Radio Free Silver Lake
By Seamus Simpson

Last Friday I ventured out in the rain to see Radars to the Sky headline what seemed on paper to be a good show. I was wondering if the weather would get in the way or if people would brave the rain to see some good old-fashioned indie rock. To my surprise the kids did come.Radars_Callie_20

I walked in on the tail end of a great set by The Hectors. This seems to be the story of my life when connected to The Hectors. I always seem to walk in on the end of a set. That said they are one of the little known gems on the “Silver Lake” scene. They play such a great version of dreamlike airy pop that to me harkens back to the great bands like Dream Syndicate but with a healthy dose of distortion to give that almost MBV sound without all the pretension that comes along with sounding like shoegaze.

After a little schmoozing with some friends of other local bands and a couple of trips to the bar I was surprised by the band I saw next. It was Rademacher, but it wasn’t any version of Rademacher I had ever seen. Eli was still hitting the skins like a manic, but Malcolm, instead of his usual place behind his guitar pulling everything along like a ringmaster, was instead transferred to a new place behind bass. I joked to a friend that it seems at times you can trace the history and sound of this band by the complicated relationships that have been though it, but more on that some other time. The end result was a good set, but it seemed to lack the usual fire I expect to see from Rademacher. In good news I was told that this was Malcolm’s last show behind the bass and he is moving back to his rightful place on guitar.

A few beers and a couple of shots later I my engine was revving and I was ready to see what Radars to the Sky had to offer. I can say I was pleasantly surprised. Knowing they had parted with their long time bass player I was interested to see how they pulled this show off without him and how they would sound. It was great on all fronts. Drawing on not only on bands on the bill such as Rademacher and The Hectors, they also took members of The Monolators, Death to Anders and even a cameo from their very first bass player. Old songs like “Victoria” and “I Might” still had the same punch while holding onto the softness of singer Andrew Spitser’s vocal and lyrical delivery. At the same time the new songs from the upcoming album offer a glimpse into the new directions the band is capable of. I especially love the closer which has been finishing off sets for the last few months.

Oh, there was also a great cover of the Walkmen’s “The Rat” which just killed.

Finally after a smoke break that seemed to drag on forever where we spoke of religion and politics laughing in the face of traditional conversations I rambled inside to watch One Trick Pony. Not having seen them in easily two years or so I had no idea what to expect. I can say without hyperbole that their show floored me. This is a band that has come a long way from being a guy with a guitar to a fully fleshed out band with amazing compositions and a singer who belts out lyrics like they just might be the last words he ever says. The music was raw like an open wound exposed on the heart that you just can’t stop touching. At the same time there was gentleness in the delivery that spoke of maturity and maybe forgiveness. Then again maybe “looking for forgiveness” might be a better way of putting it. I would say my heart was completely stolen by Rob Danson’s amazing solo on what seemed to be a recorder. Anyone who can put that much sincerity into a recorder solo has to OK in my book.

All in all it was worth taking a cab in the rain to see some of LA’s finest true indie rock purveyors giving it all it was worth on a Friday night, and sure beats the hell out of sitting at home with the cat.