Wednesday Night: Squaregirls Divide And Conquer!

Yes it's true. This Wednesday April 9th Squaregirl Awesome (Kristen) will hold down the fort for our last official night at the Scene Bar in Glendale. She is taking requests for her DJ set, and when she is not behind the DJ booth making you smile or shattering your dreams she'll be out in the crowd watching the bands that we have lined up. It promises to be an outstanding night of music from local rock bands:



The Scene has been great to us, and we're sad to not have a regular home there anymore. However, both venue and Squaregirls are moving in different directions. Please stop by, and help celebrate close our night in style. You can email us at squaregirls@gmail.com to RSVP for the $3 discount list.

Meanwhile, I will be taking on DJ duties at the Echo alongside the incomparable Kevin Bronson. The night will feature music from these fantastic local bands:



As much as it pains me to miss the majority of our night at the Scene, this show just sounded too great to pass up. Such is the nature of the truly great L.A. music scene. For you, we advocate stopping by both shows, and sleeping when you're dead.

We'll see you tomorrow night!

~sqg marion

Baby, take off your beret (Everyone's a Critic, and Most People Are DJs) Squaregirls Next Show w/ Rock Music and Tacos Tonight at the Scene!

Hello, hello I feel like things are very slowly returning to normal post SXSW in the square part of my world. Due to a busier than normal work schedule, and the fact that our next official Squaregirls show is tonight, (!) I've decided to forgo the concert calendar this week. Instead I'd like to focus all of my energy on telling you exactly how amazing, and fun our show tonight is going to be!

Actually, I can't tell you exactly how fun the show is going to be because with the bands we have lined up anything can happen, and the fun has the potential to reach into uncharted territories. Speaking of uncharted territories, there may also be a post Easter surprise awaiting you at the Scene so bring your sense of adventure...

The show it's self is the biggest CD/EP/7' release show that we've ever thrown. O.K. so it's actually the first release show that we've ever thrown, but the fact that we have three different bands each releasing one of those things I think makes it a pretty big deal. Only one band on the bill tonight is not celebrating the release of any sort of recorded music. Below you will find a bit of information of all of the bands, and their individual releases, and/or ability to rock:




The Henry Clay People will be releasing their new 7inch – Working Part Time, being put out on JAXart, which contains two rocking songs, ‘Working Part Time' and 'Echolocation’ and features artwork by the all around awesome artist (and super rad flyer designer) Michael C. Hsiung. And when you purchase the 7’, you will get a download card to get the 2 songs online, PLUS HCP’s 5 song 'Working Part Time' EP for FREE. We can’t think of a better deal!


The Natural Disasters are releasing a full length CD, 21 songs long called Last Night in LA featuring original artwork by dE Gibson, “who, if you don't know, is, like, a super-famous artist” - that was a direct quote. As is this in reaction to the new ND masterpiece "Hey-- ever heard of the Beatles? Yeah, me neither. After I heard the new Natural Disasters record, I just sort of forgot about everything else. Or, rather, it's not that I forgot -- which would imply, like, you know, a LOSS -- I just... I don't know, are there other rock'n'roll records out there?" So yeah...it’s going to be good. Dig it!


Downtown/Union will be releasing their debut EP "Six Song Super Set" a collection of 6 songs (duh!) chosen from various recordings over the last year. D/U chose 6 songs that would flow together to tell a story and help capture the essence of their sound. Which rocks.


Aushua although not technically releasing an EP/LP or CD at this show, will be releasing their rockness all over the Scene and well, all over you!




I've mentioned here once or twice that the Henry Clay People are becoming one of my favorite bands to see live, over and over again. I can't wait to see what all of the other bands bring to the table as well.

Not only will Squaregirl Kristen and I be spinning some of our favorite ROCK super hits, we'll be joined by supercool guest DJ Jax of Rock Insider, and JAXART Records herself.

Oh, and did I mention there will be tacos?

Surely this is an evening not to be missed! We'll see you in a few hours...


~Sqg Marion

I Wonder What You Dream About...

At the risk of sounding incredibly cheesy, I dream about pop nights like the one that we were able to put together last night at The Scene. This one was quite near and dear to my heart as I was finally able to book two of my very favorite local (well one local, one almost local) iniepop bands The Tartans, and Maria. I know I talk about the Tartans and Maria ad nauseum around these parts, but I really can't stress enough how amazing these two bands are. Last night they were able to wow me even further. I'll never understand how bands are able to do this, but I will not question it. Murder Mystery drove to us all the way from New York (making a few stops along the way of course,) and were a tremendous amount of fun. They won more than a few new fans, and considerably upped the squaregirls' pre- existing considerable fandom. They also (in what I can only hope will be a new Sunday night tradition) covered an Orange Juice song. This time around it was "Poor Old Soul." Swoon. As for my contribution to the evening, I will never get past the giddy feeling that comes from playing Black Tambourine, Pop Will Eat Itself, The June Brides, etc. to people who get just as excited about hearing Black Tambourine, Pop Will Eat Itself, the June Brides, etc. played loudly through club speakers as I do. I'm always surprised to find that these people exist in Los Angeles, but well, I'm simply thrilled (honey) that they do. And Brian from the Tartans rocked it so hard during his guest DJ set, I'm not actually sure that I'm worthy to so much as speak to him again until my own skills in that department improve drastically. As always, we could not possibly be any more grateful to everyone who came out, and enjoyed the bands with us. You seriously made our month!

I've got a lot of work to catch up on today, so I won't have time to post the full concert rundown for the week until tomorrow. Here are the options for tonight (Monday,) and boy are there options...

The Karabal Nightlife, Kissing Cousins, & Sonadora at Bordello

Vampire Weekend at Amoeba Music

Henry Clay People, Coco B’s, Le Switch, & The Natural Disasters at The Echo

The Lynx Technique; Names in Vain; Jim, Son of James, & Johnny Mack at The Scene

Robert Francis, Jesse Denatale, & Dan Cranes at The Silver Lake Lounge

Icarus Line at The Viper Room

Hot Chip at The El Rey

KCRW Presents Rickie Lee Jones at Echoplex

Pinhead Gunpowder at The Troubadour

Sean Carnage Presents Foot Village, Carla Bozulich, Sonelle, Barry Conley, & Jeff Boynton at Pehrspace

The Pity Party, The Happy Hollows, Light FM, & Rademacher at Spaceland


It seems like there is something for nearly everyone tonight. If you happen to be planning to stop by Amoeba on your way home to buy some records resign yourself to parking far away, and fighting through a crowd. If you happen to be stopping by Amoeba on your way home from work to see Vampire Weekend, well resign yourself to parking far away and fighting through a crowd, but get there early so you'll be able to see! I've heard a lot of really good things about the Karabul Night Life's show they're at Bordello which is a nice place to spend some time, insane construction surrounding the general area aside. It's always possible to catch Rademacher and The Happy Hollows at Spaceland, then dash over to the Echo for the first night of The Henry Clay People's residency where Le Switch play as well. No my current jangle pop drunkenness has not made me forget my rock crush on Le Switch. Of course if venue hopping seems to daunting for you I should point out that The Natural Disasters are a lot of fun, and they join the Henry Clays, and Le Switch... It's also the first night of the Rickie Lee Jones residency at the Echoplex. Those shows are bound to be impressive.

Listening Too Long To One Song: The Vandelles "Lovely Weather"

If my memory serves me correctly, I heard the name The Vandelles some time last year and thought, "Oh I've got to check into that." Of course, at the time, I forgot. Then a few days ago I saw a Myspace bulletin alerting me to the fact that they are playing Part Time Punks this Sunday. Since I was already at my computer (and in fact on Myspace) I went to their page immediately to listen. The sound is pretty much exactly what I would have hoped for from a band called the Vandelles. Just the right amount of classic surf guitar and girl group influence running straight into a solid wall of shoegazer noise. The song "Lovely Weather" sounds to me the way it might feel to watch a lightning storm at close range, and narrowly escape electrocution. That is to say, it sounds pretty, exciting, and more than a little bit dangerous. If you happen to be reading this in Los Angeles you have two chances to see them this weekend. They play the Scene Bar TONIGHT. A venue that we Squaregirls are very fond of. Then Sunday at the Echo for the aforementioned Part Time Punks night. Another venue (and night) that we are fond of.

Last Nite

Thank you so much to Rademacher, Radars to the Sky, and Birds & Batteries who each rocked the Scene so hard in their own special way. And huge thanks to everyone who came out to see it! I unfortunately lost the battle with that cold sometime around 1:30 this morning. I had the upper hand until then, but it got me with a sneak attack. Still, it's completely worth it for the great time that was had last night.

Well I Went to the Party and I Wanted to Dance All Night

Hello, hello. We are in full preparation mode for our show at the Scene tonight over at squaregirls HQ. Well, that is to say I'm at home fighting a cold, blogging, and listening A LOT of records to figure out which songs will be just right to fill the spaces before, in between, and after our spectacular bands Rademacher, Radars to the Sky, and Birds & Batteries. In the meantime squaregirl awesome, also sometimes known as squaregirl kristen, has already picked out tons of great records, baked treats, and is currently working on a way to rig a Dance Dance Revolution contest. It's $5 at the door, but only $3 if you RSVP to squaregirls@gmail.com. And if you need a little help getting into the dance party spirit, clicking here just might do the trick. See you tonight!

INTERVIEW: LE SWITCH

Months and months back when we started putting this dream show together. Kristen and I had the brilliant idea to get anyone who could make it from all of the bands playing our night on the 12, give them pizza, give them beer, record the ensuing conversation, and then post what sense we could make of it here. Um, it’s now Tuesday the 11, this hasn’t happened and I don’t think that it ever will. Though it is likely to go down in squaregirl history as one of my least plausible ideas (thanks Kristen for humoring me at least.) Still bound and determined to get an interview with some one in one of the bands before the show, I sat in my office and wondered to myself, “Who is awesome, and likely to be bored enough at work to take part in a completely spontaneous and unprepared interview via AIM?” The answer on both fronts (particularly the former,) is Aaron Kyle of Le Switch. Aaron and I chatted a bit about the formation of the band, Myspace, and per his recommendation I have at least one more record to add to my already quite long list of records I need to own.



SQGM: First of all, I need to thank you (collectively) for being the squaregils first friends on myspace (after me and Kristen.)

AK: Were we? That's neat. Prolly cause I'm on online all day.

SQGM: And your our favorite L.A. band.

AK: Even better!

SQGM: So i think we asked you first, but still...

AK: I pressed that approve button with gusto..Let me tell you

SQGM: That's what we like to hear!

AK: Hahahahaha. I haven't pressed an approve button like that since.

SQGM: Aww.
So I'm curious as to how things progressed in the early days, I know it was just you and joe at first.

AK: Yeah.

SQGM: Did you play many shows as a duo?

AK: Yeah we played a bunch, that was how we [were] rolling those days.
I think we played with the monolators as a 2 piece at Mr. T's. That's when they were a 2 piece, lot's of 2's.

SQGM: Oh interesting.

AK: Yeah. It was cool seeing another band that was a two peice, gave us comfort.

SQGM: This was 2005, right? Or before?

AK: Yeah that was 2005, we met in 2004. Joe and I at first didn't really think that we should have this big sound. we were really content on the two piece idea cause then we only had to worry about us, but he was playing on a suitcase drum set with percussion then.

SQGM: Interesting.

AK: Yeah. We planned for it to be as stripped down as possible, but then Maria came along. she was like, "I play the trumpet and viola." She said that could could fill out bass stuff on the viola
so we stuck with it for like 7 or months, 7 or 8.

SQGM: With the duo thing, or as a three- piece?

AK: 3 piece, we were only a duo for like 5 months, end of 2005 into 2006. When we got together in NY he played a full kit and we stuck with that cause it was a lot bigger. Haven't gone back to the suitcase since. although I do love it.

SQGM: I can't imagine that it would be quite as condusive to what you guys are doing now, but yeah, I bet that sounded pretty cool. Any recordings from those days?

AK: ummm. Yeah there's an entire record Joe and I did with our friend Laura right before I went on tour across the country - solo. It's just an Aaron Kyle record, but some switch songs on there in their beginnings.

SQGM: I think that I've heard tale of this record...

AK: Hahahahaha. Possibly, I have a handful of copies.

SQGM: So once you went into three piece territory w/ maria was it just a case of "well we might as well add keyboards, and and a full time bass player" ?

AK: Sorda, yeah. I think we got a little tired of it sounding so thin. We asked Chris to come play with us for a few shows. See how it went. It was just kind of like..Let's get bass player,
but Chris isn't a bass player. He's a guitar player in disguise. He's a better guitarist than anyone I know.

SQGM: I hate to admit it, but i've never noticed whether or not he plays guitar on any of your live songs, or if it is just him on bass, you on guitar?

AK: Chris plays bass live all the time.

SQGM: Okay, that's what i thought. have you ever entertained the idea of trading instruments during the show? Do you play bass at all?

AK:I can play bass, but it'd be hard to play his basslines and sing. He pretty much makes it so no one can play his stuff. Hehehe.

SQGM: So the guitar talents of Christopher Harrison will remain hidden to Le Switch fans?

AK: Maybe on the new record you'll hear some Chris on guitar.

SQGM: Ooh something to look forward to. Are you recording another ep, or a full length?

AK: A full length, 10 songs.

SQGM: Oh nice.

AK: Yeah.

SQGM: Was the next record always going to be a full length or did that change once you got the label behind you?
Le Switch recently signed with local label, Autumn Tone Records.

SQGM: Congratulations on that by the way.

AK: We actually changed it when we started recording. We had 7 (songs,) and we were like it's only 3 more for a full length. Sooo, I had a new song. We had an old song that we never play live, and josh had a song that I really liked. So we decided, why not make it a full length?

SQGM: Sounds like a good plan. On that note, one thing that is really intriguing to me about your band is that you list "bands we like" under the influences section on Myspace. I find that alot of bands list so many bands as "influences" then don't sound as interesting as any of them yet, I hear some element of most of the "bands you like" in Le Switch. But it all works together as something different. Sorry for the long lead in on that one, but that is something that has always been fascinating to me about you guys. And having said that, any new stylistic directions that we can listen out for on the new record?

AK: Hahahaha. Ummm, that's cool. We all love music soo much, we're really just music music geeks that love to play music too. As far as they changing on this new record, I think people can expect things to be more orchestrated. On our last recording...it was everything you heard live was how you hear it on the recording, this one will be the same just with a little [more] ummmph.

SQGM: Ooh very nice. Yeah the music geeks that play music too thing really comes across for your band. Which i think is good. I can't honestly say that iI trust musicians who say they don't listen to that much music. I find that slightly confusing.

AK: Yeah. I always think that's weird too. Like most of my fave local bands have great tastes in music and love all kinds of music

SQGM: Who are some of your favorite local bands?

AK:Well, I have a lot.

SQGM: Okay, top 3 then?

AK: Too hard. Cause I like so many for so many different reasons. The Broken West, Division Day, Tandemoro, The Henry Clay People, The Parson Redheads, I Make This Sound... I could go on and On..but I think these bands are some of the best.

SQGM: Okay, now I'll ask an even harder question. Favorite record released in the 1960s?

AK: In the 1960's huh?

SQGM: Or the 1970s You pick.

AK: I only get to pick one?

SQGM: Okay both.

AK: That's too hard. The 70's I'd have to go with all time favorite is, Donny Hathaway – Live. That album changed my life.

SQGM: Oh cool. I have a 45 of Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack covering "You've Got a Friend.” It's pretty great.

AK: That song is pretty sick live, he does a cover of jealous friend live too.

SQGM: Is it both of them performing it?

AK: Just him and his band at the troubadour in LA in 1071, 1971. Hahaha, 1071. He's really old... He knew Jesus.

SQGM: I bet the troubadour was quite different in 1071. I imagine it was an outdoor venue then?

AK: Yeah, totally, lots of stoneware --- Maria joke.

SQGM: Well, I will certainly have to add that to my list of albums to pick up. You know, you could actually choose your favorite record from each decade from the 60s up until the present day. I'd be happy to print that.

AK: Revolver by the Beatles in the 60's.

SQGM: Good one.

AK: 80's - Out of Step - Minor Threat

SQGM: Were you in a hardcore band when you were a teenager?

AK: Maybe… The growl comes from somewhere.

SQGM: :)

AK: 90's - There's Nothing Wrong With Love - Built To Spill. They changed my life in high school. I thought everything was punk rock up until I heard Built to Spill, and Sebadoh. First indie rock show I ever saw, was Sebadoh - during Harmacy at the El Rey. They blew my mind. Dino Jr's is a runner up for the 90's.

SQGM: And it's funny, that kind of sounds like the story from [Sebadoh song] "Gimme Indie Rock."

AK: I just stepped out of the, "Our Band Could be Your Life" book.

SQGM: Oh you mean you just read it?

AK: No, I meant it sounds like I just read it and stepped out of it.

SQGM: Yeah, it really does.

This led to a brief tangent about the possibility of any new movements like the ones covered in that book occuring, and then we had to carry on with the rest of our respective days. However, movement or no, I think Le Switch are a band that people will be talking about for years to come. They may even change a few lives along the way...

Le Switch are headlining our Squargirls night Wednesday December 12 at the Scene Bar in Glendale, and I don't think that it is possible for us to be any more excited about this fact. You can be on the look out for a guest DJ set from Mr. Aaron Kyle at a future Squaregirls night. And also be on the look out for the very first Le Switch full length record in April or May of 2008, which will be released through Autumn Tone Records! It will feature my favorite Le Switch song, “Pristine!" Hopefully if you've ever caught their live show you understand my excitement behind that one. In the meantime, you can download the song "Tounge Tied" from their EP Hello Today, which they self released earlier this year.

There's Really Nothing To Understand, Let's Go And See Our Favorite Band

If only every night of mine could be spent watching outstanding ROCK bands while also getting to play Archers Of Loaf to a crowd of people who are actually excited to hear Archers Of Loaf.

Last night at the Scene was tremendous ammounts of fun. Huge thanks go out to the Bentleys, The Forms, The Valley Arena, and Signal Hill. All played fantastic sets. Signal Hill closed the night on just the right note with their beautiful, LOUD, instrumental, post- rock jams. I'll be the first to admit that LOUD, instrumental post- rock jams aren't my number one go to when it comes to music, but WOW! I strongly recommend that you see them live as soon as you can.


Speaking of my number one go to when it comes to music though, the YAY! label has a night at the Smell on Saturday. I don't think that it is actually possible for me to be more excited about this. The YAY! label has been my favorite local (well, Oxnard, close enough) musical discovery in recent memory. They claim to be, "Here to put the fun back in pop!" So far they are doing a fantastic job. They prefer releases to be on vinyl, and publish fanzines. Seriously, fanzines. What is not to love? Four of the YAY! bands will be at the Smell on Saturday November 17:

Maria

The Tartans

Catwalk

Sea Lions

So far I've only seen Maria, and Sea Lions live. Both bands made me smile. I'm fairly confident that the Tartans and Catwalk will have the same effect. Hopefully, I'll see some of you there.