New Translations Chase a Feeling on “Modern Lovers”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There’s something especially satisfying about a song that makes you wait for it. For nearly the first minute of New Translations’ “Modern Lovers,” the Nashville quintet keeps things remarkably restrained. A steady kick drum establishes the pulse. A simple bass line…
Scott Holiday Rips Into a New Chapter With HOL1D4Y’s “Autonomatic”
LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ve been following Rival Sons since 2009, when Before the Fire introduced me to a band that sounded like it had somehow discovered a direct line back to the guts of rock and roll without simply trying to recreate the past….
Miles Caton Finds Strength in Vulnerability on “Lean On”
LOS ANGELES, CA- “Lean On” is my introduction to Miles Caton. That probably puts me a little behind the curve considering the year he has been having, but there is also something refreshing about encountering an artist without much in the way of preconceived…
The Haunt Deliver Another Banger With “Seasonal Depression”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are songs that demand careful unpacking, and then there are songs where the first reaction pretty much says everything that needs to be said: this thing is a banger. The Haunt have delivered another one with “Seasonal Depression,” the latest…
Al Green at the Hollywood Bowl: The Soundtrack Never Gets Old
LOS ANGELES, CA- At some point during Al Green’s performance at the Hollywood Bowl, my guest leaned over and made an observation that stuck with me for the rest of the night. “His music has been in so many movies.” She was right. In…
Andy Grammer’s “All I Want Is You” Was the Song I Needed
LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ll be honest. My spirit has been a little dampened lately. There have been some things going on in my life, some relatively small and others considerably larger, that have weighed on me more than I would like. Nothing I particularly…
Terrace Martin Celebrates Miles Davis and the Spirit of LA Jazz
LOS ANGELES, CA- There is something going on with jazz music in Los Angeles. Actually, there has been something going on for quite some time. I just don’t think Los Angeles gets enough credit for it. When we talk about the great jazz cities,…
Lindsey Lomis Brings a New Generation to Blue Note Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are certain names in music that carry weight before a single note is played. Blue Note is one of them. For anyone who has spent enough time obsessing over music, the words immediately conjure something. Maybe it is the unmistakable…
St. Vincent Reimagines Her Music With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
LOS ANGELES, CA- There is something uniquely rewarding about seeing an artist you love perform with an orchestra. You already know the songs. You know where the guitar should enter, where the chorus should crest, where a familiar melody should turn. But put those…
2hollis Returns With “Hurt,” a Glitch-Fueled Electronic Banger
LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ll admit it: it took me a while to come around on 2hollis. His music never struck me as immediately accessible, and I wasn’t sure I fully understood the appeal at first. But every so often an artist releases a song…
