Dirty Rock from the U.K

I woke up a little hazy today and have been moving slowly ever since. Not that the night before was epic or anything, but it included a stop at a bourbon bar, a creepy mustache, and a bartender so hot that my brother-in-law and I named her Zooey Fox. I think the mustache was probably the worst part of the night.



As I was beginning my afternoon slide into unproductivity (aided by the haze and the heat), I heard a song on Sirius XMU (still Left of Center to me) that was so great I had to listen to it again. Because I was streaming Sirius online and not listening through my radio, I couldn't check out who the artist was. I then tried the next-best solution, Shazam on my iPhone, only to learn that this song was unrecognizable. I ran to the other room to turn on my Sirius receiver (and wait for the antenna to find a signal) just in time to see who sang the song.

It still amazes me that some bands can be so strongly associated with a region, yet they come from somewhere else. My go-to example for this is Creedence Clearwater Revival, who sound like they are from the South but were actually from San Francisco. The band I heard today also captures this same phenomenon: The Heavy.

On first listen, they also have a dirty, southern sound. And the first video I watched ("Sixteen") had the familiar backdrop of "Shoot the Freak" and Coney Island. But they're not from the South or from Brooklyn. After looking around for a release date on their upcoming album ("The House that Dirt Built" drops in the U.S. on October 13, according to Amazon), I found that this album was released in the U.K.--their home base--two days ago. We Americans need to wait another three weeks.

Not being very patient, I tracked down two songs today: the soulful "How You Like Me Know" and the bluesy "Sixteen." The Heavy channels a little Screamin' Jay Hawkins on "Sixteen," which is always acceptable to me. Let me know what you think (about the songs, not the mustache).

How You Like Me Now - The Heav...

Sixteen - The Heavy

Carcass Rock?

Usually I'm skeptical of the whole "super group" concept--Jack White's projects exempt. Exhibit 1 of bad super group ideas: the reality show Supergroup.

But this snippet of a song by Them Crooked Vultures--who have been written about and blogged about continuously--has me excited. Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl returns to the drums. Josh Homme, from Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, and Screaming Trees, plays guitar. And John Paul Jones--whose middle name would surely be "Fucking" had he not used "Paul"--from Led Zeppelin is on the bass and the keys.

Look for the album sometime in October (I think).

New Music

I love finding out about new music, and the last few months have been especially fruitful for me as I have started to tip-toe into the L.A. music scene (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, The Henry Clay People, Foreign Born).*

Last night I went to see the Soulsavers at the Troubadour. Red Ghost opened (check out covers of The Widow and A Memory) and sings on a few Soulsavers songs.

But I was really impressed by Jonneine Zapata. Turns out, she's from L.A. and is playing a bunch of shows at the Silverlake Lounge in October. I might have to venture over and check her out again.

Anyone else have any L.A. music tips, along the lines of the bands listed above?


*As a side note, I still find myself listening to way more Brooklyn-based bands, from the Dirty Projectors to Matt & Kim to Grizzly Bear. I think the highest concentration of my music comes from Brooklyn. My current Brooklyn obsession is The Drums.

Best Live Music Venue in L.A.?

Having lived in L.A. for a little more than a year, there are still tons of music venues I've yet to check out, but I find myself venturing back to the same few venues over and over. I see big shows at the Greek, mid-sized shows at the Music Box at the Fonda, and small shows at the Troubadour. It must be something about whoever books the shows at these places.

I love, love, love the Troubadour. It could be that it was just a mile from my first apartment here, it could be because it looks and feels like what a small live music venue should look like (at least to me), it could be because of the Loft upstairs, or it could be because I love faxing in my order instead of going through the Evil Empire (aka Ticketmaster). Or it could be because of all of the above.

I say the Troub is my favorite, but I haven't checked out places that continually get recommended to me, like Spaceland and the Echoplex. And I haven't been to the Wiltern yet (I had tickets to the Wilco-Okkervil River show in June, but life got in the way of music and I had to sell them).

So, Angelenos, I ask: What's your favorite place in L.A. to see live music?


By the way, the most amazing venue I have been to is the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights/Manhattan. Here's a picture of the 2007 Arcade Fire show, courtesy of Product Shop NYC. And I grew up going to shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater in beautiful Morrison, Colorado.

The Daily 5: Late Summer Reminiscences

For me, summer has been a bit sad since I noticed the shorter days in mid-August. But this recent release by The Drums will help me extend my summer mindset for a few more weeks at least. Okay, who am I kidding? I live in Los Angeles.

Saddest Summer - The Drums

Continuing the summer theme, here's a song off a recent EP by BLK JKS, a great band from South Africa. Their new album comes out next Tuesday (9/8), so make like a robot and buy it.

Summertime - BLK JKS

Philly-based rapper Amanda Blank has been getting tons of press lately, and I think it's because she's hot. Okay, she's hot and she can rap. Okay, she's hot, she can rap, and she has some interesting beats.

Lemme Get Some - Amanda Blank

More Amanda Blank. So she's hot, she can rap, and, as she shows on this track, she can sing. Sure, she's no Karen O, at least not yet.

Leaving You Behind - Amanda Bl...

Yesterday was my anniversary, and today I wish that I were "working part time." Seriously, I'm not operating at full capacity today. This song by the Glendale, CA-based The Henry Clay People has been rattling around my head for a few days now.

Working Part Time - The Henry ...

BONUS! 6 for the price of 5! The Soulsavers! I'm throwing this song on because I just learned that these guys are playing the Troubadour in West Hollywood on 9/10. I'm faxing in my ticket order today. I love this song, and I love that I can fax in my order to the Troubadour and avoid Ticketmaster fees.

Sunrise - Soulsavers

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