FLUXX, downtown San Diego’s chic nightclub, held its first live event on Thursday, and it was a strange experiment. Instead of the typical DJs and dance music you might expect from the Gaslamp, they rounded up some ragtag indie bands to provide the night’s sounds. But it remained to be seen how the shiny shirt and hair gel crowd would respond to the fish out of water lineup. Continue reading…
New bands can take a while to warm up to, but the art pop of Mammoth Life is instantly endearing. Resting somewhere between pop and folk, the Lawrence, Kansas band’s bouncy sound is sugary yet rugged, equally suited for dancing or riding a horse.
In addition to their musical prowess, Mammoth Life have an eye for style. They’ve got their own clothing line — aptly named Mammoth Life Apparel — and they recently released a seven-inch called Enlightenment: A Romantic Gospel on fancy, transparent blue vinyl. The gorgeous record is individually numbered to 250 copies.
You can snatch up a copy on Friday, June 2nd, when the band brings its catchy melodies and Midwestern charm to the Soda Bar. The Hot Moon and Flying Objects will be joining them, so don’t miss it.
Band leader/box guitarist/producer Nicholas Goss was kind enough to share his Poetic Memory with us, which you can find below. Continue reading…
Josh Ritter is an anachronism. With his suspenders and curly head of red, newsboy hair, he could be a turn-of-the-century busker or a character out of a Dickens novel. His minimalist, acoustic folk albums fit snugly alongside 1960s Bob Dylan and 1930s Woody Guthrie. But the thing that most sets Ritter apart from modern-day musicians isn’t his wardrobe or his music. It’s his smile. Continue reading…
Dum Dum Girls should never have gotten big.
The band began as just a side project for Kristin Gundred, who released a demo under the Dum Dum Girls name for her fledgling Zoo Music label in 2008. The songs raised some eyebrows, but no one ever expected the band to overtake Gundred’s main gig: San Diego’s fast-rising Grand Ole Party.
London-based four piece One Eskimo gained prominence last year after touring with Tori Amos and dropping a well-received debut LP, and they’ve been getting major airplay in England ever since. The band is now on a U.S. tour, and they’ll bring the indie rock to Anthology on July 1.
In anticipation of their show, we have here a One Eskimo prize pack, and it quite possibly has your name on it. The prize pack includes two tickets to the 7/1 Anthology show, a One Eskimo t-shirt, and a copy of their self-titled debut LP. For a taste of their sound, check out the above video for “Kandi,” the single from the album.
To enter the contest, send an email to contest@owlandbear.com. In the email, include your name, phone number, and mailing address. (The information will NOT be shared for marketing purposes.) The winner will be chosen at random on June 28, 2010.