Castledoor 2/22/10 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo: Jeff Koga)

On Monday night, Castledoor played what they announced the day before would "be the last show for [the band] as we know it" at Spaceland. The band had been in existence for five years, and had seemed to be on the rise with releases of 2 EP's (Follow The Dove and 'Til We Sink) and a full-length album last year (Shouting at Mountains)and having such infamous fans such as Joe Jonas singing praises of their work (the video of "Dumpster Diving") Tonight's show was the final chapter in a band that lead singer Nate Cole remarked on stage (a bit tongue-in-cheek?) was a "cross between Radiohead and the Jonas Brothers."

I first heard of Castledoor about three years ago, when they were playing on the same bill as previously-posted Ema and the Ghosts (also first time hearing about/seeing her) at Mr T's Bowl. At the time, they were playing live what LA-Underground coined "an absolutely brilliant cover of "Cry Me A River", and I was terribly intrigued (being a "secret" Justin Timberlake fan and all) to hear it. So, I saw them, but must admit I wasn't overly impressed, so I didn't go out of my way to see them again. (and now I'm sorry I didn't get them at their past Echo and Spaceland residencies)

However, seeing this show on Spaceland's upcoming calender, I decided maybe it was time to give them another shot. What I didn't know was that this would end up being the last time to do so. Playing to a packed and bursting at the seams house, the band emotionally took the stage and played a set that mostly sampled from all their releases (and, as Buzzband's Kevin Bronson tweeted "[lead singer]Nate ends 'Tambourine' with a few bars of [Sinead O'Connor's] 'Nothing Compares 2 U'") A bit melancholy, but poignant performance. It will be interesting to see what all these musicians will be up to in the future.

1.) Intro/Soundcheck FLAC MP3
2.) Fifth Tamborine -> Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinead O'Connor cover) FLAC MP3
3.) The Birds and the Fleas FLAC MP3
4.) Skipping Stepping Stones FLAC MP3
5.) Magnetic Forces FLAC MP3
6.) Hidden Treasure FLAC MP3
7.) Dumpster Diving FLAC MP3
8.) Flashlight FLAC MP3
9.) Burn the Maps FLAC MP3
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Foxtail's Brigade 2/13/10 - Echo Curio, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo: Foxtail's Brigade Myspace)

Last Saturday, Foxtail's Brigade played at Echo Curio as part of a line-up that included the previously-posted The Karabal Nightlife, Devotionals, and Mark Growden. We are no strangers to Laura Weinbach's music, having posted a show of hers from 2007 back in June. Since then, she has been performing under the moniker "Foxtail's Brigade" (whom we actually caught a partial show of theirs at the 2007 edition of the Eagle Rock Music Festival)

A few days before this show, Ms. Weinbach sent out an email stating that original Foxtail's member/violinist Sivan Sadeh was no longer part of the band, and that she had been "playing a lot on the street." (the latter of which was mentioned during the show) Setlist was mostly composed of newer material, including the previously performed "Sous le Ciel de Paris" and a timely version of "My Funny Valentine" (this being a pre-Valentine's Day show after all)

1.) Pan Asian MP3
2.) Pour Tout Jours MP3
3.) Sous le Ciel de Paris (Edith Piaf) MP3
4.) Last Of A Dying Breed MP3
5.) Cubes MP3
6.) My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) MP3
7.) Steak & Cookies MP3
8.) Chat With Sivan MP3
9.) Long Day MP3
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FLAC (loseless) files available upon request (by e-mail)

The Karabal Nightlife 2/13/10 - Echo Curio, Los Angeles, CA.

(Photo: Betsy Knauss via The Karabal Nightlife Facebook)

Last weekend, The Karabal Nightlife performed at the Echo Curio as part of a line-up that included Foxtail's Brigade and Devotionals. This night was a first for the band, who proclaimed that "this was their first acoustic show." We at Recording LA are no strangers to The Karabal Nightlife, having posted their Halloween covers set as T-Rex at The Echo last year.

As mentioned previously, this was The Karabal Nightlife's first acoustic show. The setlist seems to have been composed of newer material. Of interest was a cover of a(and perennial Recording LA favorites) Agent Ribbons song "Call Me Margaret." A good show and interesting new way of looking at their music.

1.) Introduction MP3
2.) Mare Nostrum MP3
3.) Diamond Wall MP3
4.) I Need A Girl MP3
5.) Call Me Margaret (Agent Ribbons cover) MP3
6.) Knives Of Our Keeper MP3
7.) Heartbeat Below MP3
8.) Notes... MP3
Text File

FLAC (loseless) files available upon request (by e-mail)

The Year Zero 2/04/10 - Alex's Bar, Long Beach, CA.

(Photo: The Year Zero's myspace)

Last Thursday, The Year Zero were on the roster of bands at Alex's Bar in Long Beach (and yes, this post is one of the first that finally ventured outside of Los Angeles - hey, it only took a little over a year) The Year Zero are primarily based in Long Beach, and seem to rarely plays shows outside of there, so taking a "field trip" of shorts is needed in order to see them. Luckily, with some free time on my hands and being in the right place at the right time, it worked out so I could go see them again.

I had first heard of The Year Zero some time ago while pursuing L.A.-Underground (a most excellent blog that highlights the Los Angeles music scene) A little while later I found and picked their LP Oceania, I Will Return, and listened and quite liked their brand of shoegazey, dream-pop. I eventually got to see them perform an acoustic show at {open} (a bookstore in Long Beach) in 2008 - however, it wasn't until now that I got another chance to see them again.

This performance, while on the short side (it appeared that they got started late, and had to cut a song from the setlist as a result) was a good one. Most of the songs played seem to be newer ("The Voice Of All" and "Counting Planes" are somewhat older) Sound is slightly on the muddy side and there were some chatty people in the crowd, but isn't too bad.

1.) Last Exile MP3
2.) Highway Earth MP3
3.) No Fall Tonight MP3
4.) Energy MP3
5.) The Voice Of All MP3
6.) Under A Sea Of Light MP3
7.) Counting Planes MP3
Text File

FLAC (loseless) files available upon request (by e-mail)

One Trick Pony 1/30/10 - The Hotel Cafe, Hollywood, CA.

Last Saturday, One Trick Pony played a show at The Hotel Cafe. (well, technically since it was after midnight it was on Sunday, but since they were on Saturday's bill, we'll just leave it at that) The first time I had heard of One Trick Pony was when one of their songs "Loose Talk" was covered by Death To Anders at Radio Free Silverlake's "Undercovered" show last year. The next month I only caught some of their set at the first of (with The Monolators) the Where Gallery "Exposure" shows, but was intrigued enough to want to catch them again, and the opportunity finally presented itself this past weekend.

However, I do have a bit to say on the venue that is The Hotel Cafe. I still like this place, I truly do, despite the way it's changed over the years. While it has still retained a few of it's laid-back qualities that defined it as more of a "coffeehouse"-type place in it's infancy, since becoming a more popular "scene" type of place, a lot has not changed for the better. (this was subtlety referenced by lead singer Randolph Pennyworth when he mentioned between songs "weathering that whole wave of douche outside") I suppose it can't helped, things change, especially when they become more popular. It still stings a little though.

Nevertheless,it was a fun show - lots new/newer songs (including some from the recently released album Full Of Life. Some crowd chatter present through to varying degrees (see text file for more info)

1.) Loose Talk MP3
2.) Phonebook MP3
3.) Masonry MP3
4.) Andrew Jackson MP3
5.) Get Over Yourself MP3
6.) Crepehangers MP3
7.) Children Pt. II MP3
8.) Diagonal Waves MP3
Text File

FLAC (loseless) files available upon request (by e-mail)