The following entry originally appeared on the Amoeblog V.A.N. - Out in the Rain (1992) V.A.N. were a short-lived "melodic hard rock" band from Germany who released just one album in 1992, Out of the Rain. I have no idea what the acronym "V.A.N." stands for. It's not derived by the names of the band's … Continue reading One Album Wonders: V.A.N.
Category: Music
Ukrainian Block Party — Huun-Huur Tu and DakhaBrakha at Royce Hall
The following entry originally appeared on the Amoeblog We're spoiled for entertainment choices here in Los Angeles; sometimes I feel almost paralyzed by cultural options and end up in an almost catatonic state listening to old episodes of Dragnet. That almost happened the other day, when I was torn between whether to go to KDAY’s … Continue reading Ukrainian Block Party — Huun-Huur Tu and DakhaBrakha at Royce Hall
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Brightwell’s Top 10: 1897
In 1857, Frenchman Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville patented his invention for recording sound, the phonautograph. Twenty years later, in 1877, someone first realized that his phonautograms could also play back recorded music. It was the same year, coincidentally, that Thomas Edison patented the phonograph and thus the age of recorded music began. In 2015, former Amoebite Matthew Messbarger posted an NME "Best of 1990" on my Facebook timeline and I … Continue reading Brightwell’s Top 10: 1897
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One Album Wonders: Armageddon
The following entry originally appeared on the Amoeblog This week’s One Album Wonder is Armageddon, a short-lived heavy rock band led by Keith Relf which proved to be the singer's last. In Armageddon, Relf was joined by Robert Caldwell (drums), Louis Cennamo (bass guitar), and Martin Pugh (guitar). ***** Relf was a noteworthy English singer, … Continue reading One Album Wonders: Armageddon
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Alles gute zum geburtstag Schaffel – The musical repercussions of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus”
The following entry originally appeared on the Amoeblog This year marks the 25th anniversary of the infamous Depeche Mode Riots, in which half a dozen people were treated for minor injuries. Another Depeche Mode milestone is upon us as on 29 August 1989 the band released their 23rd single, "Personal Jesus" and basically invented the "schaffel" … Continue reading Alles gute zum geburtstag Schaffel – The musical repercussions of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus”
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A Look Back at the Depeche Mode Riots
Today is the 50th anniversary of the Watts Riots (or Watts Rebellion, depending on your point of view). In that riot, 3,438 Anglenos were arrested, 1,032 were injured, and 34 died. This year (but not today) is also the 25th anniversary of another, less serious uprising, the Depeche Mode Riots, in which five to seven … Continue reading A Look Back at the Depeche Mode Riots
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New Release: Lulu Jam’s Temporada Alta
After a seven year recording hiatus, Chilean electro-pop group Lulú Jam! have a new album out called Temporada Alta. The path of my discovery of Lulú Jam! is, I think, kind of amusing in that reveals something about the changing landscape at the intersection of technology and recording. I moved to Los Angeles in 1999 and one … Continue reading New Release: Lulu Jam’s Temporada Alta
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May the Fourth — A Look at Star Bars and Deep Space Discos
The original Star Wars had a huge impact on pop culture. As a child, nothing in the film had more impact on me than the cantina scene -- and judging from the changes in dance music and imitations that followed I wasn't alone. What better occasion to reflect on the film's impact than May the … Continue reading May the Fourth — A Look at Star Bars and Deep Space Discos
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Tim & Eric Present: To Live and Deejay LA
Tim "Modern Brit" Shimbles (Amoeba employee and frequent traveling companion on California Fool's Gold) and yours truly are going to DJ a set of "locals only" music called To Live and Deejay LA on 12 May at the Melody Lounge in Chinatown. (Click here to join the Facebook event page). Los Angeles is a big place... bigger … Continue reading Tim & Eric Present: To Live and Deejay LA
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The Top 10 Shoegaze Bands of All Time, or, The Godlike Genius of Shoegaze
I'm still buzzing from the Ride show at the Warfield. "Cool Your Boots" has been running through my head non-stop for a week (although there was a break, at least in my sleep, when I had a dream which involved listening to Cedric Im Brooks). Since the show, I've been listening to a lot of shoegaze … Continue reading The Top 10 Shoegaze Bands of All Time, or, The Godlike Genius of Shoegaze
Eric Brightwell 