Blowin' Up: No Age

Every once in a while a band will come around that embodies the exact sound that you've been looking for at the exact time you're looking for it. Over the past month, this has come by way of L.A.'s very own No Age. Their low-fi DIY style of noise punk mixed with the artful soundscaping meet at a perfect blend. For the band, this is a time where everything seems to be going right. They've received a lot of press lately, most notably Stereogum's Band To Watch as well as an 8.0 from Pitchfork Media (and a "Recommended Listen" title to boot.) If you read the linked articles above, you'll get the full background - but to sum up the feel-good story - 'two guys from marginally successful noiserock act Wives form new band and new record label to help put out their own and their friends' records. They volunteer and help run the local arthouse/music venue The Smell. They own in concert- go see them. The End.' Their new full length record "Weirdo Rippers" was just released in Europe to rave reviews, (due out later this summer in the U.S.) and they're on the cusp of a European tour with longtime friends Mika Miko. They have one last L.A. date tomorrow at Pehrspace (does anyone want to go with me?) before crossing the pond later next week. Here's my personal favorite off of the new record called "Everybody's Down." You can stream it here or at their MySpace. Everytime I hear this song it blows my mind - listen until the drums kick in towards the end.

"Everybody's Down" off Fat Cat Records' Weirdo Rippers:

Another Local Spotlight: The Mae Shi

This Los Angeles four-piece have accomplished a lot in their 5 year lifespan. They have put out 4 records, toured the nation a couple times, and shared the stage with the likes of The Mountain Goats, Xiu Xiu, and Deerhoof... but you can read all of this in their succinct bio on MySpace. The Mae Shi put out original, catchy, and just plain intriguing rock/pop/electronic/bootyshaking music. As you can see from the picture, they use quite an array of instruments ranging from the standards to the quite bizarre (they even sell their own homemade electronic sound-boxes.) The Mae Shi are playing tomorrow night at The Smell w/ Kevin Shields (NOT from My Bloody Valentine apparently), tik///tik, and anavan. Here's a list of their upcoming L.A. dates to round out the month of June:

June 7th: w/ Kevin Shields, tik///tik, and anavan @ The Smell
June 25th: w/ Abe Vigoda, HEALTH, and UpsilonAcrux @ Pehrspace
June 28th: w/ The Locust @ Troubadour

Check out their sing-a-long pop tune, "Run To Your Grave" off their upcoming 2007 release.

Local Spotlight: Mika Miko

There's not a whole lot that one can say about this band other than, "Go see them live!" Their wiki article astutely states, "they gained local popularity for their frenetic live performances which emulate being at a party and often take place at parties." Before seeing them play last Friday I wasn't all that impressed with their recordings. After the first song of the set, I knew they weren't at all what I was expecting. They are about to embark on a Europe tour with fellow PPM labelmates and long time friends No Age, afterwhich will return to the States for a string of L.A./West Coast dates. Here's a video for their song "Business Cats" off the Kill Rock Stars/PPM release C.Y.S.L.A.B.F. :




Check out some of their other stuff at MySpace.

Local Residency: Castledoor @ Silverlake Lounge

Castledoor are slowly becoming my favorite local act that's playing around town these days. Their great songwriting and catchy melodies leave me kind of bewildered that I can't find more about them on the internet. They aren't even signed to a record label... their self-released EP Follow the Dove has sold out and now is only available via iTunes. The instrumentation, neighborhood, and style lead me to believe these guys are the next Rilo Kiley, and their songs can back that claim up. They are starting their June residency at the Silverlake Lounge - familiar stomping grounds for the band - this Thursday (and every Thursday in June). They also have a handful of other shows scheduled in and around the city this month.

@ Silverlake Lounge:
June 7th: w/ Dynamite Walls, Signal Hill Transmission, Speaker Speaker
June 14th: w/ Amy Cooper, Monolators, Ema and the Ghosts
June 21st: w/ Emma Burgess, The Don'ts, Japanese Barbie
June 28th: w/ Gran Ronde

Check out Castledoor's tune "Burn the Maps" off the Follow the Dove EP:
*Also* Check out their MySpace and listen to "Remember When," I can't seem to find an mp3 of it anywhere else.

New, (Kind of) Local Music: Bark, Bark, Bark

Having shared a stage with the likes of Ratatat, Of Montreal, and Sunset Rubdown, Jacob Cooper has started making a name for himself. And this was before he just released his first full length under the moniker Bark Bark Bark just this last week. Hailing from Phoenix, he is signed to the L.A. label Retard Disco and performs mostly in the Arizona, SoCal region. The music is much in the same electronic vein as Ratatat or Crystal Castles and is just a small part of a larger electronic, dance, lo-fi movement that I have noticed over the last few years. This is the title track off the brand new full length Haunts:

Fun New Local Music: Castledoor

This is one of my favorite L.A. bands I've heard all year. I'm surprised that they haven't recieved more attention - they're still unsigned. With a sold out self-released EP and some high profile L.A. gigs, I have a feeling a deal is on the horizon for these guys. I wasn't able to find an mp3 link to post, because it seems like all the ones I found had expired. Go to their MySpace if you want to hear some catchy well-written indie pop songs. "Burn the Maps" and "Remember When" are my two favorites. Castledoor will be playing the Echo tomorrow night.. who wants to come with me??