Crooked Hands, a new five piece out of Newcastle UK, serve up an excellent debut track with the beautifully pensive “Under”. Atmospheres of guitars & voice, kinetic at a constant unfurl, do a neat job of framing the track’s sharp set of melodies. Definitely one not to miss.
Crooked Hands 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Jagjaguwar doesn’t miss. The label’s latest announced release is Naomi, the upcoming fourth LP from Seattle’s The Cave Singers. “Have to Pretend”, the LP’s lead single, is the sort of gritty slightly menacing soul-driven rock and roll that demands attention.
The Cave Singers – Have to PretendThe Cave Singers 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.6
Following up a recent and well received show at the world famous Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, The Colurs, fronted by Max Townsley and Drew Erickson, performed a mellow set this past Friday night at the extremely elegant SoHo House. Complete with an 8 piece band, and over looking a cloudy Friday night skyline of Los Angeles, The Colurs played a collection of songs from their recently released self-titled EP. The dinner and drink crowd was especially receptive to the collective’s brand of orchestral pop and in the dimly lit room, the experience both rhythmically and harmonically found the pocket. A highlight of the set was a bouncy, well arranged version of the track “Easy To Love”, as was the beautiful love ballad, “Julia”. Having only formed in Denton, TX in 2011, we expect to more buzzing yet to come from The Colurs. By Brian Litwin
The Colurs 
(Official)
It’s no surprise that Canada has treated this 6-piece from Regina, Saskatchewan so well. Having been crowned “Best New Canadian Band” and “Best New Alternative Band” by iTunes Canada in 2009, Rah Rah recently released their new album The Poet’s Dead in the US and it’s an album I’ve spent some time with. For several band members, their last week’s visit to LA for a small handful of shows was their first trip ever to California. As with other folk-flavored rock bands that veer between a harder and softer dynamic, I’d hoped this live show would rock (rather than put me to sleep). I’m glad to say this band not only rocked it, but exceeded lofty expectations. Rah Rah can play. Literally, band members often switched up on instruments, between tunes or even sometimes mid-song. They perfectly nailed their tempos and crescendos bringing select highlights to a supreme level of intensity.
Rah Rah’s set opened with their infectious song, “Art & A Wife”. This track reminds of New Pornographers around the time of their Twin Cinema album. Throughout the song, and even the set, Rah Rah feature male-female vocal exchanges. In general, four band members in Rah Rah provided lead vocals with Marshall Burns handling most of them. Marshall’s voice sounds a bit like Neil Young — more so live than on the recordings. His vocal on “Dead Men” was a highlight that night, as was “Prairie Girl” sung by Erin Passmore. And some locally Regina-flavored humor was found in the set’s finale, “Duet For Emmylou And The Grievous Angel”.
Rah Rah obviously enjoy playing, and they have a down to earth, winning way in their stage manner. Still building their loyal L.A. following the comfortable crowd was responsive and offered them a very warm encore. By Bruce Rave
*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
Rah Rah 
(Facebook)
The Record Company has been one of LA’s fastest rising bands with their blend of blues and Americana. They kill live, and just concluded a successful November residency at The Satellite. It’s their tradition to end with a rocking cover, and last Monday’s show concluded with “Tallahassee Lassie”, which was a 60’s hit for Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon. The crowd was all over this one, singing along with the chorus. The band recorded an EP of cover songs including this one, so check out their Facebook page for more info. By Bruce Rave
The Record Company – Tallahassee Lassie (Freddy Cannon)The Record Company 
(Official)
*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.
Young Kato just might be looking to break out of sorts with this new track from their forthcoming debut EP. At their average youthful age of 18’ish, and having already gigged with the likes of UK heavy hitters such as Spector, the Cheltenham six piece is already finding itself a loyal following on the UK live circuits. “Break Out” packs heaps of commercial viability and power rotation ambition, so sing along and look out for Young Kato in 2013.
Young Kato – Break OutYoung Kato (Facebook)
Rating 8.0
LA dream rockers The New Division put the genre on notice with the shimmering “Pride”. TND, who’s varied sound is fully conveyed out their just dropped 4-tracker “Night Escape”, remind melodically of (and we mean this in the most flattering way) The National at (and not just on “Pride” where it can be heard most strongly) several points throughout the EP.
The New Division – PrideThe New Division (Facebook)
Rating 8.5
The duo from LA known as Reflections have recently dropped their second single. On “Disconnected” the introduction of a subtle piano counter melody wastes no time in leading the charge for the vertical textures that keep course the rest of the song. Infectious is one way of putting it. Be sure to check out The Reflections’ forthcoming debut LP, Limerence expected early 2013.
The Reflections – DisconnectedThe Reflections (Facebook)
Rating 8.1
“How to Burn Bridges” is previewed here from the forthcoming debut album by St. Catharines based collective, Waterbodies. The track scorches through a dynamism of melodic fist for riff, tapping into everything that’s appealing in a radio-worthy rock track with it’s target acquired in a full 2:20. Ready, aim, The Evil We Know drops November 30th. Pick it up.
Waterbodies – How To Burn BridgesWaterbodies (Official)
Rating 8.3947
British rockers Broken Hands recently released their live Quadrangle Session EP this October and subsequently hit the road with Deaf Club early November for an abbreviated UK tour. The band are relative newcomers to the UK music scene and they have a full-on, jangly sound with tons of rock and roll charisma (landing them a tour with Band of Skulls) and thus a live presence that hints at something great. Check out the contagiously bubbly debut single “Brother” for its sweet and easy melodic buildup, true-to-form sing-along quality and just that perfect touch of the blues. “Sorrow” another favorite is off the live EP is a raucous track with an edgy kick, booming style and saucy guitar grit. We are definitely looking forward to more solid material from this promising quartet from Kent. Give it a listen. By Erin Feathers
Broken Hands – BrotherBroken Hands (Facebook)
Rating: 8.1
Belfast band Ballet School’s excellent “Ghost” is the latest UK rock obsession around b3sci HQ. The airtight rhythm section/melody dynamic in the track anchors a sharply delivered floats-on-top-the-mix female vocal sat up on hook upon hook upon hook. TLOBF
Ballet School – GhostBallet School 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
So it seems (at least according to a cutely worded note on the band’s website) that Wu Bro has, as a band, met the final curtain (that or they’re just being funny, we’ll allow you to decide). With the note was posted the unreleased “Triumph” which you can stream below (you can also read singer Ellery Roberts’ note below too):
“Evans/Joe/Tom
I am gone. This isn’t the end. This is the begging.
We done business to be as free as we want to be; I’m exercising this freedom. Manchester and the life we maintaining is leaving me empty. It is a beautiful/ incredible/ insane world we live and I’m done walking round in baby step circles in a self involved bubble. WU LYF isn’t that important. So go do what you want to do. If you wanna play together, Play! your talented musicians so don’t waste that. I am bored of the most challenging thing in WU LYF being deluding myself of its relevance. Dirty free, as that show ended it concreted my decision that a change has to come. “Be the change you want to see” said a wise old man.
I’m going to keep on doing what I do; if the time comes in the future where we all truly want to collaborate on something then that door is always going to be open; I have nothing but love for you all.
But I want to live life that’s true to me.
Stay safe
your Brother from another mother…
X
(I’m gonna stay on email so keep in touch.)”
WU LYF (Official)
Rating 8.3
