My only problem with Letting Up Despite Great Faults' first album? It's too short. Seven tracks is not enough. That all changes with their second (and self-titled) album, released earlier this month, which grants us access to an additional nine tracks. I haven't gotten a chance to listen to the entire album it since it's not on Rhapsody, but what I've heard does not disappoint.
LUDGF includes Rachel of the recently departed Automatic Drawing. It's shoegazy-indiepop (credit to Pitchfork for that description) with electronic undertones thrown in for good measure. Think The Postal Service, but a bit more subdued.
Take a listen on their myspace page, which includes 5 songs from the new album. Note: if you scroll down to the bottom of their MySpace player you're treated to their remix of Passion Pit's "Little Secrets."
LUDGF's next LA date, and their only LA date currently scheduled, is November 21 at Mr. T's Bowl. Should make a nice pre-Thanksgiving treat.
Update: What I call LUDGF's "first album" is characterized by others as an EP. At 7 songs it seems long for an EP, but nonetheless, their just-released album is, officially, their self-titled debut LP.
Ah, another edition of CER's Guilty Pleasure, our irregular mention of an electro-pop band that is so infectious, poppy, and directed towards teenagers that I feel guilty listening to it as much as I do. This time it's Cash Cash, which I'd describe as a hybrid of The Cab and Hellogoodbye. Just looking at their hairstyles makes me hate myself. Still, I couldn't stop myself from buying tickets to their December 9 show at the Roxy. Sure, it will be full of 16 year olds, but I can't think it's going to be anything other than one hell of a fun time.
Go ahead, try listening to this song more than once.
Want to check out three of LA's finest as they descend on New York for this week's CMJ Music Marathon? I've got everything you need to know right here.
This year Casxio, Local Natives, and The Happy Hollows will be playing all over the city. Here's their schedules, listed by date. (There's also a little cheat sheet, listed by band, at the bottom.)
Tuesday October 20
Casxio: Piano's (158 Ludlow St.) for The Music Slut CMJ Party. Casxio is on at 6pm. Great lineup. Other bands you should check out at this party are The Love Language, Fanfarlo, Sean Bones and Calypso.
The Happy Hollows have their CMJ showcase at 11:30pm at the Lit Lounge (93 2nd Ave.)
Wendesday October 21
Casxio is at Southpaw in Brooklyn (125 5th Ave.) for one of their two official showcases. They go on at 9:15pm.
The Happy Hollows are at Coco 66 in Brooklyn (66 Greenpoint Ave.) at around 10pm.
Thursday October 22
Aquarium Drunkard & Intelligent Noise party at Fontana's (105 Eldridge St.). This is the daytime party to attend at CMJ: Happy Hollows (3:30pm), Local Natives (3pm), Roadside Graves, and The Love Language are all performing.
Casxio will be at The Canal Room (285 West Broadway) for the ASCAP showcase. 9:15pm set time once again.
Local Natives: In typical fashion, LN plays a second show on the same day, this time their CMJ showcase at The Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston) at midnight. Hockey plays right before them at 11 and Sean Bones follows them at 1am. Complete details.
Friday October 23
Casxio is at Norwood (241 W. 14th St.) for The:Hours Records Meet & Greet party. Time TBA.
Local Natives once again play two shows in one day:
First they're at Santos Party House (96 Lafayette) at 8pm.
Then they're at BrooklynVegan's party at a Williamsburg loft in a secret location at 11:55pm. To RSVP and get on the list (which does not guarantee admission) you have to email loft.rsvp@gmail.com with your name. Here's more details on that show.
Saturday October 24
Local Natives again play two events in one day.
First, they're at the Brooklyn Vegan party at 2pm at Piano's (158 Ludlow St.) (Note: I'm a bit skeptical about this in light of the BV loft show they're playing the night before)
Then, they're at Delancy (168 Delancy) for the Deli Magazine showcase at 4:15pm.
List by Band
Local Natives
Thursday October 22: 1) Fontana's at 3pm, 2) Mercury Lounge at midnight
Friday October 23: 1) Santos Party House at 8pm, 2) Williamsburg loft at 11:55pm
Saturday October 24: 1) Piano's at 2pm, 2) Delancy at 4pm
CER Favorites Casxio have a new video, this time for their fan favorite "Seventeen." Featuring Lucas in drag and lots of neon. Check it out:
And mark your calendars: Casxio's "Seventeen" EP release party is Sunday night at Cinespace. It's their last show before they head over to New York for this year's CMJ Music Marathon.
Nico Stai is/are shooting a video for "Dead Pony" on Friday at Ghettogloss Gallery (6109 Melrose). This is unquestionably worth your time (and it's free). Nico Stai is a rarity: a fully formed, mature band with great stage presence and a 110% bonafide rock star as their frontman. They were so good at the Eagle Rock Music Festival. I don't understand how they aren't more popular.
As you can see from the flyer, here are the details:
8:30: Drinks and music begin ($3 drinks and $1 beers) 9:00: Video shoot 10:00: Live set by the full band
It's almost mind-boggling to think about Thursday as a live act. I've been seeing Thursday at least once a year since 2001, and often two or three times a year. And no matter when or where I've seen them they always leave it all out on the stage, each and every time. Whether it's inside or outside, in New York, New Jersey, or LA, at high noon or late at night, playing in front of 200 or 2,000, or playing a 30 minute Warped Tour set or an almost two hour set at their holiday shows at the Starland Ballroom in Jersey, it doesn't matter: they put all their energy into their show each and every time. I just can't understand how a band can do that day after day for so many years. And the crowds are always excited and love every second of it. I've never been to a Thursday show and walked away disappointed. Never. They are simply the best live act I know. It never gets old and I don't think it ever will.
On this night things were no different, although the Knit was one of the smaller venues Thursday has played recently. The band performed War all the Time front to back, and then came out for a four song encore which included "Autobiography of a Nation" and ended with "Jet Black New Year."
Thank you, Thursday, for making an old guy from Jersey feel like he's 20 and back home again, at least for one night.
First, it's not physically possible to be at all of these sets, and second, nothing's going to run on time. But if I had a teleporter or if the stages are a lot closer than I think they will be, here's my plans for later today:
[Note: This site has myspace links for all the Eagle Rock bands.]
6:00
6:00- 6:35 Leslie and the Badgers (Emerging) OR 6:00-6:25 Alaskan Summer (American Tire Depo/Kingsize).
I'm heavily leaning towards Alaskan Summer.
6:30
6:30-7:00 Free the Robots (Panang) (unlikely because the Panang stage is too far away) OR 6:30-6:55 Ovideo (American Tire Depo/Ship Stage) (more likely, but not as good)
7:00
7:00- 7:25 The Pulsars (American Tire Depo/Kingsize)
7:30
7:30-7:55 The French Semester (American Tire Depo/The Ship Stage)
8:00
8:00 -8:35 Free Moral Agents (Emerging)
8:30
8:30-9:00 Monolators Collaboration (Swork)
9:00
9:00-9:40 Jail Weddings (Emerging) OR 9:00-9:25 Blank Blue (American Tire Depo/Kingsize). Probably Jail Weddings.
9:30
9:30-10:00 Underground Railroad to Candyland (Bateman)
Here's everything you need to know. First, it's free, and there's free parking at Eagle Rock Plaza (2700 Colorado Blvd). The festival takes place on Colorado Boulevard between Eagle Rock Boulevard and Argus.
Below is a map with the set times. Click on it for the larger version.
(I've bolded the sets I'm most interested in; apologies for the formatting issues)
Emerging Stage FYF Fest/LA Record
Shearin Ave. and Colorado Blvd.
4:00-5:00pm- Chris and Charlie DJ Set (LA Record)
5:00-5:35pm- Faraway Places
6:00-6:35pm -Leslie and the Badgers
7:00-7:35pm- Fol Chen
8:00-8:35pm- Free Moral Agents
9:00-9:40pm- Jail Weddings
10:15-11:00pm- No Age Global Stage Dublab Future Roots Stage
Between Eagle Rock Blvd. and Caspar Ave. on Colorado Blvd.
4:00-4:45pm -Julia Holter
4:45-5:45pm-Nanny Cantaloupe
5:45-6:15pm- Bali and Beyond Gamelan Ensemble
6:15-7:15pm- The Gaslamp Killer
7:15-8:00pm- Michael White Quintet Featuring Vocalist Leisei Chen
8:00-9:00pm- Mas Exitos
9:00-9:45pm- Buyepongo
10:00-11:00pm- Dub Club "Echodelic Sound System” with special guest vocalists
American Legion Hall 2109 Merton Ave.
4:00-4:35pm- Shakey Graves
5:00-5:35pm- Random Patterns
6:00-6:35pm- Bobb Bruno
7:00-7:35pm- Wounded Lion
8:00-8:20pm- Robedoor
8:30-9:00pm- Pocahaunted
9:30-10:00pm- The Street and Babe Shadow
10:30-11:30pm- SASSAS soundShoppe
American Tire Depot Kingsize Soundlabs Stage / The Ship Stage
1924 Colorado Blvd.
Kingsize Soundlabs Stage 4:00-4:25pm- Linus of Hollywood
5:00- 5:25pm- Andrew Lynch
6:00- 6:25pm- Alaskan Summer
7:00-7:25pm- The Pulsars
8:00-8:25pm- Patrick Park
9:00- 9:25pm- Blank Blue 10:00-10:25pm- Dusty Rhodes and the River Band
The Ship Stage 4:30-4:55pm- Wonderground
5:30- 5:55pm- Amateurs
6:30- 6:55pm- Ovideo
7:30-7:55pm- The French Semester
8:30- 8:55pm- Nico Stai
9:30- 9:55pm- The Pity Party
10:30- 11:00pm- The Happy Hollows Bateman Water and Heating Razorcake/Zocaloc Stage
1801 W. Colorado Blvd.
4:00-4:30pm- The Ignorant
4:55-5:25pm- Carnage Asada
5:50-6:20pm- That’s Incredible
6:45- 7:15pm- Apples and Onions
7:40-8:10pm- The Woolly Bandits
8:35-9:05pm- The Curs
9:30-10:00pm- Underground Railroad to Candyland 10:30-11:30pm- The Gears
Camilo’s 2128 Colorado Blvd.
6:30-7:30pm- Juan Vega Trio
8:00-10:00pm- Juan Vega Trio
Eagle Rock City Hall Kids' Stage
2035 Colorado Blvd.
4:30-5:15pm- Oh So Silly Animal Stories
6:00-6:45pm- Sandra Sandia
7:30- 8:15pm- The Tracs
8:45- 9:30pm- Artichoke
10:00- 11:00pm- March Fourth Marching Band
Colombo's Italian Steakhouse & Jazz Club 1833 Colorado Blvd.
INSIDE 5:30-6:15pm- Tim Yalda and Friends 7:00-7:45pm - Sam Mellon and The Skylarks
8:15-9:00pm - Mumpo
9:30-11:30pm- Stephan Oberhoff Jazz Trio
OUTSIDE 5:30-8:00pm - The Joe Johnston Band
8:30-11:00pm - Morning Glory
Women's 20th Century Club 5105 Hermosa Ave.
5:00 pm -10:00 pm - The AM/FM Band
Welcome Inn 1840 W. Colorado Blvd.
7:00-7:35pm- Bonne Musique Zydeco
8:00-10:00pm- Bonne Musique Zydeco
Rantz Automotive 1914 W. Colorado Blvd.
6:00-6:45pm – Eagle Rock High School Latin Band
7:15-8:00- Trova
8:30-9:15pm- Ollin
9:45-11:00pm- Kotolan
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock 2225 Colorado Blvd.
5:30-6:30pm- Santa Cecilia Orchestra
Panang Soul in the Park/ Future Music Stage
1801 W. Colorado Blvd.
4:00-4:30pm-Rani D.
4:30-5:00pm- Grainshifter
5:00-5:30pm- Alter
5:30-6:00pm- Kutmah
6:00-6:30pm- Computer Jay
6:30-7:00pm- Free the Robots
7:00-7:30pm- DJ Nobody
7:30-8:00pm- Sa Ra Creative Partners DJ set
8:00-9:00pm- Coleman and B + Mochilla mix
9:00-9:30pm- Jeremy Sole
9:30-10:00pm- Peanut Butter Wolf
10:00-10:30pm- DJ Suckapunch
10:30-11:00pm- Black Dynamite band
Swork PEHRSPACE "Pehriscope" COLLABORATIVE
2160 Colorado Blvd.
6:00-6:30pm- Tag Team Hungry Beat DJ Set*
6:30-7:00pm- Collaboration #1 -Matt Eckel (Jack Wilson, Jr) & Meredith Meyer
7:00-7:30pm- Tag Team Hungry Beat DJ Set*
7:30-8:00pm- Collaboration #2 - Christian (The Transmissions) & Champ (Magick Orchids)
8:30p-9:00pm- Collaboration #3 t-The Monolators [Skiffle Disco] 9:00-9:20pm- Tag Team Hungry Beat DJ Set*
9:20-10:00pm- Film by Sublamp with live soundtracking by Timonium & Divisadero
* Hungry Beat DJs
Marion (KCRW), Michael (Part Time Punks), B-Rok (Substance) , Goodwill (Substance), YY (dublab)
Plus: INI Reggae Sound Truck, Street Performances by Leaps N' Bounds Dance, L.A. Groove Styles , Yard Sale Crew, L@s Cafeter@s.
Video Projections from Chris Peters, Julie Orser, Eric Siu , Nate Garcia, Michiko Yao, Karl Montevirgen, Lakshmi Luthra, Christopher Carlton
with projectors provided by Side Street Projects.
Went to the Silverlake Lounge to see the Local Natives on December 8, 2008 and fell into the local LA scene. Started my blog on February 21, 2009 to keep track of it all.
ChanceEncounterRecords@gmail.com
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