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.
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.
