a u t o p i a

Mark Gardener returns to L.A.

Mark G. is playing at The Knitting Factory on December 11th. This time he's backed by a full band, U.K.'s Goldrush. G-Rush are also his opening act along with L.A.'s Sky Parade.

Autolux support QOTSA

Autolux annnounced two shows supporting Josh Homme's Queens of the Stone Age (they're kind of popular) in Los Angeles. Get your socks knocked off on December 19th and 20th at The Wiltern.

Doves

Manchester's Doves in my opinion are the front runners for album of the year with the amazing Some Cities. Although the album came out early in the year it remains in my "cd bullpen" as something I need to listen to every week. And yet they seem to be unrewarded and overlooked by press in England and the US for the likes of generic rockers Coldplay, who they are often mistaken for (I'm not kidding, this really does happen). Maybe if they were Canadian they'd have a better chance? To tide us over until the next record, and to demonstrate their spellbinding live skills, the band have announced that they will be recording all of their UK December shows and plan to offer a "Live EP" as a digital download soon after. I can't wait.

Irving news

They've been silent for quite a while now but the jackpot of band-related news is here. Irving has been in the studio working on their new album titled Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers. It's scheduled for release by Eenie Meenie Records on March 21, 2006. The new album was recorded with producers/engineers Elliot Chenault (Irving), Phil Ek (The Shins, Modest Mouse, Built To Spill), Aaron Espinoza (Earlimart), Jim Fairchild (Grandaddy) and Tom Biller (Jon Brion).

They're also playing next month at the Troubadour, 12/20, supporting Rogue Wave.

Division Day + Great Northern: Live at Silverlake Lounge, 11/28/05

Maybe there's a new policy in place in Silverlake, but I thought that when bands started at 9 pm it really meant 9:30 pm. So I got there and missed a few Great Northern songs, no biggie. Anyway, they sounded huge, in an ELO/Flaming Lips kind of way. I kept hearing something reminiscent of toy piano sounds or synths climbing in and out of the mix. It was nice to hear such a massive, ambient sound coming from organic instruments. Great Northern may share a few members with Earlimart and sometimes remind me of Everyone Down Here, but they are clearly on a different path. And how about them smooth vocal harmonies, beautiful.

It's my first time catching Division Day. I think I've said this before but the band falls into a rare category of...um...uncategorization, kind of like Midnight Movies do with their tunes. They sound like bands that you've been influenced by or seen in the past only more like themselves. And in a live setting they sound angular and furious. That's what makes Division Day a memorable and unique indie rock band. There's no posturing or obvious references, just a group of guys playing well thought-out songs with every instrument sounding sharp among the mix. Wade Boggs would be proud. And by the way, WTF is up with twenty or so people moving to the back of the room to chat about winter clothing or some dumb shit during their set? C'mon.

Division Day play again this Thursday at The Echo w/GoGoGo Airheart and The Joggers, Great Northern play Friday at The Echo w/The Earlies.

The Rapture

Remember The Rapture and all that hype? They're playing some gigs in L.A. next month, if you can get in you're way cooler than anyone I know. Let me know if it's all that and a bag of funyuns. according to the band they're still working on a new album and doing lots of deejay appearances in New York.

12/7--The Troubadour

12/8---The Viper Room

PLUG Awards

In 1985 I entered Washington Elementary's Annual Dragon Drawing Contest. I didn't think I had a chance in the world. The entire school enters with no age limit so it's really competitive. I ended up winning an award for "most original dragon", it was a fine moment. The kid who beat me for "best dragon" actually traced it from a D & D book, and he sported those Dolphins running shorts.

This year the PLUG Awards nominate all these amazing bands that we get excited about when they release a record or come to our town. Awards are cool, and the underdogs deserve them. Hit the link and vote.

SSPU in the studio

This past week I experienced that deep-fried turkeys are the greatest thing ever. But I'm not sure what America does with all that oil, maybe buy a bio-diesel car? What's also amazing is that local heroes Silversun Pickups are in the studio working on their first album. They got a bunch of new songs coming down the pipeline for us in 2006. I'm excited, you're excited, they're excited! The tracking is being done in Los Angeles.

p.s. Buy a Xmas sweater and a tree, you'll look festive and have a house that smells like a forest.

The Flaming Lips play GIANT in L.A.

Have you heard of GIANT? It's a Techno-House-Dance freak-a-thon for clubbers and worn-out ravers from the nineties. They host some sick parties throughout the year with notable deejays from across the globe. 2005's New Years's event in Hollywood is going to be different this year. They will be graced with the presence of The Flaming Lips.

Why indie-rock-alternative bands all of the sudden? I'm not sure. I just wish these guys would stop playing mega concerts and finish an album already. Or is it possible that John Digweed is producing the new Flaming Lips record??? Hell no. Oh yeah, Death Cab For Cutie are playing too. Just think, if you attend the event you'll encounter massive groups of ecstasy-driven kids telling you that they love you.

Tonight at Silverlake Lounge

DIVISION DAY & GREAT NORTHERN---------9 pm