IN-STORE: Their Wedding TONIGHT @ 7PM!

Tonight at 7PM, Their Wedding will be performing up in our loft!

L.A locals and staples of the SoCal tour circuit, Their Wedding returns to L.A tonight in support of their newest EP Wine! Stuffed full of anthemic guitars and soaring choruses, Wine mixes bold harmonies with electro-pop instrumentation that is as catchy as it is cathartic. Equally influenced by The Weeknd as by Beach House, Their Wedding finds new avenues of honest expression amongst complex arrangements and wide-open sonic spaces. With their sound quickly becoming realized, these L.A stalwarts are looking to bigger and better things - so you better catch 'em now!

So come on down to the loft tonight at 7PM for an evening of music that'll make you feel like OV is the biggest warehouse you can think of. In the meantime, give a listen to Wine's first single "I Tried To Leave You" below! See you soon!

IN-STORE: Luke Sweeney TONIGHT @ 7PM!

Tonight at 7PM, Luke Sweeney takes over the loft for an exclusive in-store performance!

A staple of the SF music scene, singer-songwriter Luke Sweeney stops by Origami tonight in celebration of his newest release, Adventure:Us, out on Aerobic International. Built from his earliest days as a stripped-down solo artist, Adventure:Us builds on the promise of his early bedroom songs towards a lush and full psych-pop sound supported by a cast of SF standbys. Equally exotic and peaceful, Adventure:Us looks poised to push Luke Sweeney further afield in his cozy world of CA-bred psychedelica, and we're glad to be along for the ride!

So join us for an exclusive premiere of Adventure:Us live in our loft at 7PM tonight and get ready for some good ol' fashioned live music. If ya can't wait until then, give a listen to Adventure:Us single "Doin' It To You" below! See you soon!

FYF: We Gone

Shop's closed today through Monday cause we're FYF-ing! Catch us next to the merch tent and grab some slick records and signatures! See you there!

FYF FEST MEGA POST!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOO!!! FYF IS HERE FINALLY!

This year at FYF we decided to go all out. Not only are we bringing the entire shop to the festival, but we have some free goodies and an killer lineup of signings at our tent!

First things first, check out these awesome OV tote bags!

Made in collaboration with Vans with art by the fabulous Michael C. Hsiung and printed by Everybodies Stomached these awesome totes will be free for the first 250 people each day to make a purchase at our booth! Included in these awesome totes (other than the rockin' record you just purchased) there will be a cassette mixtape from Epitaph Records and our quarterly zine! 

We are the only music vendor at the festival, which means we've been tirelessly alphabetizing and restocking hundreds of records and CDs to make sure there is an adequate selection for you guys! This also means that for every act at the festival there will be something to scoop up and add to your collection and possibly get signed... Did I say signed? I wonder where you could get something signed... OH YEAH, OUR TENT. Check out this awesome list of signings that we'll be having this year:

Keep in mind all times are subject to change so make sure to swing by our tent at the festival so you don't miss out. 

Sadly, because our entire store will be at FYF this weekend, the shop will be closed friday-monday. Sorry... but we will be open again for regular business hours tuesday.

Holy cow I can't wait for this weekend! If you're going to be at FYF don't forget to stop by and say hi at our tent, which is located right next to the official FYF merch tent. Seeya there!

THIS JUST IN: God Help The Girl RELEASE/SIGNING PARTY w/ Stuart Murdoch on 9/1!

This just in! On September 1st we will be having a release party/signing for the original soundtrack of the movie God Help The Girl written and directed by Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian!

God Help The Girl is a musical film written and directed by Stuart Murdoch with all original music made by, you guessed it, Stuart Murdoch! The flick revolves entirely around the music and tells the story of "a better summer, or at least a summer when something happened. It happened to a boy and a girl and a girl in a city roughly the same size of Glasgow."

The movie soundtrack will be released on September 2nd so you will all have the pleasure of being able to get it a day early with (insert drumroll here) Stuart Murdoch himself in attendance! WOW! We're super stoked to have him here hanging out and signing copies of his new album! So come down for some delicious pizza, thirst quenching beverages, and good vibes with Stuart Murdoch and his newest project God Help the Girl. Make sure to preorder the album for a guaranteed spot at the signing. Preorders of the album are available in the shop or online HERE and will be ready to pick up the day of the event.

 Don't forget to preorder and we'll seeya there!

The Muffs RECORD CLUB TAKEOVER + NEW ALBUM + MORE!

Come on down to record club tonight @ 9 PM at El Prado for the premiere of the new The Muffs album!

The Muffs represent punk rock at its finest and are at it again with a new album titled, Whoop Dee Doo released today! With power chords and throaty screams, front-woman Kim Shattuck sticks close to her garage rock roots in their newest album, showcasing exciting new songs that hold true to the original sound of The Muffs. This release is the bands first album in over a decade and we're super stoked to share it! Not only will we be listening to the album in its entirety, but The Muffs will also be there hanging out and spinning some vinyl! The new record will be available tonight and as a "thank you" for purchasing it we'll buy you a drank!

Not only are The Muffs going to be hanging out, but so are our homies Donut Friend! They're so excited about this new album too that they're going to be giving away FREE DONUTS! If you're not familiar with donut friend, we love them! They will be supplying us with awesome vegan donuts named after famous bands.

So come on down to El Prado tonight @ 9PM for an awesome time!

Tragedy, Peace & A Beach Celebration Of Freaks: A New Release Blog Post For The Ages

The Muffs - Whoop Dee Doo (PRE-ORDER) + Hear the record at record club on 8/19!!!! Details HERE

Julia Holter - Tragedy (Reissue)

Trash Talk - No Peace

Benjamin Booker - S/T

Celebration - Albumen

Beach Day - Native Echoes

Eels - Beautiful Freak (Reissue)

Orenda Fink - Blue Dream
Bahamas - Is Afie
Kimbra - The Golden Echo
Smoke Dawson - Fiddle
Polica - Raw Exit 10"
Ryan Adams - 1984 EP 7"
Julia Holter - Don't Make Me Over / Hello Stranger 7"
The Posies - Failure (Reissue)
Daniel Johnston - Fun (Reissue)
Fela - Confusion (Reissue)
Fela - Sorrow, Tears & Blood (Reissue)
Fela - Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (Reissue)

+ Pre-order God Help The Girl - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and attend our signing with Stuart Murdoch (of Belle and Sebastian) on 9/1! More details HERE

OV WEEKLY: The Quiet Before The FYF Storm

Damn Echo Park Rising was good. And now FYF is less than a week away? Things are pretty good. Especially since OV Weekly is here!


Monday, August 18th
Tete @ The Echo!

Making sure your summer keeps on rocking, The Echo have recruited local shoegazers Tete to cleanse you weekly from the grime of hot August days. Self-described as a "cult memory of My Bloody Valentine," Tete mix drone, shoegaze, metal and a taste for gummy worms into a sonic infiltration unit whose only goal is to blow you away. It's a beautiful noise when it all comes together and we hope we can see y'all there every Monday this summer! The guitars start wailing at 9PM, so make sure you aren't late!




Tuesday, August 19th
New Releases Are A Gift Unlike Any Other! The Muffs Take Over RCLA!

Need something to do before the weekend? How about giving some new records a spin? This week we've got an awesome Julia Holter reissue, Benjamin Booker's smokin' hot debut LP, and the return of affordability to The Eels. A pretty good haul all around. Peep the blog in the AM for the full list!



After you've got all the vinyl goodies you can handle, stop by El Prado tonight for an RCLA event for the books: The Muffs Whoop Dee Doo album premiere party!

With Whoop Dee Doo, The Muffs return with their first album in over a decade and we are so stoked to spin it for ya first! As with every Muffs album, front-woman Kim Shattuck sticks close to her garage rock roots, showcasing everything that has made The Muffs one of our favorite female-led bands ever and a OV shop staple! Not only will we be listening to the album in its entirety, but The Muffs will also be there hanging out and spinning some records of their own! As with previous RCLAs, each purchase of Whoop Dee Doo will also come with a free drank as our little thank you. (The other rewarding aspect of the evening will come from Emily's inability to form words).

Not only are The Muffs going to be hanging out, but so are our homies Donut Friend! Fellow Muffs fans, they are just as excited as us for The Muffs new album, and to celebrate, they'll be giving away FREE DONUTS all night!! We love Donut Friend, and with one bite into their out-of-this-world alt-rock confections will have you pinching yourself in delight. It's sure to be an awesome evening with great music, friends and food, so you don't really have an excuse dude, come on down to El Prado at 9PM!




Wednesday, August 20th
Planning For The New Release Future!

So with all the hullabaloo going on with EPR and FYF, we gotta make sure you know what's coming on the pre-order radar so you can snag those limited 7"s and posters before it's too late! So here's a quick little breakdown of everything we've got coming down the OV pipe!

Foxygen - ...And Star Power (Ltd. Button & Matchbook)
Benjamin Booker - S/T (Ltd. Red 7" & Button Set)
Pharmakon - Bestial Burder (Ltd. Red Vinyl)
Goat - Commune (Loser Edition on Translucent Red & Blue Vinyl w/ Bonus 7")
The Rentals - Lost In Alphaville (Ltd. Coke Bottle Clear vinyl)


Thursday, August 21st
Benjamin Booker @ The Echo! The Zombies + Mystic Braves @ Santa Monica Pier!

After premiering his awesome debut LP last week, we are definitely gonna be seeing Benjamin Booker tonight when he takes the Echo by force! Hailing from the great city of New Orleans, Benjamin Booker is an up-and-coming artist that you don't want to miss out on. Like, for real. With his own brand of growling, high energy NOLA rock, Booker knows how to kick some serious butt.



Also on tap: As part of Santa Monica's awesome FREE summer concert series, OV alum Mystic Braves will be joining The Zombies at the pier this Thursday night! Talk about a double bill, huh? If you haven't heard of Mystic Braves, well then you ought to, because these dudes craft some of the grooviest, psychedelic jams that we know of. Their 2014 LP Desert Island has been one of our favorite local records of the year and we are super stoked to hear them alongside the stupidly legendary Zombies. Which by the way, if you haven't heard of them, we suggest buying Odyssey and Oracle, a dark room, some good headphones, and dedicating about a week of listening time. Anyways, tonight at the pier is gonna be awesome and we can't wait to see you there when Mystic Braves & The Zombies take the stage!






Saturday, August 23rd
FYF IS HEREEEEE!

Hell yeah. For this year's FYF extravaganza, OV is going all out, bringing practically the whole shop with us alongside some kickass goodies and events. Check out the preliminary funsies below and keep you eyes peel for more OV x FYF news!

First up, we're gonna get you some free goodies: If you've checked out our Insta lately, then you've seen our exclusive tote that we did in collaboration with Vans with art by the talented Michael C. Hsiung and printing by Everybodies Stomached. Pretty slick lookin' ain't it? The first 250 people each day who shop at our tent at the Fest will be goin' home with one of these babies!

What to carry in that rockin' tote? How about a signed record of your favorite FYF artist? Expanding our signings from last year, we've got an awesome slate of FYF homies lined up to fawn over and giggle excitedly. Wanna know who they are? I'd give a peek at the blog tomorrow morning! It's gonna be an awesome lineup!

Lastly, OV will be closed Friday-Monday in service of FYF. We don't wanna leave you hanging, so come slap us some high fives at the festival instead!

For that news and much much more, keep your eyes peeled on our blog, Facebook & Twitter. It's gonna be a great weekend!

ECHO PARK RISING DAY 2 EXCITEMENT

Are you guys as pumped about day 2 as I am? Check out the DOPE talent we have in the shop today!

TODAY

4PM: Island Boy – What do french house, reggaeton, latin freestyle, and new wave have in common? Island Boy.


5PM: Omid Walizadeh – The once hip hop producer digs into his roots to bring us beats and bass injected with a painstakingly curated slew of samples from rare Persian tapes and vinyl from the 60’s and 70’s.


6PM: Tashaki Miyaki – All the glassy chimes and charms of dream-pop with a heart parked hard in lo-fi, garage spirit.

7PM: BOUQUET – Contemplative, art pop. Delicate, smooth and slightly psychedelic, BOUQUET works to marry the auditory and the visual in an intentional, pristine package.

8PM: The Mynabirds – Singer/songwriter Laura Burhenn brings her distinct, soulful vocal to a canvas of percussive, pointillist, pop rock.




See you guys there!!!

OV PRESENTS: Black Kids/Torches @ THE BOOTLEG

Join us tonight at The Bootleg for an awesome show from Black Kids and Torches @ 8PM!

Florida natives Black Kids are currently in the midst of a nationwide tour that has brought them to our little town of Los Angeles. These funky indie rockers build their songs around catchy danceable vocal melodies and 80's synth sounds, creating a modern homage to disco and funk. Sure to get you up on your feet, dancing and singing along with them, Black Kids is sure to be an awesome time! Check out their single "Origami" (Oh my god just like us!!!!) below.


Los Angelenos Torches, having just released their new EP, "Endlessly Repeating", are quickly making a name for themselves in the indie rock world. Self proclaimed "dark pop rockers" know how to create a vibe with some songs that'll make you want to close your eyes and chill and others that make you want to rock the heck out. With these hometown heroes there's a little bit for everyone. Check out a live version of their song "Out Of The Desert" below.

ECHO PARK RISING IN-STORES

Listless summer days. Warm colored gradient. Wake, burn, repeat. Rise, set, rise, set, rise, set, echo, set, park, set, rising. What?

ECHO PARK RISING STARTS TODAY.

Now you probably know what's up. You guys are cool - we know this - we're gonna respect that.  (Ahem - but just in case, you can CLICK HERE for the festival's gritty details)

The real magic comes here:
OV has a lineup of Echo Park Rising in-stores all weekend and darn-it if you won't want to come hang here and check them out.

What follows is a list of said in-stores organized by time and day. No time for thank you's - just read:

TODAY

4PM: Bür Gür – Sample-centric indie pop from behind a computer screen- punching buttons, playing guitars. Sweetly singing the tears from your eyes.
5PM: Archer Black – Dense, orchestral indie rock that writes your ears into a movie score. Avante enough for the thinkers, dense enough for the feelers.
6PM: Vug Arakas – Rock and roll and rock and rock and roll. Classic as coke in a can, Vug brings Westerberg style vocals and lyrics into the now.

7PM: Luther Russell – A multi-instrumentalist capable of a veritable triple threat of psychedelic acoustic strummers, piano ballads and road trip rockers.

8PM: Tennis System – When punk straps on its shoe gaze and tops it all with deadpan surf rock vocals. We’re Down.

--------set--------

SATURDAY

4PM: Island Boy – What do french house, reggaeton, latin freestyle, and new wave have in common? Island Boy.

5PM: Omid Walizadeh – The once hip hop producer digs into his roots to bring us beats and bass injected with a painstakingly curated slew of samples from rare Persian tapes and vinyl from the 60’s and 70’s.

6PM: Tashaki Miyaki – All the glassy chimes and charms of dream-pop with a heart parked hard in lo-fi, garage spirit.

7PM: BOUQUET – Contemplative, art pop. Delicate, smooth and slightly psychedelic, BOUQUET works to marry the auditory and the visual in an intentional, pristine package.

8PM: The Mynabirds – Singer/songwriter Laura Burhenn brings her distinct, soulful vocal to a canvas of percussive, pointillist, pop rock.

--------set--------

SUNDAY 
TIMES ARE T.B.A. BUT KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE IN-STORES FROM: 

• M Geddes Gengras 
• Miles Cooper Seaton 
• Itasca 
• Los Angeles Police Dept

PREMIERE PARTY: Benjamin Booker's Debut Album TONIGHT @ 7PM

Come on down tonight at 7PM for a premiere party for Benjamin Booker's self titled debut album!

Hailing from the great city of New Orleans, Benjamin Booker, currently on tour supporting his debut album (which is out today), is an up-and-coming artist that you don't want to miss out on. With his own brand of growling, high energy NOLA rock, Booker knows how to kick some serious butt. Before you know it, Booker will have you up on your feet dancing your face off!

So come down tonight at 7 to premiere this awesome new album! We will have pizza and beverages for your enjoyment as well, and who doesn't love free pizza and drinks?! Preorder the new album in the shop or in our online store HERE and receive a limited edition red 7'' and button set as well! Check out his track "Violent Shiver below. We'll see you all tonight!

ECHO PARK RISING IN-STORES

Listless summer days. Warm colored gradient. Wake, burn, repeat. Rise, set, rise, set, rise, set, echo, set, park, set, rising. What?

This weekend the sun and Echo Park rise together for the 4th annual Echo Park Rising music fest.

Now you probably know what's up. You guys are cool - we know this - we're gonna respect that.  (Ahem - but just in case, you can CLICK HERE for the festival's gritty details)

The real magic comes here:
OV has a lineup of Echo Park Rising in-stores all weekend and darn-it if you won't want to come hang here and check them out.

What follows is a list of said in-stores organized by time and day. No time for thank you's - just read:

FRIDAY

4PM: Bür Gür – Sample-centric indie pop from behind a computer screen- punching buttons, playing guitars. Sweetly singing the tears from your eyes.

5PM: Archer Black – Dense, orchestral indie rock that writes your ears into a movie score. Avante enough for the thinkers, dense enough for the feelers.

6PM: Vug Arakas – Rock and roll and rock and rock and roll. Classic as coke in a can, Vug brings Westerberg style vocals and lyrics into the now.

7PM: Luther Russell – A multi-instrumentalist capable of a veritable triple threat of psychedelic acoustic strummers, piano ballads and road trip rockers.

8PM: Tennis System – When punk straps on its shoe gaze and tops it all with deadpan surf rock vocals. We’re Down.

--------set--------

SATURDAY

4PM: Island Boy – What do french house, reggaeton, latin freestyle, and new wave have in common? Island Boy.

5PM: Omid Walizadeh – The once hip hop producer digs into his roots to bring us beats and bass injected with a painstakingly curated slew of samples from rare Persian tapes and vinyl from the 60’s and 70’s.

6PM: Tashaki Miyaki – All the glassy chimes and charms of dream-pop with a heart parked hard in lo-fi, garage spirit.

7PM: BOUQUET – Contemplative, art pop. Delicate, smooth and slightly psychedelic, BOUQUET works to marry the auditory and the visual in an intentional, pristine package.

8PM: The Mynabirds – Singer/songwriter Laura Burhenn brings her distinct, soulful vocal to a canvas of percussive, pointillist, pop rock.

--------set--------

SUNDAY 
TIMES ARE T.B.A. BUT KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE IN-STORES FROM:

• M Geddes Gengras 
• Miles Cooper Seaton 
• Itasca 
• Los Angeles Police Dept

It's a big weekend. I'm particularly stoked about BOUQUET so here's some listening material:

WEEKENDS ARE JEALOUS OF TUESDAYS NEW RELEASES

Lucero - Live From Atlanta, November 22, 23 & 24, 2013 (Box Set)

Chris Staples - American Soft

Saint Pepsi - Fiona Coyne / Fall Harder 7"

The Animals - The Best Of The Animals (Reissue)
John Coltrane - Standard Coltrane (Reissue)
Johnny Cash - The Legend Of Johnny Cash (Reissue)
Rick Wakeman - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (Reissue)
Rick Wakeman - Return To The Centre Of The Earth (Reissue)

OV WEEKLY: Gearing Up For A Marathon At OV!

As part of a new OV marketing program, each new LP purchase includes a dozen roses. Or maybe just a couple petals. We'll see. Anyways, you know what's better than a dozen roses? OV Weekly that's what!

Monday, August 11th
Courtney Barnett In-Store! Tete @ The Echo!

This is gonna be good. After charming our socks off at RCLA a few months ago, Courtney Barnett is BACK and ready to blow us all away with a killer in-store tonight at 6PM! Since starting her own music label, Milk Records, and releasing her acclaimed album, The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas, Barnett has been gaining popularity and critical praise everywhere she goes with her unique style of slack-jawed indie rock. With word, longwinded lyrics reminiscent of Bob Dylan but sung in a "lazy-Tuesday-Australian-drawl" Barnett manages to highlight everyday struggles effectively and creatively, making relatable and humorous songs that are also painfully catchy. We've been huge fans for a while now and can't wait to share an awesome night of music with you starting at 6PM!



After Courtney's awesome set, join us at The Echo for another edition of their Monday Night Residency with Tete!

Making sure your summer keeps on rocking, The Echo have recruited local shoegazers Tete to cleanse you weekly from the grime of hot August days. Self-described as a "cult memory of My Bloody Valentine," Tete mix drone, shoegaze, metal and a taste for gummy worms into a sonic infiltration unit whose only goal is to blow you away. It's a beautiful noise when it all comes together and we hope we can see y'all there every Monday this summer! The guitars start wailing at 9PM, so make sure you aren't late!




Tuesday, August 12th
New Releases Should Never Be Enjoyed In Moderation! RCLA!

This week on the new release front we've got quite the spread going for ya. Headlined by a tasty looking box set from Lucero, this week's LPs also include Chris Staples, Saint Pepsi and some sexy reissues we'll keep a secret for now. Peep the blog in the AM for the full list!



Record Club is back again homies. As usual, bring you LPs to play and receive drinks to loosen up those dancin' feet. It's an alchemical equation for a perfect night out! Lately, we've been trying to make loose themes for you smart ones, but only if you're up for the challenge. We've also got tons of tickets to give away all summer courtesy of Goldenvoice. Check our social media on Tuesday for the latest updates. Hope to see you there!


Wednesday, August 13th
Let Us Pause And Remember The Importance Of Trombones And Cows!



(Yes we know this video is hardly hot news, but this is big.)


Thursday, August 14th
Benjamin Booker S/T Album Release Party!

Come on down tonight at 7PM for a premiere party for Benjamin Booker's self titled debut album!

Hailing from the great city of New Orleans, Benjamin Booker is an up-and-coming artist that you don't want to miss out on. Like, for real. With his own brand of growling, high energy NOLA rock, Booker knows how to kick some serious butt. Currently on tour supporting his debut album, we're so stoked to bringing you his album right as it hits the presses! To make things even sweeter, we will have pizza and beverages for your enjoyment as well, and who doesn't love free pizza and drinks?! If you can't wait for Thursday, preorder Booker's new album in the shop or in our online store HERE and receive a limited edition red 7'' as well!




Friday, August 15th
OV Presents Black Kids + Torches @ Bootleg Theatre!

In celebration of Friday, OV has got your concert fix all hot 'n' ready (Little Caesar's style) with Black Kids & Torches tonight at the Bootleg Theatre! Check the press release below and then come dance with us ASAP. Preferably double-fisting some $5 pizzas.

"There are many reasons to put a band together; Black Kids have one of their own. Ask Reggie Youngblood, Black Kids co founder, what drives this much talked about group and he replies. “Our goal is to create music that would incite one to dance and to cry.” On their much-anticipated Columbia Records debut Partie Traumatic, Black Kids -- Ali Youngblood (vocals/keys), Dawn Watley (keys/vocals), Owen Holmes (bass), Kevin Snow (drums) and Reggie (vocals/guitar) hit that goal dead on. Produced by ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, Partie Traumatic is an infectious fusion of heart and hips; ten songs as energetic and pop injected as they are emotional and reflective; albeit with a knowing if not sardonic twist. "



Before you get your feet twitching to Black Kids, make sure you get some sweat out for LA locals Torches!

"Torches are an indie rock group tied together by a shared nostalgia from the music of their youth and dreams for the future. They have been making their mark in the LA music scene with their dark, indie/rock – filled with lush guitars, infectious harmonies, and pounding, tribal drums. After releasing the If The People Stare EP in May of 2013, the group headlined a SOLD OUT residency at The Echo. They garnered the attention of KROQ, Alt 98.7 FM, KCRW, LA Weekly, FILTER Magazine and shared the stage with bands such as Wild Nothing, Atlas Genius, The Drums, Maps & Atlases and more."




Saturday, August 16th
ECHO PARK RISING DUH!

Keep your eyes peeled for some OV knowledge on the EPR front. Cause it's gonna be good. Stay tuned..

Now that we've planned your week, please make sure to spay, neuter and shower your pets with flowers.

IN-STORE: Courtney Barnett TONIGHT @ 6PM

Come on down to OV tonight for a performance in our loft by Courtney Barnett TONIGHT @ 6PM!

We're super stoked to be having singer/songwriter/guitarist Courtney Barnett, who's coming all the way from Australia, playing in our loft. Since starting her own music label, Milk Records, and releasing her acclaimed album, The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas, Barnett has been gaining popularity and critical praise everywhere she goes with her unique style of indie rock. With wordy, longwinded lyrics reminiscent of Bob Dylan but sung in a "lazy-Tuesday-Australian-drawl" Barnett manages to highlight everyday struggles effectively and creatively, making relatable and humorous songs (especially to us young people)!

She's fun! She's funny! She's an awesome performer! So come down and check her out tonight at 6PM in our loft! If you're to antsy to wait, check out her song "Avant Gardener" below. See you tonight!

TED TALKS PRESENTS: TED LISTENS EP.4

THE SONG: "Television Man"
THE BAND: Naomi Punk
THE ALBUM: Television Man
THE LABEL: Captured Tracks

Three-piece, Naomi Punk have made their way from Issaquah to Olympia to (where-else) Brooklyn, out of which they just released their latest LP, Television Man off Captured Tracks. Since their arrival onto the rather visible label (home of Demarco), the band has engaged in an interesting struggle to preserve their underground, DIY ethos (just check their website and you’ll understand). Front-person Travis Coster is quite vocal about this conflict – stating in a recent interview, “There are 17-year-old kids coming up to me asking me how to get signed to Captured Tracks, and I’m like, “Dude, the last thing you need for playing punk music is getting signed to a record label when you’re 17 years old.” The band makes conceited effort to keep things "real," which comes through in their unrefined, rather caustic music.

“Television Man”

As a bass player, I can’t help but wince when listening to the bands who lack them… With that out of the way, if there's a band that can put bass players out of work for good, I would certainly venture to name Naomi Punk.
“Television Man,” the album’s title track, is (so far) the song that intrigues my ears most. It begins with an initial build-up: the snare pounds on beats 2 and 4 while the guitars alternate same-note slams on the rest of the counts – a simple, effective hook that’s completely thrown right when it’s fully established. The tune transitions into the very reason why it caught my ear in the first place – the rhythm play.
The majority of the track is built upon an uncountable drumbeat – a porous, repeated pattern full of accentuated negative space over which jagged, nimble guitar work overlays. The added (or dropped) beats throughout the form put your ears on edge and though this makes for potential to dismiss the tune as self-indulgent “math” punk, the effect is stimulating and not dismissive, compounded by the chorus, which pulls you back with heavy, synchronized drum/vocal/guitar parts. Front-person, Travis Coster’s vocal brings propulsion via his sneering tenor qualities akin to No Age- the lyrics, however, were practically indecipherable. Didn’t bother me.
We've still got some copies in the shop so come check 'em out!

FROM THE CRATES #3

Part 3 of my journey pricing our stacks of used 7-inch records. In my walk through our wax museum of recorded sound, sometimes I find things I need to share – so here we are. This is “From the Crates.”

 








BAND: Holdstrong
TRACKS:
A1 Illumination
A2 Butterknife
B1 Taken
B2 All Hope Abandoned
LABEL: Pin Drop Records
  

THE BAND 
Holden, Massachusetts. Worcester County. 1990’s.
See hills, rivers, trees. See white-painted wood arranged into churches. See single story, mute-colored houses folded into deadbrush and thin river birch along Route 122A. See neoclassical architecture asserting the sophistication of all 15,000 who inhabit the town.
Hear hardcore music.
Holdstrong emerged from Holden in ‘93, releasing their 7-inch, Gaining Ground (PDR01) as the flagship of their “then vanity-but soon to be legit” record label, Pin Drop Records. Orbiting around drummer, Matt Myrdal and guitarist Bill Cole, the band shuffled through numerous lineup changes whilst scratching themselves hard into the grain of the local hardcore circuit. After years of local touring, the band settled into a somewhat stable lineup including vocalist Chris Berthiaume and bassist Tim Carlson with whom they released their first full-length CD, Nothing In Return (PDR04). Tack on a 2nd guitarist, a few more releases, and two fairly successful national tours and you’ve just about covered the bulk of Holdstrong’s career which came to a close around 2000.

THE LABEL
Said to have been founded by Holdstrong guitarist, Bill Cole, Pin Drop records proudly displayed their motto “Hardcore since day one” on their spartan, no-frills webpage. The label currently has their original website (now inactive) preserved in a fan-made online archive where you can click around and see what was going on circa 2000. Pin Drop’s roster included, Holdstrong, In Reach, Die My Will, Fragment, Grimlock, Polyglot, Fall From Grace, and Crosscurrent.

THE MUSIC
Holdstrong’s sound developed after soaking up a decades worth of Massachusetts hardcore. That being said, Gaining Ground sounds nuanced - partly due to Holden’s location. Seated almost in the middle of the state, Worcester county is often folded in (geographically and culturally) with Western Massachusetts. This explains why in Gaining Ground you hear a tug of war between the knife-edge violence of Boston’s scene cut with the slightly less aggro Western Massachusetts sound (Deep Wound etc). I am a particular fan of the springy bass lines that weave throughout the record, specifically in “Taken.”
Berthiaume’s vocals attest to the hardcore style but the double-bass-heavy drums and deep, sinister edge to the guitar distortion lean more towards the metalcore sound that hit stride less than a decade later.

It’s a good listen...so come in the shop and check it out!

IN-STORE: Coathangers signing TONIGHT @ 7PM

Attention! The Coathangers are gonna be “hanging” in-store for a signing TONIGHT at 7 before their set at the Echo!

Don't have their LP yet? Don't worry! We do!

The ATL trio, consisting of Crook Kid Coathanger (vox/guitar), Minnie Coathanger (vox/bass) and Rusty Coathanger (vox/drums), released their fourth album, Suck My Shirt, in the spring after a few years of recording and releasing a few hints of singles (most of which ended up on the record). Apparently the record’s rather confrontational title refers to the “salvaging of spilled tequila during the recording session for the album.” Sounds about right. They have since set upon a slew of southwest to northwest tour dates, and here we are!

According to legend (aka their press release) the Coathangers “decided to start a band for the sole purpose of being able to hang out and play parties. They weren’t going to let the fact that none of them knew how to play any instruments get in the way of their having a good time.”

Well dammit if that isn't punk rock.

Alongside hanging with some awesome musicians, Coathanger's label Suicide Squeeze will also be providing pizza and drinks to make the party even sweeter! Afterwards, we'll be heading over to The Echo for The Coathanger's full set and hope you can join us! It's gonna be a perfect evening!

OV PRESENTS: Mother @ The Bootleg, 8:30 PM!

After straight selling out their last LA show, friends of Origami, Mother, are throwing down tonight at the Bootleg! Ticket info HERE!

 A bit of a super group, Mother is composed of Simon Oscroft (guitarist of the LA band, NO), Jimmy Giannopoulos (the producer behind Lolawolf, Reputante) and Darren Will (Rathborne’s bassist) and actor Penn Badgley (aka Jeff Buckley from the biopic Greetings from Tim Buckley).

The band rocketed into our consciousness with the release (and subsequent blow-up) of their first single, “Easy,” a slick, midnight synth-pop tune with a unique amount of analog integrity. According to a recent interview, Giannopoulos claims, “I program all the beats with samples from old records, and 808s, and Oberheim DMX drum machines, then for the rest of the parts, we use an actual Prophet, an actual Moog. If a sound is manipulated, it's through pedals.” Legit.

Though they’ve released two more singles since, the band has been reluctant to release a full LP (though its been said that they have an album’s worth of tunes ready to go). Come see Mother at the Bootleg and pick of one of the custom, hand-stenciled posters by our very own EMILY TWOMBLY...here she is!

AND MAY NEW RELEASES RAIN DOWN UPON YOU AND YOURS

Spoon - They Want My Soul

Bear In Heaven - Time Is Over One Day Old

Naomi Punk - Television Man

The Rosebuds - Sand + Silence

Twin Peaks - Wild Onion

David Kilgour And The Heavy 8's - End Times Undone

Rowland S. Howard - Pop Crimes (Reissue)

Benjamin Booker - S/T (Pre-Order w/ Ltd. Red 7" & Button Set)
Spider Bags - Frozen Letter (Limited Red Vinyl)
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
Wildcat! Wildcat! - No Moon At All
Nikki Sudden & The Jacobites - Dead Men Tell No Tales
Billy Joe Shaver - Long In The Tooth
Devonté Hynes - Palo Alto OST
Shooter Jennings - Don't Wait Up (For George) 10"
Kevin Morby - My Name 7"
Tops - Change Of Heart 7"
John Coltrane - Afro Blue Impressions (Reissue)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River (Reissue)

OV WEEKLY: New Month, New You!

Tryna make sure August isn't a snooze? Then swing by OV all month long! We'll keep your hands from your phone and your eyes off the TV. We got your back homie.

Monday, August 4th
A New Residency @ The Echo!

Making sure your summer keeps on rocking, The Echo have recruited local shoegazers Tete to cleanse you weekly from the grime of hot August days. Self-described as a "cult memory of My Bloody Valentine," Tete mix drone, shoegaze, metal and a taste for gummy worms into a sonic infiltration unit whose only goal is to blow you away. It's a beautiful noise when it all comes together and we hope we can see y'all there every Monday this summer! The guitars start wailing at 9PM, so make sure you aren't late!


Tuesday, August 5th
OV Presents Mother @ The Bootleg!

If your 7" collection is hurting too much for RCLA, OV's got options for you tonight when we present Brooklyn's finest, Mother, at The Bootleg Theatre! OV buds and purveyors of gauzy, catchy synth-pop, Mother has been quietly releasing slinky, sexy singles since their inception and we are seriously all about it. Recent supporters of Magic Man's show at The Echo, Mother will be headlining tonight's show at The Bootleg and we are ready to see them take the lead. So come on down to the Bootleg tonight at 8PM for a night of awesome music courtesy of Mother!




Wednesday, August 6th
A Day Dedicated Entirely To The Coathangers!

In support of their 2014 LP Suck My Shirt (an Em and OV fave), today in the shop we're going Coathanger crazy by having the band themselves come in for an exclusive record signing! Ready to hang and shoot the shit, these kickass Atlanta rockers will be in the shop starting at 7PM before their set at The Echo! Alongside hanging with some awesome musicians, Coathanger's label Suicide Squeeze will also be providing pizza and drinks to make the party even sweeter! Afterwards, we'll be heading over to The Echo for The Coathanger's full set and hope you can join us! It's gonna be a perfect evening!



Friday, August 8th
Dot Hacker @ The Echo!

Tonight at 9PM, recent OV fave Dot Hacker take the stage at The Echo with their bold and surprisingly seductive sound. Spotlighted by Simone on her recent review of the album, "How’s Your Process? (Work) is the sonic embodiment of seduction, hitting all the right notes over and over until you’re weak at the knees. Drenched in prismatic production and indulging in melodic refinement worthy of Venus de Milo, Dot Hacker provides an agonizingly beautiful soundscape reminiscent of tender time spent with your first love. If you’re a sucker for Blonde Redhead, Autolux, and Mew, this is your new favorite band." Sounds good to us. The sexy stuff gets started at 9 -- see you there!




Sunday, August 10th
Matt Kivel @ The Echo!

As continual fans of LA-based Matt Kivel and his new album Days Of Being Wild, we feel obliged to inform that tonight he will laying down his beautiful folk finger picking and vocals as an opener for the equally talented Steve Gunn! We've been following around this OV alum as much as possible and would love to see you with us in support of his awesome music tonight at 9PM!




Giveaways This Week!
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Troubadour 8/7 - 1 ticket comes with the purchase of CYHSY's newest LP Only Run!

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


Now that we've planned your week, make sure your cat gets some loving during these dog days of summer!

IN-STORE: Alden Penner TONIGHT @ 5PM!

Alright fanboys, fangirls, fanpeople - today is a big day. Alden Penner is in-store at 5pm.

Actually...right now in general is a big time.
After roughly a decade of hiatus, rumors and waiting in what seemed to be vain (seriously, check out the tears on secretunicornsforum.com) some big things happened.

Alden Penner (The Unicorns, Clues, All Makes Parts & Collision) and Nick Thorburn (Unicorns, Islands) have done the unthinkable and come together for a grip of tour dates as The Unicorns - including shows at LA's Forum Theater in conjunction with their Canadian cronies, Arcade Fire. This comes shortly after the remaster and re-release of The Unicorns LP that started it all, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
Alright, enough about The Unicorns - this isn't even about them.

Penner has been making plenty of his own waves in his projects; Clues as well as his self-titled effort which just released a full album, Exegesis.

He's IN-STORE with us today at 5pm and though Exegesis is currently only available online...he may have brought with him some Clues pressings. Get on over here!

PREMIERE PARTY: Spoon's "They Want My Soul" TODAY @ 3PM!

It's finally here! We've been anxiously waiting for Spoon's upcoming album "They Want My Soul" and tonight's the night.

Come down to the shop at 3PM to celebrate the release of this awesome new album. We're going to be listening to the whole album and enjoying some delicious pizza and dranks (and maybe even giving away some Spoon themed goodies)

Preorders for the album are available in the shop and we still have a small amount of the limited edition 10'' records left, so get em' while they're still available!

See you guys tonight!

IN-STORE: The Deadfly Ensemble TONIGHT @ 7PM

Stroll on down tonight at 7PM to check out The Deadfly Ensemble in the loft!

Throw on some eyeliner and get ready for a night of gothic punk with Los Angeles natives The Deadfly Ensemble, who just released their newest vinyl single "Poison! Poison! Poison". Led by vocalist/ guitarist/ comedian/ performance-artist Lucas Lanthier, the group is part band and part theatrical troupe known for it's ever-changing and unique live show experience. With acoustic and electric guitars, synths, basses, percussion, and cello, The Deadfly Ensemble mashes together folk and post-punk in a style reminiscent of neo-folk bands like Death in June and Sol Invictus. No two shows are alike so don't miss this one! Its going to be awesome!

So roll on down tonight at 7PM to check these guys out! Check out there new single "Poison! Poison! Poison!" below, it rocks! See you there!

IN-STORE: Dead Dawn TONIGHT @ 7PM!

You feel that? Dead Dawn are coming like a cold sweat to our loft for an in-store performance tonight at 7PM!

Said to have been birthed in an old house in Echo Park back in the summer of 2010, Dead Dawn fittingly titled their debut release, I Heart LA. Sarcastic? Perhaps, but the band appear to be sincere advocates of the Los Angeles underground.

Their latest, self-titled LP builds off of their older material with a grip of LA specific heavy, dusk laden rock. In songs like “The Woods,” “No Easy Way Out of Hollywood,” and “Dear Papi,” the verses brood and bide with Fawn’s fragmented chords plucked listlessly beneath vocalist China Morbosa’s chilled, monotone mantras. The deliberate, glowering vocals make for sturdy melodies, occasionally cracking (never fracturing) into salvos of barks (“Circus Song”) and howls (“The Howling”). When questioned on lyrical themes, Morbosa cited, “the struggle of existing in a capitalistic society [and] the lives and lifestyles that are unpublicized or misinterpreted by the media.” What to expect tonight? Morbosa refers fondly to their live experience as “a bloody, sweaty, uproar of emotion.”

Are you down yet? Tight. Check them out below and then check them out in-store tonight at 7!

OV PRESENTS: The Times w/ Neil Schield & Steven Harrington TONIGHT @ Ace Hotel

It's Friday already?! That means the The Times is back tonight at Upstairs @ Ace Hotel! Throwin' down the jams for you this week we have Neil Schield & Steven Harrington!

The Times, created by our fearless leader Neil Schield, brings together an assortment of local LA DJ's, writers, and artists to throw down their favorite tunes on vinyl all night long at the Ace Hotel. This weekly event features a rotating cast that includes. Neil Schield himself, The Gaslamp Killer, LA Record founder Chris Ziegler, graphic artist/designer Steve Harrington, radio DJ and photographer Mukta Mohan, co-founder of dublab Mark ‘Frosty’ McNeill, rhythm & blues musician/producer Nick Waterhouse, and DJ/musician Clifton aka DJ Soft Touch. With such a diverse line up, the tunes are sure to be an eclectic bunch, spanning all genres and generations!

The madness begins at 9PM! Be there or be square!