Category Archives: video
Poetic Memory: Jail Weddings (List)
Jail Weddings‘ 2009 EP, Inconvenient Dreams, has spent the last few months in constant rotation at the Owl and Bear offices, waiting defiantly for a new record to oust it from its spot at the top of our playlist. Picking up where Phil Spector and his wall of sound left off, Jail Weddings fuse doo wop, rockabilly, and soul into catchy, theatrical pop. It’s a disarming and seductive combination, which is why their EP has been getting such frequent play.
But now, at long last, an album has toppled Inconvenient Dreams from its throne, and wouldn’t you know — it’s another Jail Weddings record.
Set for release on October 12, Love Is Lawless is the Los Angeles band’s debut full-length, and it contains all the ballroom waltzes and barroom brawls we’ve come to expect. From the sublime “I Thought You Were Someone I Knew” to the cathartic “Somebody Lonely,” Love Is Lawless is not only a passionate tour de force, but a rollicking good time.
Lead singer Gabriel Hart was kind of enough to share his top influences with us (in no particular order). We’ve done a lot of Poetic Memory features here at Owl and Bear, but this has to be one of the most fascinating and revealing ones to date. Check it out, along with the video for “I Thought You Were Someone I Knew,” below. Continue reading…
Poetic Memory: HoneyHoney (List)
Venice, California’s HoneyHoney — everybody’s favorite folkybluesyrockpop band with a foxy lead singer — will be opening for Xavier Rudd tonight at the Belly Up Tavern.
For evidence of the duo’s talent, you need look no further than the cover of Smashing Pumpkins’ “1979” on their afore-linked MySpace page. Suzanne Santo’s vocals are simultaneously world-weary and light as air, effectively erasing any memory of that Billy Corgan guy. And that’s just a cover — their playful, sauntering originals have enough soul and fire to keep your toes tapping through the night.
As you anxiously await the Belly Up’s open doors, check out HoneyHoney’s top 10 mind-blowing life experiences, located below. Continue reading…
Roadside Graves to Play West Coast Tavern on Monday
In a shocking report, the Surgeon General just revealed that Americans aren’t getting enough rowdy folk in their diets. If you’re among the folk-deficient, bleary-eyed masses, look no further than Monday’s Roadside Graves show at West Coast Tavern to get your life back on track. (NOTE: The show was originally to be held at the Tin Can Alehouse, but was canceled. Thanks to SD Dialed In, the show has found a new home at West Coast Tavern.)
I can’t think of a better way to start your week than experiencing Roadside Graves’ joyous, knee-slapping live set. The band is currently touring in support of the critically acclaimed EP, You Won’t Be Happy With Me, out now on Autumn Tone Records. Continue reading…
Florence and the Machine – ‘Dog Days Are Over’ (Video)
Florence Welch isn’t shy. The lead singer of Florence and the Machine has a powerful set of pipes, and she uses it to belt out notes with abandon. As a child, Welch was frequently reprimanded in school for impromptu singing, and got her break by serenading Mairead Nash of British DJ duo Queens of Noize during a chance bathroom encounter. Welch’s outgoing personality is also evident in her lyrics — her band’s first hit was “Kiss With a Fist,” a stunning ode to passion and violence.
Florence and the Machine’s video for “Dog Days Are Over” is currently nominated for Best Rock Video and Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Both honors will be decided by fans, so you can help the band win by voting here and here. With its Eastern imagery and soulful vocals, the video is a great demonstration of Welch’s quirky charm and tenacious talent.
After you vote, head on over to the band’s Facebook page for a free download of “Cosmic Love (Short Club Remix).” And, if you feel like “liking” the page while you’re there, don’t be shy.