10.
Lot's of new music as the new
Everest album ,
On Approach, makes a huge impression, landing at number 1. The band's first release for Warner Brothers shows them staying true to their musical roots, but adding sharper writing, far more powerful vocals and a breadth and beauty only hinted at on
Ghost Notes.
The New Pornographers new CD,
Together, proves that this band is, indeed, still together, and still a powerful musical unit, landing in the fourth position. Add
The National album,
High Violet, which I didn't quite warm up to all the way until I saw them perform it live at
The Wiltern last Saturday night. It's morose, brooding, moody and exactly what you want from them. That was an astonishing concert. Also new is the
Roky Erickson with Okkervil River album, which is a little heavy on the redemption theme, but seeing them perform the material live last week , I came away with a huge respect and admiration for
Okkervil River and particularly
Will Sheff, who so generously and respectfully shared the stage with the rock and roll legend.
Avi Buffalo was bumped by, not only
Everest, but by
The Besnard Lakes as well, as their show last week at
The Troubadour was so impressive I can't stop listening to them. In fact, when I ran into
Sarah Negahdari at the
Silver Lake Jubilee over the weekend, we confessed to each other that we're addicted to this album. As
The Happy Hollows played a few dates with them, she was able to tell me that they're also some of the nicest people she's met.
Still high on the Broken Bells show and playing the album accordingly. Helen Stellar seem to be forever with me and I'm panting to see them again, as well as Choir of Young Believers, who need to come back from Denmark, rounding out my top ten.
whrabbit
When Harley Prechtel-Cortez (at right, courtesy of Timothy Norris of LA Weekly) asked to join the line up I was honored, and when he and an assortment of band members, mostly Red Cortez, showed up, they performed a typical, high-powered set of electrifying rock. I sat there in awe. To have gone from "Radars To the Anders" to Red Cortez within an hour bode well for the night. With a very simplified percussion arrangement, a nice variety of songs became more vocally oriented, ending with a superb arrangement of my favorite, "In The Fall". I was especially pleased because I don't think a lot of the crowd had seen them before, but Red Cortez always stuns their audience and can drive me into a positive frenzy. And the sound at Pehrspace was just perfect, like listening to a band in your living room.
The crowd was whipped into a frenzy by George Glass, who performed a near perfect set. It's obvious word is spreading, because they already have a loyal following...and deserve it. The quirky blend of indie, punk and tin pan alley is fruitful territory and they play it to the hilt. (The shot of Nick, at right, is by Mouse from the Death To Anders Echo residency back in '08) Watching this band get better and better is a lot of fun, as they morph through the birth pangs of a new band. Nick's vocals were always an element in Death To Anders that I particularly liked, and to hear him take the lead in George Glass is to see him grow and mature as a singer. They are definitely one of L.A.'s hottest new bands.
I have probably seen Seasons more than any other band, and I am always impressed, to the point that they always surprise me, and this was no exception. Starting with my newest favorite Seasons song, "Of Our Discontent", they played a handy set including songs they know are favorites of mine. No matter the circumstances, they always deliver. I've gotten to know this band as friends and have gotten to watch them play a lot, but tonight I was standing over Ray as he played keyboard, and got to witness what a remarkable pianist he is. Always note perfect. The first three bands deal in a kind of melancholy, thoughtful vein (I love sad) so the rambling, shaggy rock of Seasons was just what we needed. I was beginning to reel from four great sets of music, and knew another one was coming up. 
When I first started Feed Your Head 2 years ago, I thought it would be a nice outlet for me to pour out my passion for music to a few curious readers. After standing on the side, watching and listening for a couple of years, trying to catch up to where music was, it got to a point where I was no longer content to be just a casual observer.
