Tag: burger records

Josh Schwartz benefit at the Echoplex: L.A.’s Feel Good Moment

Lawrence Rengert December 23, 2014

A few weeks ago I was in Highland Park and stopped by Brent Rademaker’s house. He gave me the low down on his new project, Gospel Beach but casually dropped that there was an unannounced benefit planned to aid an ailing local music legend, Josh Schwartz, who had been diagnosed with ALS. It was going to be a reunion of sorts, bands whose heyday had come and gone would perform just this one show to raise money for Josh’s out-of-the-country treatments, an experimental hope that his debilitating condition could somehow be stopped, healed, cured or reversed. Several of these bands hadn’t played in years, but the names are familiar: Beachwood Sparks, Summer Hits w/ Ariel Pink, The Tyde. Josh had some hand in the creation or promotion of each one, was a mentor or added his guitar parts. In fact, Josh had been a magnet for several people and they would speak of him at the concert as “the only meaningful person they met in LA” or “the guy who recorded my first album” or “the best guitar player in Los Angeles.” There would also be a select few newer bands playing. Mostly very young garage types from Orange County;

Another epic Lolipop Records show with Mystic Braves and friends at The Echo

Taylor Wong December 21, 2014

Lolipop Records graced us with another great lineup in LA last night at The Echo- Levitation Room, Drinking Flowers, Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel, and headliners, Mystic Braves. This show was like a high school backyard party. I say that not because the crowd was mostly under 21 but because all the bands playing and half the people attending were people I have met through out LA shows. These bands frequently play 5 Star Bar in Downtown Los Angeles. Another reason it felt so tight knit was all the bands that came out to support these artists. At one point I was at the bar sandwiched between Cherry Glazerr and Isaac Rother and the Phantoms. On the smoking patio I ran into members of The Shrine, Jesus Sons, and The Santoros. It really gives me a warm feeling seeing that kind of support. The first band up was Levitation Room. Now I had written about Levitation Room at Them Howling Bones EP release party and how it just wasn’t the right venue for them. Last night was a different story. These guys are meant for a stage and that’s what The Echo gave them. They were the first band

Corners puts Cosmonauts To Test As Headliner at Part Time Punks at The Echo

Danny Baraz December 15, 2014

It’s amazing how many young people are picking up instruments and starting bands these days. What’s more amazing is that the attraction to do so seems to be motivated by the purest of intentions. There is less hope than ever to reach the heights of rock stardom achieved by every American generation since Elvis because of the relatively recent collapse of the music industry- When most young people at the time thought Metallica was out of touch in their fight with Napster, it appears they had a clear vision of what the future held. Bands work harder for less money. Album sales have been replaced by marathon touring schedules. Mega bands are asked to play the Superbowl for free. The tallest heights are measured by landing a single in a national commercial. Music has been devalued by a society that’s not quite sure how to make money off it anymore. While the internet is the greatest technology ever created to reach people all across the world, sell your product, book a tour and promote it, there are so many shiny objects distracting us all that the very ADD nature of it seems to have shortened the careers of many young

Allah-Las in La La Land: A cold, rainy night and warm vibes inside The El Rey Theater

Danny Baraz December 12, 2014

On the heels of an extended fall tour, the release of their second album, “Worship the Sun” and the upcoming birth of the new year, Allah-las must have quite the lofty visions of 2015 in their collective third eye. On Thursday, December 11th, the Allah-las made a stop at the El Rey in Los Angeles with Tashaki Miyaki. There was a mosaic of Burger Records alumni in attendance at this event. There were also the usual caravan of beautiful women, chronic appreciators, an over flow of “man bun” hairstyles, retro-thrift store army’s of fashionable special forces and cocaine, Gucci attitudes that seem like permanent, fixed appendages to these types of L.A. shows. Burger stars such as Warren Thomas of The Abigails and Clementine Creevy of Cherry Glazerr were in the house as Burger roster mates usually are when their friends, mentors and influencers play local gigs. The Allah-las took the stage to gaze upon a packed house. Almost instantly, a wave of good vibes washed over The El Rey Theater as the reverb hit our ears and the projected, live liquid visuals by Mad Alchemy hit our eyes. Lead Singer Miles Michaud cocked his head to the right, opened

Burgerama 4 Announcement Party with together Pangea, No Parents and Others.

Taylor Wong December 9, 2014

Five dollars made all the kids holler last night in the Constellation Room at The Observatory. Burger Records threw a show last night with bands White Night, Unkle Funkle & Free Weed, No Parents, and Together Pangea. This show was a Burgerama 4 line up release party even though the Burgerama line up had actually leaked to the internet before any one at the show actually knew who was playing. They actually never told us what the line up was. You had to be paying attention to the music the DJ was playing to get the list of bands. Pretty fuckin clever if you ask me. Here is the amazing lineup for Burgerama 4 taking place March 28th and 29th at, of course, The Observatory in Santa Ana. Tickets go on sale this Friday, 12/12/14 at 10am and you can purchase them here. Oh boy oh boy oh boy. The opening band White Night played mid speed thrashers. The first couple songs hand the crowd second guessing White Night. I decided to stand in the empty pit and grab a few photos. That was my first mistake of the night. The children of the corn, as I like to call

Jonny 2 Bags and The Abigails at The Echo: Two Generations of Heartbreak Music

Danny Baraz December 4, 2014

If you compare musical styles, the pairing of The Abigails opening for Jonny 2 Bags seems like a perfect match. Twangy 6 strings, pedal steel and gut wrenching lyrics serve to set the tone of the night. I’m almost positive that bookers at The Echo put this bill together with great care and intuition. But even with complimentary styles, the fans did not mix. Age, styles and dispositions were varied and most of The Abigails fans didn’t stick around for Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham. Somehow, the room was still packed when he took the stage. I guess that means that fans of Jonny 2 Bags weren’t too interested in The Abigail’s, either. I can hear the insults in my imagination with one side calling the other “hipsters” in an accusatory tone and the other remarking on the age of those I’ve heard described as “chain danglers”. But really, who gives a shit? I enjoyed both bands immensely. The last time I saw The Abigails, lead singer, Warren Thomas was conspicuously absent and lead guitarist, Kyle Mullarky was filling in for him. We later found out that Thomas was drying out in rehab and he made mention of that during last

An Interview with Zac Carper from FIDLAR

Danny Baraz October 28, 2014

It’s a rare thing that NEW music can make you feel nostalgic; That an album that you’ve had for a couple years can take you back in time to when you were a kid. It can only be described as authenticity. That’s the best way to describe the band FIDLAR; Authentic. I’m not filthy, on drugs, hopeless or confused anymore. I’m nowhere near as angry as I used to be but listening to FIDLAR takes me to that place where I don’t give a fuck, again. I wanted to talk to Zac Carper to see if the son of a world class surfboard shaper and brothers who’s dad was part of a Southern California Punk Rock Pantheon actually walked the walk. After this conversation, I need no further convincing. This interview was conducted on October 21st 2013 Danny: Zac what’s going on bud? Zac: What’s up my dude? Danny: How are you? Zac: Good how is California right now? Danny: Pretty steady as usual, gorgeous day except now that the kids are back in school the beaches aren’t crowded so that is always nice. Zac: Stoked. Danny: