The Lil' Smokies at Lodge Room, Highland Park CA
The Lil Smokies, a Montana-based all strings band hit Highland Park’s Lodge Room on Feb 1st and played to ears wide open. On tour for their third full length, Tornillo, which channeled hard influence of classic 70’s songwriting, the band were welcomed by an all too eager LA crowd who danced in country-like fashion while an incessant discordant stomping punctuated the night.
Check out some photos I caught below and be sure to grab a copy of Tornillo, out now!
27 – El Haru Kuroi talk music, style and gentrification in Boyle Heights
The long-awaited El Haru Kuroi interview is here! We talked about music, Los Angeles and the obnoxious overpriced tag of gentrification.
Sketchedlist 1-12-20
Episode 2 of Sketchedlist! Featuring Tré Burt, Les Deuxluxes and The Saxophones.
Sketchedlist 1-5-20
Hey folks! I’m rolling out a new thing for the new year. This is the Sketched Sounds Weekly Playlist, featuring five or so tracks that grabbed me this week. Links below.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3SRDeRg2EZSoL7GdZd3fsx?si=JU0DnFgKRrKn0KKu1lleCg
23 – Jen and Henry are Aloud
This episode is with Jen and Henry of Aloud – Miami-born, LA by way of Boston quartet whose mutual love of the classics in British Invasion bears overwhelming fruit. I was introduced to Henry at I believe the Polartropica residency at Bootleg, though we didn’t speak until much later. It was a loud one. A loud. Aloud. Well I reached out for an interview and met Jen who was happy to set it up. We all got together at their place in Hollywood. I couldn’t believe I found parking.
It’s a wall of sound with the band, as I say in the interview, in the best way possible. Their show at Bootleg last month reminded me to wear earplugs because, you guessed it, I’m stubborn and have never bothered to. The last time I tried was for a shoegaze lineup at DC9 a few years ago. Say what you will about preserving one’s hearing, but that fuzz needs all canals clear. Same with Aloud. But what do I know about sound and ear health? 31 year old eardrums will attest to nothing.
22 – Richard Jankovich and I at Arlington Gardens
Richard Jankovich leads Big Mother Gig, alternative rock band originally formed in Wisconsin, who is working on a new record due for release in November. We talked music, shows and strange genres in the beautiful Arlington Gardens of Pasadena.
21 – Azam Ali
Today’s episode is with Azam Ali, Iranian-American multi-instrumentalist whose latest album, Phantoms, explores a multidimensional reality from a sonically ethereal perspective. We hung out at Teragram Ballroom in LA just before her set and talked about the new record. Big thanks to Girl Underground Music for the collaboration! Check out Girl Underground Music for the article and more photos.
20 – Justin Hates the Simpsons #2
Episode #2 of the sub-series Justin Hates the Simpsons is out! Jon and I talk movies, news and spoil the hell out of Another Life. Listen in.
18 – Justin Hates the Simpsons #1
Jon Valdez and I hung out at the old cafe to talk movies, shows and things we both missed.
17 – She Past Away, Twin Tribes + Aurat
I caught she past away at Echoplex with Aurat and Twin Tribes
So I saw my first show at the Echoplex and got instantly hooked to anything Part Time Punks wants to do. She Past Away played the final show of their US tour the other night with locals Aurat and visiting Texans, Twin Tribes. Check out the full write-up at www.girlundergroundmusic.com
Sketched Sounds
This podcast is an expansion on my work in music journalism. Through casual conversation over coffee, or just out and about in the world, I get to know the artists and creators who keep this existence interesting.