The Silent Comedy- Self Titled EP

Local Boys. Love them local boys. The Silent Comedy, recent winners at the San Diego Music Awards for best pop artist, is our This time around featured artist this time around. And rightfully so. Not just for the award they've won, we could honestly care less about SDMAs.

We've chosen them for showing us honest talent as a hard working group of guys. Musically these boys are pretty on top of their game. Its hard to mash together violins, mandolins, pianos, banjos, bass, guitars, drums and percussion and everything else theyve got and make it sound good and coherent. But they pull it off quite well. The bands current self titled EP is short, sweet and to the point with some ballets and rock out songs. But the thing you need to do is catch them life. Similar aesthetics to the Builders and the Butchers, the band is a corky throwback to the 1930s or so, coats, ties, vests, hats and..mustaches, all very authentic looking and overall just fantastic.

I personally love these hodge podge bands, the mix and match of sounds and instruments and noise to make the rhythm and rock. Again however they're EP just doesn't do them justice as to their live performances, at least at the moment, since the band is hard at work in the studio for their next full length album. Im sure the album will be fantastic and guess what? There is a way for you, the fans, to get involved in helping this fine group of guys.

If you havent heard of their campaign, Mustache Mayhem, look into it cause its a pretty spiff thing theyre doing. Its a simple concept. If you've got a wicked mustache take a picture of yourself, pay 10 to 200 quid and get on the cover of their new album. Its a great way to help these guys out in producing a rightfully good full length album and a fun way for their fans to get involved with the band. If you check out their website, http://www.thesilentcomedy.com, you can read all about it. So check them out, their cause and their live shows, definitely a local band which deserves your support.

Dirty Sweet- Of Monarchsand Beggers

Simply. The best. Of the best. Of any rock band in San Diego. Period. That is how we here at Latitude 32° shall introduce to you our This time around Featured Artist, Dirty Sweet, and with their critically acclaimed album, Of Monarchs and Beggars. And really, what did you expect from such a mix of great local talent coming together to produce this straight forward dirty rock blues powerhouse. Ryan Kootz (volcals), Nathan Beale (Guitar, Vocals), Chris Mendez-Vanacore (Drums, Vocals), Mark Murino (Guitar) and Christian Schinelli (bass) make up this fantastic group of musical talent. Some of these names you may of recognize if you know your local San Diego scene, such as Christian of the talented jazz band Pocket, Nathan Beale of Lady Dottie & The Diamonds, and Chris and Mark formally of Lovelight Shine. Put them in a studio and you get something so pure it simply monumental. At first listen you feel like is a band you've been listening for years. And possibly something that your mom or dad may have listened to during the 60s and 70s, its a feel good get down and dirty rock album from start to finish. And apparently its not their best work, even though it is absolutely fantastic. According to front man Ryan Kootz the band hand finished their second album but is holding out on us for good reason as they search for a label to help finalize and distribute the album. But if the single they've released, Marionette, along with the music video, which you can see on www.dirtysweet.com, is any indication of what's to come then it will not disappoint. We caught up with Ryan at the Elemental Experience Festival and got the skinny on what's going on with the band. Honestly there is a small San Diego curse when it comes to bands in our fine city. Just like our sports teams, well always make the playoffs but just cant seem to win the whole thing. With our music it seems you need to travel and move 2 hours north to break out of this town, but I've got a feeling that the boys in Dirty Sweet have what it takes to break that curse. Watch out for these guys, you cant miss them.

Passion Pit- Manners

Now when you think of the Boston music scene, what exactly comes to mind? I mean honestly I’ve no idea with the exception of the obvious, Boston and Dropkick Murphys. And this could all be the product of my own ignorance of the Boston area, but regardless we’ve come across a group that we really didn’t see coming out of there. Passion Pit. A band hailing out of Cambridge which formed a few years ago in late 2007 is this crazy little electro pop rock band which just blew me away. Two keyboards, a synth, bass player and drummer (Michael Angelakos, Ian Hultquist, Ayad Al Adlhamy , Jeff Apruzzese and Nate Donmoyer in the order above) make up the band. Kind of a weird mix of last names one would have to think. Together make pretty much the warmest and happiest electo sound you’ve ever heard to date. And isn’t that the point of a good electro-pop song anyways? Coming out of the gate with their EP, “Chunk of Change,” the band slowly but surely started to earn their merit in the musical community. Sleepyhead, one of the first singles to come out, was noticed and used in a Canadian PSP ad of all things, then featured on a variety of other media outlets such as MTV’s “What the Flip?” campaign, Pitchfork’s top 40 music videos of 2008 and then the BBC’s Sounds of 2009. And let me tell you, from what I’ve seen and heard, the Brits love them. Released through indie label, Frenchkiss Records, (harboring such artists as The Hold Steady, Les Savy Fac, Sean Na Na, The Dodos and others) “Manners,” the band’s first full length album, has steadily been growing in popularity since its debut in May 2009. Gaining attention to the point where the band now tours and opens for such acts as Death Cab for Cutie, Girl Talk, and DJD2 and are currently touring independently through the UK, Canada and have been booked for such festivals as Lollapalooza, Leeds and Redding festivals. The album is fantastic and takes you on a warm fuzzy cloud of noise where you find something new about the tracks after each listen. The single from the album, “The Reeling,” is accompanied by a creative music video and is worth the watch. All in all it will be hard not to miss this group as they grow and grow, especially when your favorite local bar DJ gets a hold of them. Perfect for the indie hipster scene, but that’s not always a bad thing. Keep listening and hopefully they’ll come round our fair city. Review by: Will Overbaugh

Stellastarr*- Civilized

It’s been about 4 years since the boys and girl of the New York based band, Stellastarr*, came out with a new album, but yeah, it was worth the wait. ‘Civilized,’ the title for the latest from the band, shows us that four years can do a lot with a band. If you compare to their previous release, ‘Harmonies for the Haunted’, you can feel and tell how the band has matured and settled into something of a new sound for them. It’s really is hard to put your finger on what sound that is, something forged out of choice and maybe slight physical challenges with lead Shawn Christensen, who was coping with throat problems making it necessary to change up his manner of singing. No more the long bellowing melodic sounds like something out of The Cure, The Editors, The Bravery, or any other slew of British mod-alt rock sounding groups. Although that isn’t totally gone, it’s less, and it shows in a good way, feeling like everyone involved had to find their own voice as well. Just comparing the singles, Sweet Troubled Soul from ‘Harmonies for the Haunted’, and Graffiti Eyes from ‘Civilized,’ there is a dramatic difference in style, a more cut up, poppy, dare I say….with the times sound? It’s…happy yet serious, melodic yet chaotic. But Graffiti Eyes is something of a standout within the album, which truly is an ecliptic mix of old sounds from their previous work with newer, louder, twangy, nue-aged riffs, electo dance like beats and of course a dash of straight up rock. Overall it’s a fast, catchy, driven up and down ride of an album. Something that, despite any problems the group might have had to overcome, must of had fun making and we’re sure will be fantastic live. I mean honestly, any band with a song called “zombie prom,” just has to be fun. Plus we get to hear more of Amanda’s ominous eerie yet strangely soothing voice. It’s literally one of those albums that the kids won’t know what to do with, bob their heads while standing about, or dance dance go crazy too. I feel the band can’t loose with this new direction. Its serious fun and also an accomplishment, having produced the album entirely on their own under their own record label, Bloated Wife Records (we’ll be sure to ask how that name came to be). The band is currently on tour and will be rolling through San Diego on July 30th at the one and only, Casbah. And we’ll be sure to be there as well. Otherwise, check the album out, this is a band you won’t be disappointed with and deserves a listen. Check them out at www.stellastarr.com and of course the myspace at www.myspace.com/stellastarr, where you can check out some of the latest tracks including the single “Graffiti Eyes.” Review by: Will Overbaugh

of Holiday Shores- “Columbus’d the Whim,”

The opening lines of Holiday Shore’s new album, “Columbus’d the Whim,” bring to mind a poor man’s Chris Martin with a tinge of King’s of Leon’s Caleb; soulful yet down to earth and bluesy. Talahasse natives Holiday Shores have created an album that is extremely listenable and jubilant. The first song, Reruns, is a standout track that starts inauspiciously then delves into clangy, quick drums, ukulele & tambourine and then trails off (as do many of the tracks) into slurred and seemingly heartfelt lyrics. From there, “Phones Don’t Fued” picks things up with a 50’s surfer style peppy beat and walking bass-line. The vocals sounds like they were recorded in a far-off, sun lit garage by the beach, while the drummer plugs away along with the discordant guitar licks. The lyrics are unintelligible at times, but the energy, pathos and overall creativity more than make up for this obscurity The creativity only spirals on from there, with “Dens” starting off with chords from an organ layered under another peppy drumbeat. The trippy, far off vocals combine with the instruments to evoke a sense of being on a trip to an outer space church. The album delves further into an update, bluesy beat with “Edge of our Lives,” a tune which you can’t help but bob your head and tap your feet to. Definitely an album that gets better with each listen, Columbus’d the Whim sounds like someone put Modest Mouse, the Pixies & Kings of Leon in a blender and then handed the results over to a bunch of surfer kids from North Florida. In a good way. This is the band’s debut LP and definitely deserves a good listen. You can check out more at their myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/holidayshoresmusic, featuring current tour dates as well. The album, “Columbus’d the Whim,” drops on August 4th on Twosyllable Records and currently have a new video out for their single, “Phones Don’t Feud,” which you can check out on the label website, http://twosyllablerecords.com. Review by: Vivien Treacy

Heavy Glow

You ever go pub crawling and just run into one of those fantastic bands that is just pure and straight up rock and roll? Something you’re not really looking for but just by pure happenstance run into and fall in love with? Well that’s what the guys from Heavy Glow are; just pure and simple rock music. Catching them at the Radio Room the other day, playing to a rather undeservingly small crowd for a Saturday night, still managed to blow me away while I was sipping my traditional rum with a dash of coke. They managed to be one of those bands that just makes you want to tip the brim of your hat way down low and bob your head as the guitarist, Jared, fingers away and his mates Joe (bass) and Dave (drums) keep a steady driving hard beat. Now there are a lot of bands in San Diego. A lot of great bands, a lot of solid tight sounding bands but Heavy Glow is one of the few that you really want to keep an eye out for. Their six track self titled EP is simply amazing is transitions into a fantastic live performance. You know how some bands are great on the tracks and are kind of “so so” in the live aspect, or vice versa? Well these guys managed to capture some of that live attitude to their recordings. And no wonder, having recorded and produced their EP with local guitar great Stevie Salas, if you don’t know him look him up kids. A little deeper into the bands style, if you listen closely you’ll find a literal hodge podge of sounds and influence, as reflected on their myspace page (www.mypsace.com/heavyglowmusic). You’ve got a guitarist/singer (Jared Mullins) who captures a late 90s alt rock spirit but plays like a literal bat out of hell. You’ve got one of the quickest drummers (Dave Rollans) I’ve seen who brings a very funky yet heavy side to the mix and a basest (Joe Brooks) who just brings it all together in a progressive stream. Honestly an impressive lineup of talent that has yet to be recognized in the state, but apparently the mates down under have taken notice, having signed to an Australian distribution label, Stockxchange Music. Go figure that one out. To put it bluntly in the end though Heavy Glow is pretty much everything you look for in a solid rock band. A dynamic driving force of riffs both old school and progressive, a dash of experimental and over all straight up soul. It’s a band you have to check out, a CD you have to pick up and just a sound you have to love.

Eulogies- here anonymous

As I drove up to Los Angeles, Eulogies hometown, I could not help but ponder why the band had chosen a name with such strong implications and then made their album title “Here Anonymous.” I instantly saw myself giving a Eulogy with a paper bag over my head…I’m here giving one of the most important speeches of my life, but not really…then I realized that I needed to start the album over and actually listen. This was when the album and band name actually started to make perfect sense and became an allegory alluding to the bands style. Walking the borderline between indie rock and emo music, the album has a moody upbeat tempo with cathartic, melancholy lyrics. What makes this album work though, is its honest attempt to capture an untainted portrayal of the human condition. I felt like I had time warped back into my junior year of high school when I was too hormonal to put my feelings anywhere but out in the open. This is why I could totally relate when singer Peter Walker says, “Eulogies for me is not about talking about someone who’s dead. It’s saying those things that someone would say only at that moment but wish they had said right now. That’s what I’m preaching to myself-don’t be quiet. I can’t survive down that road.” The first few songs on the album set the stylistic tone, upbeat pop rock with weighted heartfelt gloomy lyrics. Of this more common style of song I found “The Fight (I’ve Come To Like)” the most enjoyable and the most danceable. I could see myself waiving my arm around at the upcoming show on May 22nd at San Diego’s own Casbah. Some surprising tracks that strayed a bit from the stylistic norm included “Two Can Play” which features Nikki Monninger from the recent Coachella playing Silversun Pickups. The song has a soft dreamy sound that brings a sweet downbeat change to the albums more upbeat instrumentals. My personal favorite song, also the most experimental on the album, comes towards the end of the LP with “Stranger Calliope.” This song features a Casiotone keyboard over a live flute player, which creates an ethereal sound that brought me images of riding a candy colored carousel on a cloud. The album definitely grew on me the more I listened and deserves a couple spins through before you make your judgments. I appreciate the honesty of the album, which does a great job of remaining simple and direct. Sometimes an easy to listen to album becomes the perfect cure for being caught in LA traffic. Review by: Tara Rose Gladstone

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It's Blitz!

The trio from that tiny town of New York have done it again alright. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs latest work, “It’s Blitz!” has to be their most progressive work to date. But then again what did you expect? “It’s Blitz!” is simply a 4-4 beat synth rock dance party from start to finish, something that even the scenestery of kids will enjoy, while still pleasing those who have been faithful fans from 2002 and beyond. So break out your white V neck undershirts, tight jeans, leather jacket and get on the dance floor. But honestly “It’s Blitz!” is a fantastic album, with heavy influence from its producers David Sitek (who did work on the last two albums but is also a member of TVOTR) and the legendary Nick Launay. Also with some of the contributors of the album, saxophonist Stuart Bogie (of TVOTR), YYY’s touring mate Imaad Wasif and Greg Kurstin of the Birds and the Bees; All in all very much so an excellent contributing force in the studio. When you listen to the album a few times and then shoulder it up to the latest work from TV on the Radio, you get sense that maybe there’s a bit too much of that outside influence, but then you hear Karen O. ring out and forget all about it. All in all this newer sound is a progressive step from what we’ve heard from in the past two albums from the YYYs. It truly is one of the better produced albums I’ve heard in a long time. The band is currently on tour out across the pond in the land of Europe, only coming state side for Coachella and All Points West festivals, no word that we’ve heard of yet when they’ll land state side to blow our minds, but hold fast and steady and start putting money in the ticket fund jar. And in the mean time go out and buy the album, you won’t be disappointed.

Franz Ferdinand- Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

So if you didn’t know Franz Ferdinand is back and, after about a four year hiatus, has finally put out a new album entitled: “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.” Now back in the day, if any of you remember 2004/5 that is, I really liked Franz Ferdinand. They were another Brit Pop invasion band (well technically Scottish, but who keeps track of that stuff) with attitude and style with that high and tight twangy sound that the kids loved back then. This was the era of reformed garage bands like The Hives and Kaiser Chiefs and others. But it’s a new age of music and has Franz kept up?

The answer would probably be yes, another case of an older band growing up with the times. The base of their new album is, well, very Franz but they sprinkled a little of what the kids like these days. Like a lil keyboard electro-dance rock. But when you peal that away and actually listen to the band you realize that they haven’t lost a step in their time off. It’s poppy and aggressive, and swinging and shouty, and raw on some tracks. Everything you like to find in a UK band really. I was afraid at first when I popped into the ol’ CD player that it would come out over produced, or fake. Something that Simon Cowell would invent in his basement. I was worried that since they’ve been underground for so long that they would need some hot shot producer to come in and mix it all up turning them into a band that they just weren’t. But again I was presently surprised and very pleased with the results. I mean, I better be good considering they’ve been working on it since 2007.

The band hits the states this year on April 13th up in Seattle and the closest they’ll get to San Diego is this year’s Coachella Valley music and Arts Festival on the 17th of April. I do believe that Franz Ferdinand will return to the lime light with great success. I mean come one, they’re featured on an iPod commercial, and we all know what that can do for your musical career.

Local Band- The Old In Out.

Ok. The Old In Out. They are…..a band. A band of the rock punkish variety. They have a singer, a couple guitarists, drummer and bassist. The songs are….ok, they’ve got some click………ok The Old In Out sound like every other San Diego dive bar punk band around. Yes they can get the kids hopping around after they’ve had a few but is there really anything special about them? If there is I just can’t find it. I guess if you had to put it some way they’re a bunch of really nice guys who play in a band and gig around the city. They’ve got a fan base of lil indie punk rock kids with they’re tattoos showing and nerd glasses on with they’re thick beards or "Vintage" garb on.

After getting a hold of their music I gave it a good listen for a few weeks. At first I liked them, they seemed to have a pretty good vibe around the, but then I was poking around myspace and switching out some other local band CDs and realized it’s the same. And that kind of made me a bit depressed. When I look for a good local band to get my feet off the ground I’m looking for their signature, the little thing in the music that makes you say, “F**k Yeah Man!” But I couldn’t find it in this particular instance. If you stack them to some of the really good local punkers and rockers that are blowing up or have already made local rock gods status you can probably see what I’m talking about. Bands like The Creepy Creeps, Wild Weekend, Scarlet Symphony and so forth. They’ve all got an act, they’ve all got a sound, and they’ve got something memorable about them. Something that keep you from saying “yeah there was a band playing that night, who were they again?” Vice “Yeah man, *insert band name* were freaking crazy.”

But I digress and to sum it up The Old In Out are decent. They may even have potential if they pull together and find something to help them stand apart. Again they aren’t bad, they have a pretty decent live performance they just have some room to grow and soul searching to do in my opinion. And as we like to say around the office, we know someone out there’s gotta like em.

The Deadly Syndrome- The Ortolan

Innocent. Really innocent sounding. At least that’s what comes to mind when I listen to The Deadly Syndrome’s debut album, “The Ortolan.” Starting out with the ping of a small piano sound the likes of a children’s song and breaking in with some whiny yet soothing vocals is all something just so pleasant. It’s weird because you can compare them to other sounds from other bands but at the same time you can’t because they’ve got such a “put together-ness” about them that you’d swear they were the original. Not quite that California country happy sound like The Elected, but not quite the acoustic mellow yet happily depressing sounds of Death Cab and all mixed with other accent sounds and melodies. It really is fantastic. All this coming off Dim Mak Records, the guys who brought you Foreign Born, Sean Na Na, Whitey and others.

Consisting of Christopher Richard with vocals, William Etling on guitar, Jesse Hoy on drums and Michael Hughes on keys the four of these guys apparently put on quite the rock show for their style of music. Granted it’s not all melodic soothing music, a few of the tracks are very much the head banger sway back and forth genre. The album all in all is well rounded and progressively phenomenal, starting out like stated, something out of a children’s book read with piano in the background and ending with an all out keys and noise big sound boom at the temple of some 1980s video game. It really is outstanding and definitely something you and your children and your children’s children should check out. Keep a look out for these guys. Oh and keep an eye out for Mustachio.

The Ting Tings- We Started Nothing

Once again kids, if you wanna get far in the music industry get your single out on an apple iPod commercial. It’s the fast track to stardom. Just like for the UK band…The Ting Tings.

This girl/boy duo has had an interesting past before they formed. Front girl Katie White used to be a part of the short lived girl pop group, TKO, remember them? I didn’t think so either. Back up dude, Jules De Martino, started out playing in Christian bands in London, then mobbing to Manchester and starting a little known band called Dear Eskiimo, a Portishead inspired band who signed with Mercury, but then broke up, figure that one out. After that the two met in Manchester and the rest is, well you know.

So the music, yes the music. It’s definitely part of the new obsession among the youngsters and their indie-pop dance music. Their single, “Shut Up and Let Me Go,” off their debut album, “We Started Nothing,” was featured in an Apple iPod commercial and is part of an album that I hate to say is becoming part of a generic sound. Something for the barely 21 scenesters that hob nob at the Beauty Bar or Live Wire would love to jump and down to. And what sets them apart from their counterparts such as CSS or The Faint, or any other electro pop dance routine? Well I guess you’d have to admire the way they play live. You have to realize that they are just a duo. Katie on the microphone, guitar and bass drum (yeah interesting), where as Jules is primarily drums, but also backs up guitar and vocals.

So overall it’s a Brit band, with the sound of the new age coming over to America and selling products for Apple. I mean it is a catchy album, it does make you want to move some and I’m sure after a few pink martinis you’ll be doing just that. It’s pure fun, and annoyingly it’ll grow on you. Cheers to The Ting Tings.