IN-STORE: The Singles TONIGHT @ 7PM!

Tonight at 7PM, The Singles will be performing up in our loft!

Every once in a while you just need a good dose of power chords and 3½ minute songs to get you through the day. That's where The Singles come in. Hitting that sweet spot between garage rock and pop harmonics, these LA rockers mine and mix different musical stylings with glee, and the result is a wonderful musical amalgam for any sort of day. Bringing their sound to the wider world with the release of their debut LP Look How Fast A Heart Can Break, The Singles are ready to fill your ears with sweet, sweet rock sounds, and we wholeheartedly approve.

So grab your leather jacket, a pair of scuffed up kicks, and roll on down to OV tonight at 7PM! While you tie those Converse, give a listen to Look How Fast A Heart Can Break's first single "Inamorata" below! See you soon!

#TBT: Catching Up With Liz Garo Zine Issue #6

Last summer, we interviewed Liz Garo for Zine #6! Here's the result:

Catching Up With To Liz Garo
Liz has been the woman behind booking all the amazing shows at the Echo & Echoplex since 2001. She has her hands in all sorts of other projects around the city and is a true veteran of the music scene in LA. In 2008, she decided she wasn't busy enough so with her business partner, she opened Stories Bookstore + Cafe. As a fellow woman in the music biz, I've always admired Liz and wanted to pick her brain about her experiences. She took the time out of her crazy schedule to answer my questions. Lucky us! (Thanks Liz!) - Emily

Tell everyone why Echo Park Rising is awesome. 
Echo Park rising is an awesome work in progress and is just going to get better in the upcoming years. The cool thing about EPR is that it's new and bands, businesses, people are still figuring it out on how they can participate. Really it's a weekend where the people of echo park should celebrate the neighborhood and what they bring to it. I'm fine to get it started but really it's about people embracing the idea and figuring out what they can do to participate... Put on an art show, have a house party, dance on the steps of Pazzo Gelato or visit every small business you haven't been too. It's a little chaotic but to me, that's the charm. I'm sure it will change as it progresses but for now, almost anything goes. This year we have over 150 bands and readings and music for kids and art shows and bird walks and even the dodge ball society is doing something.

What were you like as a teenager? Have you always been into the music scene? 
I've always been intrigued with music and for some reason, the "business" of it ... I would read the calendar section in the la times and learn the names of presidents of labels and the players in the biz. I was interested in the music but also how it all came to be -- the behind the scenes of it. I grew up with older sisters who listened to Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison and I’m sure I was attracted to music on some level because I wanted to impress them but I also liked the "outsider" quality of rock n roll at the time. When I was in high school all my friends worked at Marie Calendar's as waitresses and I was determined to work in the cool indie record store, which I did my senior year and that certainly helped focus my path of wanting to work in the "music biz"
to be honest, I felt like it found me.

Some would say that the music industry is a predominately male world - do you agree or disagree? Do you feel that has posed challenges for you?
The music business is predominately men! It's definitely shifted some to more women being in prominent positions but years ago I remember sitting in a series of meetings and realizing they were always with groups of men. It's a challenge in that you really have to make sure your voice is heard and that you're articulate and that you stand your ground. The music business is more liberal than most businesses but even with that, I think women still have to prove they know what they're doing - and you don’t have the advantage of the boys club thing where dudes go golf or talk about sports - not that women can't do either of those but the guys do hang together. .
Just be smart and passionate about it, do your research and be able to conduct a conversation without gushing about how cute the bass player is (that's supposed to be a dumb joke there)

Do you listen to music at home for pleasure (and not just for work)? What's an album you couldn't live without? 
I do listen to music at home, in the car, etc. There are parts of this business that can be so frustrating that I cant imagine doing it if you didn't have a sincere interest/care about the bands or music. Because sometimes it can be kind of silly so you really have to care about it. I don’t always feel like I know enough about new bands -- there's so many! - I can't site the name of the 4th track on something or know exactly what the lyrics mean but I do listen to as much as I can.
There isn’t just one record I couldn't live without! There are lots - Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin, John Cale - Paris 1919, Buzzcocks Different Kind of Tension, all the Beach House records, the Cocteau Twins, Al Greene's Greatest Hits, any Velvet Underground. Sonic Youth's song "Teenage Riot" totally hooked me back in to working in music when I was ready to quit and go back to school; I like lots of old honky tonk country and Adele is a guilty pleasure.

Any local bands that stand out to you right now? Who do you think is gonna get big in the next coming year? 
There are local bands that I really like and some of them are ones that play the midnight slot on a Tuesday with only 30 people in the audience. There are some bands that are trying so hard to make it it's off putting but there are others that are just doing what they're doing and really succeed.
Local bands I like MT Ossa, Wildcat Wildcat, Tall Tales & the Silver Lining, Gothic Tropic, Hindu Pirates, Beach Party, Fever the Ghost, Body Parts, Vum; I’m sure I’m forgetting about twenty more...
Big Black Delta is on a roll and will continue to develop; I think Papa and Dawes and Haim will still be heard many years from now putting out quality music; I love Hanni El Khatib and of course Rhye just catapulted this year; I hope Cayucas and Torches develop strongly

Any underdog bands that we should be paying more attention to? Tommie Santee Klaws - totally musical and talented and understated and their weird kind of folk with harmonies can really be so moving and inspiring. It’s very subtle and powerful at the same time.

And not to ignore the other side of all the awesome stuff that you do, what made you want to open a bookstore? I was feeling like I wanted to do something else but wasn't sure what it was; I had worked in book stores and there's always something very romantic and appealing about it. Claudia Colodro, my business partner, and I have a mutual friend who told me Claudia was going to open a store. And I just felt compelled to be part of it, have a cafe and just make it a cool space. It had been something I had sort of always daydreamed about but having a partner in it all gave it momentum so it actually happened. We were originally going to be located in silver lake but Echo Park was the right move.

Do you even have time to read anymore? If so, what are some of your favorite books? I don’t have time to read anymore although I try! I go in the store some times and wish I could just hang out there all afternoon. I'm reading Richard Lange’s (local author) book angel baby right now; before that it was tapping the source - a surf noir book that came out in the early 80s. I love John Fante and Carson McCullers and Raymond Carver. I like short stories a lot, the book "you can’t win" by jack black - not the actor - is one of my faves and one of the store's best sellers. It's about the early American "underground" of hobos and thieves and alienation; it was written in the 1920s I think and just depicts a certain American character that you don’t always read about.

Do you have advice for the kids (specifically girls) out there who are trying to start a "scene" in their neighborhood? 
As corny as it sounds, just do it. Find like-minded souls and put something together. Find a club or cafe or bookstore and set up a show, start a blog, etc. If you're doing something out of love and passion and enthusiasm and creativity people will respond to that. I saw a flyer the other day for a teenage art show and thought that was so great that some kid was getting their peers together for an art show. Don’t care about 'creating a scene' just be a good person, honor the craft and figure out a way for it to be heard and seen.

New Releases: 2 Hott 2 Handle

Sharon Van Etten - Are We There

La Sera - Hour Of The Dawn

Napolian - Incursio

Popstrangers - Fortuna

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - A Long Way To The Beginning

Brett - S/T
Bry Webb - Free Will
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Only Run
Clint Mansell - Filth OST
Curtis Harding - Soul Power
Gold-Bears - Dalliance
L.L. Cool J - Radio (Reissue)
Laraaji - Celestial Music 1978-2011
Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - Dereconstructed
Lily Allen - Sheezus
Madlib - Shades Of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note (Reissue)
Oasis - Definitely Maybe (Reissue)
Owen Pallett - In Conflict
Plaid - Reachy Prints
Reuben And The Dark - Funeral Sky
Sandy Denny & The Strawbs - All Our Own Work (Reissue)
Son Lux - Alternate Worlds EP
Tearjerker - Hiding
The Bats - Compiletely Bats (Reissue)
The Bats - Daddy's Highway (Reissue)
The Bats - The Law Of Things (Reissue)
The Everymen - Givin' Up On Free Jazz
Trans Am - Voume X
V/A - Punk 45: Sick On You! One Way Spit! After The Love & Revolution Vol 3: Proto-Punk 1969-76
Watter - This World

OV WEEKLY: So Does This Mean It's Summer?

Happy Memorial Day! We're gonna try and keep it short and sweet so you can get back to that 3-day weekend ASAP!

Monday, May 26th (that's today!)
In The Valley Below/The Mercy Beat Residency @ The Echo!

Seeing as it now says May on your calendar, that means it's time for another edition of Monday Residencies at The Echo! This month's residency features a double feature of sublime indie-pop sounds courtesy of In The Valley Below & The Mercy Beat! Echo Park locals In The Valley Below make gauzy and atmospheric records with strong pop hooks, inviting the listener in even while holding them at arms length. This mix has been garnering them steady attention at home and abroad, and this month's residency might just be the last time you can see this talented group for free! The other half of tonight's duo, The Mercy Beat similarly mines pop hooks inside sharply constructed soundscapes, reflecting a canny pop sensibility that shows in their live sets. The fun gets started tonight at 8:30pm, so y'all better get done with dinner quick!






Tuesday, May 27th
New Releases! Simone's First Record Club + Giveaways!

We've got a big plate of new releases coming through tomorrow, so we're gonna give you a bite now so you don't get a tummyache tomorrow morning. On tomorrow's menu, highlights include the newest LPs from La Sera, Owen Pallett, Son Lux and Seun Kuti! There's more, but we're gonna keep the main courses a surprise. Check the blog tomorrow morning for all the good stuff!

Once you've picked up a new batch of records, come give 'em a spin tonight at Record Club! As always, we're gonna be playing your wax all night long and can't wait to hear what surprises you've got in store! Our lovely Simone will also be making her first appearance at Record Club, so you know you've gotta give her a warm welcome. And to top that all off, we'll also be raffling away tickets to see Pelican at the El Rey! That's one loaded night, so you better be there!




Wednesday, May 28th
B.B King Documentary @ Laemmle NoHo 7!

To get you over those Wednesday night blues, we're gonna be giving away tickets to a one-night-only showing of the newest B.B King documentary B.B King: The Life Of Riley! Narrated by Morgan Freeman, B.B. King: The Life of Riley is the untold true American story of an orphan boy from the heart of the Mississippi Delta who rose to music stardom around the world and inspired a generation of fans against all odds. Featuring interviews with just about every rock legend you can think of, B.B's blues will get rid of your blues and is sure to be an awesome night of music history! Keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook/Instagram/Twitter for giveaway details!




Thursday, May 29th
Perfect Pussy @ The Echo!

Authors of one of our favorite new records of 2014, Perfect Pussy will be headlining The Echo tonight with Potty Mouth! Bursting onto the scene with their debut record Say Yes To Love earlier this year, this punk outfit has been all over the country building hype and performing to sold-out legions of fans. Now returning to L.A to rocks the socks off The Echo, we're super excited to see what these last few months on the road have done for the band. So come on down to the Echo tonight and check out some great music with your OV buds!




Friday, May 30th
Kelis @ The El Rey Giveaway!

2003 was a good year. Kelis' "Milkshake" is evidence enough. 2014 is a good year. Kelis' newest single "Rumble" is also evidence enough. We suggest you see both songs by entering our giveaway for tickets to see her June 4th at the El Rey! Your hips won't be sorry. Keep you eyes peeled for details later this week!




Saturday, May 31st
The Singles In-Store!

Every once in a while you just need a good dose of power chords and 3½ minute songs to get you through the day. That's where The Singles come in. Hitting that sweet spot between garage rock and pop harmonics, these LA rockers mine and mix different musical stylings with glee, and the result is a wonderful musical amalgam for any sort of day. Rocking our loft tonight at 7PM, The Singles will get your weekend off to the perfect start! Seriously.



Giveaways This Week!
Liars @ The Fonda 5/27 - 1 ticket comes with the purchase of Liars newest LP Mess
Sharon Van Etten @ El Rey 6/28 - 1 ticket comes with the purchase of SVE's newest LP Are We There
Yann Tiersen @ El Rey 6/20 - 1 ticket comes with the purchase of Yann Tiersen's newest LP Infinity

Keep an eye on our Twitter/Facebook for future giveaways!


Now that we've planned your week, enjoy the short work week and stop by OV for some TLC.

IN-STORE: Babes TONIGHT @ 5PM!

Tonight at 5PM, Babes will be performing up in our loft!

An LA based family of dropouts, Babes is siblings Aaron, Zach and Sarah alongside blood brothers Bryan Jeffrey and Jeffrey John. Pop progenitors of the best kind, Babes mine innocence and self-awareness in the same breath, crafting songs that'll having you mopping up tears as you shuffle your feet. Recently teaming up with Eric Wareheim of Tim & Eric for the video of their newest single "Die," Babes is moving on up in the music (and comedy) world, so you better catch 'em soon!

Touring in support of their new EP (Harvest Records), we're super stoked to have Babes perform in our loft tonight at 5 and we hope you can make it! It'll be worth it, even if a few tears are shed. See you soon!

OV Presents: Against Me! Signing TOMORROW @ 2PM

That’s right! The band’s been busy touring their sixth studio album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues – but they set aside time to come hang out at Origami! Well shucks.

In the works since 2012, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, released early this year off of Against Me!’s own Total Treble label. The album’s rather blunt title gives insight into much of the record’s contents – a fierce, brave account of the band’s recent physical and emotional transitions that are just as loud as they are bracingly intimate. That being said, Dysphoria Blues is quite varied, containing a decent dose of Against Me!’s good old politically charged angst that we know and love. As front-person Laura Jane Grace states, "it’s just another bold step forward for an artist doing what she has always done—forging her own path by processing the highs and lows of life through music." Anthems built off of fat stripes of power chords abound, sandwiched between heavier grit-centric tracks and even acoustic ballads.

So join us and Against Me! for this signing event TOMORROW at 2pm and hey- maybe you’ll catch their set at the Roxy later that night!

OV Presents: Haunted Summer & Aaron Embry at EAT | SEE | HEAR's screening of The Big Lebowski!

Summer is upon us! In Los Angeles, this means we are flooded with a deluge of outdoor movie screenings. Where to go?! How to choose?! Let Origami do some sifting for you!

TOMORROW NIGHT (5/24) we team up with EAT | SEE | HEAR’s outdoor movie screenings to bring you Haunted Summer and Aaron Embry before a screening of The Big Lebowski!

Here’s how it’ll go down:
Doors open at 5:30pm. Come wander and enjoy eats from some of LA’s best food trucks. Then the music starts at 7pm. Aaron Embry will serenade you with his crystalline folk and Haunted Summer will submerge your ears in the coolest drink of dream pop imaginable. With this ethereal blend of music, you’ll swear you’re hearing the stars as you stare up at them. Movie starts at 8:30pm. Big Lebowski. Enough said.

It all happens at The Autry in Griffith Park (4700 Western Heritage Way Los Angeles, CA 90027). Check the event website for more info on ticketing and parking. In the mean time, here's some music from Haunted Summer and Aaron Embry to hold you over.

IN-STORE: The Numerators TONIGHT @ 7PM!

Tonight at 7PM we've got The Numerators performing in our loft!

Recent Brooklyn transplants, The Numerators mix garage-rock sensibilities with fuzzy psych guitars to craft a hazy but precise headspace for their hooks to unfold -- and unfold they do. Never quite sure of their own skills, the trio's newest single "Dead" displays the band's modesty, and it's no question why legendary label Suicide Squeeze picked up the Numerators for their singles series last year. Now touring the West Coast, The Numerators looks poised to build off of the success of their recent releases and we can't wait to have them in the shop tonight at 7PM!

So come on down to the shop tonight for some kickass tunes and good times courtesy of The Numerators! While you wait for things to get kicking, give a listen to single "Dead" below! See you soon!

OV PRESENTS: Rodrigo Amarante @ Bootleg 6/18!

Need to medicate that mid-week slump? Origami and The Fold present multi-instrumentalist Rodrigo Amarante at the Bootleg on June 18th at 8PM!

Don’t think you know Rodrigo Amarante? Well…you probably do.

Brazilian born Amarante’s musicianship and crystal-crooning vocals have graced our ears since his since 2007 contribution to Devendra Banhart’s Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon shortly followed by his stint with indie rock darlings, Little Joy, in 2008.  Speaking of which, Little Joy fans will certainly find sonic grounding on which to grip in Cavalo, Amarante’s latest LP and first solo release off of Easy Sound Recording Co. He claims to have made the album during, “an unexpected but very welcome exile” in which he was given “the opportunity to re-cognize [his] nature.” This quest for true nature is evident. The tunes oscillate between groove-pop sung in English (“Hourglass”), to Portuguese piano ballads (“Cavalo”) and buoyant, Brazilian lullabies of intimate vocal/nylon string duets (“Irene”). Fans of Devendra’s sound will rejoice.

Rodrigo will not disappoint, and neither should you! So get over to Bootleg on June 18th and listen with us!

NEW RELEASES: U Kno U Wanna

Admit it!

Shabazz Palaces - Lese Majesty (PRE-ORDER w/ Ltd. Bonus 7")

Sufjan Stevens - Enjoy Your Rabbit (PRE-ORDER)

Yann Tiersen - ∞ (Infinity)

American Football - S/T (Reissue)


Archie Bronson Outfit - Wild Crush


Elastica - S/T (Reissue)


Hank Williams - The Garden Spot Programs, 1950
Pujol - Kludge
Saxon Shore - It Doesn't Matter
Syd Arthur - Sound Mirror
Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté - Toumani & Sidiki
The Whigs - Modern Creation

OV WEEKLY: Caps Off To Ya

School's almost out! Which for some of us, is very exciting, and for others, not exciting at all. We'll let you decide. OV Weekly is always exciting however, so let's get right to it!

Monday, May 19th (that's today!)
In The Valley Below/The Mercy Beat Residency @ The Echo!

Seeing as it now says May on your calendar, that means it's time for another edition of Monday Residencies at The Echo! This month's residency features a double feature of sublime indie-pop sounds courtesy of In The Valley Below & The Mercy Beat! Echo Park locals In The Valley Below make gauzy and atmospheric records with strong pop hooks, inviting the listener in even while holding them at arms length. This mix has been garnering them steady attention at home and abroad, and this month's residency might just be the last time you can see this talented group for free! The other half of tonight's duo, The Mercy Beat, is centered on the prolific work of Brooklyn mainstay Matt Welsh and similarly mines pop hooks inside sharply constructed soundscapes, reflecting a canny pop sensibility that shows in his live sets. The fun gets started tonight at 8:30pm, so y'all better get done with dinner quick!






Tuesday, May 20th
Their / They're / There @ The Echo!

Despite having one of the worst band names in recent memory, the new side project of Mike Kinsella (American Football, Cap'n Jazz) and Mike Weiss (Into It. Over It.) is a emo supergroup actually worth hearing. Featuring everything you loved from each member's respective bands, Their / They're / There are currently touring in support of their newest EP Analog Weekend and are just about ready to to enter the Kinsella pantheon of emo twinkly goodness. With the way these projects shake out, you're gonna want to see this one before the inevitable break up. So come check out Their / They're / There tonight at the Echo!




Wednesday, May 21st
Instant Gratification? Delayed Gratification? You Can Have It All!

Whether you're planning for the future or looking for an immediate fix, OV's got your back with this week's new releases and pre-orders! For that new new stuff, we've got Yann Tiersen's newest LP Infinity (which you can stream here) and The Whigs latest album Modern Creation. If you're looking to the future, we've got you even more set with a preorder for the reissue of Sufjan's first album Enjoy Your Rabbit and an exclusive preorder of Shabazz Palace's newest LP Lese Majesty which come's bundled with a bonus 7"! It's like Christmas in May! Check the full list tonight at 9PM!




Thursday, May 22nd
Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ UCLA!

Couldn't get enough of Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Desert Daze? Uh neither could we, so we're all over the band's Thursday show in Royce Hall at UCLA! Still touring in support of last year's excellent II, these dudes will be laying down their slippery guitars and hooks all night and we can't wait to drink it up! To get in, you're gonna have to find a UCLA hookup, as the shows restricted to student +1s, but come on, a Top Ramen bribe for UMO is totally worth it. If you can't swing it, UMO will also be playing at the Natural History Museum's First Fridays on June 6th, so don't fret, there's plenty of UMO to go around.




Friday, May 23rd
The Numerators In-Store @ 7PM!

Recent Brooklyn transplants, The Numerators mix garage-rock sensibilities with fuzzy psych guitars to craft a hazy but precise headspace for their hooks to unfold -- and unfold they do. Touring the West Coast and looking to build on their fuzz-rock sound, The Numerators are poised to build off of the success of their recent releases and we can't wait to have them in the shop tonight at 7PM!




Saturday, May 24th
Against Me! @ The Roxy! Emily Cries!

This one goes out to Emily. You can find her brooding somewhere tonight at the Roxy. Give her an angsty high five or something.



Sunday, May 25th
Against Me! Signing @ OV! Babes In-Store @ 5PM!

On Sunday, Against Me! will take over the shop at 2PM to sign your records, posters, faces, or whatever thing you want to memorialize the moment with. Emily: The College Years had 'Reinventing Axl Rose' playing on repeat while making some angsty art for her classes. As if it couldn't get any better to have someone as inspirational as Laura Jane Grace at OV, the current line up of Against Me! boasts some pretty epic musicians (Rocket From The Crypt, International Noise Conspiracy). Needless to say, we're stoked!!! See you Sunday!

After Against Me! signs all your body parts, stick around for our Babes in-store at 5PM!

An LA based family of dropouts, Babes is siblings Aaron, Zach and Sarah alongside blood brothers Bryan Jeffrey and Jeffrey John. Pop progenitors of the best kind, Babes mine innocence and self-awareness in the same breath, crafting songs that'll having you mopping up tears as you shuffle your feet. We're fans and you should be too! So check 'em out tonight with us at 5PM!





Giveaways This Week!
Liars @ The Fonda 5/27 - 1 ticket comes with the purchase of Liars newest LP Mess
Sharon Van Etten @ El Rey 6/28 - 1 ticket comes with the purchase of SVE's newest LP Are We There
Wye Oak @ El Rey 7/10 - 1 ticket comes with the purchase of Wye Oak's newest LP Shriek

Keep an eye on our Twitter/Facebook for future giveaways!


Now that we've planned your week, reward yourself with some applesauce. Sprinkle some cinnamon in there too. Nice

IN-STORE: Trin Tran TONIGHT @ 7PM!

Tonight at 7PM, Trin Tran will be performing up in our loft!

Trin Tran is a hard man to pin down. A multi-instrumentalist with a deep dislike of the term "one-man-band," his work is made up entirely of synth, guitar and drums -- all played simultaneously by the man himself. A relatively isolated figure, Trin had been releasing music for close to a decade before his discovery and debut LP in 2012. That album, Dark Radar, featured a fractured vision of new wave and electro-punk sounds that was equally compared to Duran Duran and LCD Soundsystem in its praise. Now on Castle Face Records, Trin Tran released his newest EP Far Reaches earlier this year, continuing his singular sound and approach to composition that place him at the forefront of 2014's best artists.

So whether you're looking for a brand new sound or just wanna see a guy play three instruments at once, come on down to Origami tonight at 7PM for Trin Trin up in our loft! While you wait for tonight to come round, give a listen to "Dark Rider" below! See you soon!

IN-STORE: Royal Blood TODAY @ 2PM!

Today at 2PM we've got Royal Blood performing in our loft!

Featuring only guitar and bass, this Brighton, UK duo have been blowing up overseas, garnering fans big (like Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders) and small for their skillful explosion of rock sounds. Recalling the surgical precision and bombast of The White Stripes and Sleigh Bells, these two dudes absolutely kill it with their live shows and are looking to bring their firepower to U.S shores this summer. First stop? OV of course! We're super stoked to have these guys performing in our loft today at 2PM and hope you can come on out and join us!

The show gets started this afternoon, but if you are looking for a sneak peek, give a listen to Royal Blood's EP single "Out Of The Black" below! See you soon!

MORE NEW RELEASES: Better late than never!

Bill Murray-approved New Releases.


The Black Keys - Turn Blue GET IT!
Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady  GET IT!
The Clientele - Suburban Light (Reissue)  GET IT!
Broken Twin - May  GET IT!
Sculpture - Membrane Pop  GET IT!
Yo La Tengo - Fakebook (Reissue)  GET IT!
Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Days Of Abandon   GET IT!
Lykke Li - I Never Learn  GET IT!
Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots  GET IT!

#TBT: Moses Sumney Interview

Today we're flashin' back to that time we interviewed the amazingly gifted Moses Sumney before his babe face was on the cover of LA Record, before he killed it with his sold out Bootleg residency, and before you even knew who he was!  This article made its debut in the sixth issue of OV's quarterly zine.  Now come, walk down memory lane with us!
PS You can still grab a copy of his RSD 7" "Scratch The Surface" right here!

*****

A Moment with Moses Sumney

Interviewer: Savannah Baldalich

Moses Sumney is dangerous.  23-year-old LA singer-songwriter has an uncommon talent and fierce passion, which in combination fuel his incredible one-man show.  Sumney loops his voice to create a full and soulful wall of sound unique from most solo acts.  While this year has held huge things for Sumney, including a nod from SPIN, we're kinda thinking he's just gettin' started.

The lyrics in your songs are absolutely beautiful.  Do you feel you have a specific theme or issue you write about a majority of the time?

I just write about my experiences, but recognize while writing them that they're universal because we all kinda go through the same stuff.  Which, most of the time, is not super-sunny-happy-stuff-- most of my songs are about questionable relationships.

Why do you loop?  What is your creative process for looping?

I started looping because I don't have people who want to play music with me!  Since I don't have bandmates I needed a way to get all of the weird musical ideas out of my head.  At some point I realized it didn't sound absolutely terrible and figured I'd do it live.

What other current LA acts do you listen to? 

Well I'm really into KING, who I did a residency with at the Bootleg in June.  I just got hip to Blake Mills, who is a wonderful folk artist.  I must admit most of the current artists I like are from London.

What is your must-see for Echo Park Rising?

I'm really just gonna check out lots of bands I've not really listened to but heard good things about: Kera & The Lesbians, yOya, The Dead Ships, Avid Dancer, Body Parts, James Supercave, LA Font, White Arrows, Pangea...

And FYF Fest?

Solange!*  I think she is so utterly cool; her style is awesome.  Finally going to see Beach House!  TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Glasser, and Nosaj Thing can get it.  

*Little did he know! Moses got to play with Solange in NYC in Feb 2014!! Killin it!

NEW RELEASES: Does This Mean We're Going Steady?

Little Dragon - Nabuma Rubberband w/ sticker ... GET IT

Linda Perhacs - Parallelograms ... GET IT


Chromeo - White Women ... GET IT


Tomahawk - M.E.A.T 7" ... GET IT


Broods - Broods EP ... GET IT
Bouquet - Still The River 7" ... GET IT
Creation Rebel - New Age Steppers ... GET IT
Ma Turner - ZOZ ... GET IT
Royal Blood - Out Of The Black EP ... GET IT
Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate ... GET IT

OV WEEKLY: Please Don't Leave Us Out In The Sun

Normally I'd try and write something witty here but life is largely impossible when it's this hot. Total shocker I know. Anyways, here's your forecast.

Monday, May 12th (that's today!)
Last Chance To Win A Nabuma Rubberband Test Pressing! In The Valley Below/The Mercy Beat Residency @ The Echo!

We're sure y'all are waiting with bated breath for Little Dragon's newest LP Nabuma Rubberband, and we want to make that wait a little bit crazier by giving away a signed test press of LD's newest groove machine! To enter, head on over to our online store and preorder the album before 12 o'clock tonight for a chance to win! Winners will be announced later in the week! Good luck!



Seeing as it now says May on your calendar, that means it's time for another edition of Monday Residencies at The Echo! This month's residency features a double feature of sublime indie-pop sounds courtesy of In The Valley Below & The Mercy Beat! Echo Park locals In The Valley Below make gauzy and atmospheric records with strong pop hooks, inviting the listener in even while holding them at arms length. This mix has been garnering them steady attention at home and abroad, and this month's residency might just be the last time you can see this talented group for free! The other half of tonight's duo, The Mercy Beat, is centered on the prolific work of Brooklyn mainstay Matt Welsh and similarly mines pop hooks inside sharply constructed soundscapes, reflecting a canny pop sensibility that shows in his live sets. The fun gets started tonight at 8:30pm, so y'all better get done with dinner quick!






Tuesday, May 13th
Hungry? Grab A New Release.

This week's slate is headlined by Little Dragon's excellent new LP Nabuma Rubberband (snag a listen here), but there's plenty of yummy stuff in the undercard. Our full list + links will be out tonight, so keep them trigger fingers ready!




Wednesday, May 14th
Strange Babes @ The Satellite!

Tonight at The Satellite, we've got a perfect band for this week's sun: Strange Babes! OV buds and head of our New Zealand fan club (so we hear), these kiwis make deliciously danceable jangle pop that brings a fresh feeling to that wonderful Flying Nun sound. Opening for Green Gerry, Strange Babes will be on early, so you better show up on time to catch a slice of their warm-weather sound! And then when you're done, you can slap us a high five! Best night ever.




Thursday, May 15th
Take Your Board To Work Day!

It's supposed to be 100° today. Weezer's Blue Album came out last week. Let's connect the dots.



Friday, May 16th
OV Faves Doubleheader: Connan Mockasin & Juan Wauters @ The Echo/Echoplex!

Oh boy have we been looking forward to today. Tonight at the Echo & Echoplex, two OV faves Connan Mockasin & Juan Wauters will be making all our dreams come true - and then some! Connan took over OV's playlists at the beginning of the year with the release of his newest LP Caramel, sending cascades of trippy-pop goodness throughout our rainiest days. A strange dude through and through, we saw him mesmerize the Echo in January and we can't wait to see it all again tonight in the Echoplex! Upstairs at The Echo, Em & Steen's favorite ex-Beets member Juan Wauters will be sending out his good vibes and music starting at 8:30pm! A recent in-store performer, Juan's been all over our dial since his LP North American Poetry came out last year and we can't wait to see him again at the Echo! So come find us tonight at The Echo & Echoplex and get ur groove on!






Saturday, May 17th
Royal Blood In-Store @ 2PM! Trin Tran In-Store @ 7PM!

This weekend, we're kicking things off right with a two-headed in-store slate that features Royal Blood and Trin Tran!

First up, Royal Blood. Featuring only guitar and bass, this Brighton, UK duo have been blowing up overseas, garnering fans big (like Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders) and small for their skillful explosion of rock sounds. Recalling the surgical precision and bombast of The White Stripes and Sleigh Bells, these two dudes will be bringing their powerful sound up into our loft today at 2PM and we hope you can make it out!



The latter half of tonight's action, Trin Tran, is multi-instrumentalist with a deep dislike of the term "one-man-band," and whose work is made up entirely of synth, guitar and drums -- all played simultaneously by the man himself! Discovered after 10 years of making his own idiosyncratic music, his 2012 debut LP, Dark Radar, featured a fractured vision of new wave and electro-punk sounds that was equally compared to Duran Duran and LCD Soundsystem in its praise. We have absolute no idea what to expect from his performance tonight at 7PM, but we know it'll be something worth experiencing! See you at 7!




Giveaways This Week!
Juan Wauters @ The Echo 5/16 - 2 pairs! First two people to share this blog post on FB or Twitter (and tag us) win!

Keep an eye on our Twitter/Facebook for future giveaways!


Now that we've planned your week, remember, OV has air conditioning. If that's not enough incentive to visit the shop, then I don't what is.

IN-STORE: Zach Jones TONIGHT @ 5PM!

Tonight at 5PM Zach Jones will be performing up in our loft!

A singer/songwriter and self-confessed "old soul," Zach Jones' solo music career has been a long time coming. Part of many a defunct rock band back in the day, Zach began his solo career in 2010, quickly gaining notoriety for his ample blend of pop and Motown sensibilities in around his hometown of Portland, ME. Building off of this success, Zach has released a slew of records, slowing gaining national notoriety and preparing himself for his big break. His newest album, The Days, looks like that album, consolidating Zach's sound to its most pure and ebullient.

Now on tour in support of The Days, Zach will be stopping by Origami tonight at 5 and we would love to see you here! To get yourself ready for tonight, snag a listen to Days track "Time For A Change" below! See you soon!

IN-STORE: GHIANT TONIGHT @ 7PM!

Tonight we've got GHIANT up in our loft at 7PM!

Donald Ian Black, the man behind GHIANT, is something of a musical chameleon. While his recorded music as GHIANT brilliantly walks the line between experimental orchestration and straight up pop, his live shows run the board from intimate singer-songwriter affairs to full-on orchestras. That's part of the reason we're so excited to see what he'll be cooking up when he stops by the OV loft tonight at 7PM! Touring alongside the release of his newest 12" A Discussion of Head Noise, we have absolutely no idea what Donald has in store for us, but we're sure we'll be blown away by whatever pop confectionaries he brews up!

So come on down to OV tonight at 7PM for a mysterious and no doubt wonderful performance by GHIANT! While you wait, give a listen to GHIANT song "Winning Single" below. See you soon!

IN-STORE: Mirror Travel TONIGHT @ 7PM!

Tonight at 7PM Mirror Travel will be performing in our loft!

Formerly Follow That Bird, this Austin trio rebranded themselves in 2013 alongside the release of their album Mexico via Modern Outsider Records. Thankfully, the band's sound remained intact through the name change and Mexico is chock full of the lush indie-pop moments Follow That Bird was known for. On the LP, sharp percussion and fuzzy guitars stand alongside lead singer Green's warm vocals, lending a perfect air of summertime sweetness to Mirror Travel's aural attack. Now touring the West Coast in support of Mexico, we're super stoked to have Mirror Travel throw down in our loft tonight at 7 and hope you can come too!

Need a taste test? Give a listen to Mexico single "Stoner" below and then stop on by OV tonight at 7PM! See you there!

OH JOY!!! New Releases Will NEVER END!!

tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack (Limited Red Vinyl) 

The Horrors - Luminous (Regular or Deluxe Version)

Fucked Up - Year Of The Dragon

Savages- Fuckers / Dream Baby Dream 12"

Le1f- Hey

Bad Bad Not Good - III

Young Magic - Breathing Statues 

CabaretVoltaire - Drinking Gasoline

crash - Hardly Criminal

Eno& Hyde - Someday World

Jeffertitti'sNile - The Electric Hour

Jungle - Busy Earnin' 12"

Mike Adams At His Honest Weight - Best of Boiler Room Classics

MonsterRally - Coral

Papercuts - Life Among Savages

The Ministry of Wolves - Music From Republik Der Wolfe

TheRolling Stones - 12 x 5 (Reissue)

TheRolling Stones - Ger Yer Ya-Ya's Out (Reissue)

TheRolling Stones - Through The Past Darkly (Reissue)

V/A-  Archive From 1959: The Billy Childish Story

V/A- Bleep:10