We think it's important to support local bands. That's why we went to two record release parties last week.
Languis @ Spaceland on 3/26
Languis was celebrating the release of their new EP, Other Desert Cities, on Pehr Records. There was a really nice crowd for a Sunday at Spaceland (including lots of local musicians and some of the Plug Research crew). The band covered the backdrop of the stage in white and had some nice lighting effects. We're big fans of their atmospheric music and the band was tight. Their music works as well on the stage as it does on disc. Fans of Spacemen 3, Mogwai and ambient music should enjoy it. They're currently touring the country but will be back at the Hotel Cafe on 4/22.
Download In the Fields of (Lonely Fences)
Irving @ King King on 3/29
Another impressive crowd came out to see Irving celebrate the release of their second album, Death in the Garden, Blood On the Flowers (out Tuesday on Eenie Meenie Records). It was a party atmosphere, so thankfully the Hollywood crowd was respectful to mellow opener Lavender Diamond. They're getting national buzz at the moment and play music that wouldn't have sounded out of place on an easy listening station in the '70s. After a set by Great Northern (a band featuring several members of Earlimart), Irving came out and shot some adrenaline into the crowd. Steven Scott handled vocals on the first song, "Situation." He's got a lot of energy and danced around the stage screaming into the mic. Fans of Apples in Stereo should like that track. The band followed with a Brian Canning led song. We think it was "Jen, Nothing Matters to Me" but after a few drinks we can't remember for sure. Fans of the Killers and other dance rock bands should like that one. For the third or fourth song, local hearthrob Alex Church stepped to the mic. He taunted the ladies (and probably some of the fellas) with, "I Want To Love You in My Room." There was a collective shriek when he sang the line, "I want to take off all your clothes." Eventually they worked in some songs from the back catalog. The crowd really enjoyed the new songs, even though most people were probably hearing them for the first time. Irving will play 16 road shows in the next few weeks, including a bunch with buzz band Voxtrot.
Download Situation
