Earlimart/Light FM/Del Psychos @ schubas
First up though was another local band who I had not heard before (although….according to the reader one of the members is a film critic for said publication) called the del pyschos. There were pretty good, somewhere between the buzzcocks and early 70′s british invasion psych. Not bad, a touch on the loose side but not overly sloppy.
Next up was Light FM playing a set heavy in new songs. According to Josiah (lead signger) they have 11 songs finished for a new album, which is crazy considering the last album (This Is The Beginning Of My Golden Age) is less then a year old. They filled the set with their more popier and rocking songs which really showed of how tight the band is getting. They have a new drummer since last time I saw them and he filled the part nicely. Of the new songs I really liked “Save the drama” which is another bit of Josiah’s wit and wisdom suger coated in a moog rock pop song. A great set which always reminds me of how good the geek rock of the early 90′s was (ala that dog or weezer) before they lost their soul.
Now for the headliner Earlimart. I had picked up the previous album “The trouble down here” based soley on the fact that Jason Lytle produced it. While that album wasnt terrible it was a bit on the dull side, sounding like the band was playing though some kind of haze or blanket. But on the newest release “Treble & Tremble” it sounds like they worked out the kinks. On record Espinoza vocals come covered in the a wash of delay and sugar reminisent of Elliott Smith, while the music is more inline with the crunch and flow of those really catchy Grandaddy songs. Live they really added a lot to the songs, coming off with an intensity that is rarely found in american indie rock bands. The piano accompanments, soft harmonizing female vocal’s and sqeuling guitar noise made me think this was LA’s answer to the Delgado’s. Even though this was a q101 sponsored event (which I usally avoid if i can) the amount of stupid drunk guys screaming “play the hit” was at a minimum. Overal a very enjoyable evening of music.