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The Lovely Bad Things New Ghost/Old Waves EP
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The Lovely Bad Things, consisting of brothers Brayden and Camron Ward, Timothy Hatch, and Lauren Cur...The Lovely Bad Things, consisting of brothers Brayden and Camron Ward, Timothy Hatch, and Lauren Curtius, are simply put the ideal family of a band, with each member being able to play every single instrument. So to say when you see them live, you can watch the musicians switch off between drums, guitar, bass, as well as singing. Their New Ghost/Old Waves EP, following the hyped Shark Week tape, was just released off Burger Records this July with a coinciding West Coast tour.
Based in La Mirada, the band is accredited for holding legendary shows at the “Bad Pad” with other local bands and also some well known artists such as Ty Segall and Peter Bjorn and John (with the Ward brothers’ parents in full support). The entire tape definitely has the whole garage DIY sound, but The Lovely Bad Things demonstrate their innate talent with the range of style their songs are able to achieve.
The EP begins with a washed-out, surfy pop feel during “You Done Messed Up,” which includes incredible harmonies between Camron, Brayden, and Curtius, setting the vocal trend for the rest of the tracks. The lyrics reflect typical problems of youth such as “You need someone to talk to/ but no one really wants to,” that can also be seen in the slower “I Just Want You to Go Away,” when Brayden belts “I don’t know what I’m searching for/but I know that you’re not it,” “I don’t know what I want anymore/I just want you to go away.”
The band takes on a less serious note near the end of the tape with quirky “Dinosaur Song” and “Blood on My Moccasins.” “Dinosaur Song,” the EP’s shortest and most fast-paced track, comes in more quickly than the rest of the songs, in which Curtius is able to show off her vocal array while being complemented by Hatch’s harsh shouts. “Blood on My Moccasins” takes the EP back to the beachy groove with some acoustics and soft tambourine, while Curtius’s melodious “oohhs” counteract the lyrics “You got a face as ugly as sin/well you got blood on my moccasins.”
From eccentric song titles to heavier lyrics, New Ghost/Old Waves is tremendously catchy, and you cannot help but get the tracks stuck in your head after a few listens. It is the perfect tape to get The Lovely Bad Things on your radar, and it certainly should be a part of your end of summer soundtrack.
Track List:
You Done Messed Up
I Just Want You to Go Away
Icee Creeps
Old Ghost
Dinosaur Song
New Waves
Blood On My Moccasins
(Aly Vander Hayden)
Filed under Music, Reviews · Tagged with Brayden Ward, Burger Records, Camron Ward, Lauren Curtius, New Ghost/Old Waves, The Lovely Bad Things, Timothy Hatch
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Dante versus Zombies, The Lovely Bad Things, Bolt from the Blue and Stay Cool Forever
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*WARNING* WARNING* MOSH ZONE* If you think for one bloody moment that you can simply do the head b... *WARNING* WARNING* MOSH ZONE* If you think for one bloody moment that you can simply do the head bob or dance in your own little space a few rows back at a Lovely Bad Things show then you are sadly mistaken because while you are lost in their brazen garage / surf rock assault you will more than likely feel a bunch of bodies slam into you and nearly knock you on your ass. This would be the case tonight as the crowd swelled as they took the stage. TLBT's songs move from the frenetic of the mosh to dancing on the beach. "Icee Creeps" barrels over you with a double time beat and vocals that invite you to scream along only to shift into a break that is steeped in California surf culture with tom tom beats and heavy dirty guitar chords. "Kevin" is hyper and catchy with a bridge that got the crowd pogo-ing. "Old Ghost" churns like a locomotive and "Cult Life" is bitter sweetly upbeat. All the players shift instruments even taking turns behind the drum kit. Sonically, think Black Lipsish, Pixieish, but not. Lauren, Brayden, Tim and Camron sweat and move on stage and ask their audience to do the same. The music is so infectious that complying is not all that hard to do.
Dante from Dante versus Zombies moves his lanky frame with a grand fluidity like he is made of rubber instead of flesh and bones. I imagine if he was in a car crash and stone sober he would walk away as if he was drunk as hell. A veteran of countless bands and musical projects, Dante is the consummate entertainer who knows how to hold the audience in the palm of his hand. With his jet black hair, velveteen jacket and rock flamboyance he reminded me of a cross between Pelle Almqvist of the Hives, Mick Jagger, and (dare I say) Jim Carrey. The first thing he did was assign someone in the audience to be the safety captain during the show because, as he said, "We are a safety conscious band." Dante versus the Zombies pumps out songs full of jangly guitars and moving bass lines creating a sound that inhabits some space in between spaghetti westerns, sci-fi, and retro post punk and they also dress for the party. In fact, back up singer Laena was adorned in what appeared to be a hot pink burqa, her face covered for the entire show. Gabriel and Matt with their nearly matching hollow body Gibsons played off each other well along with bassist Jada and drummer Jeff. The songs, like Dante, have a flair for B- movie dramatics. "Branded by Nuns" swings wonderfully with western guitars like some Adam Ant song. "Oblivion" burns like a 50's leather jacketed tear jerker and "Bible Belt" has fantastic drum breaks and rings out like a Duran Duran song if Duran Duran was into spy caper music. Dante versus Zombies = solid music and cool theater. Fantastical.
- Adler Bloom
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The Lovely Bad Things
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Who loves surf music and live show bands? Of course, Indie Update does!
We’ve featured plenty of ...Who loves surf music and live show bands? Of course, Indie Update does!
We’ve featured plenty of artists here at the site and we’re up more… Today, we choose to feature a band from Los Angeles who brings surf music in to the real thing—The Lovely Bad Things.
The way people define indie rock has evolved through generations, but what’s really amusing is to still find young artists make music the pure indie way, and that is: making creative music, bringing exciting live performances, and enjoying the music with audience!
The Lovely Bad Things are often described as a cross between the Pixies and Black Lips, and we couldn’t agree more. “Shark Week”, their first LP, features the band’s musicality of indie rock music, from surf to punk, garage to noise, psych to pop, and more—the group has so much to offer in the music scene. And there’s no doubt they are set to bring a stage on fire as they bring the excitement of live music back to the audience.
The Lovely Bad Things began in October 2009 with members Lauren Curtius, Camron Ward, Timothy Hatch and Brayden Ward. According to the group, no member stays on one instrument throughout the entire set with each member often playing every instrument at least once as the performance progresses. They all also share the vocal duties including four-part harmonies. Pretty amazing for such young musicians, right?
From their bio, the group began gaining popularity in the LA/OC collective DIY scene early on, which then expanded to a much larger spectrum opening up for larger acts and working with FYF. Acts they have supported include No Age, Wavves, Peter Bjorn and John, The Thermals, The Growlers, Screaming Females, Crystal Antlers, Abe Vigoda, Slang Chickens and many more. “Shark Week” was released in September 2010 on cassette for UVR. And now, The Lovely Bad Things are working on the release of a 6-song EP sometime this summer.
Keep it up guys! We at Indie Update look forward to featuring you again and your first EP as well!
Check out The Lovely Bad Things on MySpace, like them on Facebook and get updates about their upcoming shows and events. You can also find videos of the group’s performances on YouTube.
More Links for The Lovely Bad Things:
Last.fm
Twitter
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Peter, Bjorn and John
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What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “House Party?” Hmmm…beer on ice…guys…girls…music…good ...What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “House Party?” Hmmm…beer on ice…guys…girls…music…good times…and that 1990s movie with Kid and Play. You do not, however, think of an appearance by Peter, Bjorn and John. Well, thanks to Sean Carlson and FYF—there was not one, but two super secret house parties featuring P,B and J, as well as The Lovely Bad Things, Devin Therriault and the So So Glos.
With all the planning of a military operation, the FYF team orchestrated two killer secret shows. The first being at what is referred to as The Lovely Bad Pad on a quiet suburban street in La Mirada. The crowd was kept to a minimum and the lucky ones who milled into the xmas-lit garage, or more specifically, the semi sound proof rehearsal room, were in for a tight sweaty indie rock show. Devin Therriault and his band, who I had just seen perform at the Echoplex days earlier, jammed out their 1950s style rock with a “Wild Ones” abandon and The Lovely Bad Things churned out their surf pop / post punk to a dancing, head bopping tightly packed crowd. I did a double take when I saw Peter Morén from P, B and J packed in like a sardine, head bobbing to The Lovely Bad Things as well. That is when I realized, “Hey, Peter, Bjorn and John are really going to play in this garage.”
And play they did although at times I think even they didn’t believe it. I apologize in advance for butchering the names of these Swedish towns. This is the banter before the first song:
Peter: “Hallo. Thanks for having us. I played in a basement in Naatka once. It’s a suburb of Taakal but I haven’t played here in a garage.”
Bjorn: (looking up at the packed rafters)- “What’s up there?”
Peter: “Bjorn played drums at that gig actually…the basement in Naatka. Do you remeber that?”
Bjorn: (pause) “No.”
The audience, myself included, was cracking up. I loved these guys from the get go. They were very funny and sweet. Then they proceeded to rock the “skit” out of that tiny room, mostly playing brand new songs. They played a nice long set and probably would have played more had it not been for the fact that we were all sweating up a storm from all the body heat. Seeing Peter, Bjorn and John in the confines of that garage rehearsal room was an awesome (albeit a little surreal) experience.
Being the down to earth and cool chaps they are, they hung out and met with their adoring fans, took pics and all. Then it was time for Secret Show 2.
FYF announced the location for the 12 pm show at 9pm. The party would continue at a warehouse space in the fashion district of L.A. After passing through security I headed up about 6 flights of stairs to a large open room like a large New York city flat. In fact, the guys from Brooklyn-based Devin Therriault said this space made them feel the most at home. Factory style glass-paned windows flanked one side of the room and couches on the other and a motorcycle was parked near the back wall. The “stage” area was backdropped by those factory paned glass and white Christmas lights cascaded from the ceiling into glass bottles turning them into light bulbs. The people cascading into the room looked somewhat less suburban than those at the La Mirada house. Maybe it was because it was a more urban crowd or maybe it was just that it was a late night crowd but it looked like a hipster heaven. The room was dressed up and ready to party Swedish style. Drinks and conversation filled the room and the room was buzzing for live music.
By the time The Lovely Bad Things strapped on their guitars, the room was pretty densely packed. Their brief 3 song set was loose and fun—and varied from the garage show hours earlier. The guitarist pushed into the crowd a couple of times, spurning them to mosh, and while they simply chose to dance or move to the music, they enjoyed the invitation and pushed him back. The Lovely Bad Things all switched instruments and lead vocals, shifting tones in keeping with that surf power pop/garage rock vibe. The audience ate it up and begged for one more song. TLBT’s re-strapped on the guitars, asked for a request and fans responded with “Big Sur.” They tore into the wave crashing song that has guitar flashes of Dick Dale and the Deltones (on steroids).
After a quick gear change, the boys from Sweden took their place amidst the white xmas lights. Peter took to the mic and said: “Good evening, welcome to Sweden,” and launched into “Second Chance”—a power pop treat with dramatic downbeats. I actually prefer this live version to the studio version. Next, “Dig a Little Deeper”—a super catchy bit of pure pop. Fueled on by an ecstatic audience (amidst the hoops and hollas, a girl near me said to her friend: “I’m poopin’ in my pants right now”), P, B and J continued to perform songs off their new release Gimme Some. Peter’s guitar work live has got more “ooomph” than on the CD and seeing him pick off the catchy guitar strains to “Eyes” was a treat. The boys stirred the pretty pop power ballad “Down Like Me” into an emotional mix as Bjorn climbed atop his amp and Peter played an evocative lead that got the crowd screaming with delight. Before the applause subsided they transitioned into the locomotive rhythm of “I know You Don’t Love Me”—a hypnotic slow burn that would, unfortunately, be the last song of their set. I just love the brilliant sustain notes on this song. The song cooked along, eventually erupting into whirlwind of guitars, heavy drums and vocals. WOW. It was a wonderful climax to an inspired performance. As incredible as the “garage” show was, Peter, Bjorn and John played with even more zeal at this late show. It was as if they were feeding off the buzz in the room that they created in the first place. It was apparent that they were all fully in the zone and we were damn lucky to witness it in such an intimate setting. A totally great performance.
Again, the chaps hung, drank and were merry. And they graciously did the picture thing with some fans.
Following Peter, Bjorn and John is not an enviable position but Devin Therriault brought all barrels and got the girls dancing. Do you know how hard it is to get hipsters to dance? (I kid.) Actually, if you don’t move to his songs you may be dead. Call me crazy but I hear a certain testosterone fueled homage to rock of old like Jerry Lee Lewis or Elvis or Buddy Holly but done up in his own way. Devin and his band will be at the upcoming South By South West music festival.
Another Brooklyn based band of brothers, the So So Glos, finished out the evening. If you have not heard their punk rock, please check them out. Their hybrid of punk throws in doses of electro sounds and jangly guitar. They have a decidedly British punk sound ala the Clash, (but not), with wonderful downbeats punctuated by piercing guitar leads. No one is doing this kind of jag as good as the So So Glos. As I listened to them jam I was longing for my old Doc Martens. It is a shame they could not play longer.
A wonderful night was had by all. As always, Sean kept things tight and orderly. Except for the kid that had too much to drink and was picking fights in the street, it was a totally “asshole” free night. In fact, everyone I met was cool and genuine, making this a night I will not easily forget.
—Adler Bloom
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Screaming Females, La Sera, Audacity, The Lovely Bad Things @ The Echoplex - Jan. 17- FYF show
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Jan 17th, MLK day 2011 was a good day. Not only did the holiday create smooth sailing on the LA free...Jan 17th, MLK day 2011 was a good day. Not only did the holiday create smooth sailing on the LA freeways, it was a true pleasure to hear the "I have a Dream" speech in it's entirety while I piloted my old Honda in and out of traffic. Topping the day off with a heavy dose of good music would soon put the icing on the cake. Put on by usual suspects at FYF, this show pulled favorites from previous FYF events, namely Screaming Females, La Sera, Audacity and The Lovely Bad Things.
The Lovely Bad Things started off the festivities with a shifty pile driving tune that sounded at once new and retro- think of the Bride taking on the Crazy 88 gang in "Kill Bill". I saw heads in the ever growing crowd bopping instantly. After the opening song, Lauren Holland moved from the drums while Brayden Ward passed the bass to her like it was a baton in the 440 relay and moved behind "his" drum kit. In a flash, she started the bass line for "Kevin" - a progressive post punk song bolstered by Cameron Ward's biting vocals and Tim Hatch's guitar work. TLBT's do not have one lead singer and switch up musical sounds as often as their instruments- creating cohesive surf pop / post punk songs that stick to your ribs and make you want to do something (?) whether it be dance, head bop, mosh or punch someone in the face, (you had to be there). They performed many of the songs from "Shark Week" as well as brand new tunes.
Audacity, those boys from Fullerton, California - took the stage next. Kyle Gibson, (guitarist, lead vocals), asked someone to get drummer Thomas Alvarez a beer and then the party started. Most of Audacity's members have jammed together since 6th grade learning their instruments in the process and while they hold firmly to their punk garage rock roots, you can hear grunge, blues and pop influences sprinkled in the guitar and vocal melodies. Bassist Cameron Crowe and guitarist Matt Schmalfeld beef up the sound as they kept the set lively with a cover here and there and favorites like "Teenage Town". I am loving Gibson's gritty vocals more every time I hear them live and I hope his voice and their overall sound never loses that teenage wail.
La Sera who is currently on a US / European tour to promote her new 7 inch release hit the stage next. Katy Goodman cheerfully announced that she had gotten the flannel shirt she was wearing from Audacity so as to be in keeping with the general style that night. It was a cute moment and set the feel for the rest of La Sera's set which was free and easy, full of pretty, intimate melodies and bright dancy guitar leads. La Sera has gone through some changes in recent weeks so Devin Williams lent his talent that night along with drummer Matzah, formerly from Woah Hunx. I had missed La Sera at the last Xmas FYF show so this particular show was a nice introduction to Katy and the guys.
The first time I had seen Screaming Females was at the FYF fest. They were like a heavy dose of aspirin for the FYF headache caused by the sweltering heat, the long lines and the nasty ass porta potties. Hearing and seeing them in the glare of the LA sun was a divine experience indeed. Pint sized Marissa Paternoster shredding her guitar and belting out her strong vocals counter posed by big- big King Mike on bass was both awe inspiring and a little amusing. Not amusing as I was laughing at the spectacle but amusing because they inspired so much fun. I got home that night and immersed myself in all things that are the amazing Screaming Females. I was thoroughly impressed in drummer Jarrett Dougherty's DIY attitude toward promoting SF's as well as all of their work ethic. They are the real deal. I was really looking forward to seeing them at the Echoplex when I was actually hydrated.
They DID NOT disappoint. From the first bass line to the last power chord their set showed off the tightness and inspired rock of a band that has honed their sharp skills for over 5 years- From all I have read, they bring it to every performance whether they are playing in a leaky cold basement in New Brunswick to a hand full of die hard rock fans to several thousands of fans at a rock festival. While Marissa is the focal point of Screaming Females because of her guitar prowess and blistering vocals- SF's is a band that creates truly original songs and behind the tsunami that is Marissa's vocals there is also a nice vulnerability and warmth in the undertow. Be sure and see Screaming Females next time they are in your area.
BEHIND THE REVIEW: Before the show it was a blast to see Lauren Holland, Brayden Ward, Katy Goodman, and Marissa Paternoster all behind or around the merch tables selling T-shirts, CD's and more.
I had a chance to speak with all of them and they were all more than cool.
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FYM ON THE LIST: WAVVES/ABE VIGODA/THE GROWLERS/THE LOVELY BAD THINGS @ THE GLASS HOUSE - POMONA
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Last night at the Glass House in Pomona, California, FYF, who are mere weeks away from hosting their...Last night at the Glass House in Pomona, California, FYF, who are mere weeks away from hosting their big bash in downtown Los Angeles, hosted their FYF Summer Night. It was a bit of a preview of the large FYF Fest on September 4, as a few of the bands who played at The Glass House are playing both shows (Wavves, Abe Vigoda, The Growlers).
(Wavves)
Headliners Wavves, featuring singer-guitarist Nathan Williams and Jay Reatard's former backing band, played a set that equally favored both new album King of the Beach and 2009's Wavvves. The Pomona youth was no match for the Glass House's security team, as many kids (as well as Wavves' own backstage guests) hit the stage and dove into the crowd from early in the set during the pop punk "King of the Beach" all the way through noise punk closer "No Hope Kids".
(The Growlers)
The Bill Murray-approved group The Growlers can be described as a Western-influenced surfpunkabilly band featuring a genuine frontman in Brooks Nielsen, who looks and sounds like the kind of guy Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons would be if he grew up to be a gloriously sleazy 70's lounge singer. The crowed seemed most interested in The Growlers than any other band the entire evening and for reason as The Growlers are now rapidly increasing in national prominence as they have been in local LA prominence over the last few years.
(Abe Vigoda)
Abe Vigoda is a true Los Angeles local band as they basically play about 8 shows in the southland per week. Their forthcoming album Crush should solidify them as an elite indie band as the addition of electronic percussion and icy synths to the sound of many of the new material they performed at The Glass House could open them up to a wider audience.
FYM had kind of a non-run-in with Abe Vigoda guitarist and Microkorg maestro Juan Velasquez at The Oinkster in Eagle Rock and on Twitter the other day, and then briefly met him face-to-face at The Glass House show. Nice guy!
One-time FYM Jam of the Day and Crush track "Throwing Shade" was a highlight of their set and we captured it on video:
(The Lovely Bad Things)
La Mirada's The Lovely Bad Things seemed about as young as most of the crowd there and they definitely fed off of each other's energy. Besides the energetic quality of their music, their constant swapping of instruments kept things interesting throughout their set and the crowd felt it too, as they seemed to want to hear more after they finished.
As previously mentioned, Wavves, The Growlers, and Abe Vigoda all will be playing FYF Fest on September near downtown LA along with a ton of other excellent bands. Don't miss out:
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Labels: Abe Vigoda, concert, FYF, FYM On The List, The Glass House, The Growlers, The Lovely Bad Things, The Oinkster, Wavves
4 comments:
Anonymous said...
I shot The Lovely Bad Things as well as Crystal Antlers- who were my two favorite bands there. I posted most of the Lovely Bad Thing's set or maybe all of it,I can't remember now and am working to post the Crystal Antlers although the video is almost in the dark. I could not understand why CA wasn't on the main stage????
Search The Lovely Bad Things glass house and you will surely find the concert footage-- !!!
August 14, 2010 9:20 PM
Will Sellers said...
I was really into the Lovely Bad Things. I have a big crush on Lauren from PBT now. And yeah, obviously Crystal Antlers weren't written about because they played down the street, which was strange. Hopefully one day I'll get to write up on them.
August 15, 2010 1:03 AM
Will Sellers said...
LBT* not PBT. I was thinking of MJ's "PYT". Oops.
August 15, 2010 1:05 AM
Anonymous said...
I meant to say search The Lovely Bad Things glass house on Youtube, (it was a long night last night). Anyway, I am looking forward to FYF and capturing a lot of the bands on vid and pics. I am particularly excited about seeing Dead Mans Bones, Let's Wrestle, Man Man, School of seven belts and more-- I am REALLY disappointed that The Lovely Bad Things are not listed- and I hope that changes soon.
August 15, 2010 12:48 PM
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The Lovely Bad Things "Shark Week" record review
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The Lovely Bad Things “Shark Week”
Released: September 2010
You can check out ”Shark Week” her...The Lovely Bad Things “Shark Week”
Released: September 2010
You can check out ”Shark Week” here: http://www.facebook.com/lovelybadthings
Convincing, rebellious. Variation, exception. With their ambitiously cool return to life (My Kin), marathon of ashy desperation and sincerity (Kevin), bouncing jog of getting away (Wematayne), sweetly spoken measure of awareness and questioning (Cult Life), and unrivaled fun in a hectic lifestyle (Cocaine Werewolf Super Awesome Fun Time), Los Angeles natives, The Lovely Bad Things, diminish typical sounds by creating a run away thrash you’ll be addicted to.
Sincerely,
California
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Tijuana Panthers, The Lovely Bad Things and Pangea @ BURGER RECORDS- AP Live Review
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I walked in to Burger Records in Fullerton, greeted by the slimy green walls and the regal cat sitti...I walked in to Burger Records in Fullerton, greeted by the slimy green walls and the regal cat sitting on a couch, named Eleanor. When I found out that Pangea was playing with The Lovely Bad Things and Tijuana Panthers at Burger just a city away from me, for free, my initial thought was, “Could a show be any more perfect?” Pangea is from Newhall, CA, and they have that upbeat surf-y sound that goes wonderfully with The Lovely Bad Things and Tijuana Panthers. You can tell a lot about their attitude and sound from the names of their songs. They started it up with “To Drunk To Come” (the appropriate spelling written on my note card courtesy of William, the lead singer and guitarist), a very fast paced mosh-worthy song at first that slows down into a 1960s reminiscent beat. They then played “Get Away Free,” a fun song that made us all break a sweat in the ill ventilated sardine can that Burger Records became. Next was “Hold My Hand,” which forced me to take my Cosby sweater off and dance like I was an American Bandstand girl (except Pangea wasn’t lip syncing). William said “Thanks for clapping you guys,” as they then played “Shitty,” which has that old surf sound with a new age twist, because obviously The Routers wouldn’t title a song “Shitty.” William said “This is our last song. Thanks for putting up with us. We appreciate it.” He then began their last and favorite one, “No Feelin’,” which made the crowd go wild. The stop-and-start drum beat and the loudly defined bass definitely didn’t stop anyone from dancing, and neither did the heat of the record shop.
Next up was The Lovely Bad Things, following Pangea complimentary with their “surf punk” music. It is impossible to be uninterested when the first song they played is about a cat named “Kevin.” This song is incredibly addicting, every instrument perfectly audible and catchy. Even when it slows down in the middle, the crowd was still feeling it. They went on to the next track, “Why,” which slowed us down progressively, but it was still beguiling. This song sounds very happy, but the lyrics include, “I slit your throat, and took you up to the San Francisco Bridge,” which makes it all the more badass. Following was the song that everyone always feels the need to mosh to, “Cocaine Werewolf Super Awesome Fun Time.” Even though saying the title is a bitch, my adoration for this song won’t stop because it’s too fast and fun to ever let anyone lose interest. They then played two new ones entitled “Old Ghost” and “Earnest Goes to Hamster Stratosphere,” as they all switched instruments and showed everyone’s individual talents. Lauren belted it out in “Earnest,” and we were all able to hear her beautiful strong voice more clearly. They played “Dinosaur Song,” which is awesome enough in sound, and the fact that it’s about the dad in Step Brother’s makes it all the more. Last was “Wematanye” (in reference to King Of The Hill), an amazing song that puts me both on a wave, and on my couch watching King.
Next was the band we were all entranced by. I was lucky enough to be standing right in front of Tijuana Panthers, and I of course danced with Dan through their whole set. They played everyone’s favorite, “Creature,” which will never cease to be a phenomenal song. It’s just about the most fun song there is to dance to. They played my favorite, “Crew Cut,” an amusing anthem for all those cute crew-cutted men out there. I believe I was singing it so loud that the mic might have caught me. After that came “Don’t Shoot Your Guns,” which has more of a nice British pop punk sound to it. A few in the audience shouted “Bainbridge!” and they decided on “Boardwalk” instead, a song that puts you right on the pier. Tijuana did “Redheaded Girl,” which is a sweet song that put Lauren from TLBT on all of our minds. TJ Panthers once again covered “Everybody’s Happy Nowadays” by the Buzzcocks. A classic song that’s catchy as hell, and they do a hell of a job at covering it. They finally gave those crazy kids “Bainbridge,” as Dan danced with us, and he said “This one’s for the ladies,” as they quickly went into “Girl Gone Wild”—and, yes, subsequently we went wild. I hope that these three bands reunite during the summer to play their fast-fun-surf-punk-badass music and play right on the beach, and we can all go surfing together afterwards.
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The Lovely Bad Things - Shark Week
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After attending the release party for The Lovely Bad Things first full length Shark Week (courtesy o...After attending the release party for The Lovely Bad Things first full length Shark Week (courtesy of UV records), which was held at LA’s renowned and lovely venue The Smell, and watching them play a killer set my friend decided to cop the tape. This new young up and coming band consists of members Lauren Curtius, Brayden Ward, Timothy Hatch, and Camron Ward, all are very talented musicians who play everything in the band and by that I mean almost every member can play drums, bass, guitar and sing. And they do it very well, each member playing every instrument and singing with their own unique style(a real treat to watch live).
After watching them play live I kinda had an idea of what to expect before putting the cassette in the tape deck the next day. On the first listen through, Shark Week gives off a very garage rock vibe that’s similar to Thee Oh Sees but with a surfier sound. After a few more listens you realize the bands overall sound on the album is also a lot like the highly melodic punky indie band The Pixies (Surfer Rosa era). The recording itself has very a DIY feel to it but it works well for the music and compliments it nicely. Camron Ward, who sings the lead vocals a majority of the time, has a very distinct yelp and singing voice that help give a lot of the songs their overall feel. But all the harmonies laid down throughout make the songs very catchy and cause them to get stuck in your head for a while.
The first track on the tape , My Kin, starts off in a wash of delayed guitar but when the second guitar furiously kicks in a little later it sends the song into the very surf garage punk feel that encompasses the overall tape. Why has very catchy vocals and lyrics and is easily one of the best tracks here. Ugly Kids features nicely meshing screams by Camron and Lauren and a really nice energetic guitar riff. Big Sur is very catchy and enjoyable surf pop and displays the other side of the band nicely. The harmonies on the final track Wematanye make it sound like classic surf rock and is music you could easily enjoy hanging out at the beach. Basically the tape is made up of tracks that are either surf pop garage songs or punk ‘make you wanna mosh at a show’ tunes. You also have to keep in mind it’s their first full length and it’s a pretty strong one at that. So in short, go to one of their shows and pick up a tape at the merch table. Cant wait to see what the future holds for The Lovely Bad Things.
-Gino Fabio (for GAL)
Side A
1. My Kin
2. Kevin
3. Why
4. Cocaine Werewolf
5. Cult Life
Side B
6. Ugly Kids
7. Surfin on Skulls
8. Big Sur
9. Wematanye
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TANK TOP DIARIES: PETER BJORN & JOHN + DEVIN THERRIAULT + THE LOVELY BAD THINGS - SECRET - 1/29/11
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"Opener band The Lovely Bad Things was quite good, rocking steady and rotating instruments every two..."Opener band The Lovely Bad Things was quite good, rocking steady and rotating instruments every two or three songs."
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Over The Weekend: Moon Block Party Fest in Pomona
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The Moon Block Party served as a crash course in the gems of our local music scene. The festival was...The Moon Block Party served as a crash course in the gems of our local music scene. The festival was a first of what's to be an annual arts and music festival in the Pomona Arts Colony. It benefited the Pomona School of the Arts.
Several big hitters from LA and OC music scene came out and played on indoor and outdoor stages, with four stages going at once. All of the festivities were hugged between the row of art galleries along Second Street. There were close to ten food trucks, including Slap Yo Momma soul food at the entrance, to feed the hungry audiophiles and art enthusiasts.
Unlike some music and art festivals that are music dominated, the Moon Block Party was a perfect blend of the two. The Aerolight stage was placed in an awesome garden of scrap metal sculptures.
Lovely Bad Things The La Mirada four-piece brought a high-energy set to the block, which made them a perfect band to start the day off with. They drew a crowd that spilled out of the cramped room they played in and into the street. The fast-driving garage rock--along with such antics as bassist Timothy Hatch playing his way through the crowd and out into the street--served to get the crowd sufficiently pumped. The trade-off of male and female vocals and the instruments the members play keep their sound fresh from one song to the next.
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Everybody Taste: The Lovely Bad Things: Bonfires & Surf-Garage-Fuzz
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October 19, 2011
The Lovely Bad Things: Bonfires & Surf-Garage-Fuzz
La Mirada, California's T...October 19, 2011
The Lovely Bad Things: Bonfires & Surf-Garage-Fuzz
La Mirada, California's The Lovely Bad Things do a pitch-perfect job of fusing surf-rock guitar tones with jangly garage fuzz and ear-pleasing harmony-glazed vocal melodies. Songs like "Cult Life" and "I Just Want You To Go Away" belong at a beach party right beside a blazing bonfire and a mass of jubilant dancing and singing party-goers. To put it simply, this is feel good music. To date, the band has put out two cassette tapes: one on Ultravivid Recordings in 2010 and a follow-up on Burger Records this past July. As soon as this band releases something on vinyl, I'm buying. (via R&G)
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Ears Wide Open: The Lovely Bad Things!
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The Lovely Bad Things are so much fun that you’ll want to bottle your sweat for the next time. The y...The Lovely Bad Things are so much fun that you’ll want to bottle your sweat for the next time. The young quartet, straight outta La Mirada, fashions undeniably hooky, unfailingly cathartic proto-punk that abides all traditions of garage rock — biting guitar riffs, furious rhythms, shout-sung lyrics and more than enough ’tude go with their tunes. Little surprise, then, that Camron and Brayden Ward, Timothy Hatch and Lauren Curtius have been making noise in the DIY community, and soon the Lovely Bad Things’ scene figures to grow larger. Their recent EP is titled “New Ghost/Old Waves,” a cassette release from Burger Records whose contents will make their way to vinyl via Volcom Entertainment come March. Like some of L.A.’s favorite hell-raisers — the Growlers, Tijuana Panthers and FIDLAR — the Lovely Bad Things revel in the unvarnished glory of the ’60s and ’70s. Not such a bad thing at all.
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Top Five L.A. Punk Albums of 2011
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L.A.'s punk scene went places in 2011 -- mostly to the beach and the bar. Many of the year's best re...L.A.'s punk scene went places in 2011 -- mostly to the beach and the bar. Many of the year's best records in the genre were heavily infused with a surf-garage rock sound and lyrics about being really, really fucked up. It's a rather stark transition away from The Smell's sober ethic.
A note: These albums weren't ranked entirely in the traditional way; I also took into account how well the energy from their songs translated into live shows.
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5. The Lovely Bad Things
New Ghost/ Old Waves
After stirring up a feeding frenzy for their Shark Week tape, The Lovely Bad Things further chummed the waters with New Ghost/Old Waves. Playing what has been accurately described as "kitchen sink rock", the quartet are best at their fastest. Standouts include the Tiger Army-esque "Old Ghost," and "Icee Creeps," an excellent loose mess of a track.
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2011, Best Punk, Fidlar, Kai Flanders Comments (36) Write Comment Email to Friend Print Article
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