Eskimohunter chills one more time; Spinto Band crashes Lounge

Eskimohunter puts its July residency on ice with one final performance tonight at Spaceland, and if you're the kind who likes a bit of cinematic spectacle stirred in with your rock music, this is probably about as good as a club gig can get. The band's carefully crafted stage lighting and projections -- not to mention its straight-outta-the-tundra white "uniforms" -- form a rather devious mind-meld with the distortion- and effects-laden rock.

The quintet is the brainchild of visual artist Jason71, who gets my vote for designer of the coolest gig posters in town (visit his website to see them all). If only Eskimohunter's musical output were so copious -- the band has released two EPs in its nearly five years of existence. In a strange way, it's often occurred to me that Eskimohunter is as much a venue for 71's visual talents (and a badge of distinction in the artistic community) as it is a musical mission. Does that make it somehow less worthy of a star in the L.A. constellation of shoegaze rockers? Not a bit.

If you miss them tonight, Eskimohunter will be playing the Sunset Junction Street Fair on Aug. 19. Presumably, the projections and light show won't work as well for the band's early-afternoon set, but you never know.

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The Spinto Band, in Los Angeles to record its new album with producer Dave Trumfio, has been added to the bill tonight at the Silverlake Lounge. Light FM, playing the final night of its July residency, goes on at 11. The Spinto Band plays at 10. ... Zen Sushi is back in business as a live venue, and the walls will be shaking tonight when the Alchemist Element and Leviathan Brothers play. ... The Stevenson Ranch Davidians, who have a Wednesday night residency this month at the Echo, are among the bands playing Indie 103.1's "Check ... One Two" night at the Viper Room. ... Hello Dragon had to cancel its set tonight at the Echo because singer-guitarist Julie Chadwick cut her hand in a kitchen accident. ... Jesse Harris' new album "Feel" is a feel-gooder; he plays an early set at the Hotel Cafe tonight. ... And the International Pop Overthrow festival continues with an eight-band bill at the Cat Club.

Photos: Jason71 by Kevin Bronson / LAT; the Spinto Band from www.spintoband.co.uk

Comments

[wayne]

exciting visuals with a My Bloody Valentine musical bent. the Wall of Sound never looked (and heard) so good.

[Mj]

This is way late, and no one's gonna see it, but... in regard to the already crazy (though delicious) pairing of The Alchemist Element and Leviathan Brothers that night at Zen Sushi -- woo-eee!: It ain't a show at Zen unless it's a little bizarre. True as ever that evening.