photos by lauren everett This year’s KCRW Ball may have come the closest one can get to the experience of William Randolf’s famed costume parties at the Hearst Castle during the decadent 1920’s. No matter which way you looked, there was no shortage of jaw dropping transformative wonder. Attendants pulled out all the stops, whether [...]

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Fullerton may have fallen off the map since those glory days, but it seems to be experiencing a full scale renaissance as of late, what with the opening of Burger Records and the trifecta of bands generating much hype: Audacity, Dirt Dress and the Cosmonauts. All these bands make lo-fi stoner garage punk of the highest caliber, overtly borrowing from others while still being undeniably unique (same could be said for Burger’s aesthetics). If Picasso’s quote, “good artists borrow, great artists steal,” is true, then the Fullerton scene is a gang of kleptomaniacal octopi.

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At a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, preparations are being made for the most ambitious and blasphemous Black Lips video to date. Director Kyle Safieh has drawn inspiration from the 1960′s Viennese Actionists, whose performance art led to public outrage, numerous arrests and eventual deportation. How perfect for the Black Lips, a band whose musical endeavors have been intermingled with arrests, self-imposed deportation from India and shenanigans on par with performance art.

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For anyone who wanted to see the Growlers at this year’s Sunset Junction, the festival’s cancellation was a massive blessing delivered by the city’s gavel of justice. Before I go on, I should confess my general bias against festivals and explain a couple underlying beliefs I hold about how to best experience live music: 1. [...]

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The Ettes show at the Echo brought to life the term “fabulous disaster” as singer/guitarist Lindsey “Coco” Hames took the stage visibly intoxicated. As bassist Jeremy Cohen set up Coco’s guitar, she writhed around the center of the stage leading one audience member to say “I don’t think I paid enough for this show.” After [...]

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The K-Holes are witches in punk clothing that bring strangled messages forgotten long ago by modern society. By combining the most primal, relentless forces of nature with a relatively palatable (or at least familiar) punk/goth façade, the K-Holes have created the scariest new music I’ve heard in a long time.

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As a rule I prefer demos and practice recordings to slick studio finishes, but Hot Tropics may be the exception. This brilliant work showcases the Growlers in their fullest stride, like fancy new boots that make you feel mature and confident.

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Cirque Berzerk is equal parts Broadway Musical and back-alley circus freak-show. The hour-and-a-half event contains an entertaining mixture of contortionists, acrobatics, deranged clowns, goons, fire-eaters and a midget. Really, what more do you need?

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What goes on in the minds of the bands that you love? Find out through these Rorschach Tests conducted by Vanessa Gonzalez at FYF Fest 2010. Brian Stewart, Growlers, Drums: Pelvic bone Kyle Schuster, Growlers, Keyboards & Guitar: devil Scott Montoya: Growlers, Bass: Scarab Brooks Nielsen: Growlers, Vocals: Lil’ Clownie Warren Thomas, Growlers, Bongos: Pelvic [...]

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Black Lips have been to or narrowly avoided jail in more countries than many schoolchildren can even locate on a map and they do a ripping cover of Jacques Dutronc. They meet here between time and space to knock out this abridged print interview. Complete interview coming soon—both by Vanessa Gonzalez.

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