September 27, 2010

Free Moral Agents -- FREE AGENTS ** CANCELED **

Free Moral Agents Free In-store
Tuesday, September 28th

...has been canceled. Sorry.

Begun as an avenue for Ikey Owens to fill his free time while on a break from touring with Mars Volta, FMA quickly moved from Ikey and hired guns to a full-on project. The band has settled into a groove, the songs have developed into a heady mix of post-punk angularity, worldly rhythms, and a fire that comes from the heart - it runs from quietly trippy to raging full-on, often within the confines of the same song. Free Moral Agents release their new album on Sept 28th, just in time for our little event.

Click over to their myspace page and sample their soul.

September 20, 2010

Matt Costa -- FREE INSTORE

Matt Costa Free In-Store Performance
Tuesday, September 21st - 7:00pm

Matt Costa has a new album coming and we couldn't be happier that he's decided to kick things off here on this ever-so-humble little stage.

Matt's new, self-produced, album is called Mobile Chateau and for someone who's watched his musical evolution as a customer, Matt's new-found (or at least much more apparent) love of that old psyche sound isn't a huge surprise. It still sounds like Matt, in fact he debuted a few of these songs at his Record Store Day in-store a bit over a year ago. The finished versions however have a very cool vintage sound (that sound like they would be a good fit if anyone ever does a Nuggets-style boxset for Long Beach.)

The guest list is curently open for those who pre-order Mobile Chateau on CD or LP. The pre-order includes an event poster and priority entry to the event. If space allows we will open first come, first served when we get closer, but it seems likely that this one will close out on pre-orders, though.

Click here to download a free track that you can live with for a bit - it's a smoker.

LESLIE STEVENS & THE BADGERS
Los Angeles-based artist whose new album Roomful Of Smoke is garnering rave reviews, and we've snuck them on the bill as a surprise opener. Produced by David Bianco (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan), Roomful, was released by Nashville's Thirty Tigers (Justin Townes Earle, Those Darlins) last month. Leslie and her ferociously named backing band, The Badgers, have already toured with Rhett Miller and Roky Erickson with Okkervil River. Upcoming tours include Martin Sexton and Laura Veirs. The LA Times said, "Canyon Country Bands are as common as brush fires in LA but the thing that separates this combo apart is the voice of the titular Leslie...a rounded shining thing that evokes Patsy Cline's sass and sorrow in one swoop."

The guest list is currently open - first come, first served, but a pre-order will get you a spiffy poster, priority entry, and the feel good hit that comes from supporting Matt (or Leslie) and Fingerprints.

September 06, 2010

Fitz & the Tantrums -- FREE INSTORE

Fitz & the Tantrums - Guest List Now Open
Tuesday, Sept 7th - 7:00pm

Combining the energy of an Ike & Tina- type revue and a very cool retro feel that rivals Sharron Jones and the Daptones, Fitz and the Tantrums are doing their best to bring that sweet soul music back to the masses. We are very happy and proud to help them in this endeavor. If you love vintage organs sounds, sultry sax, shiny suits, and a set of pipes that would have fit nicely in the Motown catalog, this is one for you.

You should click here to see their incredibly hot video for "MoneyGrabber", that little repeat button at the end got me through a rough half hour on the computer the other day.

The guest list has just opened up, first come, first served, so if you'd like to join us, give a ring and we'll get you all sorted out (no purchase necessary, and our number is 562.433.4996). Buying a copy of Pickin' Up the Pieces gets you priority entry and a nifty poster that's suitable for signing and hanging.

Here's some gushing press:
"Dear Mr. President," (is) a political song reminiscent of Edwin Starr with its pronounced keys and guttural "hey, wooo" chorus backing. This song swaggers while it delivers its message. "MoneyGrabber," which floats in with a short intro then bursts out with chorus union. A message to gold diggers everywhere, this song oozes funk. Its compressed breakdown alone is beyond compare... Fitz & The Tantrums has sold me on their retro-soul tone, wet with organ and dripping with soul, and Pickin' Up the Pieces is a must buy. - LA Music Blog

August 26, 2010

Leslie Stevens & the Badgers -- FREE INSTORE

Leslie Stevens & the Badgers
This Thursday, August 26th - POSTPONED!

** POSTPONED **

Please check back for rescheduling details.

Leslie Stevens is the latest roots-rocks sensation from the good folks at 30 Tigers Records (Avett Brothers, to name just one of their associations). Leslie and the Badgers, to their old fans, combine the right elements of retro country, California Canyons, and jangly jamboree (more street-party than the country bear variety). It's powerful, sultry, and just enough fun at the right time to make classic influences seem fresh and fun.

Here's a juicy quote from the Portland Tribune:
"Americana country-pop quintet Leslie and The Badgers hail from Los Angeles, but sound like they'd be just as comfortable, even more so, jamming on a back porch in Appalachia as a hip club on the Sunset Strip. Frontwoman Leslie Stevens is gifted with a lovely soprano voice."

Sample yourself silly at her myspace page. Leslie Stevens & the Badgers debut release, Roomful of Smoke, is out this coming Tuesday. Pre-ordr in advance, or purchase in front of the in-store gets you priority entry and a poster from the event.