photography by Ward Robinson The Morning Benders last came through Los Angeles as support for Submarines. They were awkward, gangly and exuberant-like an adolescent supermodel and it was hard to tell what they would become. But Big Echo is an album clearly stated in the singular voice of a full grown band, so this time [...]

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photography by Ward Robinson We Were Jet Packs performing at The Troubadour on February 26, 2010 to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd that sang along en mass.

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photography by Benjamin Hoste Both Signals and The Henry Clay People were opening the evening for Dios but both played excellent sets. Signals have improved trastically from their first few shows in the wake of The Mae Shi when they were still finding their footing and The Henry Clay People seem to be almost ready [...]

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photography by Daiana Feuer Lemon Sun represented Los Angeles as the opener for both Hot Rats shows, delivering a rock show with just enough tambourine and guitar noodling to satisfy. Thom Yorke probably has “Telephone” in his head right now, since he and a handful of ’90s rockers were in attendance at Spaceland and Troubadour [...]

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White Denim has avoided being labeled for several years now, but after a giant tour and the release of their third album, this Austin trio is rocking a little too hard to be ignored. Bassist Steve Terebecki talks about satanic nightmares and names my sister’s baby. This interview by Amber Hollingsworth.

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Luis & the Wildfires make records between egg crates and a tacked-up Charlie Feathers LP in a tiny backyard shed in Altadena where the spirit of the the Sonics, Eddie Cochran, Little Willie G and Gene Vincent observe kindly from the corners. The hardiest die-hards of Wild meet for High Life and cookies doled out by Wild owner Reb’s wife and son. This interview by Chris Ziegler.

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Melt-Banana is the ultimate adrenaline band. This band from Tokyo sounds like what the aliens will be playing on the warship stereos when they come to eat us measly humans. They are currently touring with a show that splits Melt-Banana with their new incarnation, Melt-Banana Lite, which is still pretty fucking heavy even though they ditch their guitars. This interview by Scott Schultz.

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Shiloe is the scariest shoegaze band in Los Angeles and also one of the noisiest. They recently released a single, ‘Daggers In Your Eyes’ that suddenly got them airplay in a dozen cities. When they’re not playing gigs around town, they’re seeking out the paranormal. This interview by Scott Schultz.

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We didn’t need the neon sign glowing above his head to tell us that he was an authentic troubadour. David Bazan has begun the us tour of his most recent project: himself. Engaging the audience with intermittent Q and A sessions about any topic at all, Bazan did more than answer fanmail in front of a live audience—he broke down the barrier between artist and fan, a seldom seen feat.

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photography by ward robinson

IO Echo performing at The Troubadour on September 22, 2009.

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