IR SoCal Album Release: Still Time – See America

As a nice audial cannonball into Summer, we’ve got a handful of tracks from San Luis Obispo roots-rock group STILL TIME’s newest album “See America” which were recently passed along into our greedy little hands.

Just a short week back or so, we featured the first single from this album, “Come Alive” over at our Daily Dose feed – and have three more tracks we’d like to present to you here; a nice cross-section of the album, but certainly not the only quality tracks therein.

SAMPLER TRACKS
1) 27
2) Tedd the Monster
3) The Girl I’ve Always Loved

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See America is a musically diverse album full of instrospective lyrics, amazing musicianship and thoughtful well structured compositions from front to end.  The thematic vision of the album is appropriately topped off with a notable quote by mid-20th-century politician and diplomat Adlai Stevenson, underneath the plastic CD mount:

“When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England Hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains, and the sea.  He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect.”

• Artist Website
• ST @ MySpace
• ST @ Reverbnation
• ST @ Twitter
• ST @ t61
• ST store | itunes | emusic | amazon | cdbaby

IR SoCal Welcomes: Hey Ocean! – A Song About California

“Got a long long way to go to California”

From their 2008 release, “It’s Easier to Be Someone Else”, Hey Ocean was apparently conceived on a beach in Costa Rica, their band name being an exclamation born out of the frustration of a stormy ocean caused by unrelenting torrential downpours while on a surf trip.

The band however is based far from sunny Santa Monica, Venice, and Hollywood as described in the song.  As usual, we felt it would be nice to bring other’s perspectives from outside the area into the mix, this time from Canada.

Hey Ocean! is a four piece from British Columbia, Vancouver to be exact – composed of band members Ashleigh Ball, David Beckingham, Dave Vertesi, and Dan Klenner.   Explore below:

• Hey Ocean! MySpace
• Hey Ocean! @ Facebook
• cdbaby | itunes

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IR SoCal Presents: THE dAY

Today we present to you a four-piece band from the city of Tarzana (in the San Fernando Valley) called THE dAY.

We’ve been holding onto their music for a while, waiting for an opportunity to properly present some of our favorite tracks from the group, who first came together in 1999 for their first show at a coffeehouse called Lulu’s Beehive on Ventura Blvd.

From 1999 to 2003 the band played at every conceivable venue in Los Angeles and Orange County, racking up about 40 gigs a year. The first album, ‘Souvenir for the Soul ‘was recorded in 2001 but never came close to the vision they were trying hard to reach.

They ended up a bit disenchanted by 2004 with the lack of success for their debut album, so put out a five song EP called ‘Belongs To You’. Fortunately they drew the attention of three major record labels and a few sizable publications at the time, but unfortunately nothing tangible emerged from the fruits of their efforts.

THE dAY is now back recording with an exceptional producer, Craig Sachlem from Theirmusic.com, supposedly with a working album title, ‘No Finer Line’. The band is about to finally put the finishing touches on the vision they’ve been working so hard for over the years, and we couldn’t be happier to see it all happen for them.

• THE dAY Website
• THE dAY @ MySpace
• THE dAY @ cdbaby | itunes | amazon

TRACK LISTING
1) Unstoppable
2) Belongs to You
3) Always Find a Way

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IR: The SoCal Sessions #26 – Not on This Show

Our newest episode opens with a farcical movie trailer we found, something about airplane flaps malfunctioning leading into a ridiculous crash in the mountains and subsequent survivalist breakdancing. It has nothing to do with the content which follows, so don’t let it’s cornball nature deter you from listening to eleven serious tracks that we’ve collected from a variety of talented artists located across Southern California.   Please visit, comment, and soak up the links provided below.

Once you are done listening to this episode we would like to urge you to complete the survey at the link provided below. Its primarily for those who have listened to the weekly music podcast put together by the Association of Music Podcasters (AMP), of which this show is a part of.  The survey about eight questions long and shouldn’t take too much of you time. We’d all really appreciate it.

More details are also available at the show’s end.

Rating: Work Safe
TRT: 54:25

THE ARTISTS

• Coco B’s: Modern Lover | itunes | store
  
• State Shirt: Computer | e-music | itunes | free t61
• The Spires: Riot | e-music | itunes
• Lal Meri: Dreams of 18 | free | e-music | itunes
• Polar State: Channel Islands | free EP | free t61
  
• Still Time: The Fabulous Life | e-music | itunes
• Maria Taylor: Time Lapse Lifeline | free track
  
• Red Cortez: Fell on the Floor | e-music | itunes
• The Oddfaces: In Time We’ll Bleed | free @ gb
  
• Nico Stai: Masters & Whispers | itunes | cdbaby
  
• Fontaine: La Linea | itunes | cdbaby

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LINKS

• Wander Radio (now feat. Megan’s Mix)
• Insomnia Radio: UK
• Association of Music Podcasting Survey (please take a few moments to fill out!)
• IODA Promonet

Red Cortez – “End of an Error”

IR SoCal: Local Daily Overdose #2

Over the course of several nights, this IR coffee-fiend powered through multiple cups of caffeine in order to bring you the following local tracks on our Daily Dose feed, amongst scores of others great tracks from outside the region.

The musicians featured here today are all from regions in the Southland, specifically:  San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, and San Diego.

Enjoy my second look back into some of the many choice selections of great artists that the Southern California region has to offer. All links below go straight to the Daily Dose, which contains the individual tracks and more information about the artists via the specific featured blog.

Our UK host actually picked several of these selections and will continue to help bring a nice healthy assortment of groups to the table to help balance out my tastes, so expect more in the near future as the quality tracks continue to keep rolling in daily.

• Still Time – Power of Now
• Japanese Motors – Single Fins & Safety Pins
• Incomplete Neighbor – Glorious New Weather
• Pic Vicious – LA Dreamer
• You Me & Iowa – Dress the Stage
• Secret Dakota Ring – The Fade to Black
• The Happy Hollows – Lieutenant
• Bag of Toys – Smile So Wide

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Original Image by Ben_Kreeger
(Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)

IR: The SoCal Sessions #25 – Ain’t That Inspiring?

The New Year has arrived and what better inspiration moving forward then to hear four brand new releases by three old local friends to the network: Chance, Nico Stai, and The Black Watch; as well as one new courtesy of TMC Management, That Noise.

Rating: Not Work Safe
TRT: 33:45

Track Listing

• Chance: Soft Bomb of Diplomacy
• Chance: When the Cracked Becomes the Broke
• Nico Stai: Scream
• Nico Stai: The Skies Over Your Head
• The Black Watch: The Things I Never Said
• The Black Watch: Quartz Pink Cloud
• That Noise: Tongue (Your Eyes)
• That Noise: State of Affairs

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Purchase Links

• Chance: store | e-music | amazon
• Nico Stai: itunes | cdbaby | amazon
• The Black Watch: cdbaby | notlame
• That Noise:  itunes | amazon

IR SoCal Welcomes: Dare Dukes – Bakersfield

They said, “Don’t go. Nothing in Bakersfield”

From Savannah, Georgia – we welcome artist Dare Dukes back to the storied country & rock byways (Merle Haggard, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead) of the crown jewel of the area, Bakersfield.  No doubt this town contains some of the eccentric characters on their individual missions that Dare describes his music as embodying.

Dare was born and raised in San Jose, and grew up as the state blossomed into what he calls, “exit-ramp culture”—a maze of smoked-glass franchises and cookie-cutter subdivisions that took root along the vast network of interstate freeways. “Everyone knows the clichés about suburbia: It’s a stark, sanitized landscape, pretty much soulless,” Dare explains. “No one needs to remind us of that. I’m more interested in the poetry I see there–the weirdness, the anomalies, the resistance. Even in this unlikely grid you can find courageous people and precious things.

“Bakersfield,” which Dare describes as “the closest thing I have to a traditional song,” is heartbreaking in its spare depiction of lonely desperation. Minimally arranged, the song builds measure by measure, as visually arresting lyrics describe a man’s search for his lost lover. By the time trumpet and trombone blow in to announce the protagonist’s arrival in Bakersfield, the song has created a large and empathetic space, large enough for the listener step into.

“So ease off the clutch and dip from the Tehachapis into the San Joaquin”

Dare Dukes Website
DD on MySpace
DD on Facebook
DD on Twitter
Purchase: iTunes, cdbaby

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Intro Sound Sample: Grateful Dead @ Bakersfield Civic Auditorium 1-14-78 (re: arrest of their soundman)

IR SoCal: Local Daily Dose Retrospective #1

Here at The Socal Sessions, we have several containers full of musical goodness passed down from the Daily Dose feed that we will be slowly releasing into this stream over the next few months.

Once new tracks are released on the Daily Dose, they will slowly make their way here once we have enough to fill a small bottle. This week we have tracks from Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Irvine – some from emerging artists and one from area legends, Melvins, who came together in the early 80s.

Enjoy and have a nice time ringing in 2009. Expect new content to be arriving soon, as we have several new CD releases we expect to cover in our next outing. Cheers.

TRACK LISTING

• Joshua Lanes – Dance Thunder
• Melvins – Nude With Boots
• Twilight Sleep – Don’t Fire Your Guns
• Lee Coulter – Booty Voodoo
• Sarah Hethcoat – I Got You
• Nico Stai – 12 Thousand Years
• Faded Paper Figures – Logos
• El Ten Eleven – I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool

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Original Image by orangeatblue
(Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)

IR SoCal Welcomes: Ox – LA City

About a year ago, I was talking to Leo Cain at the TLP Show about occasionally featuring bands from other areas who were writing songs about the area that we live in. Its definitely refreshing to see others views on the region you were raised in; some who have visited, some who’ve only seen the Southern California area via TV, movies, and other media.

Examining that theme we bring you a track by Canada’s alt-country stylized project, Ox, a favorite from their 2003 album, Dust Bowl Revival.  Ox is basically Mark Browning, a one man show who wrote a really great solitary album full of introspective tunes.

Maintaining a grass roots approach – Ox has done it the hard way – thousands of miles in cramped mini-vans… countless nights spent bedding down on floors, couches… pool tables… bad food, stale beer – blown tires, road kill. Ox’s sound is the sound of the open road – from not far above it.

You can pick this one up at iTunes or e-music. Oh bye bye…

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IR SoCal Presents: The Living Suns

This last week I was invited out to the Viper Room on Sunset to witness a live performance by the Fullerton, OC based independent rock six-piece, The Living Suns.

The Living Suns combine a mixture of progressive and psychedelic rock, a throwback to specific bands from the 60s/70s, although their sound is composed with a bit of modern flair as mirrored by some groups on their varied influences list (at their website). You could make comparisons using the many familiar sounds spread throughout their arsenal, but ultimately their unique style stands strong, cemented via a wide range of sound palettes, forged into a unique vibe TLS can proudly call their own.

Upon exiting the venue, I was able to snag their keyboardist, Lucas Drake, away from the post-show madness for a few minutes.  He was kind enough to tell us candidly about a few of the songs on their debut “Self” titled full length which came out early this year.

Songs Featured: Man in the Middle, Downers and Ditches, 1,000 Ways to Use a Dollar

Purchase Links: CD Baby, e-music, iTunes

Special Thanks: Bill Bennett (TLS Management)

Also of Note: TLS has just finished a brand new quality video for Man in the Middle, which you can find here.  It was directed by Nate Miller, produced by Jeremy Schott with photography by Jean Paul Bonnea. It rocks, in slow motion.

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IR SoCal Presents: The Pacific Story

This is the story of The Pacific, a three piece indie group of some Japanese heritage, whom have been pouring their hearts into the many storied high-energy performances in the Los Angeles rock underground. For years The Pacific have stormed the local scene with their own brand of British stylized rock, influenced by such greats as the Verve, Stone Roses and Swervedriver, just to name a few.

Bandmates Curt, Mike and Sammy were last seen featured by our own FenderGirl in the archives of the Indie Music Project several years previous. Fast forward to June of 2008 and we have a brand new full length release by The Pacific called Smoke & Mirrors, released on Intravenous Records. It’s a positive, energetic and well mastered effort which once again captures the group’s live sound in all of it’s wild panache.

I was introduced to the group originally by a friend from high school in the LA outfit The Lost & Found, another local group influenced by such UK greats as Paul Weller and Stiff Little Fingers. The Pacific join other talented bands in our local scene like IR favorites, The Weather Underground, slowly solidifying LA as a top destination for fans of the Brit-pop sound (outside of the UK of course).

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FEATURED TRACKS: THE PACIFIC
1) Got it Made (Burn LA)
2) Hey Now
3) Buzzcocking Iggy Popping

The Pacific
“Hey Now” (mp3)
from “Smoke and Mirrors”
(Intravenous Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store

The Pacific
“Got It Made (Burn L.A.)” (mp3)
from “Sound x3 EP”
(Intravenous Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic

IR: The SoCal Sessions #24 – Carnal Pleasures & Lewd Designs

Thanks for checking out the 24th full length edition of The SoCal Sessions here at Insomnia Radio.

Today we’ve gathered up fourteen excellent tracks from fourteen talented artists, breaking out in Long Beach via a tasty funk concoction of 70’s cinematic car chases and crime. From there it’s all downhill as we move to Riverside for some Sex in the Morning via Soul of the River, to Los Angeles for Cosmonaut training with The Hectors, followed by a night of Insomnia with Griffen. We eventually end up north in Ventura, slightly worse for wear, knowing less than we did at the start with The Spires.

.

Rating: Not Work Safe
TRT: 58:35

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CARNAL PLEASURES

• OO Soul: Squad Car | e-music
• Soul of the River: Sex in the Morning | free music
  
• Drive A: Everyday | free album
• Earlimart: Song For | e-music
• Joe Thalman: These Days | itunes
• The Hectors: Carol & Sanford | e-music
• Boris Smile: Adventure With Rockets | .mp3 | e-music
• Simon Wilcox: Eyes on You | itunes
• Radars to the Sky: Long Walk Home | itunes
• Griffen: Insomnia | itunes
• Lowlight: Bloodline | itunes
• War Tapes: Dreaming of You | e-music
• Threadspinner: The Unmaking | itunes
• The Spires: I Knew Less Than I Did at the Start | e-music

LEWD DESIGNS
Lowlight Visual Album (YouTube)
Key Wins Productions
Coverville 500 Concert
New Media Expo (Vegas – 8/14-8/16)
Wakka Chikka Wakka Chikka

SOUL OF THE RIVER: “SEX IN THE MORNING”

THE HECTORS: “CAROL & SANFORD”

IR: SoCal Spotlight – Summer Darling

Based in Los Angeles and formed in 2002, Summer Darling began as a three piece indie pop band with an interest in songwriting and melody. Comprised of vocalist / songwriter Ben Heywood, drummer / guitarist Dan Rossiter and bassist/vocalist Heather Bray, they released the “What’s Done is Done EP” shortly thereafter, handcrafting each CD individually. In 2004 they collaborated with producer Frank Lenz (Pedro the Lion/Richard Swift/Starflyer 59) for the full length record “I Know You, I Never Knew You” and again released it themselves.

The last few years have seen Summer Darling chart a different direction. With the addition of Loop Haro on drums and a more group-oriented approach to song crafting, 2008’s “Health of Others” is the first of 3 digital EPs to be released this year, representing a new dynamic style. On it, Summer Darling explores the relationship between infidelity and retribution. The songwriting focuses on a more band-oriented approach, resulting in a more dynamic and symphonic sound.

“Good Feeling” is the second of 3 digital EPs to be released in 2008 via Origami Music, all of which will be collected on a full-length vinyl and digital release at year’s end. “Good Feeling” tells the semi – autobiographical story of a devout believer’s struggle with alcoholism and disillusionment in the modern corporate church. While certainly Summer Darling’s most pop oriented release to date, the sonic undercurrents portray a startling disconnect. From the cloud of voice-noise behind the piano ballad “Young Forever” to the searing guitar lines of “Ride This Wave of Good Feelings,” “Good Feeling” showcases the band’s ability to tell a story with music as well as words. [ioda]

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SESSION TRACKS
1) Ride This Wave of Good Feelings | itunes | e-music
2) Barren Womb | itunes | e-music
3) Math is Everywhere | itunes | e-music

“OPEN GRAVE”

IR: The SoCal Sessions #23 – FM Restraining Order

I’m sorry FM… but I don’t want to get back together!!

I gave up on us a long ago after a lifetime of unannounced program changes and undelivered phone-in requests. You need to stop hounding me with your incessant repeating whiny musical cycles and inane banter, not to mention following me around the city in my car. The worst was when you changed personalities and played commercial dance music for a year straight. I’ve now filed a restraining order to keep you and your antiquated medium away for good.

Where did all it go wrong FM? Will you ever had anything intelligible to say, and will I always have to wait until odd hours for anything good to come out of my speakers? I often felt you only were relegating key content to those random hours just to string me along and make you look better. I loved your occasional community spirit and NPR ways, but it became next to impossible to wade through the morass of advertisements, and corall your goddamn morning zoo. I don’t know about you, but for me this is the clearest channel for making my voice heard.

I now have multiple partners who are always there when I need them, and I can pick and choose where they are from regionally at will. I’m no longer confined to one stale market. Not all are professionals, but they have loads of independent friends that they bring along for sessions as well.

Just look at all these damn fine local specimens below that I brought this time FM. Hell yeah, hot:

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FEATURED TRACKS
1) The Black Watch – Steve Albini (clip) | itunes
2) Esquimaux – Dosvidanya | itunes
3) The Black Watch – Icing the Snow Queen
4) The Weepies – Hideaway | e-music
5) Pic Vicious – L.A. Dreamer
6) Chase Frank – Some Friend You Are | snocap
7) The Ruse – Beautiful is Gone
8 ) Fuji Minx – But No No No | e-music
9) Matt Ellis – Hey Mr. | itunes
10) The Muslims – Bright Side
11) Kaitlyn Anderson – So Much Better
12) Faded Paper Figures – I Fell Off My Name
13) The Orphan Factory – A Liar and a Thief
14) Mighty Six Ninety – Mistakes Like These | itunes

BACKSTAGE ACTION
MLC PR
LA Podcasters
Indie Radio Chattanooga
Bounce Radio
The Weepies Video Challenge
Yarrr! PR
Mighty 690 (Wikipedia)
Hummingfish
Juice Newton Video!

IR SoCal: Local Show Preview – The Echo 5/13/08

Hark! Three incredible groups are coming to one epic local LA venue, this Tuesday evening (5/13), starting at 9pm sharp.

Friend and classy wordsmith of “The Black Watch”, John, told me that his band will be cracking into a fresh show at the Echo, and naturally I was surprised to hear his troubadours will include Steve Schayer (Ex- The Chills/Clay Idols).

All three groups performing have new albums that just released or are about to drop, and we are also very excited to present the following gems excavated from our audio spelunking:

LINEUP….UP….Up….up….
1) The Black Watch – On Another Plane
2) Port O’Brien – Five and Dime
3) Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – I Think I Wanna Die

Artist online stores: TBW | POB | SSLYBY

Manny Motta… motta.. motta…

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