar, Chris Murphy, The Stiletto Formal, Moros Eros, Goodbye Tomorrow, Meiko, Susie, Suh, Tim Segreto, The Poor Excuses, Ladytron, Mika Miko, LCD Soundsystem, Matt & Kim, Vietnam, Two Gallants, Les Claypool, Daft Punk, Sebastian, Kavinsky, Shiloe, A ntique Brothers, Fathmount, Pocohaunted, the Sea Zombies, Ilyas Ahmed, Taiga Remains, The Alps, Mike Tamburo (with Matt McDowel), New Fairfield Parks and Recreation, the North Sea, Xela, White Rainbow, Valet, the Holy See, (VxPxC), Greg Kowalsky, Theo Angell, Dan Brown, Agilvsga, Nick Castro, Robedoor, Thousands, Ghosting, Starving Weirdos, Tarentel, Heavy Winged, The Valley Arena, Wallpaper, China Room, Miniature Tigers, Ill Ease, Moving Picture Show, I Make This Sound, Coco B’s, Signal Hill Transmission, Speaker Speaker, Dynamite Walls, Repeater, Death To Anders, Expo 70, The Finches, Scary Mansion, The Monolators, Ema and The Ghosts, Michael Leviton, The Mammals, The Chapin Sisters, Sam Sparro, The One AM Radio, Daedelus, Lonely Hearts, Eulogies, Pink Mochi, Good On Paper, Emma Burgess, The Don’ts, Japanesian Barbie, The 88, The Horrors, Bebel Gilberto, The National, The Album Leaf, The Bird & The Bee, Chapin Sisters, The Prayers, Winter Flowers, Mountain Party, and The Bubonic Plague.

Video Free Silver Lake: The Little Ones, Lavender Diamond, & Autolux

Last night’s Let’s Independent! event was great. Thanks to everyone who played and came. You = rad. Pics soon. Now here are three videos from some charming and talented locals.

The first is one from The Little Ones for the song Lovers Who Uncover off last year's Sing Song EP. They’re recording a full-length with Dave “Mighty Lemon Drops” Newton right now.



What’s the polar opposite of heart-breaking? Lavender Diamond. Here's the Sia-directed video of the song Open Your Heart off their new album, Imagine Our Love.

Sure, singer Becky Stark may not be the most accomplished roller skater ever, but seeing her play live is probably the closest thing you’ll ever get to meeting a fairy tale princess in person...



And yeah, Autolux’s Turnstyle Blues is hella old now, but watching this the other day off of Rewritable Content reminded my why I’m looking forward to their next album so much.

Tuesday New Releases: The National, The Maccabees, & More

Here's a bunch of albums that came out this week... Don't forget about our FREE show at Boardner's tonight!

Battles – Mirrored
The National – Boxer
The Horrors – Send Away The Tigers
Voxtrot – Voxtrot
The Maccabees – Colour It In
Andrew Norsworthy – Horizon City
The Beach Boys – The Warmth Of The Sun
Erasure – Light At The End Of The World
The Used – Lies For The Liars
Once Original Soundtrack
The Bravery – The Sun And The Moon
Jeff Buckley – So Real: Songs From Jeff Buckley
Chick Corea and Bela Fleck – The Enchantment
Tim Armstrong – A Poet’s Life
Stars – Do You Trust Your Friends?
Hot Chip – DJ Kicks

The Monday Show Low Down (Or "Everybody's Somebody's Oncoming Traffic")

So, yeah. Once a month we throw an event at Boardner’s in Hollywood where we choose the line-up solely based on how much we like and believe in the bands' music. We always get a great crowd of people and it’s fun -- it seems more like a celebration of our little local music scene and how good we have it than just your average show.

It's coming around next tomorrow on Tuesday night -- this time for FREE -- and we’ve got the great line-up of indie rock act Rademacher (who are visiting to record an album with Earlimart’s Aaron Espinoza), the jangly, horn-blowing growlies known as The Switch, and psych rock outfit Kind Hearts & Coronets. If you haven’t heard any or all of the three bands, you’re in for a nice surprise when you listen/download the tracks at the Let’s Independent! page.

Here’s some video footage of Rademacher and Kind Hearts & Coronets, if you’re, like, really lazy or something.





We don’t have any video of The Switch unfortunately, but you can find MP3s of their fantastic live acoustic set on Little Radio right here on Aquarium Drunkard.

Okay, now let's take a look at the rest of the week.

Monday, May 21
- Bodies of Water, The Parson Redheads, Muso, & The By and By @ The Echo (Free)
- Gliss, Meho Plaza, The Flesh, & Casper @ Spaceland (Free)
- Lenka @ Bordello
- The Henry Clay People, You, Me & Iowa, Kissing Tigers, & The Transmissions @ Safari Sam’s
- Ambrose Akinmusire, Gerald Clayton, Kevin Kanner, & Tim Green at The Mint
- Brother Ali @ Amoeba Music (Free – 7)
- Nationale, The Politics, Ravens and Chimes, & Wallpaper @ The Scene (Glendale)
- Lo-Fi Sugar, Twilight Sleep, Black Fun, & Berko @ The Viper Room
- Moving Picture Show @ The Troubadour (Free)
- El- P @ The El Rey
- Carina Round @ The Hotel Café
- High Society & Victor Pedrosa @ The Silver Lake Lounge

DECISION:
I'm not sure I'm making it out tonight, but if I do, I'd want to finally see Lo-Fi Sugar play. Gliss and Bodies of Water are solid free options on the east side.

Tuesday, May 22
- Rademacher, The Switch, & Kind Hearts & Coronets @ Let’s Independent! at Boardners
- Crash Hot @ Spaceland
- Mando Diao, Pop Levi, & The Capshuns @ The Troubadour
- Ghost Kings & Melo-M @ El Cid
- Holly Miranda, Madrigals, The Refinery, & Born in the Flood @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Devilin & Darko, Pretty Darko, Pretty Titty, DJ Pubes, & Franki Chan @ The Echo
- The Prix @ Safari Sam’s
- The Amateurs, Mark MacMinn, & Secretary Bird @ The Scene (Glendale)

DECISION:
Yeah, you already know where I'll be that night...

Wednesday, May 23
- Great Northern & Sara Lov @ Bordello
- The Watson Twins @ Largo
- The Bravery @ Hollywood & Highland Virgin Megastore
- Sara Melson @ Fais Do Do
- OK Stranger, Black Palms, & A for Attack @ The Scene (Glendale)
- Population Game @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- The Weather Underground & NightBird @ Relax Bar
- Electric Soft Parade @ Club Moscow at Boardner’s
- Brother Ali @ The Troubadour
- Club NME Presents Castaneda, Fiction Plane, & The Dead Trees @ Spaceland
- Summer Darling, 8 Bit, Castledoor, & The Monolators @ The Echo

DECISION:
I'd say either Great Northern or Castledoor are your best bets for fun on Wednesday night.

Thursday, May 24
- Devotchka & Saul Williams @ Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Division Day, The Mae Shi, & The Western States Motel @ Spaceland
- Clutch @ The Roxy
- Under the Influence of Giants: Young Love @ The El Rey
- Bloodcat Love, Children Collide, Iglu & Hartley, & Special Guests @ The Echo
- Peculiar Pretzelmen & Melo-M @ Bordello
- Go Betty Go, Glassell Park 3, Nothington, & Broke Til Thursday @ The Scene (Glendale)
- DeVotchKa and Saul Williams at Walt Disney Concert Hall - Lo-Fi Sugar @ The Prospector (Long Beach)
- The Sunday Drivers @ The Knitting Factory
- Transfer @ The Knitting Factory (Alter-Knit Lounge)
- The Clientele & Beach House @ The Knitting Factory

DECISION:
I never get tired of seeing Division Day play. They're one of our best naturally sustainable resources here in town. Plus, they're playing with The Western States Motel, who are rad.

Friday, May 25
- the young goodman browns (Formerly Black Heart Brigade) @ The Airliner
- Hello Stranger, Non Non Plus, & The Pity Party @ Safari Sam’s
- The Foundation @ The Key Club
- Look Daggers @ The Troubadour
- Split Your Pants, MUDluscious, & Sparrow Love Crew @ The Echo
- Lovelikefire, Overnight Lows, & The Idyllists @ El Cid
- The Autumns, Sugarplastic, The World Record, & Veil Veil Vanish @ Spaceland
- Moving To France @ The Cabana Club
- Christopher Blue @ Tangier
- Mike Stinson, I See Hawks in LA, & More @ The Scene (Glendale)
- The New Motherfuckers, Fifty on Their Heel, and The New Collapse @ El Cid
- Clutch @ The Roxy

DECISION:
I really want to catch The Autumns and The Sugarplastic before their Friday night residency at Spaceland ends.

Saturday, May 26
- Secret Chiefs 3 @ The Troubadour
- Crystal Castles & Purple Crush @ The Echo
- Adrienne Pierce @ Tangier
- Cavil at Rest @ The Knitting Factory
- Something For Rockets, Bedtime For Toys, & Glacier Hiking @ The Scene (Glendale)

DECISION:
I don't really know any of these acts that well. (I know Jax at Rock Insider likes Cavil at Rest.)

Sunday, May 27
- The Obsolete Heart @ The Kibbitz Room at Cantner’s
- The Henry Clay People, Swim Party, Family Tree Analog, & Franklin for Short @ The Eagle Rock Bowling and Drinking Club at All-Star Lanes
- FREE BBQ w/ The Thingz, Bug Nasties, & The Shards @ The Scene (Glendale – 4)
- The Chariot @ The Troubadour
- Tussle & YACHT @ The Echo

DECISION:
You can hardly go wrong with The Eagle Rock Bowling and Drinking Club. I mean, they have The Henry Clay People and free shoe rental.

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

Mini-Interview: Castledoor

Imagine you’re in the middle of a conversation with a friend at a show when a band you’ve never heard before starts up and cuts you off in mid-sentence, demanding your attention in such a way that, geesh, two weeks later you still really have no goddamn idea what the hell you were talking about.

Well, I don't have to imagine, because that little boy… was me. And that band? You know where this is going… I’d been warned before Castledoor went on at Spaceland that night that they were really good, but I was still surprised by the band’s tight and explosive pop performance.

Needless to say, you should see them play live.

So, anyway, we checked in with lead singer Nate Cole to learn more about the act and what’s next for them.

Hey there, Nate. How's life?

Incredibly wonderful. Incredibly horrific. You know, life.

How long have you been making music on your own?

I've been singing in choirs, and singing in general, for as long as I can remember.

How did the band first come together? What's everyone's background?

Gabe and I have been friends for almost 10 years now and played in another band together. (It's a long and strange story that I tried to put into a song on our first EP called Remember When).

We're from Northern California and about three years ago we started writing songs and making home demos. Eventually we ended up moving to LA.

That's when we met Brandon (bass) and Joel (drums). They're from San Diego. Lisa grew up mostly in Washington State and played classical piano – and takes care of Castledoor's health. Coury is from LA and sings and plays synth -- and gives great haircuts (although some of the Castledoor boys have vowed to not cut theirs for a year).

You've been working with Earlimart's Aaron Espinoza at The Ship and recording a new EP. (Ick. That guy is jerks.) How's that experience been?

It's been the best thing that's happened to our band so far. Aaron has felt like a long time friend since the day we met him. We appreciate and respect his musical expertise as well as his friendship. He encourages us when we think we suck and reminds us that we have room to grow when we think we're great. I can't say enough good things about that guy.

I like that video you posted of you all messing around in the studio.



He's got a lot of nice toys over there, eh?

He's got loads of drums, and so does our drummer, so they were in heaven. We'd spend hours getting the right kick sound. Then when about eight o'clock rolled around we'd go next door to the Mexican market for drinks and we'd end up having these insane heavy conversations, or Aaron would dj from his itunes and we'd have a dance party.

When's that coming out? Are you self-publishing?

The tracks are all recorded, we just gotta get it mixed and mastered, but so far it's looking like we'll self-release it. Hopefully around July.

What was it like filming the video for the song Zaika? (Note: Their show at The Echo next Wednesday is a release party for the video.)

Every time I'd tell someone our ideas for the video, Lisa would smack me because we were all concerned if we could actually pull it off. We had no budget, so our friend Ryan Baxley basically did it for the love of it.

The worst part, but most memorable, was when we were seriously stranded in the middle of the ocean on a raft... in formal wear... for over an hour. The boys did what we had to do and jumped in that icy water and pulled the girls to shore.

I've heard you guys have had some label interest, eh?

Every now and then someone will contact us... an A&R person will ask for one of our EP's, i think they just want to get a cd without having to pay for it. I'm starting to send them to itunes. Bastards.

So, you've been keeping a blog? How's that been? Do you plan on updating "from the road?"

Ee're all pretty much addicted to the internet... maybe I shouldn't speak for everyone. Haha. But yeah, we love blogging and reading blogs and we don't care how nerdy that sounds.

What's next for you? You've done a residency at The Silver Lake Lounge. Any more planned? Any touring?

This time last year we couldn't get a show to save our lives. Then we met Devendra Banhart at an art show and he said it was all about surrender and being willing to play even the silliest of places and events. Maybe he put a special blessing on us or something cause things have finally started happening.

We're planning another The Silver Lake Lounge residency and we've been talking about putting together a west coast tour. Just trying to figure out a way to make it work financially.

What's a question that I should've asked, but wasn't smart or interesting enough to?

“What's Castledoor's favorite thing to do other than music?”

EAT!

And then you could follow up with "What's your favorite food?” And we'd say Indian food and burritos and gelato!

Final question: What LA bands are you liking the most right now?

We recently saw the Explex kick off show with Earlimart, The Parson Red Heads, The Watson Twins, and Sea Wolf which was pretty sweet. We also love The Monolators. And we recently had a show with I Make This Sound and Sara Lov, which we quickly became fans of.

That’s it. Thanks for your words and time and stuff, Nate.

Castledoor play The Echo on (next) Wednesday, May 23rd; The Prospector in Long Beach on May 31, The Silver Lake Lounge on June 7th and 14th, Spaceland on June 19, The Silver Lake Lounge on June 21st and 28th.

RELATED LINKS:
- The Birds and the Fleas MP3
- Remember When MP3

Mid-Week Show Update: The Deadly Syndrome, Final Fantasy, & More

I don't have time for stuff, so real quick... The Deadly Syndrome is the free Monday night residency at Spaceland in June, while Patrick Park has Thursday nights and Goldenboy and The Rentals have Saturday nights (for monies) in July.

I've updated the concert calendar with new show info for the following bands: The Dodos, Mezzanine Owls, The Sunday Drivers, The Weather Underground, The Rolling Blackouts, Nightbirds, Lismore, Sara Melson, Key Party, Dappled Cities, Cary Brothers, Electric Soft Parade, Christopher Blue, Benni Hemm Hemm, The Northern Two, Murder of The Lillies, The Foundation, Manu Chao, The Lights From Here, Joy Wants Eternity, Beware of Safety, Suki Ewers, Bedroom Walls, Battles, Final Fantasy, Rob Crowe (of Pinback), The Mooney Suzuki, The Photo Atlas, The Veils, CoCo B's, Muso, Knifey Head, Mice Parade, Tom Broussard, Kira Kira, Caroline, The Fucking Champs, The Mass, Minus Story, Brothers & Sisters, Ladybug Transistor, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, The Donkeys, The Papercuts, and Louis XIV. (Check the right-hand column for dates and venues.)

Upcoming Free Show of Note: Rademacher, The Switch, and Kind Hearts & Coronets at Boardner’s

Okay. So, we can talk about the full line-up at Boardner’s for next Tuesday night now. It’s –- as the headline above and snazzy flyer to your right might imply -- Rademacher, The Switch, and Kind Hearts & Coronets… Three great acts, all for FREE, and more of a big party than your average show.

Here’s what other people have been writing about the bands:

Rademacher
"Conjure up Karen O, Julian Casablancas, and Tom Waits all happily coexisting, swinging on a porch swing in the sun or sliding down a slide...” –- San Francisco Bay Guardian

"...enjoyable sinisterness..." –- Old Kentucky Blog

"...an acoustic carnival full of tempered guitar twang, crashing cymbals, and reedy organ." – Sixeyes

The Switch
“Los Angeles' The Switch sports some ragged, booze-soaked vocals courtesy of one Aaron Kyle, and plays with a bouncy rock 'n' roll soul that commands attention. Think Greg Dulli's Twilight Singers with less pathos and more laughter.” -– Performer

“Fans of The Beatles, The Animals, Tom Waits and Elvis Costello should take note.... With the way their local scene is going as of late, it wouldn't be too surprising to see their name in lights at a town near you soon.” -- Tripwire

“I've been meaning to write about [them] for a while…” –- Kevin Bronson, The LA Times

Kind Hearts & Coronets
“A modern-day psychedelic cabaret show — pretty melodies, enthusiastic harmonic choruses and a fantastic horn, blended to orchestral pop perfection. Their new, self-released album — selling briskly through Amoeba Music’s Homegrown series — gallivants through all 93 of their MySpace-professed influences (e.g., Nick Drake, Zombies, the Dears).” –- The LA Weekly

“The newest bunch of musicians to carry the trippy torch of psychedelia into the dark clubs of Silver Lake/Echo Park and beyond.” –- The LA Alternative

Got it? Now visit the Let’s Independent! myspace page to hear and download tracks from all three bands.

It's promising to be a damn fun night.

New Release Tuesday

Here's a quick look at the new releases this week... Don't forget to go to the Great Northern CD Release Party tonight at The Echo with The Movies. It's FREE and fun, so there's no damn excuse not to come out.

Great Northern – Trading Twilight For Daylight
Dungen – Tito Bitar
Linkin Park – Minutes to Midnight
Rufus Wainwright – Release the Stars
Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
BrakesBrakesBrakes – The Beatific Visions
Thee More Shallows – Book of Bad Breaks
The Clientele – God Save The Clientele
Sage Francis – Human The Death Dance
Mice Parade – Mice Parade
Dan Deacon – Spiderman of the Rings
Mogwai – Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait

The Monday Show Low Down (Or "Probably Not Operating In A Morally Contiguous Space")

Clear your plans for Tuesday night because you’re coming out with us and Rock Insider to Great Northern’s CD Release Event at The Echo with Twilight Sleep and The Movies.

I’ve had the pleasure to see Great Northern a handful of times over the last year and change and watched as they’ve perfected a really fantastic live set and become one of the best indie rock acts in LA.

And The Movies? They’re always a lot of fun to see play, but they’ve been absolutely nailing it lately. So it’s promising to be quite the event – and it’s FREE. So come out and support excellent local music and have a great time doing it.

Here are some video clips, links to previous articles on the bands, and a few downloadable MP3s to further put you in the mood.







LINKS:
- Great Northern’s The Middle MP3
- Great Northern’s Home MP3
- The Movies’ Creation Lake MP3
- Mini-Interview: Great Northern
- Mini-Interview: The Movies

Now let’s take a quick cursory look at the rest of the week…

Monday, May 14
- Bodies of Water, Kind Hearts & Coronets, Listing Ship, & Frankel @ The Echo (Free)
- Colorforms @ Bordello
- Chupacobra, Tanks, & The Clark 8 @ The Scene (Glendale)
- The Damnwells & Ari Heist @ The Troubadour
- The Ditty Bops @ The South Lawn of the City of Los Angeles City Hall
- Gliss, Augie March, & The Melismatics @ Spaceland (Free)
- High Society, Dave Gleason, & The Twains @ The Silver Lake Lounge (Free)
- Sky Parade & The Ebbs @ The Viper Room

DECISION:
Getting a chance to see both Kind Hearts & Coronets and Frankel for free is what they call in the business a fucking treat.

Tuesday, May 15
- The Meat Puppets @ The Troubadour
- Great Northern Record Release Party, The Movies, Twilight Sleep, & DJ David Michael Latter @ The Echo (Free)
- Qui, Bleach03 (Japan),The Amateurs, & Lozen @ The Scene (Glendale)
- Neptune's Favor, Run Doris Run, The Shakes, Naughty Bird, & in:aviate @ Safari Sam’s
- Hello Dragon & The Press Fire @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- In Waves, The Ghost Lullaby, & She/Sir @ Spaceland
- Lily Allen @ Wiltern

DECISION:
Um… Did you skip the whole part above and just scroll down here?

Wednesday, May 16
- The Black Heart Brigade @ Genghis Cohen
- Hazelden @ The Derby
- Dub Club @ The Echo
- Indie 103.1 Presents Club NME @ Spaceland
- Bark Bark Bark CD Release Show w/ The Mae Shi & The Vultures @ The Smell
- The Lieutenants, Hearing Things (members of Nervous Return), & The Slingshots @ The Scene (Glendale)
- Bugs in the Dark, Gemmeloosen, & Sub Rosa @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Patrick Wolf @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
I keep hearing good things about Patrick Wolf, but I haven't done my due diligence on him yet.

Thursday, May 17
- The Stevenson Ranch Davidians & The Hectors @ The Knitting Factory
- Peter, Bjorn, and John & Fujiya and Miyagi @ The Henry Fonda
- Fujiya and Miyagi & Port Obrien @ The Echoplex
- The Happy Hollows, The Soft Hands, Forcefield On!, & New Fidelity @ The Prospector (Long Beach)
- Second Chance, Front Row For the Meltdown, Empty Seat, & Davy & the Lollipop Kids @ The Scene (Glendale)
- Ozma @ The Troubadour
- King Kong, Hecuba, & The Mountain Party @ Spaceland
- Hearts of Palm UK, Agent Ribbons, & Man And The Motorcar @ The Silver Lake Lounge

DECISION:
Some of my friends speak really highly of Fujiya and Miyagi and I heart The Hectors, but I’m going to try to head down to Long Beach for The Soft Hands and The Happy Hollows.

Friday, May 18
- The Lonely Years, Good Luck Bear, BeatBeat Whisper, & We Drew Lightning @ Pehrspace
- The Germs & Dr. Know @ Safari Sam’s
- The Autumns & The Sugarplastic @ Spaceland
- Melt Banana @ The Troubadour
- Stretch Armstrong, Scottie B, Squek E Clean, DJ Pubes, Blu Jemz, Evans & Eagles @ The EchoPlex - Murderland, The VooDuo, & Funeral Director @ The Scene (Glendale)
- The Section Quartet, The Submarines, & The Poor Excuses @ The Echo
- Eskimo Hunter, Mezzanine Owls, & Lovelikefire @ El Cid

DECISION:
I really mean to make it to see The Autumns and The Sugarplastic residency at Spaceland sometime this month, but this Friday I mean to see The Lonely Years play at Pehrspace -- I’ve been wanting to see the “melodramatic popular song” act since they were called Juania May & The Hymns -- and The Poor Excuses at The Echo.

Saturday, May 19
- Adeline CD Release Party @ Sea Level Records (Free – 4PM)
- Pit er Pat, Priestbird, & Ima Fucking Gymnist @ The Smell
- Bedtime For Toys, Rocket, & Fawnhawk @ The Scene
- VH1 Rock Honors presents: A Tribute to ZZ Top @ Spaceland
- Hang The DJs @ The Echo
- The Silversun Pickups, The Bravery, Peter Bjorn and John, The Killers, Interpol, Bad Religion, Queens of the Stone Age, & more @ The KROQ Weenie Roast
- The Sea and Cake & The Zincs @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
If you’re willing and able to brave a sea of meatheads to see The Silversun Pickups, Queens of the Stone Age, and Interpol play live this Saturday then you’re a better man than I…

Sunday, May 20
- Wake Up Incinerate @ The Cocaine at Live Jazz
- The Obsolete Heart @ The Kibbitz Room at Cantner’s
- Knifeladder & Yximalloo @ Pehrspace
- A Roomful of Musical Tunes - Tribute to Syd Barrett @ Spaceland
- FREE BBQ w/ Bow+Arrow, Inf. Monolith of Slavery, Nat. Sunday Law, & Tennis Club @ The Scene (Glendale – 4pm)
- Radars to the Sky & Death to Anders! @ The Cocaine
- The Henry Clay People, Adeline, Lucinda and The Lost Dogs, Enid the Dowl, & Love,Christine @ The Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club at All-Star Lanes
- Dub Lab Record Fair @ Echoplex
- Grand Ole Echo w/ Mike Stinson, Kingsizemaybe, & Pillbilly Knights @ The Echo (at 5)
- Part Time Punks: Glass Candy, Cheveu, & Tyvek @ The Echo (at 10)
- Holly Miranda, Suki Ewers, Adrienne Pierce, & Shannon Hurley @ Tangier
- The Sea and Cake & The Zincs @ The Troubadour

DECISION:
Not to keep covering the same bands repeatedly, but I’m still in the zone where I never get tired of seeing Radars to the Sky play.

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

One Week Later: The Silver Lake Music Fest

Here are a few snazzy pics from last Friday's The Silver Lake Music Fest with Sea Wolf, The Little Ones, The Bird and The Bee, and Dengue Fever at The Echoplex by the ever-talented Sterling "Shutterface" Andrews.










Don't forget to pick up Sea Wolf's new EP on Dangerbird. A full album is due later this year... (The Little Ones, by the way, are working on a full-length right now, as well.)

Mid-Week Show Update: Slint, Grizzly Bear, Feist, The Black Angels, & More

Quick post! Future Monday night residencies I’ve heard about so far include Thailand at The Silver Lake Lounge in June, and Eskimo Hunter at Spaceland and Light FM at The Silver Lake Lounge in July. No word on The Echo...

I’ve updated our concert calendar with new shows for the following bands: Grizzly Bear, Feist, Slint, The Obsolete Heart, The Black Angels, Foot Foot, Nightfur, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians, Chase Frank, Lo-Fi Sugar, Twilight Sleep, Black Fun, Berko, Frankel, Hymns, Mezzanine Owls, The Parson Redheads, The Western States Motel, Thailand, Big Search, Women and Children, J. Emery Blatchley, Jonny Mark, The Happy Hollows, The Soft Hands, Forcefield On!, New Fidelity, The Ditty Bops, The Silversun Pickups, The Bravery, Peter Bjorn and John, The Killers, Interpol, Bad Religion, Queens of the Stone Age, Low, Eskimo Hunter, The Broken West, Louis XIV, Two Sheds, Jackpot, Joan As Police Woman, Hearts of Palm UK, In Waves, She/Sir, The Switch, Division Day, The Movies, and Black Heart Brigade.

Check out the right-hand column for dates and venues.

Video Free Silver Lake: The Sugarplastic, Electrelane, & Dog Days

Raise your hands if you like days when you hear tracks from three bands you've never heard before and then can't get any of them out of your goddamn head. (Takes a moment to count...) Well, that's what my Tuesday was like and here's a video for each one.

The first is for the song Autumn All The Time from The Sugarplastic, who are doing a Friday night residency this month with The Autumns at Spaceland.



The second is the track To The East from Electrelane off their new album No Shouts, No Calls -- which Little Radio gave high marks earlier this week. They're opening for The Arcade Fire at The Greek (um, hate to say it, but fire permitting) on May 29th and 30th before headlining at The Troubadour the next day.



The third is from Canadian outfit Dog Day, which I read about on the great site Rewritable Content. It's for the song Lydia off their new album Night Group. Watch those little guys go!

Let's Independent! on Tuesday, May 22nd w/ The Switch, Rademacher, & ???

Hey, so our next Let's Independent! event will take place at Boardner's of Hollywood on Tuesday, May 22nd and we're, like, enormously excited about the line-up and stuff.

We're not revealing the headliner yet, but opening up the FREE night of music is Fresno's Rademacher ... an indie rock act that we consider "extended family" and are breaking our only local artists rule for because A) they've played so often with LA bands here, B) they're in town recording their first full-length album with Earlimart's Aaron Espinoza, C) and it's only a matter of time until they move here, so this is a pre-emptive measure.

Here are a few great MP3s and an interview we did with them forever ago. The former are a good chance to sample how "their songs often begin in ridiculous lyrical fiddle-faddle but twist and turn with a carnival barker’s logic towards their inexorable choral conclusion, one usually couched in some kind of undisputable point about love or death or whatevahs."

- MP3: Playing For Fun
- MP3: They Are Always Into That
- MP3: You're Never Gonna Hear It From Me
- Mini-Interview: Rademacher

Up second that night are local kids The Switch, whose Hello Today EP has been in constant rotation around the RFSL home office and company car since they sent it over a few months back. It's "bedraggled, fall-down-the-stairs pop," just like you like it.

Here are a few great MP3s, an article we ran on them recently, and a link to recordings of the band's fantastic acoustic set on Little Radio on Aquarium Drunkard's show.

- MP3: Tongue Tied
- MP3: Crazy
- Band of the Week: The Switch
- Aquarium Drunkard: The Switch Acoustic Set

And the third band? We'll be talking about them next week.

Photo by Braedon Flynn.

Mini-Interview: Mando Diao

Our smarter, better-looking sister site Radio Free Chicago recently interviewed Swedish indie rock act Mando Diao to discuss their new album, the story behind the name, the draw of Swedish rock, and their favorite bands.

And since the group recently played Coachella and are headed back here to The Troubadour on Tuesday, May 22nd, we thought we'd wholesale steal ... uh, "reprint" ... the article.

Can you guys introduce yourself? Where are you guys at right now?

OK, we have Gustaf Norén (lead vocal/guitar), Björn Dixgård (lead vocal/guitar), Mats Björke (Organ/Piano), Samuel Giers (drums) and CJ Fogelklou (bass) and we're pretty spread out right now on a conference call. First vacation in 5 years. It's crowd free. Strange feeling.

I've heard that the name Mando Diao came to Bjorn in a dream, what was that dream like? Do you find alot of inspirations in dreams?

Either it was a dream or Björn dreamt it was a dream. In any case, as the story goes, it was a goblin who popped up saying his name was Mando Diao. At the time it didn't mean anything, but now it means a lot, to a lot of people. In UK one reviewer said that in despite of Mando Diao, she loved Mando Diao. Maybe she had had the dream too. Generally our inspirations from dreams comes from dreams we dreamt when we were like ten.

Your music is fairly diverse and accessible, I feel you could be transplanted in the NY scene or anywhere in the UK and enjoy overwhelming success. What would you say your major influences are? Is there a certain period of music that you look to for inspiration?

Our influences right now is not music, but rather the world we live in and the people we meet. So many interesting and amazing stories. We come from pretty diverse music experiences but in school we found out that we all had the Beatles in common, as opposed to all the rest that were in to metal. That's how we begun creating our own universe. We only had each other and got very close. We're still very close and sometimes we feel that it's just us against all of them. Then we had a lot of mainstream influences like Nirvana, Motown music and country music.

How do you go about the song creating process?

Our writing process is like first comes the music, then the lyrics, and then more lyrics, and then some more music. The songs are just sketches until we record. We need to keep it fresh until then. We need to keep part of the fun and the unexpected to occur during recording.

If there was one band in history that you could do a show with, who would it be?

Apart from The Beatles, it has to be The Funk Brothers.

There are so many great bands to come out of Sweden, i.e. The Hellacopters, Teddybears, TSOOL, Hives, Dungen, I'm From Barcelona, the list goes on... What do you think it is about Sweden that produces such great creative output?

We're a removed country with lots of musicians. It's good to have some distance, keeps you different. And the government pays people not to work in factories in order for them to play music. At least it used to be that way, this is changing now. So most people play music and from there you get a lot of bands, more per capita than in other countries. Plus the fact that not everyone knows: we're build slightly different in Sweden, to fit in to instruments and mikes. The genes started to mutate with ABBA back in 1974 and now we're not fit to work in factories anymore. They shut them down everywhere, and we get the export awards instead.

Who's your favorite Swedish band that we should be listening to?

Favourite Swedish band right now? Perhaps Johnossi.

I've enjoyed listening to Ode to Ochrasy, I really love the mix of songs; there's a variety of high-energy rock and lulling orchestral pop which makes for a great listening experience. What's your favorite track from the new album?

Thank you, that's wonderful to hear. Favourite tracks are perhaps Ochrasy, Wildfire, Killer Kazcynski, Tony Zoulias, Herr Horst – we can't pick one.

We're always fighting about which is the favourite track. Could be one of the others too. What do you think?

I'm a bit partial to Ochrasy, it has a soulful spirit. It's been said that your live shows are like going to Church for fans, why do you think that is?

Because we preach some kind of gospel. You can come as you are, dead or alive. If you're dead you will rise up, and if you're alive you will fall in love, and then eventually die of course, until the next set. But you know, we just give it all, all we got. We play every gig as it's our last, or our first, as if we have to get the brother who hates us, to go: OK, I give up. No sisters hates us though… But still, every show, every single time, we go in and we start from scratch.

Wanna a little taste of the live show? Check out their set at this year's SXSW.



Last question, What are you guys currently listening to right now?

Björn Olsson – find that if you can.

Thanks for your time, guys!

RELATED LINKS:
- Long Before Rock 'n' Roll MP3

The Silver Lake Music Fest: The Aftermath

So, Happy Cinco de Mayo. I hope you got a chance to see the event with Sea Wolf, The Little Ones, The Bird and The Bee, and Dengue Fever at The Echoplex last night as part of The Silver Lake Film Festival. Because it was damn fun.

Many thanks to everyone who played and attended. And for our part, special thanks go out to Jen Knoepfle from ASCAP (who did a fantastic job organizing the night) and Saskia Wilson-Brown from The Silver Lake Film Festival for involving us. It was a night to remember and stuff.

If you missed it, here are some crappy pics (which we'll replace them once the real photographers' shots come in) and videos from each of the four bands.