Quick Hit Band Interview: October's Child

October's Child at the Bootleg Theater

Interview with the band:

How would you describe your sound? We call our genre "Saudade," which is a Portuguese word that describes the aching nostalgia for another place or time that doesn't exist, a world you can't access but know you belong to.

For the band and its future, how would you define success? Success would be to achieve our highest selves through the creation of our music, channeling an energy and truth greater than our own feeble human minds can comprehend. Raw emotion over technical perfection. Turning sadness into beauty, pain into healing. If you listen to October's Child and feel present, meditative, and spiritually elevated . . . if your anxiety is somewhat soothed . . . if you connect with the lyrics and project your own meaning onto the songs and feel less alone . . . we've succeeded. Also, playing shows around the world in gorgeous old theaters with cinematic visuals and dancing lights and thousands of people in attendance who know and love our songs by heart. That would be cool, too.

Own comments: We (Jordan and Britt) are both October babies, which is where the band name comes from. "October's Child" is derived from a century-old poem written as copy for a Tiffany's jewelry campaign.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Sun Sic

Sun Sic at The Hi Hat

Interview with the artist:

How would you describe your sound? Sun Sic is a newly founded Ghost Pop project by Boaz Roberts. It is the sensitive pop cousin of pessimistic June Gloom. In the two new singles "Coward" and "Pink," Roberts couples his background in experimental jazz and San Diegan surf-culture into a wobbly bookend of sun-tans, red eyes, and iced summer daiquiris.

How do you believe you have progressed over time as an artist? I've studied music in classical, band, and jazz settings for the greater part of my life. Music is an ever changing field and a never ending endeavor. I'm pleased to have worked in a wide array of settings and am even more pleased that music, and specifically the guitar, always feels new to me. Staying eager and curious is the key. Curiosity, along with hard work, and the reminders of why you got into music in the first place will lead toward a life of continual study and surprise. That's what I'm interested in.

Own Q&A. I'm always curious as to what sorts of music people make when no one is listening or watching. What would Taylor Swift actually write excluding her audience? I think about this a lot - not specifically T Swift, but many artists that release records I sometimes wonder and think to myself is this actually what you really wanted to release and is this really actually your intention.

Weathers, Smoke Season and Groves at the Troubadour

I got an invitation by Smoke Season to do some photography at the Troubadour. It is always fun to photograph Smoke Season. Gabrielle Wortman, lead singer, really throws herself into her sets. And this time was no different. In fact, she took a couple leaps into the air from various locations. I'm not sure I've ever seen her do that and was a bit disappointed I wasn't better prepared for that potential. Their electronic-inspired sound had the crowd pressed up close to the stage.

Smoke Season

Weathers was the headliner. This was my first time seeing them. Their sound has some nice hooks to it. I love how the drummer slammed those drums with his full body. And the lead singer's vocals are pure emotion. Since this was my first time seeing them, it was interesting watching the audience that was there for them. Folks at the front knew the words for a number of the songs. After their set, folks hung around hoping for an encore. And one young woman jumped on stage to grab a setlist. She was chased off by security. Oh well, good attempt.

Weathers

Groves opened the night. I've seen them twice in the past. Once at The Hi Hat. And another time at the Resident. I'm not going to lie, their music is hitting new highs. They, as a group, had a far more cohesive sound than I remember from my past two times seeing them. They're definitely learning how to play off each other.

Groves

Stonefield's Bootleg Theater Residency with Uni and Grave Flowers and the Bongo Band

Sometimes I'm just not in the know. I have to admit that this was the case this past Monday night. I figured there would be a decent size crowd at the Bootleg Theater, but I wasn't expecting to be part of 10+ photographers. Honestly, on residency nights at the Bootleg Theater, I'm usually just one of two photographers.

The photographers weren't there just to see Stonefield. They were there early to catch a band called Uni, from New York City. Uni had played The Lodge Room alongside Starcrawler a couple days prior. That must have driven some buzz, because I couldn't even get my favorite photography spot, stage right. Two photographers went straight for the spot. There were so many photographers, I turned to one photographer and said, "I've never seen so many photographers here before." She laughed and said folks were here to see Uni. She then said something that I didn't hear, but then I did hear, "Just make sure you know where the exits are."

Can one say that Uni is slow metal? Is that even a genre? Their music had this metal sound, but at the same time it was relaxed. Even the band members seems relaxed on stage. Their stage show was very entertaining, but on the other hand, it was with such a relaxed feel that one could think they were working in slow motion -- or maybe just a drug induced haze. Oh, that comment by the photographer . . . towards the end of the set, the lead singer took out a bottle of hairspray (or something similar) and a lighter. Yeah, a fire starter.

What I learned later: Band member Charlotte Kemp Muhl is a model.

Uni

Grave Flowers and the Bongo Band came on after that fire show. Three band member sitting on chairs, playing in a meditation manner. It looked like a bunch of guys playing around a camp fire. Yep, they were the band jamming in the middle of the night and we in the audience were their friends listening to their tunes, surrounded by the sounds of crickets and fireflies.

Grave Flowers and the Bongo Band

Stonefield is the residency band. They just so happen to be from Australia. The photographers didn't leave after Uni. They stuck around for Stonefield, as well. I couldn't help but wonder if this is how many photographers are going to be around each night of their residency. If so, there will be far fewer photographers hanging out at other venues throughout the week. This band has a '70s vibe. They're four sisters who jam it in a psychedelic manner. In some ways, I also couldn't help but think of local bands such as Warpaint and Pinky Pinky. Why? There just seems to be presentation similarities. The guitarist for Stonefield has a stance that just reminded me of Warpaint's Theresa. And like Pinky Pinky, the guitarist carries much of the vocal load.

Yeah, Mondays in April at the Bootleg Theater is going to be the big ticket item.

Stonefield

Quick Hit Band Interview: Pacific Radio

Pacific Radio at Silverlake Lounge

Interview with the band:

How would you describe your sound? The sound we're going for is Party. The more we see people moving around, dancing and gyrating and such in front of us, the more we know we're doing something right.

Is there a specific decision the band has made (good or bad) that it feels other bands/artists can learn from? We're finding that the further we go from our home base, the more we grow as a unit. We played a show in Mexico City a few weeks ago and the people appreciated how far we'd come to play for them. It's good for a band to get on the road.

What's your favorite song to play off the album y'all just released, 'Pretty but Killing Me'? ‘Camaro’ is a saucy, swanky little number that has the grit and determination we all need and thrive from as a band at that point in the set, it feels good all over. But 'Weekend' is a close second because it jumps off the stage right from the start and takes us all for a wild ride.

Royal Distortion and friends at The Viper Room

It was off to the Viper Room for the first time in years. For the past few years, my time on the Sunset Strip has been confined to the Whisky a Go Go. How did I end up going to The Viper Room? Well, Royal Distortion was playing a Wednesday night residency there throughout the month of March. And well, Royal Distortion is fronted by members of a favorite band of mine called Barb Wire Dolls.

There were five bands playing on this final night of the residency. Earthsleep, Double Cobra, Jason Achilles Mezilis, Royal Distortion and Vigil of War.

It all started off with Earthsleep hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m. (The Sunset Strip venues love their early start times.) Lead singer Cindy knows how to scream it out. What did I notice? At one point, she put on some skeleton dance moves. What did I notice going through my photos after the night? One photo I captured had Cindy licking her hand. If anyone knows the band, they know that Cindy goes by Girlwolf. It all connects.

Earthsleep

Double Cobra came up next with a high energy sound that one would expect from a Sunset Strip band. I initially wasn't sure what the band's name was. When they were announced, I swear I heard Double Cover. Then I thought I heard Double Poker. Comment of the set, "Narcissism is at an all-time high . . . said the lead singer." For this being the band's third set ever, they put on a solid show.

Double Cobra

Jason Achilles Mezilis was up there by himself and his drummer. I swear he was the busiest musician playing in Los Angeles that night. He had loops going on all over the place. He'd play a few bars on his keyboard. Then he'd rush over to his guitar. Then he might jump over to the bass. Half my time during the set was spent thinking, "Is he going to make it to his next instrument in time to keep up the sound?" Noticed: Half his body from his feet to his face were covered in Tron-like drawings.

Jason Achilles Mezilis

Then it was time for Royal Distortion, the new Barb Wire Dolls project. Dare I say that Royal Distortion is a new mature sound for the members of the band. IQueen still puts on an amazing front woman show. What would a band fronted by IQueen be without her high energy? But let's also say the sound is pure energy bliss. What I found amusing about myself? I keep wanting to call the band Blond Ambition. I have no clue how I go from Royal Distortion to Blond Ambition.

Royal Distortion

Closing out the night was dressed in black Vigil of War. Their set was less than the standard 30 minutes and it left me wanting more. When I think Sunset Strip, this is the type of band I'm thinking about: heavy on the mascara to present a bit of the dramatic death look, but then just a touch of a smile that pops up when the music is going perfect -- just to let you know not to take the look too seriously. I can't wait to catch this band again.

Vigil of War

Quick Hit Band Interview: Spirit In The Room

Spirit In The Room at The Satellite

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? I’d describe our sound as moody, manic, and sometimes romantic.

What is one of the band’s high or low moments and what makes it memorable? Opening for Deftones was a high point because I love their music. No low points. No regrets :)

Own Q&A: Is there anything I’d like to do as far as press? It would definitely be one of the ‘What’s In My Bag’ segments that Amoeba does. Learning about and sharing music with people is my all-time favorite thing to do.