Orange County Music Blog

How the hell did we miss this? Not only did NBC recently launch a fluff-tastic version of "local's only" online news, one of our Local's Only bands were actually on it. On Oct. 27 The Growlers were invited to the newsroom of NBC LA to answer a cavalcade of the world's most generic questions. You could say it was just another score in a busy year for the Costa Mesa four-piece, chock-full of record releases, insane music videos and big time tours with Devandra Banhart and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. 

OK, so you're not sick of us writing about kooky Costa Mesa quartet the New Limb? No? OK, cool! Enjoy this fun video, featuring their cover of the Band's "The Weight." It's one of their live show staples, but here you can enjoy it over and over again, watching them in this serene living room setting (except for drummer Adam Chavez, who got exiled to the lawn. Sorry, buddy). It also helps associate "The Weight" with a modern reference that isn't those Saturday Night Live sketchedsfs with dudes sitting around saying weird things, as seen (but not really, since the video doesn't work any longer) in this link here. Also, check out this thought-provoking article on the true meanings of the song's lyrics, and an exploration of the Fanny/Annie confusion. ("Fanny"? Really?)

It's been many months in the making--since January, I think--but the video for Huntington Beach band Moostache's song "The Body Disagrees" is finally complete. (It's been so long that one member in the video, keyboardist Bobby Waltman, isn't even with the band any more.) But, luckily, it's a pretty awesome clip, clocking in at a nearly "Thriller"-esque seven-and-a-half minutes. It's got a silent movie vibe goin' on, though it's not actually silent, as that would be a pretty unfortunate choice for a music video. There's murder, mayhem, damsels in distress and a gorilla suit. Don't ask. Just watch.

I've written lovingly in the past both about Yorba Linda's excellent five-piece the Steelwells and Fullerton's "wedding planners of music"/recording studio ArtiSans Label (don't believe me? click here and here!). So what a splendid happenstance that the Steelwells happen to be currently recording at ArtiSans! They've even released a video documenting the early part of that process, please to enjoy:




Just because they're recording doesn't mean they aren't gigging, though. Oh gosh no! They're playing this Saturday at eVocal, and next Tuesday at La Cave.

Despite an opening week that fell short of some expectations, it's clear that Watchmen has captured the cultural zeitgeist for the time being (because, what else will? "The Daily Show"/CNBC feud or the latest puzzlingly successful Tyler Perry film?). Even Orange County bands are getting in on the fun, with Entice--who are playing this Saturday as part of the SoCal Rock Fest at Sachi in Long Beach--putting their song, conveniently titled "The Watchman," with a video of clips from the trailers that hopefully won't get taken down from YouTube.

The Malloys, the brotherly director-ly duo who've worked previously with artists like the Kooks, Jimmy Eat World, Cold War Kids, Santana, the White Stripes, Will Ferrell (?) and others, have teamed up once again with Huntington Beach's Matt Costa for the video to his second single, "Cigarette Eyes," off his sophomore album, Unfamiliar Faces.

The video was shot in a single take and even features a couple cameos from Costa's drummer, James Fletcher, who also plays drums for the Costa Mesa-based Satisfaction.

The embedding for the video on YouTube has been disabled, but you can check it out by clicking here.

Café Tacvba at Lollapalooza.

Mexican alt-rock stars Café Tacvba have just released a new single, “Esta Vez,” from their latest album, Sino, which our own Señor Arellano found lacking. You can check the video for "Esta Vez" here (embedding is disabled).

Honestly, I'm not feeling this song; it's pretty maudlin and sluggish. YouTube's commenters and raters, however, beg to differ.

Café Tacvba will play the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Sat. April 26.

“Shoulda Known” is a departure for Minneapolis hip-hop unit Atmosphere. I've watched/listened to the video (directed by Bo Hakala) thrice and I'm still not sure if I'm feeling it. The scenario comes off like a "risqué" American Apparel advert and the music ditches producer Ant's usual vintage-soul/funk foundations and seems to be going for some of that coveted hipster-electro demographic. You just feel wrong viewing it without wearing an all-over print hoodie and jauntily tilted ballcap. Still, Slug's storytelling lyrics are as evocative as ever, even if the delivery is less fiery than in the past.

You can download the MP3 of “Shoulda Known” here. It's the lead single from Atmosphere's new album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (out April 22 on Rhymesayers).

Atmosphere appear at LA's Henry Fonda Theater May 6-7.

The LA buzz band's video for their new single, “Little Lover's So Polite,” was shot by a famous person. Happy eyeballing, everybody.

Through the magic of YouTube, you, yes, you can come along as the OC Weekly travels to exotic Long Beach to film hipsters in their natural habitat. You will ooh and ahh as local band Thinking Aloud serenades you into a stupor.

Last Night in Downtown SanTana:

Nothing but rest for the weary this week in downtown Fullerton, with no school or work for some on Monday thanks to Dr. King.

A few people gathered to listen and dance to the beats of DJ Concise, a local Fullerton DJ, at the Plush Lounge on Sunday night. Surprisingly few people showed up to the show, probably still hungover from Friday and Saturday binges.

Here's the video: