Echo Park Rising: Wax Idols

ECHO PARK RISING: WAX IDOLS

ORIGAMI VINYL, ECHO PARK, LA

15 AUGUST, 2015

After stepping back from her stint as touring bassist in White Lung, Hether Fortune finished tracking the newest Wax Idols LP American Tragic, (due out in October via Collect Records), and started to get the machine in motion again. The Origami Vinyl showcase at Echo Park Rising was the perfect place to road test two new band members, (Marissa and Peter), and the new songs, in preparation for the national tour in October/November. Blitzing through a set that started heavy with "Sound of a Void", "Dethrone" and "Ad Re Ian" from Discipline + Desire, they moved mid set into the new songs, with Fortune stepping back from guitar to focus on the songs, and even drop a quick rap. New man Peter earned his stripes here, covering all the guitar ably. Marissa stepped into large shoes filling the bass chair, but pulled it off with steady runs and backup vocals. The LA native seemed to have most of her family in attendance, which raised the energy level. The new songs are fascinating and a whole new level for Hether, and even in the imposing space of the loft of Origami Vinyl, the band seemed already in mid-tour form, fiery as ever. Check the amazing version of "Deborah" below, as well as live staple "Dethrone'.

Echo Park Rising: Downtown Boys

ECHO PARK RISING:

DOWNTOWN BOYS

ORIGAMI VINYL

ECHO PARK, LA

15 AUGUST, 2015

As sweltering as the outside may have been, the loft at Origami Vinyl offered a whole different challenge at this weekend's Echo Park Rising. With the Beserktown II Fest being held down the way in Santa Ana, it afforded Origami a great opportunity to curate a stellar instore lineup for the weekend. Lobbing bombs both verbal and musical, Providence, Rhode Island's Downtown Boys held court in the upstairs loft before the packed store, slamming through a high-octane set of political punk, broken up with between song speeches that just ratcheted up the intensity further. With so many bands paying more attention to careerist angles, it's refreshing to see a band in full IDGAF mode, addressing what needs to be said about their country. It was pure church, and some would say, patriotism of the highest order. Their debut LP Full Communism is out now on Don Giovanni Records.

Visiting dignitaries included the manager of 5SOS and the Mayor of East LA

Echo Park Rising: Mini-Bear and Quitapenas

ECHO PARK RISING

MINI-BEAR (NEW PROFESSOR RECORDS SHOWCASE)

QUITAPENAS (LIBERTY STAGE)

ECHO PARK, LA

15 AUGUST, 2015

Mini-Bear (Los Angeles, CA)

Quitapenas (Riverside, CA)

With Saturday temperatures nearing triple digits, to see a band outside during the afternoon at this year's Echo Park Rising demanded a special commitment, and the exceptions were handed out to local band Mini-Bear and Riverside, CA's Quitapenas. The day started traipsing up Sunset Boulevard to find the New Professor Records showcase, and catch up with Mini Bear, (whom we saw not too long ago, close by at Lot One Cafe). Now at full strength, with their bass player in tow, the band was sharp from the get go, and their back patio set raised a bar for the day.

A few years ago in San Francisco, while in town for the Noise Pop Festival, I ducked into an alley by my hotel to smoke, and started watching a band set up on the curb. The Afro/Latin/Tropical sound caught my ears, (and feet), and it quickly became apparent that they weren't ordinary street musicians. Noticing the entrance to a studio, i figured out that they must be biding time before their date.

As i was finishing my smoke, a young brother hustled up and passed me the band's business card. All this time later, it's amazing to see the seeds of what I had seen expanded into full-stage glory. They were the perfect summer festival band, and it was a pleasure to finally fully make their acquaintance.

MINI-BEAR

QUITAPENAS

 

street scenes