Image

In the Mix

GIVEAWAY: Culture Collide Festival in Los Angeles, CA. October 16-18

2013PosterLA
 
FILTER Magazine’s Culture Collide Festival is preparing for the fifth annual installment of its International Music celebration headquartered in the streets and venues of Echo Park, Los Angeles. This October 16-18, the fest welcomes live performances from artists from a variety of participating countries. Having again raised the talent bar, Culture Collide LA will play host to live sets from Cloud Nothings, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, //Fractures, Quantic and many many more. If you’re a B3SCI regular then you already know that Culture Collide is a yearly highlight.

We are excited to announce that this year we’ll be giving away a pair of passes to Culture Collide 2014! That’s right! One lucky B3SCI reader will win a pair of passes to the October 16-18th Culture Collide Festival. Enter to win the contest by emailing us HERE and letting us know that you’d like to be entered in the Culture Collide Prize Pack Giveaway. (One entry per person). We will be picking our winning submission at random this coming October 15th, so keep an eye on your inbox! You can also get more details on purchasing tickets to the festival HERE

Culture Collide california (INFO + TICKETS)

reviewed by
10-10-14

Rave’s Fave: Digitalism – Wolves (Feat. Youngblood Hawke)

digitalism

These consistent Hamburg peeps are back, sporting a perfect blend of electro and pop. It’s a fine comeback following a couple of quiet years. With help from Youngblood Hawke, Digitalism deliver a track that is immediately hooky and melodic. I can see it having mainstream success if given the chance by radio. Reviewed by Bruce Rave.

Hear Bruce’s “Go Deep With Bruce Rave” weekly new music show on Indie1031/Los Angeles, KX 93.5-FM/Laguna Beach, and WSUM-FM/Madison. Details and archived shows can be found on his blog and be sure to follow Bruce on Twitter too!

Digitalism (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
10-10-14

B3SCI Presents: Teleman w/ White Dove on Tuesday, September 30 @ Bootleg HiFi in Los Angeles!

teleman

UK collective Teleman follow up their busy summer of festival dates across the pond with select State-side shows in support of their great debut album ‘Breakfast’. The NME darlings will make their way to the Bootleg HiFi in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 30 to perform a dazzling set of Brit inspired pop for concert-goers with support coming from Cali rock collective White Dove. Doors for the event are at 8:00pm, and tickets are $10 in advance – $12 day of show. Ages 21+. More details for the show can be found HERE.

*OR* you can try your luck with us and enter to win a pair of tickets to the show PLUS White Dove’s new White Iris Records single ‘Caroline/Sarah’s Song’ on 7-inch (you can jam out to the stellar tracks below). To win just email us HERE and let us know you’d like to be entered in the ‘Teleman / White Dove Giveaway’. Our winner will be picked at random from the pool of submissions by Tuesday morning on September 30, so keep an eye on your inbox (one entry per person). Good luck!

Bootleg HiFi (Event Info)

reviewed by
09-23-14

B3SCI x Noise Pop Present: WATERS w/ Zella Day, Bilinda Butchers, Wild Ones and HUNNY at Soda Bar in San Diego on 9/11/14

B3SCI Presents SDMT Banner

We’re excited to announce that B3SCI is teaming up with Noise Pop to present the Opening Party for this years’ San Diego Music Thing Conference in, you guessed it folks, sunny San Diego, CA. This Thursday night September 11, the iconic Soda Bar stage will host a kick-ass line up of indie talent including WATERS, Zella Day, The Bilinda Butchers, Wild Ones, and newcomers HUNNY. This show is a don’t miss! Info on the show and tickets can be found HERE. Get in the mood and have a listen to our San Diego Music Thing playlist below, and we’ll see you on Thursday!

San Diego Music Thing california (TIX) (Official) (Facebook) (Twitter)

reviewed by
09-07-14

RAVE’S FAVE: Trapdoor Social – Out Alive

trapdoor social

By Bruce Rave

I’ve been spending some time with a young LA based artful alt band by the name of Trapdoor Social. The group has received kudos for their songwriting, harmonies, videos, and dedication to environmental causes. This final track on their ‘Science of Love’ EP is unique to this band in the same way that “Supermassive Black Hole” is unique for Muse. Trapdoor is typically cleaner with higher notes, which is part of what makes this harder and darker song stand out for them. It kicks off with a magnetic low-end synth hook that repeats throughout. This driving song was developed on top of that hook and is a band favorite of many who have heard it.

Trapdoor Social california (Facebook)

* Links and playlists from Bruce Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
09-07-14

Rave’s Fave: Johnny Marr – Easy Money

johnnymarr

Johnny Marr returns this October with his second solo album Playland. He has said this effort will be a bit more raw. “Easy Money” is the first single and it’s killer! It starts with that signature Marr guitar sound and blasts into a rocker with a full-on bass grove and a chorus that just might be all over the radio in coming months. Following October dates in the UK, he returns to the US and will be hopefully be hitting a venue near you before year’s end.

Johnny Marr england (Official)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
08-22-14

B3SCI Presents: The Dirty Nil w/ Hunny and LAPD on Thursday 7/24 @ Bootleg Bar in Los Angeles!

the dirty nil

Canadian 3-piece The Dirty Nil have taken to the States in support of their 4th 7″ single ‘Cinnamon / Guided By Vices’ (Fat Wreck Chords). This Thursday in Los Angeles, B3SCI is proud to Present The Dirty Nil’s LA debut at the Bootleg Bar with a killer line-up of support talent which includes on-the-rise local bands Hunny (soon to be tourmates with Bad Suns) and Los Angeles Police Department aka LAPD (…the band folks, not the police). We’re stoked to say the very least, and if you’re looking for a face ripping evening of indie rock this Thursday, then look no further! Have a spin at some jams below.

Doors for the event are at 8:00pm, tickets are $10 and the show is for ages 21+. More details for the show can be found HERE.

The Dirty Nil canada: (Facebook) (Bandcamp)

Bootleg Theater (Event Info)

dirty nil poster

reviewed by
07-22-14

Raves Fave: Teleman – 23 Floors Up

teleman

Teleman was formed by three members of the former UK band Pete and the Pirates, and “23 Floors Up” is a beauty that comes from their recently released ‘Breakfast’ album. It’s one of 2014’s prettiest tracks to date. The opening lyrics are “Another day waking up with your conscience stuck in your hotel room 23 floors up”. It’s about how people come and go in our lives, and how that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The song’s free flowing feel provides a mode of relaxation that might prompt you to take a slow wander on your own. You never know who or what might be around the corner. By Bruce Rave

Teleman england (Facebook)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
07-11-14

Rave’s Fave: Rory Wynne – Post Party Confusion

Rory Wynne

They grow ‘em younger in the UK and the list of teenage Brits on the radar continues to expand. Rory Wynne is from around Manchester and is all of 14. “Post Party Confusion” is fun, raw and unique with strong lyrics. It shows that Rory has major potential. According to BBC 6 Music host Tom Robinson (yes the hit-making Tom Robinson of yesteryear), Rory is “a true rock and roll poet”. Rory played everything on this recording and manages himself. He’s got a bunch of songs recorded and is definitely worth keeping an eye and ear on. By Bruce Rave

Rory Wynne england (Official) (Facebook)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
07-02-14

WRAP: The Great Escape 2014 in Brighton, UK

the_great_escape_2014

The Great Escape continues to be an awesome event for new music enthusiasts wanting to get a leg-up on international bands poised to make moves. With the 2014 edition including 400+ bands playing over three days in 30+ venues, there’s no lack of good music to check out. The festival is growing quickly with 100 more bands compared to last year. While The Great Escape (a.k.a. TGE) does share the SXSW danger of becoming too big for its own good, this event (for now) still has far more intimacy than the aforementioned Austin festival. Like always, more bands also means more schedule conflicts, and also like SXSW, even top tier Delegate and Press credentials won’t penetrate lines (or in some cases no lines) at venues. For example, Future Islands sounded great… from outside, and the TGE showcase for Wild Beasts would have been great to review had we also remembered to buy a ticket for it (thought that’s what passes were for)? And so for festivals like this, it seems the best plan of attack is to focus on artists that, to date, either haven’t or rarely play live. Both Bruce and Mike from team B3SCI were on the grounds for TGE and here’s their report:

Some 2014 faves for Bruce included Courtney Barnett, who is not only blowing up in the US but in England as well. She plays a mean guitar as it turns out. The melodic electronic artist East India Youth has been an NME darling this year, and as TGE proved, is doing quite well in England. His one-man show has a clean sound and he’s quite animated on stage. The Isle of Wight brothers, Champs, serenaded us in a church at TGE with their sweet harmonies and were also major highlights. Two UK bands, growing in local buzz, who delivered nicely onstage were Childhood and Jaws. The Australian band Calling All Cars is a metal/electronic hybrid with great songs, and they blew the walls down. Interestingly, they will soon be relocating to Manchester. Fellow Australians Sheppard just had a #1 pop single in their homeland and have a commanding stage presence to back it up. The UK’s Echotape have forsaken their art-pysch direction for a more straight forward rock direction that shows strong potential. Amber Run was a fave (see below). Finally, Portland’s Rare Monk must get a shout out. I joined Mike from B3Sci for their 1:30am set on Saturday night. This Portland band is making major forward strides. Their mid-tempo bluesy rock is played with precise power and competence.

Some 2014 faves for Mike came from both the expected and unexpected. Amber Run won audiences with pitch perfect harmonies and pop songs primed for college campuses throughout the world. The young 3-piece of/from Blaenavon lived up to their radar worthy hype with a stellar rock show to boot – big promise here. Hozier was good, while “Take Me To Church” stole the show; the band dynamic felt a bit on the safe side. After being tipped from a friend, Brussels band BRNS were a favorite surprise of TGE, with an energetic and expressive live show that was, at times, reminiscent of heavy pop pioneers WU LYF and indie rock mainstays Local Natives. Rare Monk’s alluring melange of atmospheric indie rock proved a powerful UK debut. Annie Eve drenched listeners with her knack for clever song and a live band including an accordion no less. Peace performed a pleasant ‘surprise’ set at the NME showcase, which was definitely a highlight, and Khushi was another favorite with his live band set up, showcasing what really counts… his songs.

Have a listen to some of our favorite picks from the TGE Festival below:

The Great Escape england (Official)

reviewed by
06-02-14

Bruce Rave Interviews Temples

TEMPLES_Sun Structures

Prior to Temples’ recent show at the High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI, Bruce Rave interviews Tom and Sam of the buzzing British psyche-rock collective at WSUM-FM studios. Have a listen to their hang below.

Temples england (Facebook)

* Links and playlists from Rave’s weekly new music show can be found on his blog and be sure follow Bruce on Twitter too!

reviewed by
05-27-14

B3SCI Presents: MONOGEM w/ Zella Day, James Alan, Breakfast @ The Bootleg in Los Angeles on Sunday 5/25/2014

monogemflyer

The Bootleg, one of LA’s premier live music venues, hosted this month a special Sunday residency featuring buzzy-sparkling pop singer-songrwriter MONOGEM. To round out the month-long series of shows, this Sunday’s finale features a top class slate of acts including rising star Zella Day, local noise makers James Alan and (best band name ever) Breakfast. We know that you don’t have work on Monday, so there’s truly no excuse not to come out and have a full-on fantastic night at the Bootleg Sunday. We’ll see you there!

Doors for the event are at 8:00pm and the show is for ages 21+. More details for the show can be found HERE.

The Bootleg (Event Info)

Zella Day arizona (Facebook) (Purchase 7-inch Vinyl)

MONOGEM maryland (Facebook)

reviewed by
05-23-14