Pullin’ ‘Tubes: YouTube Darlings Local Natives Back With Breakers

Local Natives owe a great debt to the folks over at YouTube. Back in October of 2008, the Los Angeles-based band uploaded an ramshackle acoustic cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s Cecelia that they recorded in their backyard which went viral. The clip attracted the attention of just about every hip music blog, and to date has been viewed over a million times. When they released their full-length debut, Gorilla Manor, roughly a year later, they already had a built in audience, with many anointing them the West Coast’s answer to Vampire Weekend, thanks in part of their bouncy, sun-baked brand of Talking Heads influenced music.

After a three-plus year wait the Local Natives will release their highly anticipated sophomore album Hummingbird via French Kiss Records on January 29. The band has lined up a lengthy world tour with a two-night hometown stand, that will double as their record release parties: Henry Fonda Theater on January 28 and the El Rey the next night. Prior to all that, the band has given their fans an advance taste of what’s to come via the oddball music video for the album’s lead single – Breakers.