When I moved out to Los Angeles a little over a year ago, my major motivation was the access to a greater range of cinematic options than I was getting in the midwest. And that’s certainly held true. But what I didn’t expect to find (at least not to the degree I have) is such a vibrant, booming music scene. Consider this a love letter to LA and the fantastic music I’ve found here. It’s literally possible to go to a show nearly every day of the week and find bands I like, and pretty inexpensively, too. Even going much less often than that (three or four times a month), I’ve discovered many bands that keep me coming back for their shows, opening bands that I seek out everywhere they play, and seen what a great and supportive music culture exists here (if you look at the band line-ups below, you’ll find several people who are in multiple bands – nearly everyone is involved in more than one project, creating really interesting cross-pollination). I’ve arranged them roughly from lesser known to better known (sort of an opening band – second opening band – headliner sort of thing), but that’s not completely accurate. Just a general rule of thumb.
A mural in Silver Lake, the center of the LA music / arts culture
All songs in one zip: I Love LA Mix.
1. Hello from Reno – It Comes and Goes
2. The Sweet Hurt – Bright Ideas
3. The Belle Brigade – 4%
4. Angie Mattson – Leanne
5. Local Natives – Airplanes
6. Obi Best – Swedish Boy
7. The One AM Radio – Old Men
8. Army Navy – Dark As Days
9. Earlimart – Face Down in the Right Town
10. The Whispertown 2000 – Pushing Oars
11. Juliette Commagère – Overcome
12. Lavender Diamond – Open Your Heart
13. Great Northern – Fingers
14. The Airborne Toxic Event – Gasoline
15. Munchausen by Proxy – Uh-Huh
16. The Submarines – Xavia
17. The Bird and the Bee – Love Letter to Japan
18. Jenny Lewis – The Highs and Lows of Being Number One
19. Silversun Pickups – Panic Switch
20. Rilo Kiley – I Love LA
The tracks provided here are for sampling only. If you like the bands, please support them by buying their music and going to their shows. If you are or represent any of these bands and would like the .mp3s removed, please let me know. Full mix details are after the jump, with info and photos for every band. Most photos are not mine. Promo-type photos obviously aren’t. Crappy iPhone-looking concert photos probably are.
1. “It Comes and Goes” by Hello From Reno
I promise, Hello From Reno are from LA despite their name. I guess they’re following in the footsteps of Architecture in Helsinki (from Australia) and Of Montreal (from Atlanta). Anyway, I caught these guys opening for Headlights on a sleepy Easter night. The crowd may have been small, but Hello From Reno’s mix of current and retro sounds and solid musicianship had me heading straight back to their merch table to grab their self-produced CD after their set.
Hello From Reno are: Jerry Streeter (guitar, vocals), Todd O’Keefe (bass, vocals), David Jones Henderson (drums, vocals), Matt Roveto (guitar, keys, synth)
Discography:On Location (2009), Hello From Reno (2008)
MySpace
Amazon.com
2. “Bright Ideas” by The Sweet Hurt
The Sweet Hurt is basically Wendy Wang, who’s fairly prolific in the LA scene. She sings with Obi Best (see track #6), Juliette Commagère (see track #11), as well as backup for The Bird and the Bee (see track #17). The night I saw her, she did triple duty with both of the former bands as well as The Sweet Hurt – a fantastic night of local music indeed.
The Sweet Hurt is Wendy Wang (vocals, guitar)
Discography:In the Shade of Dreams (2008), Everyday Mistakes (2006)
Official Site
MySpace
Amazon MP3
3. “4%” by The Belle Brigade
The Belle Brigade’s Barbara Gruska is another omnipresent LA performer – in addition to this band that she started last year with her younger brother Ethan, she plays drums for Obi Best and Jenny Lewis (see track #18). A female drummer is unusual enough, but one who can also play guitar and sing really well? (And in The Belle Brigade, she’s done ALL THREE AT THE SAME TIME, due to a drum set up that lets her play using foot pedals.) Barbara is a treasure. She’s also super-nice.
The Belle Brigade are Barbara Gruska (vocals, guitar, drums) and Ethan Gruska (vocals, guitar, keys)
Discography:everyone around you (2009)
MySpace
4. “Leanne” by Angie Mattson
Frequent MorePop commenter (and my close FriendFeed friend) Michael W. May actually turned me on to Angie Mattson, pointing out a free show she was doing a couple of weeks ago. I can’t turn down free, and it was a good thing, because I really enjoyed her set. Her dusky voice backed by strong melody and instrumentation marks her as a singer-songwriter to definitely watch in the future.
Angie Mattson and band are Angie Mattson (guitar, vocals), Ryan Sarmiento, Jeremy Burgan, Jeff Mendel
Discography:Give to Sudden Panic and Noisy Retreat (2007), Monarch EP (2005)
Official Site
MySpace
Amazon MP3
5. “Airplanes” by Local Natives
Local Natives recently did a residency at a local bar, and I went one night to see Army Navy (see track #8) open for them. Glad I stayed for Local Natives – they’ve got a really unique and interesting sound. Sorta rock, sorta folksy, sorta experimental. Closest thing is probably Fleet Foxes, but even that doesn’t quite get it.
Local Natives are Taylor Rice (vocals, guitar), Kelcey Ayer (vocals, keys, percussion), Ryan Hahn (vocals, guitar), Andy Hamm (bass), Matt Frazier (drums)
Discography:Sun Hands (2009)
MySpace
6. “Swedish Boy” by Obi Best
Obi Best leader Alex Lilly has sung backup for The Bird and the Bee for a while, and moving out on her own with Obi Best is working well, also. They’ve got a really unique sound, a bit precious perhaps, but with minorly inflected melodies that I haven’t heard too many people doing (okay, The Bird and the Bee a bit, perhaps, but Obi Best takes it a little further). I seem doomed to miss every show they’ve done since the one I saw, even though I’ve run into Alex three times at other shows!
Obi Best are Alex Lilly (guitar, keys, vocals), Bram Inscore (bass, keys), Wendy Wang (bass, guitar, vocals), Barbara Gruska (drums, vocals), Aaron Arntz (keys)
Discography:Capades (2008)
Official Site
MySpace
Amazon MP3
7. “Old Men” by The One AM Radio
The One AM Radio is basically Hrishi Hirway, and the rest of the band has changed over the years – the current lineup is completely different to the one in all the albums below, so I chose a song off the Give.Listen.Help charity album that Urban Outfitters put out last year, because I think it does have the current group. Hopefully they’ll be putting out something new soon. (Side note: I have a history of gaining friends at One AM Radio shows, including my current hair stylist, so I’m a little extra biased towards them.)
The One AM Radio is Hrishikesh Hirway (guitar, vocals)
Discography:This Too Will Pass (2007), On the Shore of the Whole Wild World EP (2005) A Name Writ in the Water (2004), An Assembly (2003), The Hum of the Electric Air (2002), A Cloud’s Fear of Kites: A Kite’s Fear of Heights EP (2000)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
8. “Dark as Days” by Army Navy
A friend turned me on to Army Navy after they had a song on Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. We’ve seen them a time or two now, and they’re a really great bunch of guys. Whether you like their sound or not probably depends on how tolerant you are of exceeding hipsterness. It happens to work for me.
Army Navy are Justin Kennedy (guitar, vocals), Louie Schultz (guitar, vocals), Benjamin Gaffin (bass, vocals), Douglas Randall (drums, vocals)
Discography:Army Navy (2007)
MySpace
Amazon MP3
9. “Face Down in the Right Town” by Earlimart
This is the only band on the mix that I haven’t heard live (except for sounds wafting up when I was at a show in a club adjacent to a show they were playing), but I hope to at some point. I really like what I’ve heard.
Earlimart are Aaron Espinoza (guitar, vocals), Ariana Murray (bass, keys, vocals); band: Solon Bixler, Scott McPherson, Derek Brown, Russell Pollard, Brian Aubert, Andrew Lynch
Discography:Hymn and Her (2008), Mentor Tormentor (2007), Treble and Tremble (2004), Everyone Down Here (2003), The Avenues EP (2003), Kingdom of Champions (2000), Filthy Doorways (1999)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
10. “Pushing Oars” by The Whispertown 2000
Last.fm has thrown The Whispertown 2000 at me a few times, and I liked them enough to read up and find out that they’re associated with Rilo Kiley (extra points with me, see track 20), but not enough to run out and get their album. As usual, seeing them live gave me a boost, and I bought it immediately. They’re a bit like Rilo Kiley, but lead singer Morgan has a bit more edge in her voice, and the songs have a bit more country vibe (varying from “was that a twang” to pretty unmistakable, though it’d be hard classify the band as a whole as country). The lyrical quality is extremely high, and the variety among the songs makes the album a delight.
The Whispertown 2000 are Morgan Nagler (vocals, rhythm guitar), Vanesa Corbala (vocals, percussion), Tod Adrian Wisenbaker (guitar, drums), Casey Wisenbacker (bass, drums, vocals)
Discography:Swim (2008), Living in a Dream (2006)
Official Site
MySpace
Amazon MP3
11. “Overcome” by Juliette Commagère
Juliette opened for The Bird and the Bee (she also sang backup with them) at a show a few months ago, and I was immediately impressed with her epic, otherworldly sound. She’s virtually got an orchestra on stage with her – keys, guitars, trumpets, cellos, I don’t know what all, but it all ends up sounding wonderful.
Juliette Commagère and band are Juliette Commagère (vocals, keys), Joachim Cooder (drums), Alex Lilly (vocals, keys), Wendy Wang (vocals, guitar), Eamon Ryland (guitar), Ben Messelbeck (bass), Emily Reppun (french horn), Candace Bartel (trombone), Ed Mann (trumpet), Mark Bush (trumpet), Lisa Grzanka (violin), Lindsey Stella (violin), Tim Weed (viola), Matt Cooker (cello)
Discography:Queens Die Proudly (2008)
Official Site
MySpace
Amazon MP3
12. “Open Your Heart” by Lavender Diamond
Lavender Diamond frontwoman Becky Stark has been busy of late, working on Lavender Diamond’s sophomore album, her own solo album, an eleven-woman chorus, and a trio project with Inara George (of The Bird and the Bee) and Eleni Mandell. Her flower-child-esque ethereal quality seems to roll with all this busyness with no problem, and we get finely tuned pop gems out of it.
Lavender Diamond are Becky Stark (vocals), Steven Gregoropoulos (keys), Ron Rege Jr. (drums)
Discography:Imagine Our Love (2007), The Cavalry of Light EP (2007)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
13. “Fingers” by Great Northern
After being dragged by a friend to my first Great Northern show (I somehow had them mixed up in my head with some other band I don’t like), they’ve become one of my favorite bands, and I’ve seen them twice more since. This album will likely end up in my top five for the year, in fact – the sound just washes over you and fills you up and won’t let you go. And Rachel’s voice has this unique edge to it that alternates between hard and soft at exactly the right moments.
Great Northern are Rachel Stolte (vocals, guitar), Solon Bixler (vocals, guitar), with Dusty Rocherolle (drums), Marissa Micik (keys)
Discography:Remind Me Where the Light Is (2009), Trading Twilight For Daylight (2007), Sleepy Eepee (2007)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
14. “Does This Mean You’re Moving On” by The Airborne Toxic Event
The Airborne Toxic Event have gotten relatively well-known in a really short period of time, actually. I found out about them when they opened for The Fratellis, but they’ve hit the festival circuit really hard this year, and gotten really good set times for a band that’s only been together for a couple of years.
The Airborne Toxic Event are Mikel Jollett (vocals, guitar), Daren Taylor (drums), Anna Bulbrook (strings, keys), Noah Harmon (bass), Steven Chen (guitar)
Discography:The Airborne Toxic Event (2009), Does This Mean You’re Moving On EP (2007)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
15. “Uh-Huh” by Munchausen by Proxy
Okay, this is a bit of a stretch. Munchausen by Proxy is a band created for the film Yes Man (with Jim Carrey), but with Zooey Deschanel and Von Iva on screen to play the band, it still worked out to some great music. And this song in particular is so LA-esque and so hilarious that I couldn’t NOT include it.
16. “Xavia” by The Submarines
This was a total off-the-wall let’s-randomly-check-them-out concert. Didn’t know them before I went (though they do have a song on Nick and Norah, this one in fact, and their “You, Me and the Bourgeoisie” is on the iPhone commercials, so I just wasn’t doing my research), and immediately fell 100% in love with them. Blake and John are married now (met, dated, broke up, missed each other, got back together, all while writing amazing songs about their relationship), and they are seriously, the.most.adorable.thing.you’ll.ever.see.
The Submarines are Blake Hazard (vocals, guitar, xylophone) and John Dragonetti (vocals, guitar)
Discography:Honeysuckle Weeks (2008), Declare a New State! (2006)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
17. “Love Letter to Japan” by The Bird and the Bee
I first came into contact with The Bird and the Bee when they opened for Rilo Kiley a couple of years ago when I saw them in Austin. Even though Inara George’s ethereal voice along with Greg Kurstin’s keys and synths weren’t quite what I was used to hearing, I enjoyed it. Now I’m much more into that pseudo-electronic sort of sound, and their new album is amazing, one of my favorites of the year. And their live show here in February was one of the best shows I’ve seen. Definitely a band to see live if you can – Inara has some of the best between-song banter of anyone I’ve seen.
The Bird and the Bee are Inara George (vocals), Greg Kurstin (keys); Alex Lilly (backup vocals), Juliette Commagère (backup vocals)
Discography:Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future (2009), The Bird and the Bee (2007)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
18. “The Highs and Lows of Being Number One” by Jenny Lewis
Jenny Lewis is pretty much my favorite artist in the world right now, and I’ve already probably over-shared her music and videos over here. Since I talk about her a lot and she’s pretty well-known at this point, I opted to share a rarer song that’s only on the Japanese edition of her latest album Acid Tongue.
Jenny Lewis and band are Jenny Lewis (vocals, guitar, keys); Johnathan Rice (guitar, vocals), Jonathan Wilson (bass), Barbara Gruska (drums, vocals)
Discography:Acid Tongue (2008), Rabbit Fur Coat (2007 – as Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
19. “Panic Switch” by Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups are kind of the poster band for the Silver Lake music scene right now, inheriting the title from Rilo Kiley (see track #20). Another embarrassing fact: I heard them two years ago open for Snow Patrol, and I didn’t like them AT ALL. Since them I’ve grown to, and they pretty much blew me away at Lollapalooza this year. This is the first single off their latest album; I tried to find a lesser-known one, but honestly, this one is so awesome I couldn’t choose another. Live? Breathtakingly incredible.
Silversun Pickups are Brian Aubert (guitar, vocals), Nikki Monninger (bass, vocals), Christopher Guanlao (drums), Joe Lester (keys)
Discography:Swoon (2009), Carnavas (2006), Pikul EP (2005)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
20. “I Love LA” by Rilo Kiley
If you look at my last.fm listening history, you’ll quickly see that I’ve listened to Rilo Kiley nearly twice as much as any other band. Yeah. So even though they’re not currently working together (they’re all working on other projects at the moment) and are generally considered among the previous generation of Silver Lake’s elite, I had to give them the highlighted spot on this playlist. This song is a live recording from Austin City Limits in 2005, but it hasn’t appeared on any of their records. It seemed an appropriate sentiment with which to end this mix.
Rilo Kiley are Blake Sennett (guitar, vocals), Jenny Lewis (vocals, guitar, keys), Pierre de Reeder (bass), Jason Boesel (drums)
Discography:Under the Blacklight (2007), Live at Fingerprints EP (2004), More Adventurous (2004), The Execution of All Things (2002), Take-Offs and Landings (2001), The Initial Friend EP (1999)
Official Site
MySpace
Wikipedia
Amazon MP3
This discussion currently has 5 responses.
February 1, 2010
Write more.
November 6, 2010
Why is it that this article reminds me of another same the one which I read somewhere else?
November 10, 2010
I did post it on my personal blog as well – http://www.the-frame.com/2009/05/music-friday-la-mix/. Hopefully you haven’t seen it anywhere else!
February 17, 2011
thanks, and maintain up the good work
August 4, 2011
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