Buzz Bands: Little Ones sign to Chop Shop; album due in September

The Little Ones, who lost their U.S. record deal with EMI/Astralwerks early this year, have been signed to Chop Shop Records, the year-old imprint that was spun off Chop Shop Music, the music supervision company that has curated the soundtracks to television shows such as "The O.C.," "Grey's Anatomy," "Gossip Girl" and "Boston Public," among others. Look for the Little Ones' debut album, "Morning Tide," to finally be released in September -- more than two years after their "Sing Song" EP marked the L.A. outfit as a band to watch.

"They're growing and we're growing," singer-guitarist Ed Reyes says. "It's back to basics for us -- it's great to deal with a group of people who are enthusiastic about our music."

The move made sense geographically as well as sonically. "Since we're based here, we felt it was extremely important for us to have a Los Angeles band," label manager John Rubeli says. "Everything just worked out perfectly."

Other developments: Sara Lov, one-half of the L.A. dream-pop outfit Devics, has signed a solo deal with Nettwerk. An EP release is planned for late this year, with a full-length to follow in early '09. ... Hotel Cafe favorite Meiko (a former waitress there, as a matter of fact) has signed with MySpace Records. Her self-titled album, with a new song and re-recorded versions of others, will be re-released later this summer. ... And Foreign Born's sophomore album, titled "Person to Person," will be released in February on Secretly Canadian.

||| Check out: Foreign Born's session for Live Daily here. Or gain a bit of in-the-studio insight here.

Tonight in L.A.

Shwayze's show at the Roxy (8 p.m.) is free (and being taped for the MTV show "Buzzin'"). ... June residencies end for the Afternoons (at Spaceland, with a packed bill including the Boxing Lesson, the Happy Hollows and the Movies), Rumspringa (the Echo) and the Spider Problem (Silverlake Lounge). ... And some music calendars still list Indie 103.1's "Check 1-2" show as happening tonight at the Viper Room. It isn't. The venue's new ownership has decided to no longer host the FM station's local music showcase. However, the station is launching "Check One Twosday" on July 8 at the Roxy, with the Like playing. At this time, no shows are scheduled beyond that.

Update: The Like have had to cancel, and it isn't known at this time whether there will be a show that Tuesday. Stay tuned.

-- Kevin Bronson

Photo by Autumn de Wilde