Quick Hit Artist Interview: Mason Summit

Mason Summit at The Satellite

Q&A time with the artist. Hope you enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? I try really hard to not have an easily-categorized sound, but I naturally gravitate towards power-pop/‘60s psychedelic/acoustic type stuff. My favorite thing to do in a song is to juxtapose dark lyrics with a catchy melody a la Phil Ochs, Elliott Smith, Elvis Costello, Pernice Brothers, etc.

What inspires you to write/compose your songs? More than anything, I’m motivated by the satisfied feeling I get when I complete a song. My sense of self-worth is deeply tied into my level of creative productivity; when I’m not writing or recording I just don’t feel I’m doing anything worthwhile.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Hearty Har

Heart Har at The Hi Hat

Interview with the band:

How would you describe your sound? Hearty Har has come to be known for their exciting and raucous live shows, which blend modern psychedelia with classic garage rock and roll. Imagine a neon lightning bolt extending from the stage and reaching deep into your heart, down to your feet, then through the ground to the Earth's core. Then you have an idea of Hearty Har’s sound.

What’s a dream venue you’d love to play at and what about it intrigues you? Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, one of the most beautiful places in California and the world! Great community and very small and intimate venue. We’ve seen some awe inspiring shows there.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Young Jesus

Young Jesus

Interview with the band (via Kern):

I’ve seen you all twice. Once at The Hi Hat. And this time around at the Bootleg Theater. How would you describe your sound? As someone who has seen us twice, how would you describe our sound? Your answer can be the answer to the question. [My response: You start out with an avant-garde sound and then take it into structured randomness where you switch – in a song itself -- from being calm to being frantic.]

How has the band gelled together as a group? We improvise together every time we practice. Can't just go through the motions, have to stay engaged with each other. Thanks, hope you had fun at the shows.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Sun Colony

Sun Colony at The Satellite

Quick interview with the band:

How would you describe your sound? Wash of Los Angeles sparkle and London gloom - as performed by east coast children of the early 80's.

Do the band members have a favorite music-themed movie, TV show or book? And then of course, why the choice? The ending scene of Zabriskie Point where all of the American corporations are exploding is pretty inspiring to say the least . . .

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Veronica Bianqui

Veronica Bianqui at The Echo

Interview with the artist:

What’s the story behind how you started out as a musician? I was drawn to it from an early age. One of my first memories in life is of The Beatles' first couple notes of "Come Together." It has always been a release for me and gave me something to hold onto and believe in when I had difficulties growing up.

What band/artist would you most like to open for and why the choice? Paul McCartney. Need I say more? Or Jack White. I would love to record with Jack White, actually. First song I learned on guitar was a White Stripes song.

Zebulon: Death Valley Girls, Collapsing Scenery and Prissy Whip

I came across Death Valley Girls in March 2017. I noticed that they were playing at Zebulon, supporting Collapsing Scenery's residency. I circled the date.

Prissy Whip opened the night with a performance by the lead singer that mimicked neurotic toy soldiers, attacking their child owner. And then the guitarist played his set like a malfunctioning robot from an Isaac Asimov novel. Think about that and you can imagine the band's sound. Oh, and their friends tossed roses on stage throughout the set. Yep, good way to begin a night.

Prissy Whip

I caught Collapsing Scenery once before at Zebulon. They were playing with a band I love called The Big Pink. This band uses a light show powered by various projectors to highlight movements of their band members, especially that of the lead singer. Interestingly, the first time I saw them they used only a very small portion of the Zebulon stage to put on their show. This time, they expanded across the whole stage. Their sound is intense and tight. There is no relaxing.

Collapsing Scenery

Death Valley Girls had their fans out as well as their photographers. The photographers, like me, lined the stage well before their set began. Unfortunately, for us photographers (unless you use flash), the lights were dimmed for their set. One of the guys at Zebulon, in fact, came up to me and said to me before their set, "Sorry, about the lights, I know photographers like brighter lights." The lights were dimmed, but Death Valley Girls was bright. Their music is like a shot of adrenaline to the heart. This band makes you want to jump around and toss your hair around (if you have hair to toss around).

Death Valley Girls

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Avid Dancer

Avid Dancer at The Echo

Interview with the artist:

How would you describe your sound? I like to think that it sounds reminiscent of older music that inspires me, but sounds like something recorded more currently.

What’s your favorite Avid Dancer song and what makes it the favorite? I really love the song "All the Other Girls" (Demo version). I recorded this alternate version of the song in my bedroom to be on the show "How to Get Away With Murder", but then it ended up on my 1st EP. It's probably one of the outliers of my music.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Rose Dorn

Rose Dorn at the Bootleg Theater

Interview with the band:

What’s the story behind how the band started? We met at Scarlet’s sister’s birthday party. We got along and liked the same kinds of music so we decided to start a band. It’s not that exciting, but Joey ended up getting kicked out of the party for a weird reason that we’d have to explain IRL.

How do you go about combining lyrics and sound? We all do it a bit differently, but dreams mostly, probably.

Own Q&A. Everyone asks what a Rose Dorn is. She’s a good character in a good book called Edwin Mullhouse: The Life and Death of an American Writer 1943-1954, by Jeffrey Cartwright by Steven Millhauser.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Trans Van Santos

Trans Van Santos

Interview with the artist:

How would you describe your sound? I have always had a hard time with that, but a label once told me, "you are too psychedelic for the folk scene, too folky for the psych scene and too good for the jam band scene.." I sometimes call it Americalia or Acid Gospel or New American Devotional.

Is there a story behind when you knew you wanted to become a musician/singer? 18 years old, strung out on meth. I spent 10 hours trying to play Guns and Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine" and decided to quit meth and get strung out on music.

P.S. I was backed up that night (Echoplex show) by Seth Ford Young of The Magnetic Zeroes, Mark Laughlin of Dead Meadow, Matt Adams of the Blank Tapes and singer Sol Ange.

Quick Hit Band Interview: The Travis Peery Band

The Travis Peery Band at The Satellite

Q&A time with the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? I generally stick to calling it rock and roll because I think that encapsulates the country, soul, and roots elements that make up our sound. It’s a broad genre but that’s kind of the beauty of it, that we can mix these different elements to hopefully come up with something that is our own but at the same time strikes a familiar chord with people.

What is your favorite Travis Peery lyric and what about it makes it so special? I’ve always been partial to a line in the title track from our most recent album These Nights: “Well I know just what I want and I would take it if I could, but the details reveal the devil in me. If I can’t explain it to myself, I’ll explain it to someone else, but I don’t want somebody to just hand me the key.” I think I like it because it captures the feeling of learning by experience which is the only real way to learn. I like to think it’s hopeful too, that as long as we’re all looking to figure out life and get better at it, the fact that we have that desire means we’re moving in the right direction regardless of how long it might take to get there.

Own Q&A. I’ve always liked the question, “which song by another artist do you wish you had written?” I wish I had written “Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones because it’s mellow but at the same time it’s a rocker. It does a wonderful job of creating a mood, a feeling you don’t want to leave behind. And it’s a great song to listen to while driving.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Nicole Kiki Jaffe

Nicole Kiki Jaffe playing Chinatown

Interview with the artist:

How would you describe your sound? Grunge folk meets indie rock with a nice serving of heartbreak.

Do you find greater enjoyment writing a great song or performing a great song? Why the choice?That’s a tough one. Sometimes you can just tell that a song is great, but other times you need to perform it to know how great it is. At the end of the day, I do love being on a stage though.

Broke LA 2018: Favorite Memories

For the last few years, Broke LA Fest was held in various warehouse locations from the art district to El Sereno. This year, they shifted locations to DTLA’s Regent Theater and surrounding areas. Music was across three stages. The main stage was the Regent with the Love Song Bar used as a smaller space. The third stage was across the street in an outdoor parking lot, which included a market and with the music powered by the Sunstock Solar Festival. (I was told by those who run the Sunstock Solar Festival to expect their festival sometime in October.) A comedy stage was held at the Prufrock Pizzeria. Broke LA also expanded their festival from a one day to a two-day event. And for those who don’t know, this is a festival where local Los Angeles bands rule the weekend. The festival is meant to explore the local music scene and hang out with favorite bands and find a couple more to add to the list of favorites.

Day 1 Highlights Best Find of Day 1 Award: Princess Cyberspace

Princess Cyberspace

Her lyrics are so catchy and so social media:

“Cuz I got 10 likes
100 likes
1,000 likes
10,000 likes
I’ll probably get more by the end of the night” 

Put those catchy lyrics alongside snappy rhythms and stylist street fashion and you got an after-hour party happening just as the sun was setting.

Here’s my interview with the artist: 

How would you describe your sound? My songs can be described as post-EDM punk pop music with a tropical R&B influence. Perhaps even nu new wave cyberpunk. 

Your lyrics are very catchy. How do you go about writing your lyrics? I keep a diary of lyrics that just come to me during the day on the ‘Notes’ section of my phone and in a physical notebook. During studio sessions, I organize the lyrics into verses, choruses, bridges, etc. with my producer and/or co-writers. 

Any additional thoughts? I think my music is as unique as I am. I am ethnically ambiguous (Filipina, Polish, Irish, Russian) and grew up traveling a lot in an international family. I don’t fit into the ‘white EDM’ scene and I don’t fit into the ‘black hip hop scene’. I fit into my unique sound, and I hope that the people who dig my music can find home in them, too. 

You Never Know Who’s Listening Award: Sugar Rum Tantrum

Sugar Rum Tantrum

The accordion has to rank right there with the bagpipes, right? Hey, don’t worry, Sugar Rum Tantrum makes it look as cool as an electric guitar.

But why their award? The band was saying in jest, “We want to be sponsored by Lagunitas [Lagunitas was running the outdoor beer tent].” Just before their last song, the folks at Lagunitas came over with beers for all the members of the band. Big smiles, “Are we really sponsored by Lagunitas?”

Here’s my interview with the band: 

How would you describe your sound? Sugar Rum Tantrum's is accordion-fronted rambunction folk pop. What the hell is that? We don't know either. It has accordions, violins, and tons of attitude. Every show is a little different, sometimes we have loud distorted guitars with gutsy blues tunes, sometimes we play to naked hippie folk in tents. Sometimes people just plop around and dance in circles that look like nothing more than your standard bird mating ritual. 

How would you like your music to impact people who listen to your music or see you play live? Sugar Rum Tantrum aims for people to embrace their inner weird. To see something new and filled with attitude and make you say 'fuck yeah'. We care about the environment, the polar bears drowning among melted ice caps . . . we do! But mostly, we also care for the reclaimed human spirit...the polar bears within us! ;) 

Own Q&A: If the band could go anywhere for a day where would you go? We'd go to Nashville to meet Jack White. Basically, the White Stripes is an astronomically dividing issue within Sugar Rum Tantrum. The bass player despises their lack of a bass player and simplistic aesthetic . . . whereas Rich [drums] is stern and uncompromising in his love of the Stripes. Basically, the trip would start a big internal band brawl and would be great for catching some authentic videos for our "Behind the Music" documentary that we decided we're going to shoot right now. Hopefully there would be jousting. And Melinda [vocals, accordion] would get some legit Tennessee hot sauce. 

Surprise of the Day Award: Top Shelf Band

Top Shelf Band

They did a set on the Outdoor Stage and had the area packed with their college football halftime show music style. Later, as one set was ending inside the Regent and festival attendees were heading away from the stage, they came marching in and set the place on fire.

Here’s my interview with the band: 

What’s the story behind how the band started out? All of us are friends from high school and the RCC Marching Band. We just wanted to play cool music with homies. Now 5 years down the road we've been making some real noise in the LA and IE music scene. We’ve been playing for Sea World since 2014. And we made our first tour across Europe. The Top Shelf Brass Band is a combination of the energy of a marching band, instrumentation of a New Orleans Brass 2nd line, and the vibes of today’s music. 

Is there a specific decision the band has made (good or bad) that it feels other bands/artists can learn from? Stay true to the band's core values. Don't try to cater to any audience. Don't try to "Play the Game". Play for yourselves. Play for each other. 

Day 2 Highlights 

Best Find of Day 2 Award: tiLLie

tiLLie

Okay, so sometimes you have to say to yourself, “I really should have heard of this band/artist way before now.” The main draw of Day 2 has to go to tiLLie. The Regent attendance peaked for her set. You have to love an artist who does an 80’s cover of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

And she gets the award for best quote of the night, “This song goes out to those who f*cking try to fix you when you’re not broken.”

Best Wake-Up Call Award: The New Pacific

The New Pacific

There was no easing into Day 2. They rocked out right from the start. High leaps off the drum stage. Power rock jams. And a lot of long hair talk between band members. Hey, wake up, it’s 2 p.m.!

Here’s my interview with the band: 

What's the story behind how the band started out? The band started out 3 years ago as a rock project Alec put together when moving to Los Angeles from Nashville. The idea was to put together a band that could be as melodic as it was heavy. We've landed in a really great spot with great members and are excited to start releasing a new batch of songs this week. This next set of songs deals a bit more literally with what’s going on in the world right now. How could you not be with everything going on in the news right now? There’s a lot of raw emotion and exploration of human nature to be dug into. And we’re digging deep. 

Do you happen to have a favorite Broke LA story/thought -- doesn't have to be set related? Jessica and everyone at Broke LA and the Regent did an awesome job organizing it and we had an absolute blast. But there's a place behind the Regent called #CaldersRadPad where a production artist lives and displays his art and it's all made of cardboard. Us and a bunch of the other bands went and toured it and it blew our minds. 

Any additional thoughts? Honestly, we just want to encourage anyone that is interested in making art or having a voice to get out there and get in the garage and make it loud. We’ve all got one shot at this thing. If you’ve got something you really care about, don’t be afraid to dig in. 

Best Emotional Release Award: Holy Wars

Holy Wars

There was a conflict going on between stages as the festival was heading towards a close. Holy Wars and MetronOhm started their sets within seconds of each other. The moment actually perfectly highlighted the friendly vibes of Broke LA. A member of MetronOhm, Kofi, rushed over to the front of the Regent stage as Holy Wars was setting up and called out to Kat (lead singer of Holy Wars), “I’m going to be here with you in spirit.”

Holy Wars’ set was MINDBLOWING as they commanded the stage like no other Broke LA band. The band’s music was rocking. Their stage show was refined to perfection. Whoever was controlling the lights (social media says Matt Shores) must have gotten inspired by the set, because the Regent looked like it was hosting Lady Gaga. It was enough to get one to do a little pogo jumping, body slamming and grinning like a kid in a candy store.

Here’s my interview with the band: 

Why the name Holy Wars? The name was inspired by our lyric "Now there's a Holy War in me" in our song 'Mother Father.' When we wrote the first few songs there was still no name for the band and once that was written it was apparent that would be the best way to describe this whole collection of music. That lyric originally came to me when people would ask me how I was doing shortly after my parents’ passing and eventually I would just start to tell them, "every day feels like a holy war in me" to sum it all up. The band has been around for a little over a year. How has the band gel together as a group? 

The band has been together for a year. During that time the live show has continued to develop but even more so the sound has. We're working on our next release now and are planning on surprising everyone with where the band goes next. 

Own thoughts: I always love to talk about the album cover for Mother Father. It was a personal family photo of my mother and my father when they were teenagers. We had their handwriting recreated in the Mother Father title. Something most people don't know. That jacket in the photo that my mom is wearing, I still have and wear today. 

The most amazing thing I saw at our last 2 shows was people walking away with our vinyl with my parents on the cover. They are in the homes of people they've never met. And I feel like in some small way I'm helping them live on.  

Every show we play, I wear her socks and I have a token keychain of my dad's on my pedal board. Every stage I play, they come with me. 

And finally, freak-Out of the Festival: I’m sorry Broke LA, but those mannequins were freaking me out for some reason. Every set that I photographed at the Regent stage, out of the corner of my eye I would see those mannequins. I kept thinking, “I’m about to run into someone.” I’d freeze up and then realize, “It’s just those stupid mannequins.”

Quick Hit Band Interview: Old Toy Trains

Old Toy Trains at The Satellite

Interview with the band (via Bo):

How would you describe your sound? Our sound generally has a nostalgic feel to it. I find some of our favorite music evokes such a feeling, and to be told it evokes that in others is a great achievement.

Other than Los Angeles, where could you see yourself living/playing music and why? We are all from Los Angeles and can’t imagine doing this anywhere else.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Sleep State

Sleep State playing Chinatown

Quick interview with the band:

How would you describe your sound? Our sound is Motown style vocals, bass, and guitar mixed in with modern production and synthesizers. Bands we like to compare ourselves to are Fitz and the Tantrums, Foster The People, and Bleachers.

Other than playing in front of a packed crowd, what thrills you about performing live? Other than playing to a packed crowd, we just love playing our music live. We’ve spent so much time in studio so that we could bring our music to life. We love connecting with the audience and bringing the good vibrations.

School Night with Family of the Year, Lao Ra, Tim Atlas and Rina Sawayama

School Night isn't on my usual rotation to catch bands. I went once in 2017 and from what I can recall the previous time before that was way back in 2013. What got me to School Night in 2018? Family of the Year was doing a set. This is a band that I first saw in 2010 at the Silverlake Lounge. From that point on, I was a big fan and saw them a couple times a year up until 2012. I stopped seeing them from 2013 - 2017, but it wasn't because I stopped loving the band. I cried and smiled in the dark when I heard their song "Hero" on the movie Boyhood. I caught a solo set by lead singer Joseph Keefe at The Satellite in 2015. And then I noticed on Facebook that they were doing a set at School Night. I was so there. Their music has that awesome folk-rock sound that hit a high point in the Los Angeles music scene between 2010 - 2012. Joseph Keefe's lead vocals are honey.

What did I notice: while waiting for the doors to open to School Night, there was a group of friends in front of me. One was wearing a Family of the Year jacket. But they weren't allowed inside the venue. Why? She was only 17. Hopefully, she gets to see Family of the Year live someday soon.

What did I notice: Of course, everyone sang along to the song "Hero." 

This night of music was more than Family of the Year.

Family of the Year

Lao Ra started the night off with her Colombian infused music. Though she currently lives in the UK, her music and style still had one thinking South America. With a DJ backing her, she took control of the stage with dance moves and Spanish vocals. She sort of reminded me of a solo act version of Bomba Estereo.

Lao Ra

Tim Atlas had a number of female fans. One behind me kept yelling out, "Husband! Husband!" And then she would turn to her friend, "I don't think he heard me." What's one reason for his popularity? He was on the 2015 season of The Voice. He also has the perfect singer-songwriter vocals.

What did I notice: his whole band along with him wore dotted t-shirts.

Tim Atlas

Rina Sawayama gave the audience some Euro pop tunes. Though she was born in Japan, like Lao Ra, she currently resides in the UK. She even brought the London accent to the American audience. She did throw out a tribute to American television. She mentioned, "This isn't my real hair." She had long beach blond hair. "This is my Game of Thrones look, Daenerys." During the set, she moved to one side of the stage and a trio of young women on that side of the stage started to scream in excitement.

Rina Sawayama

Both Rina Sawayama and Lao Ra mentioned that this was their first time playing in Los Angeles. They should hang out in Los Angeles a bit more.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Jimmy Sweet

Jimmy Sweet at Harvard & Stone

Interview with the artist:

How would you describe your sound? I’d describe my sound as a Tarantino love affair.

Do you find greater enjoyment writing a great song or performing a great song? Why the choice? Definitely writing a song. That’s the reason I got into music was the songwriting process. I love creating something from nothing.