Los Angeles trio Beware of Darkness are all about the attitude - "Howl" the first reveal off their upcoming debut release, Orthodox, epitomizes a classic brand of guitar rock built around sharp-toothed riffs and thumping rhytmic grooves that is seldom seen as inspiration for the new wave of bands currently at the top of the modern rock charts. Yes, there is some of that smoky, jam-oriented approach the Black Keys popularized ever since they released Brothers, but their skeletal arrangements dominate with an urgency that is all their own; their raucous, whiskey-infused sound screams instant gratification. With a confidence that cannot be ignored, the gritty, bluesy tones of Beware the Darkness are too potent and pervasive to think that they merely replicate the sounds of a seventies jukebox. Orthodox will be released on May 7th via Bright Antenna Records.
Robotanists have recently been in the studio prepping for a new album, and have released a sneak peek demo and unofficial video for fans to get a glimpse of what's to come. The track, called "No Loss Really," was created mostly of first takes, and will be re-recorded for the group's next album, Make It Count, due out later this year.
Hailing from Redondo Beach, the avant-garde alt-rock trio, Yolk, is the brain-child of siblings Asia and Matt Graves, along with Travis Brown. While they may be self-proclaimed “weirdos” making “alien pop,” their most recent single, “Lighthouse” has some serious radio-friendly production and melodies that will be stuck in your head for days. From the moment the melancholic Erhu weaves it’s other-worldly moans into the verse it becomes clear there is depth to the creative power lying within this trio. What truly dominates this track, though, is Asia’s striking vocal prowess. Her voice is grounded and strong in the verses, but soars with tender vulnerability in the chorus. Having just the right amount of Indie pop flair, textural sound design, and modern rock punch, “Lighthouse” has put Yolk on the Band to Watch List.- Jacqueline Caruso
Future funk duo and most recent Artist of the Month poll winners, Maximum Hedrum, are set to release their debut album on March 19. In anticipation, they have released a video for their first single, “Keep in Touch,” a track that just happens to feature George Clinton. The video, co-directed by band member, Sam Spiegel, chronicles a true-life inspired story featuring Javier Silcook, a young man with cerebral palsy. It explores themes of intimacy and connectivity in an increasingly sterile and technology-driven world. - Jacqueline Caruso
The Deli will be in Austin on March 15 with a two stage night party hosted at Austin's legendary gay bar Rusty's. Great lineup of artists and even greater list of Special Guests who will be announced shortly. See here for more info + band links!
Stop me if you've heard this one before: a producer encounters a drunken oaf and his hooligans aboard an LA train, and then winds up commiserating with said band while making music together in a sleeper car until that fateful hangover morning, in which he finds himself robbed off his guitar but with a golden possession in his hands: the bands' "reel to tape". That's all in the past now, as Lewis Pesacov, better known for his contributions in Foreign Born and Fool's Gold, has ever since molded the wisful country rock of El Sportivo (aka Daron Holloway) into an enticing proposition. Their debut LP with backing band the Blooz, Nights & Weekends, lingers with the passing of a gentle breeze through a wide-open desert, each lap steel riff and rambling bass motif marked with seamless precision. The music reflects its expansive scope as they drive off an open road with an anything goes predicament as if they were pursued with a looming sense of danger, accentuated with a prominent wall of guitars and slinky piano hooks that only enhance the sprawling nothingness in view. We never quite know the destination they lead, but we know that the journey is only a first out of the many that lie ahead. You can stream Nights and Weekends in its entirety by visiting their soundcloud page.
Our first ticket giveaway of 2013 is here. As proud sponsors of the What Cheer? Fest this Saturday, March 2, as announced here, we are excited to be giving away two pairs of tickets to some lucky hopefuls. If you’re as obsessed with locals Criminal Hygiene, Cotillon, Feeding People, Vinyl Williams, Colleen Green, Summer Twins, Body Parts, The Vim Dicta, and Fort King as we are, then you won’t want to miss this. The line-up is stacked and the Fest is planning to run from noon to 5am. Epic doesn’t begin to describe it. Tickets are $10 a piece and only available for Pre-Sale here. If you’d like a chance to win a pair, then head over to twitter and send a DM to @thedeliLA with your full name and e-mail, along with the band you’re most excited to see. Only those who also tweet “I want a pair of tix to the @thedeliLA sponsored What Cheer? Fest” will be eligible. Winners will be announced here on the blog on Friday afternoon. We will send out e-mails with all the information you need to redeem your prize. Good luck!
The electro-pop duo made up of Dan Chang and Michael Garner, known as Hunter Hunted, is sure to be a household name in no time. They made their official debut earlier this month to a sold out crowd at the Troubadour, and are already making their television debut tonight on Conan. After viewing the video for “End of the World” it’s obvious why they are soaring to the top of their class. The glistening guitars, booming drumbeats, and electronic flourishes are merely the backdrop to their folk-tinged melodies and honeyed harmonies. Add to that the anthemic chorus that drops in like a stampede of horses in the desert as they croon, harmonically of course, “the end is coming, but we already know,” and you’ve got yourself one catchy single that’s sure to spread like wildfire. Watch the two attempt to survive in an abandoned, rusted out wasteland as they are hunted by a pair of sexy face-painted women in this video that’s as sleek as their production. While they may only be playing inside your TV tonight, they’ve nabbed a coveted residency this March at the Bootleg. It’s free every Monday and the line-up is already shaping up nicely. - Jacqueline Caruso
This year The Deli will present in full force in Austin during the unmentionable Live Music Fest. We were asked to help book a small room in Downtown West, and this idea became our first Deli Hangover Hideout!!! Check out this outstanding lineup of (mostly) singer songwriters and acoustic bands.
