Featured Show: Kindercastle at The 5 Spot

Posted Thu October 13, 2011

I’ve been doing a slightly terribly job lately of posting new reviews to the blog here and, for that, I apologize. The calendar listing on the right is pretty up to date and I’ve got some great new things in the works.. they just aren’t ready for prime time yet.

So, as a way of giving you new content and serving my own selfish needs of promoting a show featuring three bands from my `label` yk records, I implore you to mark your calendars this Friday to attend The 5 Spot with Kindercastle, Codaphonic and Shaboi. I also suggest you check out the PUJOL in-store at Grimeys on Friday but that’s at 6pm; so surely you can squeeze both in.

JD Souther

Posted Tue October 11, 2011

JD Souther

JD Souther needs no introduction. He’s one of the most successful songwriters of his generation, penning monster hits for The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. He’s collaborated with Jackson Browne, Roy Orbison, Bonnie Raitt and many more. And he’s a successful solo artist in his own right. He performed at Grimey’s back in 2008 when his last album “If The World Was You” came out and he must have enjoyed the experience because he asked if he could do it again to celebrate his latest release “A Natural History”, which offers JD’s personal take on many of the great songs he’s written for others. This is a “don’t miss” one, folks.

Grimeys- 6pm
FREE

The Belle Brigade

Posted Mon October 10, 2011

The Belle Brigade

The Belle Brigade are a Los Angeles-based rootsy pop duo comprised of Barbara and Ethan Gruska, the grandchildren of composer John Williams. Barbara is a sought-after drummer on the L.A. scene and has played with Jenny Lewis and Inara George. Ethan has been writing songs since he was a teenager and together they’ve formed The Belle Brigade, taking their cues from 1970s AM pop and soft rock a la Fleetwood Mac. They’re in town to play a show at Mercy Lounge and will perform in the record store earlier in the evening.

Grimeys – 6pm
FREE

The Nobility – The Secret Of Blennerhassett Island

Posted Mon October 10, 2011

The Nobility
The Secret Of Blennerhassett Island
Available: Oct 11th, 2011 (Physical) – Right Now (Digital)

Pop music is never an easy undertaking. Aside from the fact that it immediately has connotations of a genre that is empty and vapid you also have to find the balance of being incredibly catchy and still carrying an emotional message. It’s like how a good Drama needs Levity and a good Comedy needs some pathos; they can exist without each other but they shouldn’t. All that being said, The Nobility has proven over and over again that they’re able to achieve that balance – The Secret Of Blennerhassett Island continues that tradition. The songs are full of energy, catchy, memorable and full of sing-along moments but always hooked with a tinge of real feeling. Inversely, songs like “Marigolds” that are mostly low-key and full of emotion on their sleeve still manage to find some levity before the song has run its course. If you’re looking for a starting point, I suggest diving in to “Start It All Over” or “Best Day of My Life.”