Quick Hit Band Interview: The Mad Walls

The Mad Walls at The Smell

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? I call it cinnamon rock

What are some of your favorite spots, locations, areas in Los Angeles? What make them your favorites? My apartment is probably my most favorite spot, my sanctuary. Also, Folliero's Pizza in Highland Park is amazing and should be noted.

Own final thoughts. The Mad Walls released a 7” so look out for that!

Weekend Overload: Queen Kwong, Annie Hardy, The Colour Coast and many more

The weekend started with a Friday trip to Redwood Bar. I was looking forward to this night. I randomly noticed that Queen Kwong was playing that night. The last time I saw Queen Kwong was in 2013. It was in San Francisco of all places. I was temporary working up there for 4 months and she happened to be playing a set in the city. Soon after, she moved out of Los Angeles. I was definitely going to catch her set.

The Great Sadness

The first band I saw at the Redwood Bar was The Great Sadness. This two piece band gives some raucous noise. Then up came Annie Hardy. I swear she looked familiar. It is always possible that we've crossed paths at various venues before, but she looked like someone I'd seen before on stage. Her music was a touch on the minimalist side. A keyboard. A guitar. Soft vocals. Then she happened to ask the crowd what they'd like to hear next. She gave three options. One was a Giant Drag song. "Wait a second," I thought, "I've seen Giant Drag before." Saturday morning, I spent time looking through various photos and blog posts and finally found out that I had seen Giant Drag way back in 2011. It took awhile, but I finally caught up with her again. I'll keep an eye out in the future for Annie Hardy.

Annie Hardy

Queen Kwong closed out the night. Her set started out with a bang as she launched into a full blown rocking queen set. I was blown away, realizing what I'd missed for so many years. She took control of the Redwood Bar. If it was the stage, she was on her knees screaming into the microphone. If it was in the crowd, she was up there climbing the rope ladder that hangs on the wall. Sometimes, you just can't believe how much you've missed a favorite musician.

Queen Kwong

Saturday night was a double hitter. It started out at the American Barbershop where I caught 3 bands: Beers 4 Fears, Speed of Light, and The Lungs. Beers 4 Fear had a dark fantasy set. There was the thick book filled with -- I do suspect -- ingredients to potions and brews and perhaps a few scary prophecies. Speed of Light is a young tween band that knows how to rock and put on a show. They're more than willing to give the camera a smirk. The Lungs gave the night some solid heavy and fast beats. And plenty of hair flings.

Beers 4 Fears

Speed of Light

The Lungs

With that, it was off to The Hi Hat to celebrate The Colour Coast's single release party. I got there in time to catch Glacial Palms and their beautifully structured harmonies. Then it was on to The Colour Coast. There was a heightened sense of energy radiating from the band. The packed house no doubt got them going. While shooting from the side, an individual came over and suggested I take video of what was going to happen next. Obviously, he had a sixth sense about what was going on. I ended up taking a quick video of the crowd singing and clapping to the tunes of the band.

Glacial Palms

The Colour Coast

Sunday just kept the music weekend rolling. Of course, I first had to watch a very stressful Duke basketball game. Mercy, Duke nearly got taken down, but they survived and advanced in March Madness. Hopefully, they are able to play better basketball this coming weekend. As soon as the game ended, I rushed over to The Hi Hat to catch Michelle Young's birthday bash. I was able to catch the last two acts. James Byous, who mentioned that he's known Michelle Young since high school, gave a set filled with sweat and emotion. Then Michelle Young closed out the afternoon. Of course, it being her birthday, there were some candles to blow out. A doughnut from Donut Friend did the trick for a cake substitution. Her singer-songwriting sets are always filled with enthusiasm. And there were some special guests. One special guest was Heather Cole. I've seen her name splashed around various music bills, but I've never gotten to see her. I'll need to make an effort to catch one of her sets. Moment of her set has to be when her feet were in so much pain she just had to take off her high heels and finish out the set barefoot. She didn't want to do it, but sometimes you just got to do it.

Michelle Young

James Byous

Quick Hit Band Interview: The Bad Applez

The Bad Applez at the Whisky a Go Go

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? It’s a raw, passionate and honest blend of rock/pop with catchy melodies. We can describe our music as friendly rock and roll.

Does the band have a favorite music-themed movie, tv show or book? And then of course, why the choice? We never thought about it, but Manuel (guitar player) always talks about a book that marked his life named The Knight In Rusty Armour.

Own Final Thoughts: The Bad Applez signature is the catchy and powerful bass lines and vocals harmonies that you will listen to in our upcoming EP.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Moderns

Moderns at The Satellite

Interview with the band (with Rosie). Enjoy:

What's the story behind how the band started? Chris and I are good friends that go back a few years, and met through mutual friends. We initially started working together on random commercial music, and working with and for other artists. Chris invited me into the project MODERNS, and it’s been us two working together for about 4 years now!

For the band and its future, how would you define success? We’d define success as reaching an audience with what we are creating, and making them feel something they’ve never felt before through our music. We love to do things a little differently while sticking to our roots and passion. As long as we are happy with our art, and the people who hear our music are happy because of it; we feel successful! It’s not all about followers or money for us (although we won’t reject basking in what the future holds for us), we just love what we do, and have fun doing it.

Final fun fact about MODERNS is that Chris and I are often across town from each other when writing music. Chris will build a track, and me (Rosie) will add vocals and lyrics. We go back and forth adding and taking away what we see fit; and eventually get together in person to lay everything down at the end. I (Rosie) live in Santa Monica and Chris lives on the east side. Anyone in LA will understand that we hardly make the commute if it’s something that can be dropboxed or explained over the phone

Quick Hit Band Interview: Polartropica

Polartropica at The Echo

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

What is currently influencing your music? Most recently my songs have been influenced + inspired by animals (that should not be in the zoo), tank tops, summertime, fruit you can find at the Farmer's Market, internal conflicts, sticking together through the bs, Netflix and Sid the Cat.

What inspires you to write/compose your songs? Very inspired by all of the badass femme producers, musicians, artists and filmmakers busting through the patriarchy with their explosive talents and creativity.

Own thoughts: My favorite fruit is watermelons! I could eat watermelon every day for the rest of my life just plain straight out of the shell with a spoon, or change it up some days with a little squeeze of fresh lime or mixed into a fruit salad with berries, stone fruit and cherries!

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Dead Wren

Dead Wren at Eagle Rock Music Festival

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

What is currently influencing your music? Currently I've been getting more into bluegrass and country music. I like anything with grit and twang.

Where is your favorite spot to write music? And why the spot? My favorite place to write music is the breakfast table, I say breakfast table instead of dinner table because breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, mostly because it is accompanied by coffee. There's rarely room for coffee at a 9 o'clock dinner. Cooking breakfast, making coffee, and scribbling words down with a full belly and a newly caffeinated thought box is as good as it gets.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Karmic

Karmic at Sunstock Solar Festival

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

Is there a specific decision the band has made (good or bad) that it feels other bands/artists can learn from? We have really stuck to the idea that there is strength in numbers. We have a really great team around us of fellow musicians, managers, friends, supporters, and it's all about lifting each other up. Any business can get greedy, but this is the antithesis where we are all working together for a greater good.