My favorite Oscar 2013 looks!

also Charlize Theron is the physical manifestation of perfection…

“she also train to go to the bathroom on her mates” —Waneesha

#buzzband (Taken with Instagram)

RAAARRRR (Taken with instagram)

In which I review a concert: Sleeper Agent and Ben Kweller at Los Angeles’ El Rey

Alright, I’m gonna come out and say it: Sleeper Agent is hot.  They’ve recently released their first kick-ass album, Celebrasion, they just played Coachella, they’re in the middle of touring their sweet Kentucky faces off, and, thanks to the band’s ruthless energy, they make it seem pretty effortless.  Now that that’s out, I have another confession: I am (still) in love with Ben Kweller.  Since his first solo album Sha Sha came out 10 years ago (what?) to the recent release of his new album, Go Fly a Kite, it’s been pretty much nonstop adoration, and I am happy to report that is in fact still awesome and gorgeously talented.

“Psst…Tony…we’re so hot right now…”

Sleeper Agent and Ben Kweller made a great combination of acts.  Both bands have the ability to swing sweetly between minor-chorded, messy, loud garage tunes and major-chorded, earnest pop songs—all while somehow maintaining a single, cohesive musical identity.  Seeing this concert made me appreciate the unique fluidity that these bands have, and I can only assume the quality is a reflection of the artists’ open minds, laid back personalities, and insatiable curiosity.  

Click here to read the rest on Bestnewbands.com!

familyoftheyear:

hey guys…

first of all, we would like to thank everyone who came out this week to our shows at the satellite and troubadour. you guys are lovely.

unfortunately after the troubadour show, someone stole our rented van with ALL our gear in it. instruments, merch, amps… everything’s gone. we’d…

So stupid, whoever stole that business. Like, really? Geez.

But keep sharing this if you’re in the Southern California/West Coast area (or even if you’re not) so hopefully Family of the Year can reclaim their stuff!

Up into Hollywood, climbing streets, dodging pedestrians and stopped cars, I went. Only a few hours ago, it feels like years. Paid a stranger to take my car—strange, when you put it like that. I stood in front of The Music Box’s bright marquee where it read THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT.

Down into dim light, breathing lightly, weaving through people and ushers, I went. Onto a checkered floor which would later be littered with crushed cups and painted with a sticky film. The crowd stood humming with chatter as it always does. Strange faces and things on walls—I’m dreaming in this place, a nightmare? Perspectives skewing and faces laughing? I’m awake and the light dims and the crowd roars and the heavy blue curtain rises in scallops. Five people take their places and the song begins and the lights are purple with secret expectations. Mikel Jollett opens his mouth and sings the first words to “Numb” from the new album All At Once (read my review here) and I smile and everyone else smiles. I have missed this voice. The ooo’s and the high-pitched guitars and the running drums and his honey thick voice, they wash over everything…

Click the link to read more! Woo!

“On Friday night, I headed down to the Echoplex in Los Angeles to check out Ólafur Arnalds, an Icelandic musician.  I only got lost about 12 times this time and drove in about 15 circles before I found it (an all-time low for me) before I headed into to the darkly lit venue, which reminded me sort of a laser tag room, oddly enough.  I groped my way through the dark as the opening band, George Sarah and Strings, played an epic accompaniment to my blind mini-journey.  Needless to say, I felt sort of accomplished when I finally nestled into my seat amidst a semi-circle of folding black chairs.  As George Sarah and Strings finished up, I surveyed the crowd bathed in the blue light and found it was comprised of either a) Icelandic-looking people or, b) artsy, educated couples having conversations about the history of Icelandic classical music or something strangely specific like that.  Disco balls spun lazily above me and across from me and threw the blue light around, while the woman’s afro in front of me glowed an electric blue on the edges.  Arnalds took the stage…”

Read the rest here!

“On Saturday the 22nd, I headed on out to the Troubadour for another typical night of Los Angeles’ rocking live music scene, and, naturally, I was not disappointed.  I don’t mean to make all you non-Angelenos jealous, but you should be totally jealous.  It took me a while to understand the hype behind this city, but its lives up to its fame—I mean, this is a normal Saturday night here.  Anyways, I got to see four awesome bands—Now, Now, You Me and Everyone We Know, Gold Motel, and HelloGoodbye—come together under one tiny roof that had no chance at containing the sound and energy that was subsequently put forth.”

Click the link to read more about this legit show. SERIOUSLY SO GOOOOD. I heart my job.

glad to be back in LA

A tweet from Kina Grannis herself about my review!

So cool!: 

“aw, such a nice review of my El Rey show! thanks so much @bestnewbandscom :) —> http://bit.ly/igX77t “

Thanks, Kina!

And be sure to check out bestnewbands.com and keep an eye out for my weekly posts!

Plus, check out my past pieces here!

Aaaaaaand, if you know any cool emerging bands that you think deserve some recognition, email me at claire@bestnewbands.com and drop me a hint!

Turns out I have an internship with an awesome possum (I’m embarrassing) website called bestnewbands.com and I get to do super cool things like go to concerts fo free and then write stuff about them.  Anyways, I went to see a lovely young lady named Kina Grannis perform a great show last night at the El Rey Theater in LA.  You would know more about this if you read the review. Hint.