Tagged: meremortals

For an unsigned, independent artist, singer-guitarist Axel Steuerwald has always been able to coax a big, radio-ready sound out of his bands' recordings, first with Mere Mortals and now with the new quartet United Ghosts . So it goes with the new single "Holes Into the Night," a dreamy, driving slice of neo-shoegaze rock made in Steuerwald's home studio in Silver Lake. In singer-bassist Sha Sabi, guitarist Jason O and drummer Sean Burgess, Steuerwald has found bandmates who share his vision for marrying psychedelic Britpop with electro trappings. "Holes Into the Night," just out as a limited-edition 7-inch (the [...]

When he fronted the lamentably overlooked Mere Mortals , Axel Steuerwald fashioned tunes that seemed beamed across the Atlantic from Manchester and sprinkled with garage-rock fairy dust. His new quartet United Ghosts , founded with Sha Sabi, build on that approach — driving Euro dance rhythms, hazy guitar and synth textures and boy/girl vocals straight out of the jetstream. United Ghosts' debut 7-inch, "Holes Into the Night," is like a dream in fast motion, the kind of roll-the-windows-down psych-rocker you used to hear on the radio in 1990s, and would welcome today. ||| Stream: [...]

• United Ghosts - Holes into the Night

Mere Mortals seemed destined to be one of those bands Los Angeles overlooks — purveyors of rock-solid rock that a) isn't made by 21-year-olds, b) isn't fashionably disheveled or gimmicky, and c) doesn't require an instruction manual to like. After a handful of releases and a memorable tour or two — including playing to some big crowds in Japan (pictured) — frontman Axel Steuerwald and gang have broken up, but their farewell blast, "Love X" (released July 2), warrants some love. The Mortals' sweaty, psychedelic take on Britpop will find a home with fans of Oasis and [...]

• Mere Mortals - Come Down Easy

Three decades of music in one night — that's what the Church has in store for fans tonight at the Roxy Theatre. The Australian veterans are on a 30th anniversary North American tour that will see the band perform one song from each each of their releases in reverse chronological order. Fans who attend the acoustic show will receive a free copy of their new "Deadman's Hand" EP. ... Elsewhere, the April residencies kick off in Silver Lake/Echo Park, with each of three acts boasting new material that is varying degrees of wonderful. Helen Stellar [pictured] [...]

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Mere Mortals are a classic L.A convergence of musicians from all across the world. When taken in high doses, their autobahn guitar pop may unsettle a stomach full of exotic sushi. Steve Jones told someone to sign them and in Japan someone listened, and they are in residency at Spaceland every monday this month. This interview by Erik Ehlert.

• Mere Mortals - Sunspots mp3

[Happy 30th birthday today to Sara Bareilles. Here's how to get your week started ...] The headliners at month's free residencies should be familiar faces to Buzz Bands readers. Here's a refresher course: Mere Mortals , freshly returned from a successful tour of Japan , bring their gritty Britpop to at Spaceland, where I hear that the "special guest" tonight will be Black Francis — performing with Grand Duchy , the project he launched this year with his wife, keyboardist/bassist Violet Clark. ... Links [pictured], [...]

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[Apologies for the server problems that befuddled Buzz Bands all morning. Back to disseminating:] Big doings all over town — under the stars, there is Jackson Browne at the Greek Theatre; Buddy Guy, Dr. John and the Lower 911 and James Cotton at the Hollywood Bowl; and, on a smaller scale but no less enjoyable, Olin and the Moon's free early show at downtown's Pershing Square. ... ... N.A.S.A. [pictured] brings its Intergalactic Circus to the El Rey [...]

[ Andy Bell of Oasis, and Ride before that, turns 39 today. Cheers, mate. And in L.A. environs ...] Black Francis hits town for a pair of solo acoustic dates at the Mint, with Mere Mortals [whose new music I previewed a couple of weeks ago] opening. ... Let's see: A 60-foot giantess, a discredited scientist and a search for redemption — those are the elements in the Voyeurs' new video for "Things People say," which the L.A. duo debuts [...]

Over the course of three-plus years and three releases (two EPs and a single), Mere Mortals have cultivated a gritty-but-pretty take on Britpop, one that in another city and perhaps another era might earn them the keys to Madchester. Alas, L.A. tends to take bands like the Mortals for granted, seeing as they're not chasing the latest hot sound, or performing shirtless, or sporting Day-Glo attire. ||| Exclusive downloads: "Sunspots" and "Come Down Easy" Not that frontman Alex Steuerwald is discouraged. First, [...]

[Let's start Thursday by wishing Kate Bush a happy birthday ...] And let's continue it with with a song off the Sounds' new album, "Crossing the Rubicon": ||| Download: "Dorchester Hotel" The Swedish quintet's Blondie-indebted rock has cast quite a spell on SoCal audiences the past couple of years. Their new album, recorded in L.A., sounds as if it just danced out of the Reagan Administration without being too overbearing. Or maybe nice Swedes just get the benefit of [...]

• The Sounds - Dorchester Hotel

[Marky Ramone celebrates a birthday with his blitzkrieg today.] The almost 30-year-old spirit of Darby Crash will be summoned tonight when The Germs headline the El Rey Theater with Spider Problem and Agent Orange opening. ... The Veils finish their west coast run at Club NME at Spaceland. ... At Pershing Square in downtown, Fol Chen and 60 Watt Kid play an evening show. ... Jonneine Zapata [pictured] performs at [...]

[Why, it's Paula Abdul's birthday today. Isn't that nice ...] Today: A seriously busy weekend gets started with the seriously beautiful orchestral maneuvers of Grizzly Bear , who are joined by Here We Go Magic to play a (very) sold-out show at the Wiltern. ... It's also opening night at the Hollywood Bowl , where the Bowl Hall of Fame inducts Dame Kiri Te Kawana and Josh Groban and Roger Daltrey and Trisha Yearwood are among the guest performers. ... Old Buzz Bands [...]

[Happy birthday to Yoko Ono, 76 years young. Not that she isn't getting birthday greetings from all over ...] Mystery Jets , the Syd Barrett-worshiping, 1980s-channeling quintet from London, are newly aligned with Rough Trade Records. Their "Twenty One" [video for "Half in Love With Elizabeth," above] was No. 8 on NME's top albums of 2008, though it was barely a blip on anybody's radar here, except maybe the Anglophiles who will visit Spaceland tonight for Club NME. ... Andrew Bird , with Loney Dear [...]

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daiana feuer

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