Buddy Akai

Buddy Akai. Hands down one of the hardest working bands in the San Diego area. Seriously. You may not know who they are, but I bet you’ve seen them. Somewhere, some place, from the Beauty Bar to some hole in the wall in Tijuana. Think of them as The Killers on steroids and crack and a dash of sanka for kicks.


We saw these guys perform during Pop-Rocks at the Beauty Bar one night and said “who the hell are those guys playing on the stage”? Well at least our Producer said that. At any rate, the four piece band, comprised of the following: Memo Rex on the SM-58 and keys/synth, Waly Mayhem on the 6 strings, Rotny on the 4 strings and Alvaro Lazo, aka Pills, on the skins, have been around since late 2004 and have, since then, played nationally and over the border, opening for touring acts and Djs.

They hold true to something that most Brit-pop and poppy alt-rock bands fall short of; which is simply making your “Groove Thing” move on the dance floor. Cause where you get jumpin around and bouncing off each other in a weak pit Buddy Akai will seriously get you dancing like it was the disco in the 60’s.

Releasing their self-titled debut, produced by Uriel Esquenazi, an international DJ/Producer who has worked with various artists like Plastilina Mosh, ZOE and Thievery Corporation, is amazing. Taking you on a melodic emotion ride filled with synth and steady beats to shake it to. Although the synth does make most of the songs sound the same, it definitely fills a void in the beats that would otherwise just not work out.

Watching them live is a crazy experience as well, with Mr. Rex multi-tasking on the keys and mic, as well as the rest of the band backing their lead. If you hooked the band up to an intelligent laser light show it would be sure to star seizers.

Everything combined makes Buddy Akai a must have for your local collection and a must to catch at The Beauty Bar, where they frequent as if they were drinkers instead of a band playing. We’re definitely proud to have them as our “This Time Around” featured artist on Latitude 32°.

Flogging Molly- Whiskey on Sunday

Break out your Guinness and have a sit. Flogging molly is back. Sort of. So what is Whiskey on Sunday? Well it’s a documentary of the band over a course of two years or so through their world tour. And honestly you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from your TV screen. And I’m not bull-shiting you. Pretty much single handedly produced, shot and edited by Jim Dziura the full-length DVD breaks down in the fantastic story of how the band started and everyone’s history and involvement in the maturity of the band including the record label, Side One Dummy’s, humble starts pretty much for the band. Dave King’s story of his trek from Ireland to L.A. and how he met Bridget at the one and only Molly Malone’s is simply amazing to listen and watch. From his beginnings, through the death of his father whom he honors in song up to now and how the bands faith in his words drives them.

Traveling through seven countries over two years you’ll see how an actual working, non-stop, touring band lives eats and breaths all the while having the strength and passion to kick ass at every show they play. Theses guys pour their heart, blood, sweat and tears into every note they play at every at every show, during every festival and this is one of the most humble band’s you’ll ever meet. They all have a story to tell and yet as the band continues to thrive they continue to write it.

The DVD comes with a “soundtrack” as well. Soundtrack being songs performed live during the documentary but it does come with one brand spanking new recording. Laura is the latest single for Flogging Molly and that’s all it is. A Single. According to Nat and Dennis, who we interviewed at the SoCo Music Experience, it’s just a one time thing. A song that’s been lying around being played live but never recorded in studio.

The whole compilation is simply amazing. You have to understand that everyone from Flogging Molly, Dave, Bridget, Dennis, Nathen, Matt, Bob and George are really just regular guys (and gal) who believe in what their doing. So do yourself a favor, fan or not, go check Whiskey on Sunday. If you are a fan, you’ll shit yourself, if you aren’t you’ll become one and than shit yourself.

The Elected- Sun, Sun, Sun

So Guitarist/ Vocalist Blake Sennett from Rilo Kiley has formed an indie darling of a band known as The Elected. And what better for an indie darling band to do than sign with the indie record label, Sub Pop. Bless their souls for sending us this compact disk. Releasing their first debut album back in 2004, called “Me First,” set the foundation for the sound of the band with its wifty, wavy, California country guitar pop sound. Being recorded with Mike Mogis and Jimmy Tamborello, who leave their notable musical marks, the album was and is really bloody amazing. Than came the new Rilo Kiley album which whisked Blake away.

Now back with the Elected’s sophomore album, “Sun Sun Sun,” Blake (vocal and guitar), Mike Bloom (guitar/steel guitar), Nate Greely (bass) and Sander Steen (drums) are back. And they did it again. Sun Sun Sun is for the most part a finer tuned version of Me First. But it’s a sound on its own, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Take a page from the Chili Peppers or Postal Service. Speaking of which as you can tell by some of the names we’re throwing at you there is a definite love triangle of sorts going on between not only Jimmy Tamborello and Blake Sennett, but throw in lil ol’ Jenny Lewis and your probably scratching your head. But don’t. Cause if you look carefully at those album credits you’re find that theses guys love each other and work so well together on each other’s bands.

While Blake was in the studio recording Me First with Jimmy and wrapping up with Rilo Kiley’s second album tour and all, Jenny was recording with Jimmy and the Postal Service. And don’t forget that Sander Steen is lil bro to Ryland Steen who plays in Reel Big Fish. Go figure their all one big happy family. This is truly a hog-podge of musicians from different groups.

But The Elected are truly indie darlings, capitalizing on the new indie-alt-country sound with the story telling lyrics. They really do tell a story though out the album. And naturally if you like Rilo Kiley or the Postal Service (and in that case Death Cab for Cutie) you’ll love the Elected. But don’t get the wrong impression. They stand on their own.

The 88- Over and Over

Here we go kids. The 88. L.A. based Pop-rock band comprised of 5 guys in very dapper suits, and one guy with incredibly large curly hair. Kinda reminded me of Claudio Sanchez from Coheed and Cambria. So. The 88. Some may be asking; Why Will, who are the 88? Well truth be told they’ve been around for a few years, their first CD, titled “Light”, first debuted back in 2003. They quickly rose up the L.A. music chart ranks and managed to con many of the Hollywood types to join their fan base. These guys are seriously hitting the break out point, straining to get that break from online music videos on MTV online and spots on Craig Ferguson and the O.C., to actually being a headlining national touring band, so that when we go back on the streets and ask people, do you know who the 88 are? They actually can say, “yeah I’ve heard of those cats.”

But honestly folks lets cut to the chase. Do they have what it takes? Well when we received their latest CD, Over and Over, we were…….well….we weren’t sure what we were at the time. Their music is pop in a serious way but it seems to be missing something. We’re not sure what it is. To be honest again, cause that’s what we are, it really sounded a lil cookie cutter. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a fun album, and the lyrics have some meaning if you listen. But it seems on some level they want to reach that Ben Folds Five status without a Ben Folds. Would it kill them to get out of the 4, 4 beat anyways and kick it up a notch and like rock out. Maybe that’s it. You listen to them and theirs no attitude, no raw energy, nothing really sticks with you.

At any rate, we’re rambling. So we’ll stop while were somewhere. We checked them out live, and had a “chat” with the boys, their good guys, and their live stuff is fun, but when you boil it down they turned the Casbah into cheers. Which would be a good cover for them. On a personal opinion I would have to say that their almost there, all of the T.V. spots and rubbing elbows with the stars have gotten them this far, but now it’s time to stop playing bit parts and mature as a band a little more and get some sole in their music. Maybe match they're look and they're sound a little better. They’re not bad, but they’re not quite great yet.

http://www.the88.net/

http://www.myspace.com/the88

The Northstar Session- Little Lies

I’ve got one thing to say first off before we start this review. Gavin DeGraw……eat your heart out. Who says San Diego don’t got soul? The Northstar Session, composed of Lead Matt Szlachetka (really gotta ask him again how he pronounce his last name again) on guitar and the mic, drummer Greg Robers, bassist Ivan Hurtado and keyboardist Todd Newman. This quartet has an amazing full body sound that really gives you warm fuzzy feeling. It’s the kinda makes you wanna jump up and grab your girl and just dance the night away.

Matt, whose last name we’d rather not type to avoid carpool tunnel, was previously a solo act under the same name with his 2003 debut album, Music Under a Flight Path, than forming his group and releasing 2004 album One Shot has carved a definite niche in the San Diego music scene with their unique soulful bluesy popish sound. In September of 2005 they released their latest, a five track EP called Little Lies. Produced by non other than Jon Beard, who’s produced for such bands like Blink 182 and Lucy’s Fur Coat, the album is nothing less than incredible. An emotional ride with a powerful driving sound just sweeps you off your feel and makes you feel good, it’s one of those if your down on a rainy day play it and the sky clears up albums.

Picking up airplay all across the country the band has toured on both sides of the island already and has picked up airplay on satellite radio and local radio. And now their our “This time around” featured artist, which we think should be on their greatest accomplishments list.

Bang Sugar Bang- Thwak Thwak Go Crazy

Holy fucking shite, who the hell are these guys? Once again our neighbors to the north in smoggy L.A. have produced some sort of musical monster known as Bang Sugar Bang. This boy on girl on boy trio consisting of Matt Southwell, Cooper and Pawley Filth, have been around for a lil while, releasing their second full length album last year but recently being picked up by indie label, S.O.S. Records effectively “re-releasing” their 2004 album, Thwak Thwak Go Crazy.

The band is insane. The album is crazy. Listening to them is like listening to some monster mixture of Frankenstein proportions. Pretty much it’s like taking every underground punk band in L.A. and smashing them together adding a lil Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a lil Social D, a lil old school brit rock, sprinkled with a bit of well….everything else.

They get a lot of play in LA., and we’ve found a few people that have heard of them down here. There basically at the breaking point of national knownism, having already played such hyped events as the X games, but that’s cool. Least it’s not the warped tour, hehe. When you boil it down they are a pretty kick-ass band. They could use a lil work fine tuning their sound, since their literary all over the map in their album, but sometimes that’s what really makes a band. We’re sure their only get better with the years to come.

They will be in town at The Palace on the 8th of November and we’ll make every effort to get someone out there to cover it. So check em out kids!

Red Lighting- L.A. Crash Landing

So The Smiths become Morrissey, and now from Morrissey we get Red Lighting. Alain Whyte, former Morrissey guitarist/co-writer (not the Smiths) has put together a trio of greatness known as Red Lighting, which just debuted their first full length album L.A. Crash Lighting.

Now when you listen to the album you have to wonder one thing. Did Morrissey’s sound spill onto Alain, or vise versa? Either way you could describe them as a happier form of Morrissey, least there’s a hint of the influence or originality, depends, maybe if we get an interview with them we’ll find out, *wink wink.* Moving on…The Band. Alain Whyte, of course, on the gee-tar and the microphone, John DiMambro, aka Johnny Anger on the four string gee-tar, and Milo Todesco on the skins. Both John and Milo have cool credits under their belt, John having recorded with the likes of Down by Law & Gentleman Jack Grisham of T.S.O.L as well as psychobilly madmen The Rocketz on Double Bass, and played live with bands like Pearl Harbour, Jane Wiedlin of The Go Go’s and Agent Orange. Milo on the other hand has recorded and played with Down By Law, Armond Chakmakian of Shadow Fax, Jim Cherry of Strung Out, Pully, Zero Down, and played Timpani with UCLA Choir conductor Roger Wagner.

Again going back to the music. Simply put, it’s an amazing album full of rhythmic, soulful guitar chords with a hint of old school honest indie/alternative sounds. Smooth driving bass lines accompanied by a nostalgic drum beat and sound kinda gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. With Alain sounding just a bit like Morrissey himself, but yet off the downers. Course when you boil it down, it’s nostalgic Brit indie rock at its core. Either way it’s a great album and if you can find it we highly suggest that you buy it and go play it in front of your girlfriend’s window through your ghetto blaster. And where exactly can you find these guys hiding at? Well they are on kind of a Southwest Tour. You can catch them at Cane’s Bar and Grill on December 18th. We’re definitely going to make it out to their show one way or the other.