music

The Viper Room is booking great bands for us every weekend this summer.

Check back for updates.

GENRE: Soul, Future Soul, House, Dance Hall, Electronic, Afrobeat, Broken, Bruk, Dubstep

ALL BANDS CURATED & BOOKED BY The World Famous, The Viper Room was opened in West Hollywood in 1993 to host music of multiple genres, including metal, punk rock, and alternative rock. Always on the verge with new music on their stage, The Viper Room continues to be one of the best places to see new music in an intimate atmosphere. Head Talent Buyer Thomas Hoppa is booking music for Street Food Cinema.

Hush Money Quartet is a music collaboration with I Ced, Josh Coslow, Ivan Cotton and Erik Rico featuring the mixed sounds of soul, house, Dance Hall, and Afrobeat. With a musical career that began with artist deals for Sony music (Columbia Records) and Capitol Records (Java Records) in the late 90’s, Erik is a highly-respected producer and co-writer with credits including Tupac Shakur, Qtip (A Tribe Called Quest), Ladybug Mecca (Digable Planets), Carmen Rizzo (Seal, Glen Ballard, Junky XL), Jurassic 5, Planet Asia, Mystic and many more. He has scored for national television shows on networks such as PBS, Showtime HBO, ABC, NBC, CBS, BET Networks and MTV.

Over the past ten years, Erik Rico has appeared on countless US/EU/Africa and SE Asia tours including festivals, live and DJ performances and workshops/outreach programs as well as concerts for the U.S. Embassy cultural affairs state department. For almost three years, Rico was the exclusive DJ/sound designer for famed international photographer David LaChapelle and the established LA based multimedia company Producit Inc. In addition, Rico has performed DJ sets for Hollywood’s A-list with clients ranging from Sir Elton John and Jessica Alba to Gene Simmons and Mariah Carey as well as parties for Desperate Housewives, Skyy Vodka, GQ magazine and many more. Currently, through his production company LifeNotes Music, he is producing music collaborations with some of the greatest and most progressive international producers on the planet : Marc Mac (4 Hero UK), DJ Spinna (USA), house legend Ron Trent (USA), Grooveman Spot (JP), Opolopo (SE). In 2012, he will feature releases with Shafiq Husayn (SA RA), Marc Mac (4Hero), I.Ced, Soul Parlor (Tokyo Dawn, Germany), Miss Oless (ManyVibes, France), Soulful Beats (UK), Nicolas Vautier (France) and ALL NEW full length releases for Animated Cartunes and LifeNotes music. International tours to begin early July in Aruba with dates continuing in EU, North Africa and SE Asia.

Deb wrote poems but not to music.

Steve wrote songs but none with lyrics.

They met.

They brought their friends.

The band Glen Iris first formed when Debbie Miller met Stephen Marr in the summer of 2007. Debbie, a talented singer and lyricist, had just returned from a semester abroad at Oxford studying poetry. Steve, a gifted guitar and piano player with a keen ear for catchy melodies and unique chord progressions, had been looking for a writing partner to contribute lyrics to his upbeat, playful compositions. They turned out to be a perfect match. Soon they were not only collaborating on songs together, but also happily married. They spent the next couple years working on new material and perfecting their sound.

During that time their friends Joshua Monteroso (bells, keyboard, percussion) and Derek Halet (lead guitar) joined the band. In the summer of 2010, with 15 strong tracks under their belt, they brought in Nashville-based Ryan Truso to produce their first album, and hired two studio musicians to play on the recordings--James Willis and Spencer Wynn, both of whom eventually became full time band members. The result is their self-titled debut album, Glen Iris, which they released in the summer of 2011--a collection of meticulously crafted indie pop anthems that perfectly showcase Debbie and Steve's joyful, carefree musical sensibilities.

While promoting their newly released record, Glen Iris has held residencies at Old Town Pub & Kings Row. They entered the world of radio by showcasing their new material on KUCR 89.1, an affliliate of KPCC 89.3, and on the KBIG 104.3 new music blog: see it here. Whether playing to a huge crowd, a local venue, or intimate studio, the members of Glen Iris approach each song with honesty and enthusiasm. Deb’s bright and catchy melodies are highlighted by Stephen's intricate arrangements of cello, classical guitar, bells & percussion; and that signature sound can be heard best on featured tracks Black & Blue and Excavation.

GENRE: Indie Rock

INFLUENCES: Third Eye Blind, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Shins, Regina Spektor, Jenny Lewis, David Bazan, Radiohead, Nickel Creek, Benjamin Gibbard, Fiona Apple and Godric.

Take the art of timeless songwriting, infuse it with astounding instrumental prowess, and throw in the blistering energy and attitude of the 21st century. What do you get? 28 North. Recently Voted Best Band in their native Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh Magazine, the four members of the band — Michael Lindner, Taylor Netzler, Jonathan Colman, and Tyler Bond — have been putting on epic, crowd-pleasing shows all across the U.S. from New York to California, and everywhere in between. An ever-growing mob of fans has been coming out to watch 28 North perform with groups like Blues Traveler, Young the Giant, My Morning Jacket, TV on the Radio, and Crash Kings. The band has recently signed with legendary manager Jerry Heller (CCR, CSNY, Elton John, Marvin Gaye, NWA) and relocated to Los Angeles. 28 North has become a Los Angeles staple regularly performing at The Roxy, The Viper Room, and House of Blues LA.

The groups self titled record, '28 North' has gotten radio play for 28 North in over 150 markets across the nation. Armed with this record, their unparalleled vocal harmonies, virtuosic guitar work, polished hook laden songwriting, a rapidly expanding fan base, and their boundless charisma, it's only a matter of time before "28 North" is blazing from the stadium lights.

GENRE: New Classic American Blend With an Ethereal Rockternative Crunch.

INFLUENCES: The Band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Phish, Tool, Wilco, John Scofield, The Beatles, Cold War Kids, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, REM, Loudon Wainwright III, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Bjork, Donny Iris, Pink Floyd, Nickleback, Radiohead, Aerosmith.

Dirty Minds is a Rock N Roll/Soul/Funk band from Los Angeles,CA. Their goal is to bring back this kind of music back into the charts and make it mainstream again. We would love for all of you to check out what we got in store for you and come join us at our shows dance, have a good time, bring your friends with you and party with us! Get ready to dance, sweat and grind!

GENRE: Rock N Soul

INFLUENCES: Vintage Trouble, Ottis Redding, Aerosmith, Elvis Presley, The Temptations, Michael Jackson and Motown.

For those who miss the era of rock where music had bravado and albums had artwork, we present to you...hope. Echoes de Luxe have a sound and spirit that embodies 70's era rock bred with the sonic experimentation of today. Echoes de Luxe released their debut EP in March of 2009. Mixed by Alex Newport (Jubilee, Mars Volta), and mastered by Pete Lyman (Mars Volta, Death Cab for Cutie), the 5 songs won them an early champion in Jane's Addiction guitarist, Dave Navarro.He played their songs on his weekly radio show “Dark Matter” and invited the band to perform on-air in the Indie 103.1 studios. After playing shows in support of the EP, the band began work on self-produced recordings in their home studio. Releasing them as “The Notremonde Demos” in February of 2010, the songs garnered them some more critical praise.

In 2011 Echoes de Luxe teamed up with Velvet Revolver’s Dave Kushner and veteran producer Ryan Williams to work on their next album. Set for an August release, the new music explores an evolution in the band’s sound. “The focus for this album was melody and story.I wanted to capture elements that I felt we had just begun to scratch the surface on with the Notremonde demos.”Two songs from the upcoming album have already gained some traction. “The Ride” has been added to rotation at Moheak Radio, and “Hold On” was featured in the Season 2 premiere of MTV’s Teen Wolf. The video for “The Ride” was shot in Los Angeles with director Michael Peter (producer of “Chronicles” and director and actor for 5 Second Films) and will debut at the end of June.

GENRE: Rock

INFLUENCES: Life. The Beatles, David Bowie, Pear Jame, Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Tool and Mars Volta

Space and Andrea Wasse, both signed to EMI Music Publishing started writing songs for developing artists together in 2008. The synergy between them led to the formation of their own developing artist, Digital Daggers and have since been featured on The Vampire Diaries Television Soundtrack with their cover of the Tears For Fears classic 'Head Over Heels'. Their songs have also been featured in countless network television shows such as Ringer, Nikita, One Life to Live, The Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time, Teen Wolf, Pretty Little Liars, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Unforgettable, CSI: NY and the motion picture The Roommate. Electronic Arts' Crysis 2 video game contains a cover of New York, New York. In late 2010 Digital Daggers had the single of the week 'No Easy Way' which gained over 150,000 downloads to promote the release of the debut digital EP 'Human Emotion'. The title track of the EP was used by Ferrero Raffaello for a TV commercial in 2011. Late spring 2012 will see the release of the debut full length album.

GENRE: Alternative Pop

INFLUENCES: Deftones, Massive Attack, Portishead, Imogen Heap, Sigur Ros, Peter Gabriel, Love & Life.

London Cries is the new band constructed from members of Australian Rock group Juke Kartel.

The sound can be described as anthemic, melodic rock with a grunge edge.

Their acoustic shows are littered with harmonies and singalong moments.

GENRE: Rock

INFLUENCES: Energy.

Taylor Locke And The Roughs is a 4 piece rock group based out of Los Angeles. Their energetic, hard rocking brand of powerpop carries on a great tradition of melodic rock bands that spans virtually the entire history of popular music, from The Beatles to Big Star to The Stone Roses to Jellyfish. The band released two critically acclaimed albums in 2010, Grain & Grape and Marathon, and are currently putting the finishing touches on their third album.

GENRE: Rock

The eponymous EP from LA based alternative rock band Neon Hymns is a strong and confident debut from a band teeming with youthful aspiration. Unafraid to wear their hearts (and influences) on their sleeves, Neon Hymns play a personal brand of folk infused rock with a true sense of honesty and conviction often lacking among their modern rock peers. Neon Hymns is a band poised to carve out their own place in todays sonic landscape. With a live show to match and at times surpasses their recorded output, Neon Hymns plays with all the youthful potential that separates the good from the great.

GENRE: Alternative Indie Rock

INFLUENCES: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Joy Division, The Smiths, U2

Corey Feldman, Randy Morris, Chuck Irwin and Rob Heskin.

GENRE: Indie

INFLUENCES: Pink Floyd, The Beatles

Some things are eternal. Love songs. California sunsets. The ukulele.

Leftover Cuties embody all of that goodness; their breezy, sophisticated songs evoke a magic-hour stroll on thebeach with a special someone. Who knows what year it is? Who cares when the songs are this sweet?

To call Leftover Cuties retro or throwback would be too easy, and frankly dismissive. Sure, the music fits beside Billie Holiday, but it’s also current in its sex appeal, its sophistication, its confidence. The Cuties’ music – plied with upright bass, accordion, the brushed drums, and yes, ukulele – is not slavishly old-timey, but honors its forebears in the right way. Melody. Sharp playing. Stylized, confident, character-laden singing.

Well known as the band behind the theme song for The Big C, Leftover Cuties have also made a name for themselves playing shows around their hometown of Los Angeles. With two EPs and an album under their belt, the band will be releasing their next full length album this year, and continuing to captivate audiences around the world.

GENRE: Noir Pop

INFLUENCES: Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Emmylou Harris, Maimou, Portishead, Nat "King" Cole, Joni Mitchel, Bing Crosby, Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Blossom Dearie, George Gershwin, Doris Day, Peggy Lee, and so many more...

The Peach Kings consist of Texas-born Paige McClain Wood and Silver Lake, Los Angeles native Steven Trezevant Dies.

Though formed in San Francisco, the band currently resides and works in Los Angeles alongside an awesome community of supportive individuals, artists, and brands.

The Peach Kings draw their sound and inspiration from the smoky smooth crackle of blues, folk, and soul vinyls as well as the hypodermic tones synthesized in various beat laboratories

across the globe. Stripped down, The Peach Kings' power is derived from Paige's hauntingly sensual vocals combine with Steven's complementary rhythm and picking. Anything else is just

jam on the pancakes; an edible blues concoction.

GENRE: Rock, Soul, Blues, Gypsydelic

The Sun Kings are a charismatic blues/rock band based in Ventura, California. With their enveloping chords and alluring words, the band's energetic rhythms guide the listener into a delighted evening of song and dance. Though they come as a breed of their own, influences could include a mixture of Harry Nilsson, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Modest Mouse. They’ve been playing music for over 2 years in Ventura County and have played dozens of venues such as Hard Rock Cafe, The Joint, Borderline, and Zoey’s Café. Sun Kings' band members are James Markas (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals), Corey Klass (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Edwin Telford (Bass), and William Carroll (Drums, Vocals).

GENRE: Indie Rock

INFLUENCES: Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Mason Jennings, Santa Claus

The Deli Los Angeles Review July 31 2012

With three songs to their name and only a couple of performances behind them, The Rebel Light is a LA-based sibling trio in its infancy, drifting from one influence to the next with soulful energy, and an innocence that stretches right to the edge of kitschy. Their first song, 'Goodbye Serenade' celebrates every milestone of the 20th century onwards, from the first man on the moon to the birth of Facebook, it could just about be a true cynic's worst nightmare if it weren't for the momentum of the soundtrack.

Featuring a nostalgic waltz with piano, xylophone and trumpet, some pompous folk-rock and electronic-infused indie rock, their first EP (to be released by the end of summer) will be quite the eclectic little set. As we speak, the band is getting back from NYC, where they appeared on the Catalpa weekender's bill alongside the likes of Snoop & The Black Keys- not bad for a second show, right? For another chance to say “I saw them as they were just starting” (who doesn't love that?) catch their next appearance at LA's Street Food Cinema on August 11th – Tracy Mamoun

GENRE: Indie Rock