Found out at the last minute these guys were playing The Smell back on 8/29. I’d missed them the last couple of times they were in town, and I was determined this wouldn’t be a third. It turns out they were running late, so all was good. When the band got there, drummer Ian Vanek issued an apology to the club owner, hauled in one of the larger pieces of his drum kit, and proceeded to momentarily dance with the hottest blonde girl on the floor. Japanther is a two-man act, Vanek on  percussion and Matt Reilly on bass. No lead guitar, but you’d never know by the sound these guys blow out. Below is a clip from the show along with a short interview, and I’d like to end with a summation of Vanek’s response to my question on how to improve the indie music scene, an answer that actually could qualify for a decent life philosophy:

1) Don’t be a dick.

2) Drop your ego.

3) Play Rock ‘n Roll.

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Singer/songwriter Peter Salett held a record release party at M Bar in Hollywood on July 17 for his upcoming album In the Ocean of the Stars.  His music has been featured in films such as Judd Apatow’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall, HBO’s Cat Dancers and Down in the Valley starring Ed Norton. On the new album, Salett retains his characteristic folk-country style, but tunes such as True in Time and Miss You are unique in their early 50s/60s pop rhythms and echo-heavy slide guitar. Both tracks are highly recommended downloads, or if you live in NYC, you can pick up a copy of the entire CD when Salett performs at The Living Room on July 23. The video below features highlights from the gig in Hollywood last Thursday, including guest appearances by actor/comedian Thomas Lennon and filmmaker David Wain.

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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.

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I saw a show last week by Jenni Alpert, an L.A. folk/jazz singer who’s known for her DIY efforts, such as booking tours across the U.S. and Europe while not signed to a record label. She gave a more uncommon answer to how she’d improve the indie music scene, focusing more on what new artists can do for themselves rather than how the industry itself should change. A few live clips along with the interview below. I included a Seeqpod stream of a tune called “Baltimore” to provide another example of her sound, a tune which also highlights the talents of the guitarist and rhythm section of her band.

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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:

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