Lemon Sun, Mezzanine Owls, Robbers on High Street @ Echo 1/27

Last night I found myself deep into the hipster scene at the Echo. The usual Silver Lake crowd was there, along with a smattering of underage Bel Air brace-faces. After braving the rain, I caught the last two songs of the Mezzanine Owls, an Angeleno band with a solid following. After performing a Husker Du cover, the Mezzanine Owls' last song sounded like Early Flaming Lips a la Clouds Taste Metallic with that velvety space rock vibe -- I was pissed I didn’t catch more of there set, but it was raining, and I had some outfit issues. Their lead singer was an Adam Brody clone, which never hurts.

Lemon Sun went on next but I’ll get to them in a minute….

Robbers on High Street, a shaggy-haired NY quartet, performed a tight, well-rehearsed, if not slightly predictable, set. Robbers on High Street sound and look the part of a new sophisticated '60s-era British rock invasion band with a little less attitude. Their second album, Tree City, is out on New Line records.

OK, back to Lemon Sun... their set opener "Did You Say" stole the show. Lemon Sun has a hot female guitar player and a lead singer with X-factor for days. Lemon Sun’s brilliant vocal harmonies and intelligent hooks got the crowd moving -- especially the Bel Air kids, who were jumping around like they were at a Li'l Wayne concert.

All three were good, but Lemon Sun killed it.