Puro Instinct with Ariel Pink / all photos by David Greenwald

What you love is often the product of (very) personal history. Mom listening to Jobim during my childhood has made me forever twitterpated for major 7th chords, for instance. So I’m not sure why I’m so taken with Puro Instinct, who play abstract psych-pop that sounds like Christine McVie taking up downers and hiring Felt as her backing band. Acid tabs in my Fruit Loops? Dad sneaking listens to The Cure in between Fleetwood Mac sessions? I can’t explain it, but it’s there, that magnetic attraction to the band’s pillowy vocals — if lead singer Piper didn’t sway during their set, she could actually be asleep — and glistening guitar lines. Now a quintet, the band sounded an f-stop or two sharper than they did when I caught them at SXSW, but the L.A. group remains soft-focus. Go your own way, girls. (Ariel Pink, pictured with the hair, makes a fine Lindsey Buckingham, don’t you think?) More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

A magician never reveals his secrets. Magic Kids gave theirs away before they played a single note: “Did anyone bring a violin to the show?” they asked during their lengthy set-up, prolonged by technical difficulties and first major tour growing pains. It took the youngsters a few songs to get warmed up, but after playing blog hit and so-far discography stand-out “Summer,” the six-piece indie-pop act enchanted. Their sound was filled with bits of the Magnetic Fields, along with the defunct Pants Yell!’s wry edge and a touch of the also defunct (sad face!) Crystal Skulls’ jazz-chord athleticism. A brief but prodigious set — I’m looking forward to hearing the Kids grow up. More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

Los Angeles is full of irrepressible personalities: Manny being Manny, Miley just being Miley, Ariel Rosenberg being Ariel Pink. A taste of indie fame hasn’t changed the lo-fi mad scientist: he opened his set with a good 20 minutes of defiantly not-Before Today songs, and then, giving in and playing “Bright Lit Blue Skies” and “Round and Round,” responded to one fan’s “I love this song!” with a subtle sneer. “Is this the first time you’ve seen me play?” Pink questioned. “You should be ashamed.” I’m paraphrasing, but for what should’ve been an all-out hometown opening night party to kick off his national tour, Pink’s back catalog did deserve a little more attention. Whether he likes it or not, though, the singer’s new material is his most weirdly approachable and obsessively listenable; live, songs such as “Fright Night” were looser but no less charismatic. Even more awesome was Pink as metal-god-of-yore, romping around the stage and clutching the microphone like Ronnie James in his hey. Ariel being Ariel, Ariel being a rock star, Ariel having no shame — and no need for it. More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

As they did at SXSW, Austin, Texas, act International Waters were on-point at the Echoplex last month. The angular indie-pop band sounded as sharp on a bigger stage as they did at Plush in March, tearing through a sweet ‘n’ sour set with a bunch of new songs and should-be-hits such as “Olympia.” More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Division Day at Spaceland / photo by David Greenwald

Didn’t take pictures at this one, but a quick note: Division Day, 2009′s Visitation behind them, played a short set in Origami Vinyl’s loft on Friday night to shake off a few cobwebs. The synth-heavy band debuted a few new songs that evoked a lower-budget Atoms for Peace, with singer Rohner Segnitz’s capable vox filling in for Thom Yorke’s haunting croon and drummer Kevin Lenhart offering a one-man take on the Radiohead offshoot’s percussion onslaught. The new stuff sounded promising, if a bit raw coming from the loft’s PA, and the band told me there’s more in the works — fingers crossed for a Radiohead-level LP3. (And also Radiohead’s LP8.)

All photos by David Greenwald

On Tuesday night, Kansas newcomers Rooftop Vigilantes played a nuclear-powered set that was one part propulsive post-punk jams and two parts sped-up twee-pop with punk guitar tones and hoarse vocals (or regular-speed punk with a cute twee-pop keyboard player and ’50s rhythms). Will their forthcoming album embrace the Wrens or Tiger Trap? Will Rocky and Bullwinkle escape Snively Whiplash’s dastardly plan? Tune in next time to find out. (And see more photos after the jump.) Read the rest of this entry »

Nosaj Thing / All photos by Phil Merkow

By Phil Merkow and Jennifer Larsen Merkow

Orange County’s Irvine Lake was transformed into a living, breathing wonderland from May 28-31 as Lightning in a Bottle descended upon the pastoral lakeside setting of Oak Canyon Ranch in Irvine, Calif. Formerly held in Santa Barbara, the festival’s new location is just miles from the gated communities and suburban lifestyle of Orange County. LIB lit up the days and nights with music, art, workshops, and some of the most mind-blowing people-watching this side of Burning Man. Security was relaxed, space was plentiful, we never saw a line form anywhere, and in our 3 days we never quite figured out where the official entrance to the fest even was. An estimated 90% of the 5,500 or so festival attendees camped on site and gave themselves wholeheartedly to transforming the OC into something all their own. More photos + the full review after the jump.  Read the rest of this entry »

LA Font / all photos by David Greenwald

On Friday, Origami Vinyl was gracious enough to host the opening night of RAWKSHOTS — my first photo exhibition. LA Font and Death Kit played to a packed house, drinks were had, parents got drunk, good vibes were spread. Let’s do this again soon, pals. (And by the way, my photos will be up and available for purchase at Origami all month.) More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »