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Mather Louth and Radio Noir

by Trisha on March 10, 2010 in Mather Louth and Radio Noir with Comments

If you’re a fan of Nick Cave, Peggy Lee, Nancy Sinatra, and Johnny Cash, you will fall head over heels for Mather Louth and Radio Noir. Mather is the pint-sized singer whose voice packs a one-two punch of soul, blasting over 1950’s-style swing and neo-alt-country-noir of her backing band, Radio Noir. Mather and company could easily be pegged into the steam punk movement of late, with her vintage-gothic look and vintage sound, but they’ve got a bit more soul, and they seem to have a lot more fun with their music than the other steam punk bands of Los Angeles. They just finished up a residency at the “Unknown Theater” in Hollywood and are on their way to Pomona, Arcadia, and Las Vegas in the next few months. They’re sure to be back in Los Angeles at the “Unknown Theater” soon!

Until then, check the out at their myspace page (myspace.com/matherlouth). The stand-out tracks on their myspace player are “Fever Jane” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.” “Fever Jane” is similar to Nick Cave’s “Stranger Than Kindness,” but a little more dangerous, and a lot more sultry. Mather drawls out lyrics to this song beautifully and deliberately, giving the listener time to sink into the velvety aural texture. “Walkin’ After Midnight” is a noir-ish take on the original, Mather and Radio Noir twist the song into the psychopathic trip that the lyrics always suggested. Catch Mather Louth & Radio Noir when they’re back in LA and let them entrance you!

Union 13 is Alive and Rockin’

by Trisha on March 9, 2010 in Union 13 with Comments

Union 13 has always been a pure-hearted East L.A. hardcore punk band. Somehow, a copy of their second album, “Why Are We Destroying Ourselves,” ended up in my high school hands in small-town North Carolina – of all places – and a lifelong love was born. With a strong cult following and determination of steel, Union 13 is one of those bands who lasted (the average punk band’s lifespan is about three years). They started playing backyard parties in East L.A. when the owner of Epitaph showed up one day and asked them to record a demo. Tim Armstrong and Lars Frederiksen liked the demo enough to produce it and bam! – they’re signed.

They’ve toured since forever with The Bouncing Souls, US Bombs, H2O, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Subhumans, Dead Kennedys, Pennywise, NOFX, and my own punk band back in the day! It is indeed the best feeling in a musician’s life to share the stage with a band that they’ve loved since their days of teenage rebellion. And Union 13 puts on a great show – they’re veterans to the punk stage and they’ve got the energy of a napalm bomb. They shred through their set, and weave Mexican and Central American musical influences into their crashing drums and screeching guitars. They’ve been working on their fifth album in 2009, and they’re celebrating on April 3 at The Blvd Café (2631 Whittier Blvd). Don’t be embarrassed to relive your old punk days – Union 13 will have you moshing in no time!

Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp

by Trisha on March 3, 2010 in Key Club with Comments

When I first walked into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp show at the Key Club last Sunday, I didn’t quite understand what was with the mediocre cover bands playing songs with Michael Anthony of Van Halen. The performers were messing up, reading lyrics, looking nervous; all the hallmarks of a bad performance. But this was the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp recital, if you will, and they weren’t bad performers, they were just everyday people living their dream.

Rock n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is like a Disneyland for all the rockers at heart, whose life had lead them away from the stage. For a week, they get to live the rock star life (the non-newsworthy parts), playing in a band, living in hotels, recording, writing songs, and being mentored by varying levels of professional rockers. At the end of the camp, each band (comprised of campers and maybe a rock counselor) performs at a legendary rock club (this time – Key Club; next time – The Whiskey) to all their adoring family and friends. You had your CEO types in ripped jeans rocking out to AC/DC, tone-deaf housewives, and those younger ones who thought they might get discovered that night. The whole point is for everyone to get their 15 minutes and come together with other musicians from all walks of life and of varying skill, and share the primal joy of rocking! For more info check out rockcamp.com.

Princeton: The Darlings of SoCal Indie

by Trisha on March 2, 2010 in Princeton with Comments

Princeton is a new band of high schoolers straight out of Santa Monica (Princeton Street, actually), and they’ve since moved to Eagle Rock and have become the dubious darlings of the indie scene. At first listen, they sound like older, happy Joy Division-types, with impossibly deep voices for their ages, spouting bubbly songs that are easy to listen to and easy to let fade into the background. Princeton is made up of a couple of baby-faced twins and a neighborhood buddy who’ve never been in another band. They’ve been making music since high school; about two years ago from the looks of it.

Their album “Cocoon of Love,” describes the happy little cocoon of love that kids – some kids – grow up with. Expect song lyrics like, “I love you, let’s shout it out.” The band is tight, but the problem is that they sound like too many other bands. Their original compositions don’t really stand out as different, exciting, or new; at least for me. It’s as if Pulp took a handful of sedatives and pressed record. I didn’t hear any hints of the “Next Big Thing” in Princeton, but according to everyone else, they’re all the rage. Have a listen and decide for yourself.

Waterfront Concert Theater: Cover Band Galore

by Trisha on March 1, 2010 in Waterfront Concert Theater with Comments

The Waterfront Concert Theater is a relatively new and much-needed Westside music venue (thanks but no thanks, The Good Hurt). If you love cover bands like nobody’s business, you’ll be in heaven at the Waterfront; they’ve got cover bands booked that mirror nearly every big-name band out there today.

Cover bands tend to get a bad rap, especially from “real” musicians who play their own original music. Every original band hates to get booked on the same night as some cover band; somehow it cheapens the whole night. Enter Waterfront Concert Theater, safe haven for cover bands and protection from bitter musician animosity. The worst cover bands are the ones who try to keep it painfully real (yipes, David Lee Roth #2 of Fan Halen). The best are the ones who just want to sing the songs of their favorite band over and over, outside the confines of their car.

You can’t forget the joy of cover band names. You can catch True-2-Crue, Fan Halen, Bonfire (AC/DC…I didn’t get it at first either), Aeromyth, No Duh (No Doubt), and Rolling the Stone (The Rolling Stones) all at the Waterfront. Naturally, it’s only a matter of time before Mini Kiss, By Jovi, Nowaysis, and the Red Stripes (a reggae White Stripes!) play there too.