Blips: Four Under The Radar Bands

Combing hazy ’90s lo-fi rock, with 1960s girl-groups and sunny surf-pop the LA-based band ends up sounding something like the 21st century’s version of The Ronettes. Best Coast recently released their highly anticipated debut Crazy For You, which should fill the void if you’re still on the hunt for your summer soundtrack album – this one is perfect for hitting the beach with. The band will kick off their fall tour on September 4 at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles, which includes a high profile stop at the Bowery Ballroom on September 29.

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Jeffrey Greenblatt

The Moondoggies

MySpace / Website

More times than not I’ve used my space here to write about bands that fall on the roots end of the spectrum, so why break with tradition? Hailing from Seattle, WA – a town most famously known for being the epicenter of the 1990s grunge boom – The Moondoggies’ sound couldn’t be any further from the halcyon days of that scene. Fusing gospel-drenched vocal harmonies, with driving swirls of the Rhodes’ electric piano and rollicking blues-y psychedelic guitar work resulting in a sublime version of Cosmic-Americana.

The band also happens to be a force to be reckoned with live conjuring up comparisons to kindred spirits like the Drive-By Truckers, The Band, Allman Brothers and early ’70s Grateful Dead. The Moondoggies recently wrapped up a lengthy cross-country tour with fellow Pacific Northwest residents Blitzen Trapper and will release their sophomore studio effort Tidelands on September 14 via Hardly Art.

Jeffrey Greenblatt

Maps & Atlases

MySpace / Website

Chicago-based quartet Maps & Atlases is the rare act who brings proggy sensibilities and technical musicianship to the indie world. The band was started in 2004 and over the past six years have graduated from local heroes to national act thanks to their unique sound that some describe as math-rock meets folk. Maps & Atlases put out four EPs between 2005 and 2008 before finally releasing their first full-length back in June called Perch Patchwork on the Barsuk label.

Perch Patchfork finds M&A embracing the folk side of their music more and after a few listens has jumped towards the top of my Best of 2010 list. Guitarist/singer Dave Davidson has a breathy, baritone voice that’s equal parts Cat Stevens, Ray LaMontagne and Tom Waits. Davidson often comes up with creative ways to play his acoustic guitar, which often involves slapping and tapping on the strings as well as using the body of the instrument for percussion. Drummer Chris Hainey is a whirl of motion and must sweat off a couple a pounds a show, while bassist Shiraz Dada tows the line allowing his band mates more room to experiment.

Back in June the group rocked two songs from Perch Patchwork plus an older tune for a taping of Live at Electraplay. Check it out…

Scott Bernstein

Warpaint

MySpace / Website

Hailing from Los Angeles the four ladies of Warpaint play a brand of hazy, lo-fi psychedelic rock that hearkens back to the days of the city’s Paisley Underground movement. Combining ethereal acid-drenched harmonies, with spacey, atmospheric instrumentation that can be heard all throughout their debut EP Exquisite Corpse which was released last year and received some heavyweight help courtesy of former Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist John Frusciante who handled the mixing duties.

With songs that clock in at over six-plus minutes Warpaint tend to stretch past that live, with shoegazed-inspired jamming featuring droning guitar work and pulsing rhythms. The band will release their debut full-length LP, The Fool, this October via Rough Trade, and recently began a lengthy world tour which includes a string of high profile dates opening for The xx.

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Jeffrey Greenblatt

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