Jacob Cooper has earned his merit badge in rhythms by playing in plenty of punk bands. He’s lent his drumming skills to the Mae Shi, Signals, Bark Bark Bark and most recently Wavves. Now he steps out on his own under the moniker Heaven, but despite the name, Cooper’s solo sounds isn’t influenced by anything ethereal. Instead, Heaven is a warped cloud of moody synths, dark beats and wistful vocals. Songs like “Hanging Out” pulse and throb with a lo-fi spin on New Wave elements. But knowing his musical past, it’s not surprising to also hear songs like “Can’t Grow Up with Poison,” which has a touch of garage and pop and is closer to his punk roots. Heaven is s nice step for Cooper, and fans will now be able to focus on his ability to fashion robust arrangements on his own. Live shows with a full band and a forthcoming EP are in the works.
Youngblood Hawke sank its hooks in L.A. audiences early last summer with the single “Rootless,” one of those anthems-for-these-uncertain-times that boasted an irresistible chorus. Coming from minds of Sam Martin and Simon Katz — both former members of Iglu & Hartly — Youngblood Hawke’s first EP bore even more pop goodness, and unlike their previous band, precious little of it was wasted on puerile party songs. With Tasso Smith, Alice Katz and Nik Hughes aboard to make YBH a quintet, Universal Republic snapped up the band, which has been squirreled away working on material for an album. With a major label involved, of course, anything can happen. And some of the material YBH test-drove at a SXSW showcase in March scared the bejesus out of us — I mean, can’t we just leave the party rap to the likes of Shwayze? Then this week Youngblood Hawke sent to radio the new single “We Come Running” (officially out Aug. 14), and again the fivesome has shown its skills at grabbing hold of the pop jugular vein. The song’s secret weapon is the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir, and if those cherubic voices sound familiar, it’s with good reason. They also did background on arguably the biggest pop anthem of 2012, Fun’s “We Are Young.”
||| Live: Youngblood Hawke will be playing Echo Park Rising on Aug. 25. Lineup and details to come.
Here a few more new songs from three forthcoming albums…
The Mountain Goats,“Cry For Judas” — John Darnielle and the gang return with a new album, “Transcendental Youth,” which is due Oct. 2 via Merge Records. The lead single off the record is the first song of theirs to feature a swinging horn section, and unlike most of their repertoire, it is one of the many new songs that don’t reveal a tragic story. “Cry For Judas” foreshadows a new collection of songs about perseverance and survival.
The Orwells, “In My Bed” — The new scuzzy garage-rock kids on the block offer another boisterous tune in anticipation of their “Remember When” LP, due Aug. 7 via Autumn Tone Records. Although a little more subdued than “Mallrats (La La La),” pop melodies are still shouted at the top of their lungs reflecting the Orwells’ rambunctious youth. Oh, and that guitar riff in the middle isn’t so bad either.
Letting Up Despite Great Faults, “Visions” — Dream-poppers Letting Up Despite Faults offer the opening track off their forthcoming full-length “Untogether” (out Oct. 9). “Visions” has the best of their signature elements: feather-light vocals, dueling guitars, synths and a soaring melody.
► Big night of pop and rock at the Hollywood Bowl, with Kelly Clarkson (pictured) headlining and the Fray and Carolina Liar kicking things off.
► Neon Trees rock the Wiltern behind their latest effort “Picture Show.” Penguin Prison and JJAMZ open.
► Andy Clockwise and Of Verona team up to rock the Viper Room. Clockwise is wprking on new music; Of Verona just released its debut album “The Whit Apple.”
► At the Echoplex, it’s a fearsome foursome of indie-rock bands from the neighborhood — Seasons, Torches, Manhattan Murder Mystery and Body Parts.
► And the free July residencies come to a close — Terraplane Sun (with the Record Company and the Silent Comedy supporting) at the Satellite, American Royalty (with the Franks and the Miracals) at the Echo’ and JMSN (with All Eyes West) at the Bootleg Bar.
Incoming: Hard Summer 2012, the New L.A. Folk Fest, Kelly Clarkson, Neon Trees, Andy Clockwise, the Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Tenacious D, Jason Falkner, the Mynabirds, Best Coast, Tears for Fears, TV on the Radio, Grouplove, Real Estate, the Belle Brigade, Beachwood Sparks, the Bangles, Tempest and more.
Above:Chrysta Bell, the singer who collaborated with David Lynch on last fall’s album “This Train,” visits the Bootleg Theater on Thursday for a night of music hosted by the acclaimed filmmaker. That’s the Dutch Rall-helmed video for the song “Swing With Me.”
Our staff picks of the week:
@KRBronson recommends: The 3rd New L.A. Folk Fest on Saturday at Zorthian Ranch. The eclectic festival (in an equally eclectic setting in Altadena) features a cornucopia of folk, country, bluegrass and experimental artists. Among our favorites: Beachwood Sparks, Spindrift, Pisces, Triple Chicken Foot, Guy Blakeslee (of the Entrance Band), Leslie Stevens, Sea Of Bees, Geronimo Getty, Yellow Red Sparks, Dirt Bird, Kera & the Lesbians and the Stripminers. (Full list below.) @Seraphina_L recommends: Alt-J and Erika Spring at the Echo on Wednesday. It will be a night of firsts for both acts. Alt-J, the Cambridge, England-based electronic alternative rock band, returns for their first headlining L.A. show, and Au Revoir Simone’s Erika Forster plays her first solo show as Erika Spring.
L.A. quintet Youngblood Hawke emerged from its self-prescribed studio hibernation this week, leaking a new single featuring the West L.A. Children’s Choir. So what better way to start tonight’s sunset serenade on the L.A. Buzz Bands Show than with the sound of young voices? Join me at 7 p.m. on KCSN (88.5 FM, streaming at KCSN.org) for an hour of local tunes incuding new songs from L.A. indie ensemble Lord Huron and O.C. bands York and Hindu Pirates. I’ll also have tunes from the Ruby Friedman Orchestra and the Lonely Wild (two of the bands playing Tuesday’s KCSN/Buzz Bands LA night at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood), along with a vintage tune from an old favorite playing a rare show next week, Jason Falkner.
Set your dial to 88.5 at 7 p.m., or listen via TuneIn Radio app on your mobile device.
► Fiona Apple headlines the Hollywood Palladium behind the release of her first album in seven years, “The Idler Wheel …,” and L.A.’s own Blake Mills (besides playing in her band) opens.
► Crystal Stilts hit town for a night at Part Time Punks at the Echo, supported by the Mantles and Sea Lions.
► The Memorials — the ferocious rock ’n’ soul outfit helmed by drummer Thomas Pridgen — headline the Troubadour on a night that also features Bethpage Black, Cityzen, Sixstep and Mission Bells.
► And it’s “Goth Prom Night” at the Bootleg Bar, with Funeral Club, L.A. Witch and Dead Dawn keeping things dark.
► Dirty Projectors headline the Wiltern behind their new album “Swing Lo Magellan,” with Wye Oak opening.
► Nick Waterhouse brings his vintage R&B stylings to the Getty for an installment of the Saturdays Off the 405 series.
► Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole team up for a night of soul at the Greek Theatre.
► Good trio of local indie rockers — A House For Lions, Soft Swells and Warships — at the Hotel Café, along with an early set from rapper Wax.
► And the Ettes swing back through town behind last year’s release “Wicked Will” for a show at the Satellite. That’s the band’s video for “Teeth,” above; that song is just out as a 7-inch. Will Schwartz’s Psychic Friend and the Dead Ships open.
Just when I thought it was safe to call it quits on a Friday afternoon, a new FIDLAR video hits. “AA” — it doesn’t stand for the airline company, or the substance-abuse group — skewers your favorite local clothing maker. I’m going to cackle all the way to happy hour. And maybe think about some lawyer’s phone ringing.
||| Live: FIDLAR helps the Shrine celebrate its record release with a show tonight at the Blue Star.
York traverses several eras of music on its new EP “I Might” — in fact, in the leadoff track “Sweet Whiskey” alone, the young O.C.-based sextet rockets from back-porch stomp to sparkling indie-pop in a few measures. Singer-guitarist Jake McMullen — aided by guitarist Michael Martin, keyboardist John Penner, bassist Joshua Walker Smith, violinist J.D. Neal and drummer Magdiel Montano — proves an amiable vocalist and agile lyricist in either time period. “I Might,” the follow-up to the “Wonder” EP that released under McMullen’s name, has a lot in common with many popular indie-pop bands of the day, but Neal’s violin (especially on the barn dance-ready “Far Away”) gives York a bit of down-home distinction amid its sparkling guitar-and-keys modern-rockness. An exuberant combination, to be sure.
NEW TIME STARTING JAN. 15, 2012: Join me at 7 p.m. every Sunday night for the L.A. Buzz Bands Show on all-music, listener-supported KCSN (88.5 FM). It's an hour of music by SoCal artists, and it's streamable at KCSN.org.
NEW TIME STARTING NOV. 4, 2011: Tune into the Buzz Bands LA Show every Friday at 11 a.m. Pacific Time on Moheak Radio. It's two hours of mostly local, always-fresh music.
"Much popular music is hollow professionalism – musicians and record producers recycling ideas and styles most likely to sell records. The memorable artists redefine the boundaries, either through blinding originality or by looking with unbending honesty at their deepest fears and grandest dreams."
