Recording LA's Best of 2010

I didn't do this last year, but since it seems to be all the rage to do year-end best of/"top" (insert number here) lists, it made sense to try to do one. Since this was a bit of a lean year for Recording LA, this list is more of a "best of" the year, vs. a top 10+ list.

1.) Castledoor 2/22/10 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA. Admittedly, I jumped on the Castledoor bandwagon very, very late - just before this show as a matter of fact. It was a very strong, yet melancholy performance, pretty much due to the fact it was their last as a band. Obviously a must listen due to the circumstances of this show.

2.) The Happy Hollows 7/08/10 - Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA. Had seen The Happy Hollows for quite some time before this show, and combined with the venue (Hammer Museum courtyard) and the energy of the crowd, this show made for a pretty powerful performance.

3.) The Monolators 7/19/10 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA. While they were missing a band member, this particular Monolators show packed a very unique punch - it seemed to flow together just perfectly.

4.) 12th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival 10/02/10 - (in and around Colorado Blvd.) Los Angeles, CA. (Seasons, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Radars To The Sky, The Submarines, Walking Sleep)This year's line-up for the Eagle Rock Music Festival was a particularly well-curated one, especially on the Kingsize and Ship stages. All the bands turned in great performances as well.

5.) Belle and Sebastian 10/05/10 - Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, CA. Perhaps it's a bit biased to say that by default any Belle and Sebastian show would be on a year-end "best of" list, but this was one amazing show. Combining a "setlist that was any fan's dream" in an intimate and unique venue creates one incredible show.

6.) Agent Ribbons 3/09/10 - Puka Bar, Long Beach, CA. and 12/20/10 - Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles, CA. Agent Ribbons also put on some of the best shows we've seen this year as well (they are one of our favorite bands of late) and back-to-back make for a couple of good performances.

That's all, see you next year.

Tenlons Fort 6/30/10 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA.

( Photo: Music Matters )

Last week, Tenlons Fort opened for Damien Jurado at his L.A. tour stop at Spaceland. Tenlons Fort is moniker of Jack Wilson, who has been described as a "musician, writer, director, artist and human rights activist." This was a bit of a bittersweet show, as it is going to be their last one (in Los Angeles, at least) for the foreseeable future.

Tonight's setlist was culled mostly from his recent release Shelters, which "consists of ten songs, an equal number of paintings, and a fund to raise money for homeless individuals in LA, Austin, and beyond," with "50% of record sales of Shelters LP serve[ing] as the initial donations to Tenlons Fort Shelters Fund." Past collaborator Nate Cole of Castledoor joined the band onstage on vocals for "Followed By Bad Luck." A fine performance to remember, especially since it's the last we will hear from them for awhile.

1.) Introduction MP3
2.) Apple (A Potential Pen Pal) MP3
3.) Forever's Gonna Be A Long Time MP3
4.) Pain Is Still Alive MP3
5.) Read It And Weep MP3
6.) Warmth of the Dark MP3
7.) Baby It's Cool MP3
8.) You Won't Be With Me MP3
9.) Followed By Bad Luck MP3
10.) How Would You Live MP3
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FLAC (lossless)files available by request.

Seasons 5/30/10 - Undercovered II, All-Star Lanes, Los Angeles, CA.

( Photo: Eliot Glass via Season's Myspace )

(First and foremost, I want to apologize for my longer-than I thought hiatus/lack of posting on the blog. "Real life" got kind of busy for awhile, and show-going/posting fell by the wayside. I hope to get back on track and try to remedy that for the time being.)

Last month, Seasons were part of the line-up for Undercovered II (where Los Angeles-area bands cover other Los Angeles-area bands)at All-Star Lanes, which included Rademacher (Malcolm Sosa solo), George Glass, The Hectors, and One Trick Pony. As the reader might recall, we fully covered this event in it's inaugural outing last year, and were looking forward to this year's presentation. In addition to an expanded number of bands playing, this event also served as an benefit for Huntington's disease research.

First up to play this evening was Seasons. Much has been written about the Highland Park band, ranging from being "one of the more ubiquitous bands in the L.A. scene. Their sound is a pure product of their influences, a fusion of indie rock, 80's synth, folk rock, and garage blues -- so if you're thinking Beck, you're in the right neighborhood" to "[they are a glorious mess.The seven- or (sometimes) eight-piece makes lovingly off-kilter neo-psychedelia full of palpable energy and exposed nerves, startlingly pretty one moment and earplug-worthy cacophonous the next. When these guys nail it they are calamitously good." Their set covered a range of beloved L.A.-area bands, including previously-posted The Movies, Castledoor, and The Monolators.

For an more in-depth report, check out Lord Growing's post about the night at The 704.

1.) Introduction MP3
2.) Energy Trade ( The Health Club ) MP3
3.) Get Your Macho Out ( The Movies ) MP3
4.) Remember When ( Castledoor ) MP3
5.) Ambulance ( Manhattan Murder Mystery ) MP3
6.) Eagle Fighting Zebra ( The Monolators ) MP3
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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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Agent Ribbons 6/15/09 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA.

Last Monday, Agent Ribbons opened for Castledoor on the third night of their the latter's June residency. Fresh off a national tour opening for Camera Obscura, they were a last-minute addition to that night's line-up, and played a great, if short set. Having waited a long time to actually see one of their performances, it was worth it.

I first heard of Agent Ribbons awhile ago, while stumbling upon a listing for them someplace. Thinking that the name sounded interesting (honestly, this is how I have started listening to many a band), I looked them up. After became especially curious after reading that one of their influences was The Ditty Bops (of whom I've seen and recorded the most), I knew should check out their music. I picked up their debut album On Time Travel and Romance, and the gorgeous 7-inch pressing The Star Crossed Doppelganger, I was curious to see a live show.

However, this proved to be a bit problematic. Agent Ribbons hail from Sacramento, and didn't seem to do shows in Los Angeles that often (though, this appears to have changed a bit as of late) I tried to see them sometime early last year when they announced they were doing a last-minute show near the downtown area - and when I got down there, I couldn't find the location. Later that year, I tried to attend a show again at the Hyperion Tavern in Silverlake - and they ended up going on late, and I had to leave early. Finally, this Spaceland show came up, and being at a very convenient time, I went. (Originally, I was going to go to the Camera Obscura show they opened for at The Fonda, but ended up not being too crazy about C.O.'s latest release)

As stated previously, this was a short set but a good one. The duo pretty much evenly between material from their first album and newer songs. Speaking of, it was mentioned that had added a violinist to their group recently, but she was not playing with them that night - so, in effect the audience was treated to a "classic" sort of Agent Ribbons show. All in all, the performance reminded me a lot of a cross between the aforementioned The Ditty Bops, and The White Stripes.

This recording came out extraordinary good, so it is highly recommended and well worth the download.

1.) The World Is A Cigarette FLAC MP3
2.) Birds and Bees FLAC MP3
3.) Grey Gardens FLAC MP3
4.) Boy with the Wooden Lips FLAC MP3
5.) Your Hands My Hands FLAC MP3
6.) Obituary FLAC MP3
7.) Wallpaper of Skin FLAC MP3
8.) Chelsea, Let's Go Join The Circus FLAC MP3
9.) Wood Lead Rubber FLAC MP3
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