Let's Independent - Indie Rock Gets Regular

Joe Fielder's Radio Free Silverlake, with support from KXLU and Sea Level Records, has been presenting a monthly, indie music night called Let's Independent at the lovely and historic Boardner’s in Hollywood. Last Tuesday’s unwashed-hair trifecta included local acts, Tigers Can Bite You, The Black Pine and Let’s Go Sailing.

TCBY (heh) went on first and went on loud, but did not actually come to life until halfway through the set when they energized for a tune that sounded much more intentional, and far less droney. Fuzzed and hypnotic, their sound is like an idea that’s still working itself out -- heavy reverb and wavy echoes meet shy vocals and simple melodies inside a sonic dust cloud.

Moody rockers, The Black Pine, went on next, and the Hebrew Hammer himself, Adam Goldberg, made a low-key, jewwy-bearded appearance in support of the band. Members of The Black Pine collaborated with Goldberg on the musical score of two films, most recently, his 2003 feature, “I Love Your Work.” They also served as the local backing band for Sarah Silverman’s stage show, “Jesus Is Magic.”

Let’s Go Sailing -- mistakenly introduced as Bedroom Walls (eek) -- topped the bill, and were a pretty, pop departure from the previous buzzing and humming. Former Irving band member, Shana Levy, has been making the rounds with her sweet, swoon-worthy ensemble.

Octavius, of the venerable KXLU, Friday-night “Demolisten,” emceed the evening. Between sets we had an opportunity to chat about the important issues. For example, I learned that his Space Invaders sweater was purchased at X-Large on Vermont many years ago, and that he recently found a Speak and Spell (still in the box) at a local thrift store.

In what turned out to be an unexpected interview -- thanks to such leading questions as, "So, what else do you hate," asked by local, interior decorating darling, Leslie Landis -- I also learned that he does not like ellipses, smooth ceilings, and the area of downtown near the Staples Center; he disagrees with the Grups phenomenon, conversely believing that kids today still listen to and love The Pixies because they know their generation will never make music as cool as that; and he feels that bars and clubs with TV sets and computer stations are stupid. He also claims to have invented the color Orange, however that is still up for debate.

Next month: Foreign Born, The Hectors, Molecules

Let’s Independent
@ Boardner’s
February 27
8:30p
$8