Quick Hit Band Interview: French Mouth

French Mouth at El Cid

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

What's the story behind how your band started? The project has always been between my twin brother (Daniel - drummer) and myself (Dee - Vocals), it has gone under many different names and styles, but finally solidified itself last summer/fall with the addition of our bassist (Brandon Reyes) and lead guitarist (James Parras). Our catch phrase has become, "Do you like French Mouth?" We are all Los Angeles natives and we got love for our city and France as well
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Are there any unique, funny, high jinks, mundane, etc tendencies that the band is known for – during sets, band practice, otherwise? We like to call our fans 'Cake Eaterz' . . . so by default; we also absolutely love cake, cake, cake!!! We promise if any fans or show goers bring us a cake, WE HAVE TO EAT IT during our set. Mandatory. No questions. Unless its a razor cake . . . but even then some exceptions may apply. (We love ice cream cake!!)

Own final Q&A. What would be your dream set/show and why? - Well, we are all fans of the Bhagwan Shree Rajnesh who had that cult going up in Oregon. French Mouth would love to go back in time to the 80's and play a solid set for the Bhagwan and his Wild Wild Country white folk. Shit would be lit as hell.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Lauren Rocket

Lauren Rocket at The Mint

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

When did you know you wanted to be a singer/musician? Since I could talk, I guess. I would lock myself in the bathroom and sing and hum for hours. Then I discovered the musical “Cats” and it was over. I was probably three. I would sit at the piano and play and sing every song, albeit without knowing what I was doing. Musical theater was my first love.

From the outside looking in, it looks like you’ve taken a very strategic approach to the launching of your new music. Can you share your approach? I am definitely being more strategic this time around, trying to navigate through the new world of music as well as make sure I love and adore every single song I release as well as resonate with it authentically. I want each song to be completely me, without any Outside influence. I don’t really care about following trends or being cool, I just wanna make stuff that I love. I’ve been in the music industry for over ten years now, experienced a lot of heartbreak and learned a lot about what I want to do and what I don’t want to do. My main objective with this project is to have fun, and experience joy again though writing songs and being creatively inspired. Without attachment, without ego and with complete abandonment of past fears. I am really happy with this project so far.

Of your songs, is there a backstory to one of them that you’d like to share? Sharks is probably my favorite of these recent singles, because I think the music and the lyrics fit the concept so perfectly. Being a girl in music...is well... interesting. Sadly my experience has felt like I’ve been working in a male dominated industry, and it’s pretty gross. I wanted to express that in this song, and honestly, I think things are changing: the world is waking up. Women rule and we shouldn’t be allowing anyone to dictate what we do or how we get where we are success wise. We as a species need to learn to always listen to our intuition. Intuition is real, authenticity is key and it’s the pathway to personal success. Follow it and you will be free!

Final unique piece of information: I’m half alien.

(Originally appeared on CaliforniaRocker.com.)

Madame Siam: Kevin, Cuffed Up, Tom Speight and Asa Ey

I went to Madame Siam to catch Kevin and Cuffed Up. Why? I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to Kevin. And one of the members of Cuffed Up is Sapphire Jewell who I first came across in the band Gypsum and I'm addicted to all things Gypsum.

Though those were the bands I went to see, I have to say that I was also blown away by the first artist up, Tom Speight. He was joined on stage by Lydia Clowes. As I was listening to his set, I immediately started to think of the movie Once. The music was just that beautiful. Unlike the movie, Tom mentioned that Lydia and him are not dating.

There were plenty of references to pop culture. He mentioned that his music was featured on Love Island in the UK and the Bachelor in Germany. And when he had some guitar strap issues, he told the crowd, "I wish I had one of those Men in Black zappers so that you could forget the last 3 minutes."

Tom Speight

Cuffed Up hit the stage with some sped up rock sounds. Lyrics are spit out quickly. Music is like being in a car that has the horsepower to push you back into your seat. And then the best moments are when Sapphire takes her fingers and just slides up and down her guitar strings.

Cuffed Up

Kevin plays their sets in different configurations. Sometimes Kimi and Quincy play next to each other and other times they play on different parts of the stage. I think I love them most when they're playing next to each other. There's just a joy with how they play off each other. They both brought out the synths for this set and there were a couple times when they stretched over, playing the other's synth -- with their shoes.

Kevin

Asa Ey had the sex appeal going. Two female friends showed up, dancing away throughout the set.

Asa Ey

Tom Speight, Cuffed Up, and Kevin stepped off the stage for their sets - a nice trend for the night. Tom Speight had the early crowd surround him and turn the lights from their phones on. Cuffed Up and Kevin danced in total abandonment.

I'm Up On Buzzbands: Joseph and Run River North at the Fonda Theatre

I'm up on Buzzbands with photos and review of Joseph and Run River North.

Run River North

Joseph

Non Plus Ultra: Kevin with Cryogeyser and Gal Pal

It was off to Non Plus Ultra for the first time ever. That might be hard to believe as I'm out and about in the Los Angeles music scene so often. Okay, up front, I took a random route to Non Plus Ultra. I first went to an old location (or maybe a purposely false address) where a handful of other people were hanging out. We figured out rather quickly that we were all at the wrong location and one individual was able to nail down the correct spot. Off we went to the new spot that is near DTLA. I suppose I shouldn't say where as it is a secret address. I guess I should have just messaged one of the bands for the correct address.

This was Kevin's EP release night. I first came across this band at Echo Park Rising and quickly become a big time fan. Their electronic sounds are fast pace and fun. They played a 7 song set. Quincy was on guitar and spent a short moment crashing into the crowd. She also thanked the LAPD for not showing up and shutting down their set. Kimi on the synths wore a smiley t-shirt with a bullet in the head. It was also her birthday.

Kevin

Opening up as a last minute replacement was Gal Pal. The band started late, which was good for me as I ended up in the wrong location initiation, because the lead singer had to work later than expected. Though they were a last minute replacement, the band's name was still prominently displayed via the projection that shown against the wall behind the band. Perhaps it was done to make sure that people were aware of who they were seeing as many probably were expecting to see another band.

Gal Pal

Cryogeyser was the middle band with sonic sound and a lead singer who was quick with a smile.

Cryogeyser

Quick Hit Artist Interview: The Swells

The Swells at The Smell

Interview with the band (with Wyatt). Enjoy:

How would you describe the band's sound? If I had to call it something I would say “Indie-Jazz.”

What is one of the band’s high or low moments and what makes it stand out? We just played SXSW, which was our first real festival performance!

Own final thoughts: something interesting is that we started as a two piece (drums/ guitar) and now our line up consists of five (sometimes six) members!

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Savannah Sgro

Savannah Sgro at Madame Siam

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

What is currently inspiring you when it comes to music? A lot of lyrically-driven girl pop artists right now are very inspiring to me at the moment. Julia Michaels, Lennon Stella, and Sasha Sloan all could play their songs with just an acoustic instrument and don’t need a big track because the songs are all strong on their own, which is so cool to me.

What thrills you about performing live? I think one of the most thrilling things of performing is that a lot of the ideas of the songs started in my bedroom like a diary entry, and are now being sang to people I’ve never met! It’s terrifying a lot of the time, haha, but I feel like it’s helped me be a much more open person :)

The Smell: Liposuction and Pure Shit

I decided to head off to The Smell to catch a couple bands I'd never seen before. That's something I like to do every so often. I also have to admit that I decided to head off to The Smell to try a new photography technique. Yes, I've been doing photography for years, but I'd never tried double exposure photography. That is a strange thing to admit that I never tried that technique. (See photos for a couple examples of what resulted from the night.)

I got to see Liposuction and Pure Shit. Liposuction came out as doctors ready to perform liposuction. They also used an old-school elementary desk to hold their keyboards. The band's lead singer took advantage of the fact that the band played on the floor of The Smell versus the stage. He took command of the floor, roaming The Smell throughout the set.

Liposuction

Pure Shit started out the set by handing out overhead transparencies to everyone. Was there a theme going on between Liposuction and Pure Shit? Old school elementary desk and transparencies. The transparencies had some written words on them, "Only love is real. God doesn't believe in us. Forgetting is essential . . . ." I'm pretty sure these were the only words that were written or sung throughout the set. Their lead singer spent the set in a sonic mode.

Pure Shit

I'm up on CaliforniaRocker: Interview with The Haunts

I'm up on CaliforniaRocker with an interview with The Haunts.

The Haunts at The Hi Hat

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Lizzy Land

Lizzy Land at Madame Siam

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

When did you know you wanted to be a musician? I've been singing in a hairbrush since I could talk. Safe to say I've always wanted to be a musician, but I didn't truly start until after high school.

What are some of your favorite spots, locations, areas in Los Angeles? What make them your favorites? I'm half introvert, half extrovert. I spend most of my time at home. If I'm out I love to karaoke in Little Tokyo, dance at Club Tee Gee, walk around Highland Park and EAT. Love pasta so I'm a sucker for all the Italian restaurants in the Arts District. I've lived in Hollywood and that was fun, but I like the pace of my neighborhood (Mount Washington) and the surrounding areas so I can write and relax.

Own unique info: I can recite most of The Birdcage.

High Tide DTLA: Disco Shrine with Kit Major

I've known Disco Shrine (Jessica) for over 5 years now. She used to work the music festival Brokechella/Broke LA for a number of years. She was always someone who would help me with my photo pass. So when I learned she was throwing a party to celebrate the release of her music video Alright, I didn't hesitate to show my support.

Disco Shrine

Of course, getting to High Tide to provide my support was a bit of an adventure. I parked my car a bit too far away and found myself walking through the darkened part of 4th Street. It was basically a lot of store fronts that had closed up for the night. It wasn't exactly a safe feeling walking towards High Tide, but I did make it. And I made sure to take a totally different path to my car after her release party.

The party featured a number of fun little booths/tables where one could get cotton candy and get your tarot cards read to just name a couple of the booths. There were also a couple individuals working in an enclosed protected area, creating decorative glass. It was fascinating how they were making their glass jars.

Kit Major

When it came to the live music, Kit Major opened things up with her pop-dance sounds. After a short set by Kit Major, Disco Shrine hit the stage. She was introduced as the Persian Barbie, which referenced her song Alight. When you see Disco Shrine doing a set, you know you're going to get a set of constant dance moves and cheer. You can't help but feel like bouncing with her dance tunes.

She ended the set with the video of Alright. It is probably best for her to explain what the takeaway should be from the video:

I just released my new music video for ‘Alright’! I'm so excited to share it with you and can't wait to hear what you think of this Barbie dream world we created. It features a bunch of badass babes reading magazines, playing nintendo, snapping polaroids, breaking into choreographed dance sequences, and skating through clouds in a y2k themed sleepover. It's proof that girls can appreciate a cliche without being one. 

The Hi Hat: Champs, Kid Eyes, Tiffany Stringer

Sometimes, you never know who you'll catch on a night out. I felt like heading out on a recent Wednesday night and so headed off to WFNM's night at The Hi Hat. Champs was the first band that I caught. They were doing their first official show in Los Angeles. I kind of felt like based on that statement that they'd played in Los Angeles before, but perhaps in an informal type of way. This band features two brothers. I was very impressed with their 80s inspired tunes. I could have listened to them all night though the sound guy needed to cut them off before they were able to get to their last song.

Champs

Kid Eyes has a lead singer that can twist his body in any way he wishes. At times, one could imagine him in a straight jacket, attempting to release himself from the constraints during the set. I just got caught up trying to capture all those moments.

Kid Eyes

When I walked into the venue, one had to immediately notice Tiffany Stringer. During the music for the other acts, she was up front, dancing away. Talk about a person filled with energy. Her set was the same way. Her pop sounds were aligned with her bouncing stage show. It was a nice way to end the night. Doing a little Google research, I found out that she was a contender on American Idol a few years back.

Tiffany Stringer

Zebulon: Rain Phoenix, Kokomo and The Motion Motion

I was wanting to catch one of Rain Phoenix's residency nights. I headed off on the last night. The set was filled with wonderful folk sounds. She mentioned that a number of the songs were co-written with her brother River Pheonix. For the final song, she brought up her sister Liberty Phoenix for a duet. As she talked with the audience between songs, she discussed death. She mentioned that this is something we all have in common no matter our politics, religion or nationality. She also apologized for grinning while talking about death, but then it was due to her approach in how she was discussing the topic.

Rain Phoenix

Opening the night was Kokomo which featured Lauren Rocket and Holly Marilyn Solem. Both used to be in a band called The Child. The was a favorite of mine. The Child sped through music like no tomorrow with a electronic, goth feel to it. Kokomo turns that all upside down with chill sounds. This was their first set and so was short and sweet. It included a cover of The Killing Moon by Echo & the Bunnymen.

Kokomo

In between Kokomo and Rain Phoenix was The Motion Motion, an interpretive dance group. I ended up being part of their show so I figured I'd write-up my experience. (No link to a site of their's as I couldn't find one.)

The Motion Motion

To be honest, I’m not sure when their interpretive dance set started. The dancers moved some chairs to the center of the venue. Then they tried to get people to sit on those chairs. Everyone declined. One of dancers came up to me and I felt like declining, as well, but I also felt like someone should volunteer so I took a seat. A few moments later the same dancer came over and said, “You don’t need to sit here anymore. Sorry, I misunderstood what was happening.” I shrugged and left the chair. Less than a minute later, another dancer came over and rather forcefully took me by the arm and pulled me over to another chair. Was this all part of their act?

Well, they started to do their interpretive dance moves and a significant part of it took place on the Zebulon raised seats (as seen in photo). They threw themselves across those seats, which actually freaked me out. I was just waiting for them to throw themselves so aggressively that they’d bounce off the wall and end up tumbling to the floor. They also danced around those that were convinced to take a seat on the chairs.

Throughout the set, they kept yelling out, “Is this on? Is this on?” Who knows what they were talking about, but everyone yelled out, “YES! YES!” As their set came to a close, the first dancer who had asked me to take a seat came over and whispered, “Is this on?” I replied, “I’m uncertain.” That was the honest answer, because I didn’t get what they meant by their question. An audience member looked at me with an amused look. Sorry, I obviously fail at the liberal arts.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Austin Leonard Jones

Austin Leonard Jones at the Bootleg Theater

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? I hope it reminds you of a beach party.

You mentioned that you're from Austin, Texas. Why the move out to California? After some years as human yo-yo I decided to commit myself coastal.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Kat Myers

Kat Myers at Harvard & Stone

Interview with the artist. Hope you enjoy:

What is currently inspiring your music? Over the past year, I experienced a lot of very big changes in my life. Lately, a lot of my songs have been about navigating those changes and trying not to lose my mind :). I do try to use humor in my songs, even if the subject matter is dark. Finding humor in difficult situations has always helped me.

What’s a dream venue/festival you’d love to play at and what about it intrigues you? Oh man, that’s hard! There are so many, but one in particular that I‘d love to play would be Governors Ball in NYC. I lived in NYC for 7 years before moving to LA and a big piece of my heart is still there. I find something really magical about that festival and being surrounded by the city. The island also has a history of being used for asylums so it has an interesting energy. I dig :)