Webcuts Music

On an odd rainy night in downtown Hollywood, weather befit more for their homeland than ours, Belle and Sebastian, Glaswegian art school rockers of yore, played to a sold out crowd of mostly thirty-somethings, brave enough to stand outside…in not just any ordinary venue. Instead, they stylishly bowed and plucked their instruments amongst the mausoleums and graves of some of Los Angeles’ elite. Adding to the macabre setting was the screening of Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting that preceded the show. Taking the stage, B&S lead singer Stuart Murdoch asked “Did you see me? I was in the bar scene!”.

Oh, summery shimmery albums. Why must you hook us so? Berkeley, CA’s, The Morning Benders serve up a treat.

Former Everything But The Girl frontwoman aptly wrestles with life after 40. “…not all fun and games, but a pleasure regardless”.

“You must be the most attentive audience, ever” joked Chris Thile, during his performance at LA’s gem Largo at the Coronet, “It’s not often that you can hear the performer’s water bottle snap back into place.” And it was true — in this intimate setting of about 75 people (including fan Minnie Driver), Mr. Thile was the center of everyone’s attention. There was no heckling or chatter between songs, just enthusiastic, almost rapturous applause for this mandolin virtuoso.

If only England had their version of the Wild West, otherwise Tom McRae might’ve found himself in much stronger grounding.

Idlewild return with their fan-funded sixth album, offering much talk of Warnings (and Promises). But do they deliver?

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks played to an audience brimming with the intoxicating scent of bearded, checked-shirt sporting aging rock dudes. Vanessa From Queens was missing but the gang was all there.

Stuart Murdoch and a cast of thousands get by with some divine intervention in the long awaited God Help the Girl.

“Bitte Orca is an album for the background of a high concept coffee shop on your hipster street”. I’m getting that Reality Bites feeling…

Producer Danger Mouse and vocalist Helena Costas come together as Joker’s Daughter. It’s a mixed deck by all accounts.