Buzz Bands: Kevin Bronson on the music scene in Los Angeles and beyond

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Silly Rabbits, synths are for kids

03:07 PM PT, Jun 14 2007

[Random notes from a couple solid weeks of show-going:]

Whiterabbits0613 So you were probably out dancing Wednesday night, convulsing to the liberating glitches of Hot Chip or bouncing giddily to those Norwegians in red tracksuits, Datarock. Even after three nights of LCD Soundsystem, you can't get enough. And it was probably good, even if you needed a shower afterwards. But so were White Rabbits, the New York sextet who brought their brilliantly honed clamor to Club NME at Spaceland.

White Rabbits' indie rock demands a bit from the listener, what with two drummers and even another floor tom onstage when the band's polyrhythmic noise needs an exclamation point. But the star of Wednesday's set was easily singer-pianist Steve Patterson, whose caterwauling cut through stabbing guitars and percussion and whose rollicking work on the keys was almost ragtime-gone-punk. White Rabbits ended the set with a 200-mph cover of Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" that segued into their own number, "Kid on My Shoulders."

Fun, and not a silly synth in sight.

- - -

What's happening with plans for a Prince residency at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel? Wish I knew. Originally it was supposed to start this weekend, but representatives for all parties have been silent on whether the series of shows will actually happen. Stay tuned to this blog.

- - -

The lineup continues to fill out for the Sunset Junction Street Fair, with two Sunday headliners still under wraps. Late-afternoon performers on the Bates Stage include the Bronx, the Aggrolites and the Buzzcocks. That last Bates act better be pretty good, because at the other end of the festival on the Edgecliffe Stage, the O'Jays will be headlining.

- - -

Other stuff we heard: "The Ortolan," the forthcoming album by the Deadly Syndrome, is as sophisticated and smart as the band's live shows are chaotic and exhilarating. With the upcoming (and long-overdue) release of Foreign Born's "On the Wing Now," that makes two very good albums later this year from Dim Mak. ... Nice to see that the members of the Adored are working with Annie Hardy of Giant Drag. ... The Gray Kid has a new album on the way. ... Best wishes for recovery to 25-year-old Eric Howk, guitarist for the Seattle band the Lashes (who layed around L.A. a lot last year and made plenty of friends here). Howk suffered severe spinal injuries in a fall last month and remains hospitalized.

Touts for Thursday, June 14

The Start have a new album, "Ciao, Baby," and front woman Aimee Echo and the gang celebrate its release with a big show at Safari Sam's. ... Also: Castledoor continues its residency at the Silverlake Lounge, with the Monolators among the supporting acts. ... The Mother Hips and Strangers Smile play a free show, presented by L.A. blogger An Aquarium Drunkard, at the Echoplex. ...  And another local blogger, Rock Insider, presents the Henry Clay People and Death to Anders at the Scene in Glendale.

Photo of White Rabbits singer-guitarist Greg Roberts by Kevin Bronson.

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About the Blogger
Kevin Bronson
Kevin Bronson has covered emerging and indie music since 2002 in his weekly Buzz Bands column in the Calendar Weekend section of the L.A. Times. He adores caffeine, judicious use of falsetto and the 6-4-3 double play. He abhors exclamation points, modern country and any notion that New York City is the center of the cultural universe. He's older than any music blogger he knows but has been known to pogo. He'll try not to pretend.

Bronson's Buzz Bands show can be heard Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Pacific time on the Internet radio station LittleRadio.com.

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