The most exciting thing about the show is how loud it was, almost an act of civil disobedience in an affluent department store. I watched the same salesperson from whom I made a purchase earlier now covering her ears so as not to upset her blissful unawareness.

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I hurried past the huge crowd of smokers in front of Spaceland all huddled around their cigarettes for warmth in fear that I may have missed Best Coast’s set. Singer Bethany Cosentino and Guitarist Bobb Bruno were already busy setting up their gear on stage as I grabbed a scotch from the bar. December is the best month to drink scotch and Spaceland actually carries McCallen’s 12 year behind the bar. JACKPOT.

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VIVIAN GIRLS + BEST COAST ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, AT THE SMELL, 247 S MAIN ST, LOS ANGELES, $5, ALL AGES.

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Download: Best Coast “When I’m With You”

(from the “When I’m With You” 7″ produced by Fool’s Gold Lewis Pesacov and available now from Black Iris)
And Best Coast is playing with Gowns, Tearist and 60 Watt Kid tonight at the Echo! (and an MP3 of Best Coast’s “Make You Mine” available here!)

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Some joker even tried to mosh and was TAKEN DOWN by a bespectacled gent half his size. It was beautiful like National Geographic. Soft Pack drummer Brian plays with just as much originality and abandon as Moe Tucker, putting a jerry-rigged cocktail kit being through its paces with equal parts precision and ferocity. These guys were tight, telepathic and tuned in. I‘ve felt the same kind of tranquil delirium out on the ocean surrounded by surfers—me sponging on my boogie board—when it all just makes sense. Kids were dancing on the side of the stage, in front of it, on top of it… No poses, no frills, just rock.

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Leslie and the Badgers recorded their album while Los Angeles was on fire and began their residency at the Echo as the ash finally started to dissipate. Producer David Bianco let them use Bob Dylan’s microphone and they meet now for beers at Cole’s, where they would have fit perfectly opening for I See Hawks In L.A. not too long ago. This interview by Chris Ziegler.

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christine hale
Download: Sian Alice Group Mixtape for L.A. RECORD

The glamourous hobos of England’s Sian Alice Group—interviewed about Latvian strippers here—will be playing our co-presented Leslie and the Badgers show tonight at the Echo with Best Coast and Paperplanes and managed to squeeze out this selection of MP3s between tumultuous tour dates. Download above and tracklist [...]

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Pearl Harbor’s music is one that connotes taking the most awesome sailboat trip of your life in the marina where Dennis Wilson drowned. Somehow his spirit floats to the top and incarnates itself into these rather young-looking purveyors who have based themselves upon that familiar sound.

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The pink-polo shirted Regan Farquhar commanded the stage, spouting rhymes I didn’t even try to keep up with while his heroic sidekick, Anti MC, calmly manipulated a swath of drum pads and synth sounds, an electric guitar and pedals without breaking a sweat. I was having a hard time keeping my cool ’cause a pair of teenage lesbians were getting’ freaky right in front of the stage, grabbing each others’ crotches and grind dancing. Oh, how happy I am to see the ’90s coming back!

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Download: Best Coast “Make You Mine”

Download: Busdriver “Me-Time (With The Pulmonary Palimpsets)”

Today’s Beach Dazed fest promises to be the first true sunshine-meltdown fun of the summer—the folks at the FMLY have arranged not only an appearance by L.A. RECORD alum Ice Cream Man but slip-n-slides, swimming pools, student discounts, the girl who sang the hook [...]

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