Dengue Fever played a long, hot set at Make Music Pasadena last Saturday. I arrived a solid 45 minutes before they began, taking no chances of missing a great spot near the stage. Surf psychedelia fused with Asian-style pop is the closest I can come to relating their sound in the written word. They are sometimes labeled as a world music band, but I’ve come to equate the term with groups whose sound grows old after two or three songs. Dengue Fever somehow always finds a way to hook you in, while never sounding false or untrue to their own unique style. Lead singer Chhom Nimol (spelling referenced on band’s website) and guitarist Zac Holtzman spoke to me briefly after the set. You’ll notice a slight disparity between the questions I asked and the ones Nimol answered in the video below, but it was cool to talk with her anyway.
Long waiting for the opportunity to profile an indie band from outside the L.A. area, I caught a show by the group Yeasayer on April 25. The band’s considered part of the experimental rock scene emerging in Brooklyn, which includes acts like Free Blood, High Places, and MGMT. I captured a few live clips and interviewed lead singer Chris Keating, who had some interesting things to say about how he’d improve the indie music scene and L.A. club owners’ affinity for “pay-to-play.” Check it out:
Originally from Texas, Jeremy Megert is an L.A. Rock/Blues/Jazz musician. His tunes are a catchy amalgamation of the three styles, and unlike other genre bending/blending artists, Megert manages to keep his sound consistent. Megert and his two bandmates kick out a great set and are a highly recommended live show. I was there for a February gig at the Room 5 Lounge. I spoke with Megert briefly after the set, and he comments more directly on the downside of a common practice of club owners known as “pay-to-play.” The video below includes some live footage at the beginning and end. Megert also talks about how he’d improve the indie scene in a short interview.
