It's early days in 2013, but already making a run in the value-for-dollar department was the billing of El Ten Eleven, Races, and Cayucas at Santa Barbara's Velvet Jones. It was a great sampler of divergent sounds from Los Angeles based bands, and all held up their end of the bargain, churning out a satisfying evening. Cayucas opened the evening introducing it's forthcoming debut LP, Bigfoot, due out 30 April on Secretly Canadian, leading off with their impeccably catchy 7" "Cayucos". Next up were Races, who are certainly not an unknown quantity in these pages. The roadwork they've done supporting 2012's Year Of The Witch, (Frenchkiss), has paid off, and they thoroughly owned the tiny Velvet Jones stage. The mighty LA duo of Kristian Dunn and Tim Fogarty, known as El Ten Eleven, finished off the night with a commanding set of instrumental math rock that didn't skimp on the groove. Transitions is their most recent LP, and as good a place as any to get your feet wet, if you've yet to come to grips with their sound.
Races took over the Troubadour on July 6 for a homecoming event, celebrating their debut, Year Of The Witch, before they embark on another tour of the US, this time with Saint Motel. When last we encountered Races, they were on the very cusp of the LP's release, and since then they've been hard at work.
Races take an epic widescreen recorded sound
and pummel it live, but without sacrificing the melodies. The live setting is where one truly appreciates the muscle the rest of the band brings to the table. What started as Wade Ryff's solo project, gelled with Breanna Wood, Lucas Ventura, Devon Lee, Garth Herberg, and Oliver Hild under the name Black Jesus. After a successful Kickstarter project in 2011, the band adopted their current name and set forth to make what became Year Of The Witch.
They hosted a generous bill, more on which below. In the category of
value per dollar, this was one of the most consistent nights I've been to this
year. Each band was more than watchable, and Races lived up to being at
the top of the list, thrilling what was truly an all ages crowd.
First single "Big Broom" was a highlight, the harmonies seeming to etch themselves into the walls.
Another high point was "Walk Through The Fire", which bandleader Wade
Ryff admitted to being on the fence about performing, but as you can see
below, it came off well.
They capped off the night by bringing back opener Lili Haydn for a rousing finish. All in all, a fine welcome home, and we'll look forward to seeing what the future has in hold for them. And a special shout out to the painter, (whose name I missed), working hard all night at the back of stage. He seemed as inspired by the music as those making it.
GLISS:
Gliss took charge of the often difficult middle slot, upping the ante with a shimmering cloud of noisy guitar goodness. The LA based trio, Victoria Cecilia, Martin Klingman, and David Reiss, has put in touring time in Europe, and based on this set, is on the verge of making some waves stateside. They've been playing together for 7 or 8 years, and it was reflected in their tightness. Their most recent LP was Devotion Implosion, and they are currently working on a new one.
LILI HAYDN:
Lili Haydn opened the show with a lively flourish, fronting a full, (and fully talented), band. The violinist was an intense, magnetic presence on the stage, and based on post-set bar chatter, totally won over the audience. "I Am A Man" was the track I couldn't get off my mind, well after the band left the stage.
She has had a number of high profile backing gigs, including playing with Roger Waters at his Coachella performance of The Dark Side Of The Moon. She is currently working on a new LP, hopefully out by year's end. Below is an opportunity to sample her work:
Yet another notable Los Angeles band bubbling under the surface, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Races. Fresh off of playing many showcases at SXSW, here's a chance to get a leg up on their new LP, "Year Of The Witch": it's being streamed now in its entirety until its release on the band's Soundcloud page. It's out next week on Frenchkiss records, and can be preordered through them, Insound, or ITunes, amongst others.
Below is the video for the lead track: "Big Broom"
You can also grab the track "Lies"...
If you find yourself in the greater Los Angeles area on 30 March, head on over to the Echo to help them celebrate the album's release. Should be a great night! After that, they'll embark on a West Coast jaunt with another promising LA band: NO.
Races made it up to Santa Barbara last year, opening for Joy Formidable at Soho, and it was a memorable evening all the way around. It's great to hear that all the promise evidenced that night has been delivered upon with their debut. I suspect you won't be seeing them open shows for much longer...
