Surfer Blood

The second I heard the track "Swim" by Surfer Blood, I needed more. What was that sound? A combination of so many beautiful things going on at once, that it's got to become a hit. Got to.

Let's see - somewhere in the world of Animal Collective and Band of Horses with their choir vocals and a little Modest Mouse with their distorted guitar, a dab of Vampire Weekend in their playful vocals...oh and apparently none of them surf. Ugh. Love it. Love it.

They're so fresh, that they don't even have a video....Get into them before they explode and you can say you heard them when...

If you're sticking around LA for Thanksgiving go out and support them at The Echo on November 27. I hope they are bringing their own sound engineer though - god bless the space, the sound just wrecks it for me every time.

Thank you Florida for giving us this gem.

Download:
Swim (To Reach The End)
Floating Vibes

http://www.myspace.com/surferblood

Turn Up The Microphone : Ra Ra Riot

I love Ra Ra Riot. I do. I loved their EP and their new full length delivers.

Seeing them live really gave me more insight into them - more than I thought I would. I never really listened to the strings in all the songs...but now that I go back I hear it. With a cellist and a violinist playing along with the usual set up of a guitarist, bassist, drummer and sometimes piano/organ - it's no wonder I love the energy they bring.

A cross between Vampire Weekend and The Deadly Syndrome, The Syracuse band are young and just starting to gain footing in the indie rock world.

What I didn't love? The sound engineers at The Echo are terrible. This wouldn't be the first time I would be complaining about not hearing the vocals there. When I went to see The French Kicks I was sooooo excited to see them and they were terrible.

I blame The Echo. I love the space and set up of The Echo but something about the engineer favors the instruments over the singer's vocals. Now - come on. Really? Turn up the damn microphone so I can hear the guy singing his heart out so he doesn't have to scream over the strings and drums and can be loved by his followers.

About To Ignite : Pop Levi & Friendly Fires

For one of the first times since I have been to The Echo, the set times were actually acurate. I assumed the first band, Pop Levi would go on sometimes between 9:30-10P. Unfortunately I was wrong. During most of the set I was enjoying a large dirty martini at Taix across the street and came in for last three songs of Pop Levi. Lucky for me I got to hear one of my favorite tracks "Pick-Me-Up Uppercut" and then the show ended with an acoustic track.

Mozambique Courier aka Pop Levi, once a member of Ladytron is fabulously 60's costume. With his mop head hair cut, lean and cuffed pants, and slight make up he's a throwback of fun.

I felt like I had come home when I saw Pop Levi, and then the Friendly Fires perfom for a smaller crowd....the kind of space and mass I prefer rather than such large shows at the Mayan and The Nokia. I love the intimacy and accessability to the music you get from places like The Echo, Spaceland and my beloved Troubadour.

I had seen The Friendly Fires perform this week, opening for The Bloc Party - where in my opinion, was the best band in the nights line up. It seems going from a venue the size of the Mayan down to size of The Echo only gets The Friendly Fires to perform an even better show.


The lead singer Ed MacFarlane moves and resembles a young Mick Jagger, only...cuter. The crowd danced and moved to their energetic songs that will soon be huge. For those who love Datarock and Bloc Party...you must must check them out. My favorites are "On Board" and "Ex Lover".