Switches- Lay Down The Law

It’s another Brit invasion! We just can’t seem to keep em out can we?

Switches. The latest Brit-pop nue wave thing to come out of the UK has released their debut album “Lay Down the Law.” I gotta say though, the hits keep coming out from across the pond. Switches is one of those bands that’s kind of all over the map when it comes to they’re sound. Almost like there just grabbing whatever thought our sound that comes by their ear. They’ve got an amazing march to anthem sound mixed with a big screaming sound and top it off with a three part harmony vocals which spins off as a little Queen-ish. It’s really fantastic to be honest.

Putting out their EP, “Message from Yuz,” back in 2006 (which they only pressed 500 of) lead to their debut album, “Heart Turned to D.E.A.D,” which was recorded in LA by Rob Schnapf and engineered by Doug Boehm. It tanked. After some touring with a couple bands such as The Automatic the band released its second single on Atlantic, “Drama Queen,” back in January 07 which lead to the re-recording of their current album, “Lay Down the Law.” Fancy that.

So these guys have been through a lot in the past couple years, finally getting some recognition on the Interscope label and currently touring with UK it band The Bravery. The band has a long road ahead of it, but their sound is really unique and catchy enough to start etching out their place. Even with little publicity and air play in the UK “Lay Down the Law” peaked at 64 on the charts with its first release in 2006. So check them out, listen to some of their stuff out and get to like them.

Fono- To Broken to Break

Fono has to be one of the least known success stories to come out of San Diego. A literal phoenix in the music industry, 8 years after debuting with “Goesaroundcomesaround,” they’re back with “To Broken to Break.” And let me tell you, 8 years and a fire will solidify a band to churn out upstart and straight forward rock.

One could say that Fono has gone where the money is for a bit. Commercial music, having a plethora of songs featured on MTV, sports shows, DVDs, ER and others, but hey you do what you do to pay the bills yeah? You shouldn’t hold anything against these guys. They’ve also got touring success, having toured with the likes of Bon Jovi, Guano Apes, Third Eye Blind, Robert Plant and others. Following that up with overwhelming UK success as well. They’ve been though a lot. After the success of their album and then they’re commercial success along come the California wild fires of 2003, burning down they’re studio and gear.

But pushing through that and now coming out with “To Broken to Break,” which was produced by Chris Sheldon and mastered by Bill Dooley, you get a mix of 90s sounding power rock. Seeing as the two produced and pushed some of the greatest bands of today through the melting pot that was 90s rock. And you know what? It’s fantastic that way. Right now there’s a giant hole in the music industry that was left by that era and it needs to be filled, and Fono is just the band to do it. Something big and loud with a purely energetic driving pounding sound. It's actually kind of funny though when you listen to them and come to the realization that they really do have a solid 90s rock sound to them. The 11 track album has everything from power anthems to buzz ballads and as always the always out of place soft balled. They’re live show is amazing as well even in the smallest of venues, such as the Beauty Bar, where there is such a live energy around them.

Definitely check this band out and catch them live. “To Broken to Break” is definitely a most kick ass album if there ever was one. And to top it all off you can download said album for free at they’re website, www.fono.net.

The Kooks Announce December US Tour Dates

Fresh out of the studio recording their sophomore album with ‘Inside In / Inside Out’ producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Belle & Sebastian) in Ray Davies’ legendary Konk Studios in London, The Kooks venture stateside this December to deck the halls.



Dec. 6th - The End’s Deck the Hall Ball – Seattle, WA
Dec. 9th – WRLT Nashville Sunday Night Concert Series – Nashville, TN
Dec. 11th – WTTS Rock to Read Xmas – Indianapolis, IN
Dec. 12th – WXRT VIP Private Show – Chicago, IL
Dec. 14th – KBCO Holiday Concert Series – Boulder, CO
Dec. 15th – KBZT’s Holiday Hootenanny – San Diego, CA
Dec. 16th – Alice in Wonderland - San Francisco, CA



Ah yes the Kooks, that lil brit band has decided to come state side to what seems more like a US radio Christmas show tour. But hey, they're coming to our town, San Diego. Better yet they're playing at the FM 94.9 Holiday Hootenanny with a totally to die for line up including Queens of the Stone Age, The Kooks (duh), local boys Pinback and Louis XIV, Mute Math and Rouge Wave. It'll be an awsome show, I gaurentee it. Tickets go on sale Friday November 15th, go figure a month before the show, but with a line up like this they're most likely run out as quick as the Inde Jam.


Back to The Kooks however, they're a really good lil brit band. One of the few that keep they're accents while singing, go figure. They're debut US album, "Inside in/ Inside out," had done well, and everything on the album is really catch. So catch them on the Holiday Hootenanny, word is they'll be back in the studio for a 2008 release. Thanks to Johhy Kaps for the release.

Moving Units- Hexes for Exes

In a nut shell I’d have to say that Moving Unit’s latest work, “Hexes for Exes,” must be a scenester’s ultimate break up album. The rock infused electro-pop fuzzy melodic sound mixed with cynical anti-relationship and social satire lyrics is really genius. With song titles such as Paper Hearts, The Kids from Orange County, Pick up the Phone, Wrong Again….well you get the picture.

Formed in 2001 with an EP and LP under they’re belt Hexes for Exes is most definitely part of that “Rock Infused” thing I was talking about. But don’t get me wrong there’s rock in there. Actually listening to the album, no two songs really sound alike. It’s like a mish-mash of The Editors, Strokes and Buddy Akai, which is actually pulled off quite well. The lyrics I would have to say are just as clinically depressing as those from She Wants Revenge. But actually want to make you move. Picking on may social and cultural aspects of “the scene” and giving at least one single for all you kiddles to enjoy. Especially those who frequent the Beauty Bar.

Blake (guitar), Johan (bass), Chris (drums), and they’re latest member Victor (guitar) have really defined progressive punk for the new age. And having already toured with such bands as Hot Hot Heat, The Pixies, blur and opening for Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins they’ve already managed to make a name for themselves and now signing on to Metropolis Records, debuting with Hexes, The band is ready to just explode. Expect Hexes for Exes to drop on October 9^th of this year. This is the type of album that gives you options. If you wanna dance, than dance to it, rock out to it, than rock out to it, make out to it, than make out to it. It’s everyone’s everything album.

Badly Drawn Boy- Born in the U.K.

Since debuting in 2002 with “Hour of Bewilderbeast” Damon Gough, a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy has done nothing less than amaze during his entire musical career. Now with three albums and a full soundtrack under his belt Damon has returned with “Born in the U.K.” which has to be considered his best work yet. Starting out on Indie U.K. record label XL Recordings than forming Twisted Nerve Records, with Andy Votel, which carried him through most of his career Damon now finds himself on big time U.K. label EMI and astralwerks for the U.S.

A proverbial “one-man-band” in the studio, and on stage, Damon is known for playing a variety of instruments including the guitar and piano. His whimsical style of writing and playing draws directly from his past and present experience. Damon, being the very personal guy that he is, draws influences such as “Have You Fed the Fish” drew from his small, but growing, celebrity status, and drops a few names in the album. And “One Plus One Is One” relates to the death a close friend and the loss of his grandfather during WWII. Now with “Born in the U.K.” Damon comes back home, portraying life and growing up in, well, the U.K.

If you’re a fan of Badly Drawn Boy, and happen to have the majority of his albums, you’ll notice the subtle change through the years. The changes of a true maturing artist. This is really how a musician should develop over the years. Born of the U.K. brings a more “human” aspect to his music and really brings back a lost art of music. Storytelling. Plain and simple storytelling, reminiscent of the 60s and 70s with that warm full sound. The album is simply epic and classic Badly Drawn Boy. And if you listen closely to a few couple tracks you’ll probably figure out that Damon is a Bruce Springsteen fan.

Despite the somewhat poor critical reviews and low acceptance in the U.S. Badly Drawn Boy still flourishes as a cult favorite. Really he is one of those artists where you have to start from square one to “get” his music. But for what it is, it is nothing short of amazing. So if you’re an old fan you’ll probably have “Born in the U.K.” already. If you’re a new listener give him a try, get his album, listen to I a few times and it’s bound to grow on you. Damon is truly the definition of an artist.

DJ Lumis- Hypothetical Questions and Rhetorical Conversations

Ah we love electronic fuck. We really do. Local boy DJ Lumis, who’s real name we obviously don’t know cause that’s a DJ thing I guess sent us his latest solo cut, “Hypothetical Questions and Rhetorical Conversations.” That’s a mouthful. But as the blend of hip-hop and down tempo DJing blends closer and closer together you get guys like Lumis. Cutting and mixing repetitive samples with mellow, melodic beats with an old school touch here and there. So really he’s not just a scratchier like a lot of DJ’s who sit behind their turntables and ride the vinyl. But out there behind the mixing console and keyboard cutting it up.

The man is a busy man as well. Having toured with such acts as the Meg Lee Chin Experience and finding residencies at such clubs as The Gig on Melrose and The Room in LA, Lumis is also working two other projects known as Illadapted and Shotgun Radio, who have both turned out albums.

As a solo artist though I have to say that the man is a prodigy musical genius. Hypothetical Questions and Rhetorical Conversations is a 15 track album with flawless mixing and comes with a really big chill factor. Being solo he’s played a number of the notable venues, The Roxy, The Knitting Factory, House of Blues, Zen Sushi to name a few. He’s also move to production and promotions, starting his website In Life we Spin, where he provides a “one stop shop” for recording, productions, DJ services and promotions for new talent. Apparently there’s also been talk of a clothing line.

Lumis is definitely running on all 8 cylinders and there just seems to be no stopping the man. Constantly gigging every other day of the month as a solo act and with his other two projects he’s really ready to explode to the next level.

Shammy Dee- Transcripted Thoughts

Check it ya’ll Shammy Dee be in the hizzle. But we only try to be slightly ethnic. But seriously, our featured artist this time around is the one and only Shammy Dee, local DJ gone hip-hop artist with his debut CD Transcripted Thoughts. The album has that old school 60’s 70’s soul feel that we all love so much theses days, but with a twist. Hard honest lyrics. This isn’t some hip-hop album rapping about your usual assortment of gansta ho’s and grills. This is intellectual hip-hop/R&B as you’ll ever know it.

The man does everything. Producing and mixing his own cuts while doing vocals which apparently is something for being a DJ makes it hard for one to express his own feelings through words. This full length CD takes you on a soulful trip as he constructs as simpler time before the bling. There are a few guests on the album too, paring up with local artists Zandi De Jesus, Peace Be Free and The Feel Good Choir backing him up.

And this isn’t everything that Shammy Dee does. The man keeps himself busy through out the town. You can find him:

On air with Jazz 88.3 - every 4th Wednesday night from 11:20 to Midnight
The Onyx Room - every Saturday night from 9 - 12 with DJ Sachamo and Mike II Bless
Kadan's - the last Friday of the month
And Illfonix Friday

Shammy Dee is an artist you should definitely check out. And buy buy buy his album. It’ll make you shake your groove thing and all other parts associated with it. And who says San Diego gots no hip-hop game.