Author Archives: Ash Eliot

Every week of Red Cortez’s Monday night residency at The Satellite (formerly Club Spaceland), the band is offering a new EP for free. All you have to do is go to redcortez.com and submit your email. Then you can download this week’s EP and last week’s EP. Wonderful, I know. My personal favorite song on the new record is “Neal Cassady.” Here is the track listing for EP 2:

01. The Average Bureaucrat

02. Neal Cassady

03. Idiot Savant

04. Like A Son

Residency Night #3:

If you want a great opportunity to network with those involved in the music biz and learn about the latest trends, you must attend the New Music Seminar.

It kicked off tonight for the post-Grammy party and tomorrow is really begins at the Sheraton Universal. Here is the complete schedule for day #1 and to find out more information go to newmusicseminar.com.

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It’s Valentine’s Day. And rather than post about a bunch of lovesick songs or rant about how ridiculous this day is, I looked to The Black Keys who make everything sexy. V-Day has a bright side to it, in a way it reminds us of those special people in our lives who we don’t want to punch in the face. So with that said, here is The Black Key’s with their music video for “Howlin’ For You.”

It’s been almost three years since Orange County singer-songwriter Barrett Johnson released a follow-up to his charming album In Case I Went Missing. In anticipation for the next release, we are finally graced with his sophomore record New Jerusalem. Just like songs “Portraits” and “Small Hands” remain as lovely ballads that linger on the mind, Johnson’s new tracks will do the same. From the country twang in “4am Blues” and the poppy notes in “New Jerusalem,” the 10-track album is filled with a refreshing energy of diverse sounds and voices, including some sweet harmonies by Doll Knight (of Canvas) accompanying Johnson on the record.

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Every Thursday, catch Shadow Shadow Shade at The Satellite (formerly Club Spaceland). Tickets are $10 but if you RSVP ahead of time you get in for $5 and you can do that by going to the Facebook invite. With a great lineup, including favorites The Hundred Days, Chasing Kings and Le Switch, and the new Midnight Happy Hour with all drinks half price, it’s going to be one heck of a night.

Free Download: Is This A Tempest In The Shape Of A Bell

Lineup for tonight’s show:

Plus DJ Justin Gage (Aquarium Drunkard)

Soulful rock group Red Cortez have some new music for us, every week of February, and for free. We’ve been patient, waiting in anticipation for a follow-up to their EP Hands to the Wall with catchy favorites “Fell On The Floor” and “Laughing Streetcar.” And this month, Red Cortez is giving us way more than we had expected. EP One includes standout track “Seasick” along with “Bird In The Hand,” “Farewell, Dash Snow” and “We Will Start A War.” Download the record for free at http://www.redcortez.com…all you have to do is enter your email.

Next Monday, Red Cortez performs for the second night of their residency at The Satellite with College Kids, Everest, The Union Line and guest DJ KutMasta Kurt.

This week, meet Josiah Mazzaschi, owner of Silver Lake’s The Cave Studio and lead singer of Light FM. Within only a couple years after moving from Chicago to LA, Mazzaschi launched his own recording studio. Since, he has worked with well-known artists like Built To Spill and Rilo Kiley, while currently producing records for local stand-outs, such as Future Ghost, Y Luv and The Sweaters. As if working with almost a dozen bands at the moment just isn’t enough, his indie pop angst meets post-punk band Light FM is finishing up their next album Buzz Kill City. And we’re definitely looking forward to it.

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When thinking of how to describe Jack Littman, I can’t just label him with one genre because even his debut album Murder By Desire is eclectic and his most recent gem The Mixtape just threw me off altogether. At first listen, I thought folk. Then I listened to another song and I heard soul, and then I listened to a third song…and it had electro beats and Littman rapping at one point.

His EP The Mixtape lives up to its name. There’s the dark yet poppy electro-driven “Sinking Ship” to the playful Littman rapping on “Goochie Goo.” Then in the song “Waiting” he goes Flamenco style, plucking strings on a classical guitar. The Mixtape shows the extensive range of Littman’s music capability and further reminds us of his enormous talent. The young 20-something artist sounds much older than you would probably expect, thanks to his soulful voice.

His support team of experienced music folk includes producer Bruce Duff (Prima Donna, Circle, Angus Khan), and the following musicians: Bryan Howard (Ladykillers) on drums, Paul Ill (Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry) on string bass, Brantley Kearns (Dwight Yoakum, Simon Stokes) on violin, and Chas Smith (Thomas Newman) on pedal steel, and Adam “Lights Out” Levine (Ladykillers, Super Bees) on electric bass.

Now, it’s time for you to download The Mixtape for free at http://jacklittman.bandcamp.com.

If you’re a fan of Broken Bells, then you will most likely dig folk rock band Hi Ho Silver Oh. Little Videos, which beautifully films local artists performing live, featured Hi Ho Silver Oh recently. And the group’s song “Showers Without Warning” gives me the chills it’s so darn wonderful. Check out the video of them performing it HERE.

If you’re into the Little Videos session with Hi Ho Silver Oh, then go to The Echo this Tuesday and see them for real.

Deemed “the world’s smallest portable record player,” Soundwagon is pretty much exactly what the name states. A tiny Volkswagen with a needle and a speaker drives around a 33rpm vinyl record, and there you go. Very simple. At first it was only for sale in Japan but it’s now available everywhere and it’s also available in colors Cherry Red, Royal Blue, Black, and White.

Watch this video to see exactly what I’m talking about: Soundwagon