It was only at a rock festival tent in 2011 that I realized that ALL comedy is now the Henny Youngman one-liner. Steven Wright by way of Mitch Hedberg has won the battle: turgid break-up stories and making fun of pop stars are out; surreal two-sentence twists are all the rage. No back-stories, no set-ups, no preaching about how both political parties are in collusion to keep us down—the only set-up we needed was just maybe a persona to keep the quirkiness going.

[Read more →]

Fool’s Gold goes quite poppy with “Street Clothes,” the first single off  its upcoming August 16 release, Leave No Trace. The beginning of the track threw us off a little and we began to fear change—Fool’s Gold, have you changed? Now you are 5 and you’re making different sounds. Oy vey. …but once the instrumental [...]

[Read more →]

Amanda Jo Williams at Tom Tom Magazine issue #5 release party photo by Dylan Gordon Last month, Tom Tom Magazine celebrated its 5th issue with a release party at the Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles. See photos from the party, here. Tom Tom Magazine, for those who don’t know, is dedicated to female drummers and [...]

[Read more →]

Fool’s Gold Sometimes lineups are not at all straightforward. Such was the case with the triple bill of Rainbow Arabia, Wallpaper, and Fools Gold. Married locals Danny and Tiffany Preston of Rainbow Arabia started the evening with their earnest and synth-heavy world music. Their strangely beautiful music was so reminiscent of a paired-down Viva K [...]

[Read more →]

It was interesting to see them take the stage this night—their first local headlining show in almost a year—and look a little nervous? A subtle but apparent pressure was on for a band that almost had to prove themselves all over again to a hometown crowd that helped make them. They eased and oozed right into it though.

[Read more →]

Fools Gold wanted to know what albums L.A. RECORD readers are making love to, so we held a contest to find out! Many amazing response, but we could only pick two. THE WINNERS ARE… Chris Jones with Best of Bill Withers Kyle Safieh with Rick James – Street Songs Pretty fantastic. We’ll be doing another [...]

[Read more →]

The thumb piano is a wondrous object, simple and hypnotizing. It’s like a handheld video game that hooks up to your soul. With this instrument, Konono No 1 creates spellbinding dance music. Seeing the Congolese band in person is monumental enough, and yet Konono was only 1 of 6 acts at the KCRW World Festival.

[Read more →]

[Read more →]

Introducing someone to a band you know backwards and forwards is almost like watching someone lose their virginity. Awkward, confused, they make funny noises and shy remarks; their eyes widen as they try following different rhythms; a little sweat breaks on their upper lip; their hips quake. “It makes me feel warm…There’s a lot of them…” My friend’s simple statements suggested she was deeply involved in revelation. “I feel love.” She also commented, “It sounds like Simba being born…”

[Read more →]

L.A. darlings Local Natives have had a big year—a UK tour, a record deal, and a road trip with Fool’s Gold and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Bassist Andy Hamm stepped outside on a chilly afternoon in Seattle to share with us some of the highlights. This interview by Amber Hollingsworth.

[Read more →]