Today's Active Lifestyles

We're all aware of Saturday's Fuck Yeah Festival, but the real lesson in indie rock godliness will go down on Sunday night at the Echoplex. If you were lucky enough to see Polvo back in the early to mid-nineties then you can attest to how important this quartet is, and how amazing their live performances are. Along with Superchunk, Pavement and Yo la Tengo, Polvo were a fixture in my CD collection as American indie-rock blossomed underneath the popular alterna-culture that polluted most of that decade. Also, if you're thinking of taking guitar lessons, come out and watch singer/guitarists Ash Bowie and David Brylawski's amazing technical skillz.

Also on the bill are the excellent Trans Am and The Drones. I'd get there early.



Caution: Reunion tours = unanticipated offspring

Return Of The Antarcticans

L.A.'s Antarcticans just started playing out again after a two-year hiatus. I can't tell you how much I've missed watching these guys tear the shit out of their instruments; building epic, story-like mountains of guitar wash. Sometimes they bring to mind Mogwai, other times Polvo, but The Antarcticans are darker, dirtier and just too good to miss.

Fuck Yeah Fest and Videothing.com Founders Beaten By Security, Nearby Cops Do Absolutely Nothing

What a nightmare. Sean Carlson and Phil Hoelting (Fuck Yeah Fest), along with Michael Reich (Videothing.com) were allegedly assaulted by CSC Security while the F-Yeah pair handed out flyers outside of the Hollywood Bowl following Tuesday night's Radiohead performance. Reich videotaped the event, then the violent chase + beating + no police help whatsoever. After reading this horrific feature I can't wait to see those security guards go down, and the retarded L.A.P.D officer who declined to help. Fuck 'em.

Read the full story HERE -- courtesy of Randal Roberts at the L.A. Times. More news as this develops.

My Bloody Valentine: "To Here Knows When" @ Fuji Rock Festival

Anyone still bitching about the $60 ticket price to catch My Bloody Valentine at the Santa Monica Civic in early October should feel pretty content after watching this video. It is my recollection that the Loveless tracks, such as this amazing version of "To Here Knows When," were difficult to pull-off back in the day. MBV never quite nailed the tone that they created and captured so well on disc, but this new video (P4K) is undoubtedly the best live clip I've ever seen.




- Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

The Hold Steady Beer Coozies...It's About Time

If there's one band that can command its own Beer Coozie its The Hold Steady. According to the online shop, they're handsome, cheap and fit most standard-sized beverages. Now that I got a special coozie coming in the mail it would be wasteful of me not to drink multiple beers, right? David Greenwald, who runs this fancy-shmancy blog, lead us to the site via Facebook.

From the shop:

"These handsome coozies look good and fit most standard beverages. The coozies will not keep you from shouting "Magazines and daddy issues / I know you're pretty pissed, I hope you still let me kiss you," to random attractive strangers at the top of your lungs, but they will keep your cold drinks cold!!"

GET YOUR FRIGGIN' COOZIE!

New Raveonettes Coming Next Month

The Raveonettes released a banger of an album with Lust Lust Lust this year, but according to the duo's MySpace page they're already prepping three new EPs -- and one is already finished.

"It's an explosive mixture of electronic sounds and a tiny bit of guitar. It was a real blast making it and it also made us a tad nervous cause it's quite different from what we normally do, at least that's what we thought when we recorded it but after a while I see some similarities there, the drum beats, the vibe of the songs, the singing of course and just the overall feel...The EP is called Sometimes They Drop By."

The new EP comes out next month. Here's the track listing:

1. "Way Out There"
2. "Sometimes They Drop By"
3. "Blood Red Leis" (typo?)
4. "Vintage Future"



- photo by Davey Wilson

Sunset Munchkin

I'm not going this year, but you should. Broken Social Scene is worth the $20 entry fee on Saturday, and, hopefully, they'll play some new tunes. It would be awesome if Feist showed up. I think she should throw $100 bills at the crowd, because that girl is making mad cash. Expect Amy Millan to knock it out of the park instead.

Sunday? I might go. The reunited Beachwood Sparks should be great, and the Black Keys put on a devastating live performance. But then again, they're playing a proper gig on Monday at the House of Blues in Anaheim. I'll go to that for sure.

Honestly, I could care less about the Germs and their Indie 103.1 dubbed "seminal L.A. punk rock." I'm sure they left a lasting impression on many people, but they're just not my cup of tea. They've got a docu-drama coming out called What We Do is Secret.

If the music scenesters of L.A. are ready to start honoring bands like the Germs then I would submit that the next obvious step is to salute the late Acetone. We can put together a modest one-day festival where each band must play at least one Acetone cover. Someone out there could get all the live footage, some lost recordings/interviews of the band and compile a film or book to go with it.

Anyone going to Radiohead? I kind of forgot about them for a few weeks. I don't have tickets, and there's no way I'm throwing down $400 to sit in the cheap seats. I hope they get tapped to play Coachella next Spring.

In other news, one of my favorite L.A. bands have returned from a two-year hiatus. The Antarcticans are playing the Prospector this Thursday, and I'm pretty friggin' excited. Fans of Mogwai and Polvo should check them out.

Midnight Juggernauts Returning to L.A.

Here's a little slice of ELO-inspired heaven. Aussie dance rock trio Midnight Juggernauts are coming back to Los Angeles on September 10 for a Scion/I HeartComix event at the Vanguard. Needless to say I'm pumped about this, and had no idea they'd be returning for a one-off gig.

Apparently you need to RSVP HERE.

Check out the Krozm-directed video for "Shadows" below, taken from their debut album Dystopia:

Three Times A Ladyhawke

Lots of buzz surrounding Aussie-New Zealand vocalist Ladyhawke, and rightly so. Her biggest moment, and my introduction to the dance floor songstress, was the blogosphere explosion of her collaboration on fellow Aussies PNAU's "Embrace." That song is rad and all, but Ladyhawke's American debut, Paris is Burning, hits the pavement on October 14 via Modular and it's solid dance music for hipsters, parents, teens, grandparents and ex-metal heads changing direction towards a more alt-sensitive lifestyle.

"Paris is Burning" is the hit, but remixes from label mates Cut Copy and the overlooked shoegaze-electro-pop of Van She make this EP a must-have.


1. Paris Is Burning (Stream)
2. Back Of The Van (Stream)
3. Paris S'Enflamme
4. Paris Is Burning - Cut Copy Remix
5. Back Of The Van - Van She Tech Remix
6. Danny & Jenny - Exclusive

Ladyhawke will play the Echo on October 16. That show's going to be a ball-up for sure.

New Richard Swift EP ... For Free

Not only is there a brand new Richard Swift EP, but the 5-song collection of excellent tunes is free over at the R.S. Secretly Canadian page. Fans of Swift's past material should be pleased as he time-travels through 60's doo-wap and pop. The final track, "A Song For Milton Feher," sounds like familiar territory, but reminds you how this guy can tap into different eras, make quick u-turns and dive right back into his trademark piano jams with ease.

By the way, Richard Swift is touring with the Walkmen in North America. Grab a ticket for either Thursday or Friday night this week at the good old Troubadour.

|||Richard Swift: Ground Trouble Jaw EP|||

In six weeks ...

In case you've been out of loop, My Bloody Valentine are playing the Santa Monica Civic on October 1 and 2. I feel like a kid on Christmas, only my stocking is filled with earplugs.

Here's a clip of "When You Sleep" taken from the quartet's recent performance at London's Round House on June 14. Kevin Shields comes in a bit late on the bridge, but it allows the listener to capture the sheer magnitude of his guitar sound quadrupling in size.

Do Narwals Provide Scientific Evidence That Unicorns Exist?

Look at that photo, those are Narwals --pretty bad-ass right? My co-worker insists that because Narwals exist there should logically be a community of Unicorns somewhere on this planet, which is probably more likely than bumping into a Big Foot/Sasquatch-like beast. That could very well be, but my question is this: If Narwals are born with these amazing, yet dangerous, spikes protruding from there faces why haven't they conquered the sea....or each other? Killer Whales and Great White Sharks are tough and all, but these sons of bitches could shish-kabob at least three different sea mammals at once.

After several listens of the B-52s "Rock Lobster," and consulation of Wiki, Narwals turn out to be peaceful floaters, and musical fodder for a classic 1980's hot jam. However, the search for Sasquatch and Unicorns still puzzles mankind.

Les Blanks, More Parker

According to Les Blanks bassist Parker Brooks I am officially "the real deal." That means I need to change my business card. Anyhoo, I caught the L.A. trio a few days ago at The Prospector in Long Beach (my favorite local watering hole). Les Blanks sound like a band who's been playing together for twenty years, and audiences seem to be surprised over how good they are -- possibly because they've been around for some time yet no one can put a finger on their sound, direction or style. Some of their material, taken from the groups album Shoot the Horse, is reminiscent of The Band or the John Spencer Blues Explosion. Regardless, the group is even more awesome to see live.

|||Les Blanks: "Grand Kickstand" MP3|||

What a coincidence! They have a show coming up with Le Switch this Tuesday at The Echo. Our buddy Aquarium Drunkard is presenting. This will be a great show.

The Stills: 'Being Here' MP3

This may seem like an obvious post -- seeing as this track has been getting a lot of mainstream radio time, but The Stills continue to write goood tunes. "Being Here" is strong, and way better than most of the tired indie pop/rock that rotates on Woxy, XM and Sirius radio. But most importantly, it sounds like a band that's ready to stop mulling around as the supporting act and start treating longtime fans to bigger venues and longer set lists.

The driving tempo and down-stroked guitars also feels like this track could have been a lost gem from 2003's Logic Can break Your Heart, and that's radical, tubular and totally bitchin'.

|||The Stills: "Being Here" MP3|||

Unfortunately, you can only catch the Montreal quintet by hitting up the Nokia theatre on Oct. 12. They're supporting the mighty Kings of Leon. Oceans Will Rise drops Tuesday via Arts & Crafts.

'Righteous Kill' - Trailer Leak

Robert Deniro and Al Pacino? You might want to see this:



Grab it: https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=597761741&email=240fb9b0e8f4bbe6c32658300f7a3936

Bowery Electric: 'Fear of Flying' Video (1996)

Brooklyn's now defunct Bowery Electric helped to place Kranky on the map long before Deerhunter. It's propulsive beats, progressive guitar layering and floating vocals coats the senses on Beat, the group's second album.

While the guitars are obviously derivative of Slowdive and MBV's atmospheric range, "Fear of Flying" is is an example of Bowery Electric's shimmering space-pop -- sounding lighter than air and catchy as fuck all at once.

New Franz Ferdinand: 'Lucid Dreams'

Not bad, not bad at all. I like the Franz, but I've always hoped they'd release something that really sets them apart from their U.K. contemporaries. Enter your email and dig in.

Dungen To Tour North America this Fall

Dungen's new album, 4, drops September 30 via Kemado. On this release, the band will tour our United States, you'll remember that Gustav Ejstes and the group opted to not support the excellent Tio Bitar and went right back into the studio.

Can't wait for this record. Dungen at the Echo should be rad, and very moist.

Schedule:

October 24 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg (Kemado/CMJ)
October 27 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
October 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
October 30 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
October 31 - Toronto, ONT - Horseshoe Tavern
November 1 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
November 2 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
November 4 - Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar
November 7 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
November 8 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
November 10 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
November 11 - Visalia, CA - Cellar Door
November 12 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo

Crystal Antlers sign to Touch and Go

Congrats to local homeboys Crystal Antlers for choosing a great home in Touch and Go Records. The esteemed label will reissue the band's EP on October 7 with a vinyl release on November 4. Let's hope that 2008 is the year Long Beach stops becoming "Snoop's ghetto" (what is this 1993?) and starts receiving the recognition it deserves as a solid breeding ground for diverse and credible artists: Repeater, Greater California, Magic Lantern, Blank Blue, Nobody, The Soft Hands, Paper Planes, Katie the Pest, Thinking Aloud, Free Moral Agents, etc. And of course: Ice Cream Man, Fingerprints, The Prospector, Alex's Bar...

I'm sure I left out some others, but you get the idea.

Crys-ants on the road:

8/12: Los Angeles, CA - 6th St. Warehouse (F Yeah Fest Benefit)
8/20: Los Angeles, CA - The Airliner
8/30: Los Angeles, CA - F Yeah Fest
8/31: Berkeley, CA - 924 Gilman St. *!
9/1: San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern *!
9/4: Olympia, WA - Eagle's Hall *!
9/5: Seattle, WA - Vera Project *!
9/6: Portland, OR - Satyricon *!
9/7: Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard on Richards *
9/9: San Francisco, CA - The Knockout Bar !
9/11: San Diego, CA - TBD !
10/4: Eagle Rock, CA - Eagle Rock Music Festival
10/5: Long Beach, CA - University by the Sea Festival
10/11: San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside ^
10/21-25: New York, NY - CMJ

* with Fucked Up
! with the Strange Boys
^ with Wooden Shjips

(via P4K)

Shoegaze Download Jackpot

Just when you think you have everything then comes along this Web site called 'Shoegazer Alive 2.' Not sure why there needed to be a sequel, but this blog has thousands of tracks covering many genres/sub-genres/movements from over the past two decades; space-rock, shoegaze, post-rock, ambient, etc.

Many of these releases are impossible to find anywhere or have been out of print for years. However, the blog also features fairly new material and is updated regularly.

I finally found a digital copy of Bailter Space's Vortura, grabbed Catherine Wheel's first four singles, and the lo-fi goodness of Mustafa Et Monique's Houdini Aubergine.

|||Bailter Space: "Voices" MP3|||

|||Catherine Wheel: "She's My Friend" MP3|||

|||Mustafa Et Monique: "Melting on My Tongue" MP3|||

Tweaker My Love

You know what to do. Tonight's Darker My Love gig at the Troubadour is gonna be a ball-up. Tweak Bird are opening, along with Amnion and Eulogies. I'd get there early.

Goodbye Wolfmother

Not sure if anyone got to see the Australian rock trio in the past few years, it seemed like there was a period when they were conquering every L.A. venue before their rise to mega stardom, but Wolfmother were a top-notch band. By the term "were" I mean the exit of bassist/keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett.

Will it ever be the same band without them? Possibly. Here's the goods from the group's Web site:

"Wolfmother has announced the resignation of bass/keyboard player Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett effective immediately.

Singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale now plans to find other musicians over coming months and to then begin making a new Wolfmother album.

Wolfmother toured the world virtually non-stop through 2006 and early 2007 on the back of their acclaimed self titled debut album. Longstanding frictions within the group then lead them to take an extended break during the second half of 2007 to consider their future.

In early 2008 they regrouped and worked on new material. Initially encouraged by those sessions, they committed to a handful of live shows to 'road test' the new songs and to try to find a way forward.

Those dates concluded with a headlining slot last Sunday at the Splendour In The Grass Festival in Australia's Byron Bay where rumours circulated about possible lineup changes.

Following that show Chris Ross decided to announce that he was leaving the band due to irreconcilable personal and musical differences. Myles Heskett has also decided to leave the band rather than continuing as part of a changed lineup. The pair has been working together on songs for some time and they plan to focus their energies on that new project in the future.

Andrew Stockdale, Myles Heskett, and Chris Ross will make no public statements at this time except to say that they are each really looking forward to making their new music over the years ahead.

In the meantime they simply ask all Wolfmother fans to please understand that in spite of their best efforts over a long period of time, they just could not find a harmonious way to work together and that has [led] to the decisions announced today."

Indie Click

I'm now working at Indie Click. It's a really chill atmosphere with genuinely nice people who have good taste in work environment music, lunch destinations and local band tastes. I've also satisfied my desire to move away from website content/promotion into a music marketing-related field, which, by default, will allow me to return to this blog...forever.

If you're a blogger and you have strong numbers (page views/impressions) there's a chance I'll be working with you in the future.

NME Thinks America Is Really, Like, Totally Awesome and 'Cool Again'

A weird post if you're a music fan living in the U.K., but seriously, when was America's music scene ever not cool? And how does a rag-mag like NME define what's best for U.K. audiences when they don't even live here?

I agree with like one or two of the band's listed (White Denim), but many of these stellar acts have been around for quite a while and simply don't fit in with some of the current, over-hyped acts that have got people's panties all bunched up (Vampire Weekend, Black Kids).

1. Vampire Weekend
2. Lil Wayne
3. Glass Candy
4. Kings Of Leon
5. MGMT
6. Spank Rock
7. TV On The Radio
8. Boy Crisis
9. Black Kids
10. Holy Ghost Revival
11. The Hold Steady
12. Fleet Foxes
13. Amazing Baby
14. Jay Reatard
15. HEALTH
16. The Cool Kids
17. Black Lips
18. Yo Majesty
19. White Denim
20. Telepathe
21. Iglu and Hartly
22. Chester French
23. Girl Talk
24. TheDeathSet
25. Grace Jones

How about me telling U.K. audiences what makes them cool? I'm sure I left out what's really 'cool,' but fuck it:

1. My Bloody Valentine
2. Doves
3. Portishead
4. Radiohead
5. Broadcast
6. Clinic
7. Elbow
8. Boards of Canada
9. Archie Bronson Outfit
10. Maps
11. Ulrich Schnauss
12. Frightened Rabbit
13. Mogwai
14. The Twilight Sad
15. British Sea Power
16. The Clientele
17. Art Brut
18. Fuck Buttons
19. Spiritualized
20. Stereolab
21. Clark
22. The Kills
23. Franz Ferdinand
24. Hot Chip
25. Jamie Lidell

I'm sure I left out a bunch of other great acts.

Obligatory Music Post: The Meeting Places

After leaving The Meeting Places two years ago, I recently found the urge to dust off the pedals and plug in again. Tomorrow night's gig at Spaceland is going to rule, not just because we get to make some noise, we're sharing the bill with two of my favorite local bands; Film School and The Pity Party.

Back in 2003, we met Film School at Noise Pop Festival, we both played the Make-Out Room that night in San Francisco. It was our first time ever seeing them and they sounded really fucking good. Now, the group is far superior, on disc and on stage. Specifically, the new lineup boasts a better, more muscular sound and provides an excellent demonstration of how a rock band reinterprets shoegaze/dream-pop. Along with great bands like Serena-Maneesh, Mahogany, Autolux and Asobi Seksu, they've made the genre sound fresh -- and more listenable -- without sacrificing the chaotic, imaginative rock that indie music desperately needs more of.

If you've followed any blog that I've been a part of over the past four years then you'll know what a huge fan I am of Film School's highly overlooked, and under-marketed, sophomore album Hideout. I've also written quite a few blog posts regarding Pity Party's angular art-rock too. Bring extra cash to buy both of the bands' merch.


The past:

I played in my first band, Closedown, when I was 19. The group was based in Boyle Heights, not a safe place to be in at that time. I can easily say that we were one of the loudest guitar-based L.A. bands ever, and the experience had the biggest impact on my musical future.

After leaving the band a couple of years later, I ditched college for a brief stint in Tempe, Arizona's Alison's Halo. We received loads of critical acclaim and press, yet never signed a deal or made a full-length album. Adam and Catherine Cooper are currently working on a project called Lochheed.

Upon returning to Los Angeles to finish my Bachelor's degree, I placed an ad at good old No Life Records (remember that place?) and got a phone call from Brad Laner. I quickly joined his post-Medicine band Amnesia. It didn't last long, but getting a chance to play with one of my musical heroes cannot be described in a simple blog post. Imagine getting a chance to play in a band with an artist who made you want to pick up the instrument in the first place ... yep.

During the Amnesia days I also played alongside bassist Jason 71, who moonlights as an amazing graphic designer/photographer, kick-ass musician, mastermind of local dream-pop band Eskimohunter and bassist for the amazing super group The Lassie Foundation. Coincidentally, Jason will be joining the Pity Party tomorrow night for some musical reinterpretations -- due to M's recent biking accident.

The Meeting Places formed many years later, around late 2001/early 2002. We have two albums, a couple of compilation appearances, and a bunch of memorable shows that have taken us to different states and continents. Come say Hello.


Also, this Saturday ...

New Rose Elinor Dougall Stream: 'Come Away With Me'

A few months ago Rose Dougall, who left her extremely popular all-girl trio The Pipettes to focus on her solo work, posted a minimal track on a newly christened MySpace page. Citing influences like Broadcast, My Bloody Valentine and Caribou, I was immediately drawn in.

This new song, "Come Away With Me," definitely hints at Broadcast's lush vocal melodies and singular keyboard flourishes, yet there's a 1960's pop vibe that sounds mature and focused when compared to the kitschy Pipettes material. The track also has a weird way of intertwining the indie-pop of Sarah Records acts like Heavenly -- the acoustic guitar strums certainly help. What can I say, I just want to hear more.

|||Rose Elinor Dougall: "Come Away With Me" STREAM|||

The Boo Radleys - "Wish I Was Skinny" MP3

Before bands like the Apples in Stereo and Belle & Sebastian arrived on the scene The Boo Radleys were churning out jangly pop hits like the infectious "Wish I was Skinny," taken from the band's amazing Giant Steps release. "Wish I Was Skinny" is an uplifting track that personifies the early days of Britsh indie-pop; flowery melodies, driving guitars and a catchy verse/chorus transition that rivals some of Teenage Fanclub's best work.

Once you've picked up Giant Steps, check out "Lazarus," "Barney (...and Me)," "Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce)" and "Best Lose the Fear."

|||The Boo Radleys: "Wish I Was Skinny" MP3|||

Sony Buys BMG, Becomes Second Largest Major Label

It seems as if the only big, consistent news stories coming from major labels in the past two years involve corporate buy-outs, layoffs and poor CD sales figures. Here's another piece of music industry drama that will inevitably lead to job cuts, reorganization and more failed attempts at an outdated business model that major label executives will never part with.

Here's the story from BBC via the Daily Swarm:

"Sony has agreed to buy Bertelsmann's 50% stake in their Sony BMG music joint venture in a $1.2bn (£613.7m) deal. The music company is to be renamed Sony Music Entertainment Inc (SMEI) and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. SMEI - the world's second largest music company after Universal - will include artists such as Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Timberlake.

The deal ends the tie-up between Sony and Bertelsmann signed in 2004. The music group will include labels such as Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records and RCA Records. Both sides will continue to share manufacturing and distribution between Sony's manufacturing subsidiary, Sony DADC, and Bertelsmann's services company, Arvato Digital Services.

"This move is consistent with our new growth strategy and will enable us to focus on our defined growth areas," said Bertelsmann chief executive Hartmut Ostrowski to the BBC.

New No Age Video: 'Keechie'

If this Andy Bruntel-directed clip looks familiar it's because our director used supplemental material from the "Eraser" video shoot. Makes sense though. "Keechie" is an ambient piece, or what I like to call a "reflective moment," between Nouns' melodic bashing and more powerful tracks. The slow motion shots at dusk help too.

Watch the video HERE. Read my review of Nouns HERE.

Mezzanine Owls + Colt 45 = King King

It's been a few months since Mezzanine Owls played out around town. Tonight, Colt 45 and Vice will bring out the quartet for the Tales Of Colt 45 Tour with performances by Cheeseburger, Spider Problem and San Diegans The Muslims.

The fun happens at King King, here are the details:

Boris)))Echoplex)))Tonight

Japanese psych-metal warriors Boris complete their North American tour tonight at Echoplex. Joining the trio are Lair of the Minotaur and Pitchfork-adored Torche, whose latest album earned a well-deserved 8.2.

While Boris' latest full-length Smile lacks the imaginative roar of Pink, their live performances are always incredible. Bring earplugs.

|||Boris: "Parting" MP3|||

The Boredoms Announce '88 BoaDrum' Participants

Back at my old job I reported on this unique event coming to Los Angeles. As of today, the full list was revealed for the 88BoaDrum La Brea Tar Pits performance, happening August 8 at 8:08 pm under the supervision of Hisham Bharoocha (Soft Circle). 88 drummers playing in harmony, should be very loud and ... rhythmic.

Tickets are free, and still available, at Amoeba Records, the L.A. County Museum of Art, or Brown Paper Tickets.

I think the coolest thing about this list is that several drummers are not affiliated with any bands -- or maybe they chose not to?

La Brea Tar-kits:

Hisham A. Bharoocha (Soft Circle)
Zach Hill (Hella)
Butchy Fuego (Pit Er Pat)
Kid Millions (Oneida)
Dave Nuss (No-Neck Blues Band / Under Satan's Sun)
Christopher Powell (Icy Demons / Man Man)
Aaron Moore (Volcano the Bear)
Warren Huegel (Tussle)
Dustin Donaldson (Freelance Session, I Am Spoonbender, Link Wray, Thought Industry)
Derek James (Entrance)
Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, All Smiles, Black Heart Procession)
Tim Soete (The Fucking Champs)
Michael Tapper (We Are Scientists)
Adam Pfahler (Jawbreaker)
Claude Collins-Stracensky
Sara Lund (Unwound)
Matthew Hartman (Sic Alps)
Chris Moore (Negative Approach)
Abby Ball
Ryan Huber
Geoff Soule (FUCK, Tara Jane O'neil)
John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees)
Shahin Motia (Oneida / Ex Models / Knyfe Hyts)
Alexis Garapulos (Arp / Expanding Headband)
Katelyn Hall (Mika Miko)
David Janik (Company)
Michael Henrickson (Smegma / Jackie-O-Motherfucker)
Tom Recchion
Michael Bulington
Trent Moorman (Like a Kite/The Saturday Knights)
Brian Dwyer
Damon Eliza Palermo (Mi Ami)
Michael Catano
Vice Cooler (xbxrx / Hawnay Troof)
Andy Connors (ex-A Minor Forest / Lumen)
Weasel Walter (xbxrx)
Adam Baz (Evangelista, Ohioan, Nightwonds)
Dave Aron (Koi Pond)
Pete Vogl (Koi Pond)
Robin Easton
Alianna Kalaba (We Ragazzi)
Gregory Rogove (Priestbird)
Jonathan Holland (Tussle)
Brendan Fowler (BARR / Car Clutch)
Adam Autry
Anthony Petrovic (Ezeetiger / The Drums)
Rob Barber (High Places)
Dan Rowan
Grace Lee (Foot Village)
Jason Adam Baker (Necking)
Andrew Neuhues
Sandra Vu (Midnight Movies)
Than Luu (Black Gold / M. Ward / Adam Franklin)
Jaiko Suzuki (Electro Putas)
Brian Miller (Foot Villlage)
Ryan Pritts (Paik / Bolmongani)
Gabie Strong
Jessica Espeleta
Patty Schemel (Hole, Juliette Lewis, Pink)
Roy Tatum (Wives)
London May (Samhain / Dag Nasty)
Wendy Shuey
Paul Quattrone (!!!, Modey Lemon, Midnite Snake)
Josh Taylor (Foot Village / Friends Forever)
Sarah Anderson (Lucky Dragons)
James Jolliff (Brother Reade)
Brian Girgus (lowercase / Track Star)
Yoshi Nakamoto (The Aislers Set)
Nora Brank
Chris Hathwell (Moving Units)
Kevin Stuart (Crystal Antlers)
Damian Edwards (Crystal Antlers)
Bianca Sparta (Erase Errata)
Michael La Franchi (Giant Drag / Let's Go Sailing)
Taylor Richardson (Sunburned Hand of the Man)
Kevin Haskins (Bauhaus)
Diva Dompe (Black Black)
Tennessee Thomas (The Like)
Erin Garcia (Brother Reade)
Steven McCarty (Dead Meadow)
Joachim Cooder
Mike Sord Gard (M. Sord)
Aaron Sperske (Beachwood Sparks)
Sara Diaz
Wendy Farina
Greg Fox (Pink Mountain / Family of Love)

Dead Leaf Echo: 'Pale Fire (Ulrich Schnauss Mix)' MP3

Brooklyn's Dead Leaf Echo tapped dream-pop wizard Ulrich Schnauss on this remix of the band's title track "Pale Fire."

Most of Pale Fire, out now on Year of the Gallon, reminisces in Cocteau Twins etherealism emoting rich jangly guitars and shuffling drums. But Schnauss deepens the mood by adding trailed vocal effects to the syrupy rhythm, which creates a heavier, and better, feel.

If the trio ever decides to come out to Los Angeles then they'll be greatly appreciated at this place.

|||Dead Leaf Echo: "Pale Fire (Ulrich Schnauss Mix)" MP3|||

How To Be An Asshole: Bravo's 'Flipping Out'

Bravo's 'Flipping Out' is about flipping houses, getting hard work done in very little time, and watching a psychotic, power-tripping, passive aggressive asshole emotionally destroy the people who are making him loads of cash. It's disturbing, hilarious and you need to experience at least one episode.

The asshole on parade, whose birth name is Jeff Lewis, is the perfect study in failed parenting; he was most likely humiliated as a child, put down and abused (possibly abandoned) by his parents, and, typically, has embraced the terrorizing behavior that has ruined him as a way to "deal with" or "validate" his horrible psyche. I only wish the cameras would follow him home to capture what he does in the privacy of his own home, I'd pay serious money for that.

As a Psych major this kind of irrational behavior is beyond intriguing. But then again, doesn't it make sense to channel your problems rather than deal with them (see George W. Bush)?

"I think you need psychological training to deal with Jeff Lewis."
- Executive Assistant, Jenny Pulos

No shit sweetheart. I dare everyone to watch the season two-finale this Tuesday @ 10 pm.

The Aushua Tree: Three Brothers And A Gammill

I wouldn't put it past anyone for their lack of knowledge on Aushua's current status. They're not the type of band who's eager to jump on local billings to achieve a specific audience or gain a quick popularity badge -- they're simply a convincing group of kids spewing anthemic rock jams.

The quartet just finished an opening jaunt with Thrice on the West Coast. While that pairing may seem odd for a band that has earned comparisons, and rightfully so, to excellent indie acts like The Stills, Foreign Born and Cold War Kids, it speaks volumes about their crossover potential, and how strong their live performances are. That's why I'm urging you to check out the group tonight at Spaceland.

Also, stick around for the upstairs viewing of Airborne Toxic Event's TV performance on Conan O'Brien. Believe or not, I've yet to see A-Tox play a live gig.

|||Aushua: "No Harm Done" MP3|||

Be Your Own Pet say goodbye

If there was one act that could unify the indie hipsters and Fall Out Boy worshipers it was Be Your Own Pet. For such a young band, they invigorated pop-punk; sounding smart, intense and chaotic. The quartet's live performances were fierce as Jemina and the boys wailed away with air-tight bursts of choppy punk. This is a bummer.

Guitarist Jonas Stein and drummer John Eatherly will soldier on as Turbo Fruits. They have a few dates lined up before BYOP finish their last run of dates in the UK.

Be Your Own Pet:

8/22: Reading, England @ Reading Festival
8/23: Leeds, England @ Leeds Festival
8/25: Liverpool, England @ Carling Academy 2
8/26: London, England @ Dingwalls

Turbo Fruits:

8/1: Chicago, IL @ The Compound
8/7: Minneapolis, MN @ The Organ House