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It seems like everyone we speak to has a hankering for the baby-faced band that is Surfer Blood. We loved them at The Village Voice party at SXSW and decided to check them out locally for the Aquarium Drunkard presented-Waved Out last Saturday. Of course, any band claiming Pavement and Yo La Tengo as influences is on the right path, but it's a really good thing Surfer Blood have got the musical chops to back up their indie rock know-how. And it doesn't hurt that they are, to cite a fan and local LA band manager who I ran into that night, "so adorable I want to put them in my pocket and manage them forever". Definitely.
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Tonight prolific Washington, D.C.-based rock outfit Ted Leo and the Pharmacists will be headlining the Troubadour. English indie rockers Field Music are poised to take on the Bootleg Theater with none other than LAist favorite, local prolific songwriter John Wood, who performs under the pseudonym Learning Music. And, lastly, LA-bred pop rock quartet the Like will be gracing the Smell in Downtown. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echoplex to catch Florida-based surf-infused rock outfit Surfer Blood (LAist Review). LAist favorites, LA-bred lo-fi pop act Best Coast and local electro-pop singer-songwriter Active Child, among many others, are slated to kick things off. more ›

Ok, party people. I've got two words for you: Superchunk (and) Hole. Showing the new kids how things are done, both bands rocked the house in their entirety. Even Courtney declaring, midway through her 1 am set, “Listen, folks. I’m an elderly person. It’s 1:30 in the morning. I just want to get my blow job on and go to bed,” couldn’t detract from her screaming through a ballsy rendition of a "Doll Parts." And Superchunk’s energy was so frenetic that it instantly brought me back to their three-night run at the Fillmore over 10 years ago, with Mac’s bounce as pogo-y as ever. As for bands I haven’t followed for a decade or more, French Miami, An Horse, Bear Hands, and Rumspringa all pulled me in from the street for an enjoyable listen. Surfer Blood, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and the xx all gave good performances and rounded out my Friday at SXSW - don’t forget to check out Molly Bergen’s recap for a more in-depth perusal of the good, the bad, and the downright ridiculous. As for me, I’ve got to get to GWAR. Pics to follow - if I survive it, that is. more ›

Tonight LA-based pop rock act Rooney will be headlining the El Rey Theatre with none other than Ann Arbor's own Tally Hall. Vancouver-bred garage rockers Japandroids are poised to take on the Echo with Florida-based surf-infused rock outfit Surfer Blood in tow. And, lastly, local indie rock duo the Voyeurs (LAist Interview, Review) will be gracing Casey's Irish Pub in Downtown. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Palace Theatre in Downtown as well to catch the Strokes' vocalist and chief songwriter Julian Casablancas (LAist Interview), who will be concluding his month-long residency. LAist favorites, Austin-by-way-of-Dallas garage rock outfit the Strange Boys (LAist Review, #2). more ›