Upon hearing about Mark Ronson and Tennessee Thomas getting together it reminded me of my obsession with The Like. If you don't know who Mark Ronson is - look him up - he is amazing. Tennessee Thomas is drummer for the three girl band The Like.
I have liked the Like since their one and only album - "Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?" which came out in 2005 and it's one of my favorite albums. I love every song on it. The Like is an indie rock/pop band hailing from LA and they all have fathers that are music industry heavyweights. Tennessee's dad is the drummer for Elvis Costello. The bassist, Charlotte Froom's dad is a producer who has produced Crowded House, Pearl Jam and Sheryl Crow album. Oh, and her step mom used to be Suzanne Vega. The lead singer Z Berg's dad works at Geffen. Which coincidentally is their label.
They are all musically trained childhood friends who formed the band when they were all around 16. The name "The Like" comes from the word - like, and how many, mostly generation x & y kids (and valley girls) throw that word needlessly in sentences, myself included. They recorded an album in London in the fall of 2007, but I don't know what's up with it, there is still no talk of a release date. That leads me to believe they are having label issues. I guess time will tell. I hope something happens with it soon though.
I saw them last May in a really small and very expensive lounge (miller lites were like $8 dollars) and they tried some new stuff and played some old. It seemed like they had a lot of friends there and they were having a really good time. I was super impressed by them and it kind of made me want to be a rock star. I guess I would compare them to a The Pretenders or Rilo Kiley type sound, maybe a not so hard Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I don't know listen for yourself:
June Gloom (Video)
Release Me (Live on Indie 103.1 - RIP, This isn't released yet)
Theresa Anderson - She is America's answer to all the awesome British female singers out there today that sound like they are from another time (Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy). Check out Birds Fly Away. I think I am going to see her this weekend - if so, I'll let you know how it goes.
Glasvegas - Hmmm how to describe?. This band is from Scotland. If you combined 60's R&R with late 70's punk, this would be their bastard child band. Plus, they are awesome because they have a girl drummer.
The Boxer Rebellion - This is probably my favorite new band to watch this year. These guys are based in London, but one guy is from PA (the singer Nathan Nicholson), another from Australia and the other two from the UK. They remind me of Radiohead or Keane. I think they are absolutely amazing. They are unsigned and doing everything independently. You can buy their album on iTunes for like $6. I really like Evacuate, Watermelon & Flashing Red Light Means Go.
evacuate-
Little Joy - Fabrizio Moretti's (drummer from the Strokes) side project. They are very interesting and are getting alot of airplay in LA. Each song has a completely different sound so I have no way to describe it.
next time around -
Matt and Kim - This is a really cute couple that have been around for the past couple years. The girl is on drums and the guy is keyboard and vocals. I guess they are indie pop. Their first CD is an awesome exercise CD but most songs sound the same. Their new one has a lot more variation. I like it. Check out Daylight, Good Old Fashion Nightmare and Yea Yeah.
daylight-
Also some albums coming out in 2009 that I am really excited about: U2 Yeah Yeah Yeahs tegan & sara Lily Allen Kelly Clarkson No Doubt Outkast Franz Ferdinand DMB The Decemberists Dr Dre Amy Winehouse (unless something horrible happens first) Neko Case Peter Bjorn & John Imogen Heap
No Age, is an LA based band that I discovered through watching their video for this song Eraser. I loved the video and the song, so I downloaded the album. I think they are great. They are an indie rock band that classify themselves as punk, experimental. They remind me of a few difference bands but I can't quite put my finger on it. It consists of two guys a guitarist and drummer, the drummer is the vocalist. They are really in to performance art and they got got their start at an LA community center type place called The Smell which has a very artsy, trendy underground following. They also like to perform in obscure places like - the LA River, the LA library, an Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia... Here is a video for the song I dig. I love this video. It is so interesting and random. Definitely check out their songs on Myspace like Teen Creeps and Cappo.
I started this blog to talk about musicians for my friends who like to learn about music, whether they be new artists or artists from another time. Clearly I have not done that in quite some time. So today I am going to talk about the Breeders. I saw them play on Mondy at one of the most beautiful venues I have ever been in, The Wiltern. If you are in LA and into live music, go to a show there. It is really old (1931) and cool.
Pretty much everyone knows the most famous Breeders song, Cannonball. But their music is so much more original and eclectic sounding then that song portrays, I think. I first started to get in to the Breeders when XPN (it always goes back to XPN) woke me up like 4 random days, for 4 weeks in a row by playing Divine Hammer (the other Breeders song you know), about two years ago. Of course that didn't stop me from being late for work, but ever since then I have kind of been really into them.
The Breeders started out as a side project for Kim Deal, who was the bassist for The Pixies. The Pixies are a hugely influential band from the 80's who some critics credit for being a harbinger of alternative rock in the 90's. Kurt Cobain said multiple times, that Nirvana was just trying to rip off the Pixies when they wrote their songs. He also said the best song by the Pixies was Gigantic which Kim Deal wrote and sung. Kim Deal started writing songs with her sister in high school but nothing ever came of it. After getting married and moving to Boston, she joined the Pixies in 1986 by answering an ad in the newspaper looking for a bassist. She was the only person who responded, but she didn't know how to play the bass. They gave her $50 to fly from Boston to Ohio to get her sister's bass. After that, she learned how to play and the rest is history.
So Kim feeling creative stifled in the Pixies, and Tanya Donnelly (Throwing Muses, Belly) formed the Breeders. The Breeders is a they took from the band Kim and her sister, Kelley Deal, had together in their teens. The Breeders had success with their first album, Pod and later an EP and then Tanya left to form Belly. Later, Kelley Deal replaced Tanya and it has most consistently been the two of them since the then, with other players switching in and out through the years.
They had huge success after their album Last Splash came out. They opened for Nirvana and joined the Lollapalooza tour. After that they were pretty burnt out and Kelley was busted for drugs and then went in to rehab. Their break ended up lasting 7 years. During that time they had lots of smaller side projects, but the original group that created Last Splash never regrouped. Their next album, Title TK, didn't come out until 2002. And after another long recess their 4th album came out this year, Mountain Battles. It is great and will definitely be one of my top ten end of year albums.
Their music is alternative rock/pop. I pretty much love everything about them. I tried to see them at Coachella this year, but was a slacker and missed them. Their influence was evident though, because Glen Hansard, Mark Ronson, Rilo Kiley and My Morning Jacket had mentioned on stage how excited they were to meet, see, hear, watch Kim Deal and The Breeders.
The show the other night was great, though a little short. But still longer than my 5 song concert from the other night. I met some guy who was a crazy Breeders fan, you would have thought he was a little girl seeing the Jonas Brothers. But he was cool and I got his card and am going to go see his band play at some point. The two Deal sisters were really funny together - they fought on stage and pushed each other and laughed hysterically at each other. It was really cute. I also liked how they lined themselves up logistically. They were all in front, in a line. Even the drummer. I thought that was really cool and democratic.
Below is a video from the concert I was at. The song is Drivin on 9 from Last Splash. Kelley Deal who is on violin, actually doesn't know how to play the violin, she just learned for this song. Also, I put together a little Breeders/Pixies/Belly mix for you to indulge in. Cheers.
Jim Hanft is a singer songwriter who is my friend's little brother that I first saw perform at my first "Hanft Upside Your Head" memorial day weekend celebration about 4 or 5 years ago. Jim played his music around Philly and Boston and then eventually moved out to LA to pursue his dream of becoming a professional singer. Jim is a singer songwriter that adds his own "personality" into his live performances. Over the years I saw Jim probably about 3 times on the east coast and always thought he was really good and put on a good performances. Upon moving here I looked up Jim and have gone to a couple of his shows. At both shows, I have been completely blown away. His vocals are spot on. His writing is smart, funny, sad, cute or moving, depending on the song. I have even cried at both shows in LA. Once because the song was so touching and tonight from laughing so hard. He is a remarkable performer who really puts his heart and soul in his performance and he has a great time doing it. Tonight was no different. I went and saw Jim at Aura in Studio City, which conveniently is right down the street from my apartment. The crowd was totally in to him. He had the place laughing, singing, clapping and doing background for the Bitch song. Some songs are reminiscent of Flight of the Conchords where they are ironically smart and funny, while other songs are focused on love lost or just women that he believes are bitches. I recommend his music to anyone. Even if you hate singer-songwriter/folk music - go see him live because he is freakin hilarious. Example: His final song was one that he said comforted him when he was sad as a kid. He then broke in to an emotional "Hero". That's right - by the man, Enrique. He even did the Spanish parts in not actually Spanish at all. The crowd at this place was kind of laid back, talking to each other, not really paying attention to the bands - but when Jim went up everyone started paying attention. Somehow Jim doesn't have a label yet, but he is going to be big some day. Fans of Deli Magazine, which is a music centric magazine in NY and LA, voted him Artist of the Month in July - so people thankfully are starting to take notice. Now I suggest you do too. (Sidenote - my last music blog musician uh huh her was artist of the month in june).
Check out his Myspace page for a bunch of songs: http://www.myspace.com/jimhanft My favorite of his songs are China Doll and Caffeine
Here is his web site which also plays songs: http://jimhanft.com/
And check out this video for Superhero:
Because I can't get enough of him, I will be seeing him again this Saturday in Hollywood. He is also on the east coast quite a bit, so check his myspace for a show in your area. I know he is playing NYC in early October.
Uh Huh Her released their first album, Common Reaction, today. I have been listening to it for the past few weeks and I love it (illegal downloading is bad, but I bought it too :) ). Uh Huh Her got their name from a PJ Harvey album, because at the time there were three of them and they liked the sound. (If you don't know who PJ Harvey is look up immediately as she is an extremely influential alternative artist. ) Now there are just two of them, Camila & Leisha. I have been a fan of Uh Huh Her since their inception last year, mainly because I am a huge fan of Leisha Hailey who used to be in one of my fave bands - The Murmurs. Anyone who has been in my car or at work with me has been subjected to the Murmurs before and for that you are lucky. If you weren't one of those lucky few - you know them by that 1990's gem, "You Suck" (Also download Genius). She is also an actress. You've seen her on those semi annoying Yoplait commercials with the bridesmaids and on the L Word. She is actually a really talented actress. The other chick in Uh Huh Her is Camila Grey. She is a super talented musician who studied classical music growing up and before UHH was in a really cool band called Mellowdrone (download "Fashionably Uninvited"). She has also worked with Dr Dre, Busta and Kelly Osborne. Lending to her cool factor, she also produced the EP and album. She also knows how to play, like, 5 instruments. Random fact - Her dad played Mozart and Neil Diamond on repeat while she was growing up. That reminds me of someone I know, named my dad. So anyway Uh Huh Her has an electro indie pop sound and they released an EP last year and it immediately hit #29 on itunes and their single "Say So" was in the top 10. This new album is alot like the EP, which was recorded in Camilla's bedroom and bathroom, but it was actually recorded in a studio and is a little more produced with a tighter sound. Again, it is already in the top 40 albums on itunes. So I am excited for them. I have seen them 3 times. Once in NY with Mandy last summer when they were just starting out. This summer they went on a sold out tour around the US and UK and I saw them twice here in LA, all shows were great. They put on a fun, energetic show. I am excited for the fall show. I have met them both and they are both really nice and down to earth. OK clearly I could go on and on about them, but I will stop here. Just check them out.
I created a mix tape with "Not a Love Song" which is their single from Common Reaction, Say So and Explode. The last two are both on the album and the EP. What is missing is my favorite song from the album, "Wait Another Day", which I could, and do, listen to over and over again. But you can listen to it on their myspace page along with other songs - www.myspace.com/uhhuhhermusic. The entire album is streaming on iMeem.
Uh Huh Hear it now (ha ha - nerd):
Here is their new video for "Not A Love Song". It is very 80's-ish. It's fun. Plus they have a fake unicorn, and who doesn't love a fake unicorn.
The Submarines are an indie pop group from LA. You will probably recognize their song "You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" from an Apple commercial and they were in a Grey's Anatomy episode last season. Isn't that every bands induction in to coolness these days? (Though Grey's Anatomy is not cool. Sorry) They have a really cute story. Their names are Blake and John and they were performing solo in Boston when they met. They started dating and performing together. They were together for 4 years and broke up in 2004. They remained friends and continued with their solo careers. Blake recorded her songs in John's home studio and they both found out that all their sad songs that were each writing were about each other and their emotions about the breakup. They ended up getting back together and getting married. A friend of theirs mixed their first album for them as a wedding gift. Now they are on their second album and it is much more upbeat and happy then their first CD, which was all about the breakup. I love band formations with fun stories.
Anyway here's the video for You, Me and the Bourgeoisie:
It is weird being all the way over here and not being able to be around friends to know what they are listening to, so everyone might already be grooving to these guys but I don't know it. If so maybe I will enlighten you with some history.
In 2001 the four Canadian boys went to a Radiohead concert and then decided they were going to start a band. Unfortunately none of them knew how to play an instrument. The lead singer Adam Monks was actually tone deaf until her was 15. So senior year in high school they took up some instruments and started playing and joined a band in college. Eventually that band broke up and in 2005 Tokyo Police Club was born. They started playing a bunch of shows around Toronto and picked up quite a buzz, they made a 5 song EP, A Lesson in Crime, and were signed to a label in 2006. They just put out their first full length album in April, Elephant Shell, and it is getting played all the time on the indie stations in LA and a decent amount on YRock in Philly.
Their sound is definitely indie rock, but it has a bit of a poppy, punk type sound to it. People compare them to the Killers or the Strokes, but I don't see it. But I know they sound like someone - just not sure who. Let me know if you know. Sometimes I feel like it sounds like a louder punk rock version of the Decemberists singer. Like if he were screaming and rocking out.
I added videos from the EP - "Cheer it On" and "Tessellate" from the new album. I think the video for that is really cool. Its like battleship with humans. And for those of you who don't know what Tessellate means (I had no clue) it means to form in to a mosaic. Also check out some songs from their MySpace.
OK so I am going to try to make this like the Weekly Music Email that I used to send that despite it's name was not weekly at all. The purpose of that email was to inform my friends that weren't hip to the jive of new bands and artists or even old bands and artists that they should already know about but don't. So we are going for the same format here. For example one week my friends met Vampire Weekend and before that they met Lucinda Williams and I believe at one point they met Elliott Smith, amongst others. So its pretty random. Also I like learning a little more about bands that I like alot, but may not know the history of. So I try to give a little history about them and talk about what they are doing now. Through email I was able to send MP3's that people could download and listen to. I am still trying to figure out how to do that on this junk, but in the meantime I will include some kind of media link so you can get their sound. Hopefully I will figure out how I can post links that you can download songs from. OK friends I will post an artist soon. Until then...
