NEUROMANCE in the News!

Local band NEUROMANCE was recently featured on FOX News last month. Here's the expose on this cool new alternative/ambient band! And check out Neuromance's music or buy their EP at http://www.myspace.com/neuromance

AUTOMATIC MUSIC EXPLOSION @ Key Club

photo by JMH/405east

THE AUTOMATIC MUSIC EXPLOSION

If the gang of Archies went to a house party, The Automatic Music Explosion would definitely be the band rockin’ out. The band, consisting of Matt, Jodie, Chris, Max and Jeff are colorful and fun, as though jumping off the pages of a comic book. But seriously, at first glance, you really don’t know what to make of The Automatic Music Explosion. Matt – the Goth/Glam rocker! Jodie – the Roller Derby gal. Jeff – the Punk Rocker. Chris – the Classic Rock ‘n Roller. And Max – the 60’s Brit Popper. It’s like watching a band in which each member, plucked from each music genre, was sucked through a music teen lover’s time warp and then suddenly dropping them on stage to play the mother of all shows.

Since the release of their Debut EP “This is!” earlier this year, The A.M.E.’s energetic live shows have been garnering word of mouth for their self-described ‘BLAST POP’ sound. Their shows? They’re a sight to behold. Every show demands mandatory participation from the crowd. Sign-waving Jodie baits the crowd into screaming and shouting with large cards telling the fans to ‘Clap Your Hands’ and yell ‘Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!’ From bassist Jeff jumping up and doing scissor kicks, vocalist Matt cursing the fans, Max the drummer posing center stage, Chris the guitarist head-banging and wind-milling his way through his solos and Roller-derby Jodie hip-shaking and hurling balloons and candy towards raised arms of the audience, The A.M.E. certainly can put on an electrifying show. Saying The A.M.E. are over-the-top would be an understatement. They’re loud and they are proud and they make no apologies for their brash, take no prisoner’s attitude.

photo by JMH/405east

Known for playing clubs at night and high schools during the day, The A.M.E has the knack for tapping into today’s youth - a time when all we cared about was wondering when our first kiss would be and the only responsibility we had was to our friends. The A.M.E. are not trying to change the world though their music, they just want to have fun while somebody else is trying to do it.

On vocals are both Matt and Jodie. But even though Matt shoulders most of the vocals, as the only gal in the group, Jodie proves she can rock with the rest of them. Singing and hip-shaking her way through, “C’mon C’mon” and “Looking out for Number 1,” Jodie’s teasing vocals contrasts Matt’s “I don’t give a fuck” persona. And when both clash on the mic together it’s a sight to see. Off to the side, A.M.E. guitarist (or should I say A.D.D. guitarist) Chris plays his diamond-studded guitar like there’s no tomorrow, using up every ounce of energy in “C’mon C’mon.” When the spotlight hits his guitar just right, a beacon of light shoots out towards the rock Gods as he takes center stage drawing on energy from the music thirsty crowd.

Currently, The A.M.E. are working on their debut full-length record, recording with legendary Rock & Roll Producer Mike Chapman who has worked with Blondie, The Knack and Pat Benatar. Until their new album comes out, enjoy them while you can as they play local shows all across the Los Angeles area.

Check out the rest of the photos in our pics page here . Also check out more reviews and pics on 405 East. Here’s A.M.E.’s performance of “C’mon C’mon” from that night. Check out how sick Chris is on his guitar. Thanks to 405 East for the awesome vid!

GLISS @ The Viper Room

“Gliss conjures up a world where American garage rock meets the swirling ominous sounds of Berlin’s Krautrock. With fuzzed-out My Bloody Valentine guitars, The Dandy Warhol’s poppy rhythmic sensibilities, and the dark propulsion of The Liars, Gliss chronicles the excesses of a life they can’t seem to quit…”

- GLISS

photo by PICKSYSTICKS

GLISS
MARTIN KLINGMAN, VICTORIA CECILIA, DAVID REISS

After catching The Automatic Music Explosion at the Key Club last Monday, I walked across the street to watch Gliss perform at the Viper Room where they had their homecoming/CD Release party.

Martin Klingman, Victoria Cecilia and David Reiss make up Gliss. If you wondered why I didn’t put their instruments next to their names it’s because they each swap instruments throughout their set with Martin carrying the vocal duties and Victoria and David singing back-up. Although Gliss isn't women-fronted, Victoria simply rocks for playing ALL instruments which make Gliss a PICKSYSTICKS band.

photo by PICKSYSTICKS

This trio, which hails from the trendy, hip neighborhood of Silverlake had one heck of year in 2007. Having just wrapped their North American tour with the Raveonettes, receiving positive press in the indie community for their EP and debut album, and going on tour in 2005 with Billy Corgan and then personally being asked by Bill Corgan himself to record “Rhinoceros” for a Smashing Pumkins tribue album, Gliss are now gearing back to head back to the studio to record a new album.

(check out more photos at www.myspace.com/picksysticks and check out this youtube clip from the show taken by 405east! )

Miss Derringer @ El Rey

photo by PICKSYSTICKS

Miss Derringer
El Rey Theatre
Los Angeles
11/3/07

Web: missderringer.com; myspace.com/missderringer

The Players: Liz McGrath, singer; Morgan Slade, guitar; Sylvain de Muizon, bass; Cody James, drums; Lightnin' Bill Woodcock, lead guitar.

Material: Los Angeles based Miss Derringer is fully loaded with two albums and a recent two song EP, all of which are ammunition tracks that improves with every new release. Their latest single, "Heartbreaks & Razorblades," blend shake-a-bop sounds with Goth satire that would make a mourner sway at a funeral; the lyrics are suicidal sad, but the rhythm is that of a glimmering beach sunrise. Miss Derringer has a sound that one can either hear as half-full of hope or half-empty with hopelessness, or both, depending on the perspective of the listener. This band could be categorized as 60's Motown revitalized with Rockabilly, somewhat like The Shirelles' "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" with a bit of country twang and endless bleeding.

Musicianship: Liz McGrath's vocals are dark and soft like hot tar, smiling sugar vocals with a knife in the gut lyrics. Supporting on guitars are Lightnin' Bill Woodcock slinging the dusty cowboy ride into the sunset and Morgan Slade delivering soft surf waves. Sylvain de Muizon on bass and Cody James on drums keep the tumbleweed tide from breaking into a catastrophe of contrasting rhythms. But Liz McGrath's vocals are the secret ingredient to blend the Los Angeles surf rock waters with the west coast cowboy desert oil.


photo by PICKSYSTICKS

Performance: Miss Derringer fills listeners with irony of death and hope, somewhat like their performance that buried their audience alive. Liz McGrath stood proper with elbows out and hands clasping, wearing a black and white striped imprisoned heart leotard with a red velvet vest and a petite doll hat to match, swinging her hips as she sung her songs of woe. Backing her vocals was the "Ghost Army" of black collar bandit cowboys with armbands expressing a tear dripping nightingale, the lone night singer. Every few songs two ladies in red satin would flank McGrath and swim dance, making it seem that if hell had a beach, Miss Derringer, McGrath as the Goth Gidget, would be the perfect band to play endless on it, in the rising dusk, for all the fallen broken hearted suicide victims. Their performance adds another depth of sweet darkness to their grim upbeat music.

Summary: This band seems to have reinvented the oldies of the 60's, when the sound was fun and somewhat whimsical and yet delivered a humble message. Miss Derringer spills a broken heart and a bit of country into the mix with a dash of rock, making listeners twist and grieve, and want to shout their pain. Miss Derringer is not typical pop, but they'll definitely shoot a bullet to your heart if you give them a shot.

--Jeff Pegg

(check out MORE PHOTOS from this night of Miss Derringer in our pics page at www.myspace.com/picksysticks.)

And here's a youtube clip from the show. Enjoy!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK!

"METEORS" by The Happy Hollows