Scout Niblett Eats Pehr, Los Angeles Oct 12th

For some wonderfully odd reason, lady of the lake Scout Niblett is on tour and she's playing her only LA date at Pehrspace, the small tucked-behind-bushes gallery space of Pehr record label and second home to a growing legion of indie/punk/shoegaze bands. Don't ask why she's skipping out on the bigger LA venues, just be grateful and be there on October 12.

The Nottingham native was born Emma Louise Niblett, but she goes by Scout after 8-year-old Scout Finch in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Here's some video of her singing "Dinosaure Egg" a weirdo ode to an unhatched egg at Sheperd's Bush Empire in her native UK: (She now resides and rides her bike in Portland, OR.)



Watching her you get the sense that she's tasting every word on its way out, channeling bits of Cat Power/PJ Harvey/Kurt Cobain in the process, and you've never heard such minimalist guitars pack so much heat. Her latest record This Fool Can Die Now (produced with Steve Albini) is due out on Oct 9th. Preorder it here.

(Promo code = "fool")

Orphan friends Eagle and Talon to close the night. Doors at 8 pm.

Links: Scout Niblett Website | Scout Niblett on MySpace | Scout Niblett Interview

How do I love thee...?

I have a confession to make.
Are you ready?
Do you promise not to laugh?
Pinky-swear?

I HAVE A HYPER-MACHO crush on Band of Horses! And it's not just because they have cute little beards, nor is it because of the way vocalist/guitarist Ben Bridwell nervously adds, "Thanks...you guys..." to the end of 'Billion Day Funeral' (track 5 on the limited edition tour E.P., which is tragically out of print.)
Okay, so maybe those are partial reasons, but honestly--I like this band for real reasons, too.

For starters, their new material is speck-freaking-tack; these words are rare coming from me. I don't think I can name a (very recent) artist who had me at hello like Band of Horses did, and who managed to produce a second album that didn't send me packing. That privilege has traditionaly been granted to late 90's/early 00's hall of famers like The Cure (ok maybe some 80's), The Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, Sonic Youth, and Beck.

I've seen them live 2 times. Once at the Avalon in Hollywood (10/2006) and once at the Hollywood Bowl (07/2007). When I left the Avalon show I'd matched 4 shots of Wild Turkey with 4 Heinekens and had gotten [temporarily] engaged to my best friend. I don't remember much of it, but it sounds like a pretty good time to me. Good enough, at least, to willingly pay upwards of 250 DeNiros for a pair Terrace seats the following July. **To justify the sickening price tag on these tickets I think I should mention that BoH was opening for Andrew Bird & The Decemberists(+the LA Philharmonic).** Anyway, they closed their set in sync with the sun and basically ensured that I'll probably buy every album they ever release and go to every nearby show they ever play.

buy me tickets to see 'em at the Avalon in Hollywood on November 24th!
please? [yes] [no]

Orphan Updates on YOUR website!

So for about a week there, I was completely addicted to all things web 2.0--like aiAlex.com (or maybe I just have a creepy internet stalker-crush on him...), digg.com, and widgetbox.com.

The result: easy access to the Orphan Review blog. These apps will notify you and your website visitors of updates to the Orphan Records blog. View an example here.

Get Orphan Review updates:
Add the Orphan Review blidget to your blog/myspace/other website
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Hear Me! Hear Me!

NOTE: This is not a plug for indie103, nor is it an ad for any band. The content of this post comes straight from me, Little Orphan C4, to you, the loyal Orphan Review readers. I would never mislead you. Links are provided for easy access to further information. Moving on...

Dear Orphan Friends,
I have recently decided that I love two [more] things. They are as follows:


This show (named after the Buzzcocks song of the same name) is hosted by Henry Rollins, of Black Flag/Rollins Band fame, and a complete and utter genius. **Please notice that I did not call the man a "musical genius" (he is). The term 'GENIUS' without any modifier is intended to symbolize something more along the lines of "a true champion of life"**

The first time I listened to this show I heard a song I'd never heard on the radio/seen on TV/in a magazine, etc.--Jilted John, by Jilted John. Any attempt I might make to convey exactly what this song meant to me when I was like, 12 years old, will succeed at total failure so I'm not even going to try. And I will be honest: you'll totally hate this show if you don't like old hardcore, punk rock, noise, and experimental drone type stuff, because when the Harmony In My Head playlist does feature more accessible-to-the-masses tunes, they're usually tracks from lesser-known releases like The Clash's Vanilla Tapes.

FYI: The way I view Henry Rollins is similar to the way in which I view Marilyn Manson--another genius of whom you are probably scared. THE POINT IS that they are both extremely intelligent and intriguing, with an intimidation factor of like, a gazillion and five.

___________________________

When an organization that usually produces total crap becomes the home of something great, it is usually a total fluke--which is why I was extremely surprised to stumble upon more indie103 greatness...


The show, hosted by Darren Revell, is an aural sanctuary--it provides an escape from music whose creators have an all-too-obvious affinity for Staind, Slipknot, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Kid Rock. Big Sonic Heaven features shoegaze, dream-pop, trip-hop, brit-pop, deep-alternative, and electronica--and I can honestly say that it's the only time I've ever heard Dead Can Dance, Slowdive, and Ride in the same hour, on the same [RADIO!!] station.

Along with the classics, BSH's playlists also feature really, really amazing new music. To name a few: Taken By Trees (Victoria Bergsman's (The Concretes) new project), and Bat For Lashes. I've chosen to end this post with the Bat For Lashes video "What's A Girl To Do," because I believe it is important to go out with a bang.

Have a great weekend!!!
Yours, Little Orphan C4

"I am The Rhythm Thief. Say goodbye to the beat!"

This video is epic. Don't know who Sparks are? Remember that movie Valley Girl from like 1983? Nicholas Cage played the sexy punk rock boy and the girl who played Dotty in Pee Wee's Big Adventure was the slutty best friend? Ok, good. So remember the part in the movie when that kid goes to this girl's house who has a crush on him, and you think he's going to return her book, but then they make it look like he's boning her mom in the shower, except it turns out that it's really the girl and not the mom? No? Well whatever, the point is that the song playing in the background during that scene is Sparks' 'Eaten By The Monster Of Love.'And it rules. They also have a song called 'Angst In My Pants,' and 'The Fanatic,' both of which also rule.
Good stuff, I tell you.

Back to the matter at hand.
This music video is the title track from their album, 'Lil Beethoven, which, to be honest, is not a spectacular record. But c'mon, seriously guys, how many musicians spend their entire CAREERS trying to make something sound as awesome as awesome as this ONE song?

About a bazillion.
That's a fact.

Just frickin' watch it already.

A Female Elliott Smith???

Recently a friend of mine was playing some music while we were driving home from the beach. I was half asleep but heard this beautiful angelic voice singing. It sounded like a female version of Elliott Smith. I asked my friend and was shocked to find it was a man (Jeff Hanson) singing falsetto. He's currently on Kill Rock Stars and based in Minnesota. He plays guitar and sings super pretty songs. Check out this video I found on youtube...

Sondre Lerche to Score New Touchstone Film

One of my favorite S/S recently scored 11 new songs for the soon to be released film "Dan In Real Life" directed by Peter Hedges and starring Steve Carrell and Juliette Binoche. Regina Spektor is doing a duet on one of the songs. The soundtrack will be released October 2nd in the US. If you haven't heard of Lerche I'd highly suggest you take a peek.

Dan In Real Life - Original songs and music by Sondre Lerche:

1. Family Theme Waltz - Sondre Lerche
2. To Be Surprised - Sondre Lerche
3. I'll Be OK - Sondre Lerche
4. Dan and Marie Picking Hum - Sondre Lerche
5. My Hands Are Shaking - Sondre Lerche
6. Dan In Real Life - Sondre Lerche
7. Hell No - Sondre Lerche and Regina Spektor
8. Family Theme - Sondre Lerche
9. Fever - A Fine Frenzy
10. Airport Taxi Reception - Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down
11. Dan and Marie Melody - Sondre Lerche
12. Human Hands - Sondre Lerche and The Faces Down Quartet
13. I'll Be OK (Instrumental Reprise) - Sondre Lerche
14. Let My Love Open The Door - Sondre Lerche
15. Dan and Marie Finale Theme - Sondre Lerche
16. Modern Nature - Sondre Lerche and Lillian Samdal