In the two short years that Ra Ra Riot have been together they have taken their band from the campus of Syracuse University to crowds across North America and Europe touring with the likes of Editors and Tokyo Police Club. Their debut full length album The Rhumb Line came out this August on Barsuk. The young group recently came through LA and stopped in at The Echo where Mania TV and Spaceland Recordings captured the energy of their live show. Keeping their relentless touring schedule alive the band has recently announced a slew of new dates that you can check out at www.myspace.com/rarariot

Brandon is your host of “At the Show” once again as he takes the guys down the street to Echo Park’s premiere cheap video store, 50/50 Video where they peruse through a variety of classic picks including “Steep and Deep” and “Sky Pirates”and discuss Burt Reynolds, New Kids on the Block and Michael Moore’s sub-genre. Live performances inside The Echo include the tracks “A Manner to Act”, “Can You Tell”, “Each Year” and “Dying is Fine.”

Watch all four parts of episode 10 HERE

Spaceland Recordings is happy to offer an exclusive download of “A Manner to Act” right her on our website at: www.spacelandrecordings.com/rarariot

Last month, Nicole Morier of Electrocute had a party at Spaceland. All her friends were there; The Bird and The Bee, Willoughby, The Polyamorous Affair, The Lady Tigra, Le C (King Crab), Wolfkin, Hard Place and DJ Lance Rock. But this wasn’t a birthday party, nor was it a record release party. This was a party for one man that has united the artistic community behind him. The man is Barrack Obama and the party was Obamarama. A party that raised $4,000 for the Obama campaign.

Brandon, ManiaTV and Spaceland Recordings were there to bring you into the special night as Brandon talks with The Bird and The Bee, Electrocute and gets Cliffnotes on what propositions to vote “yes” and “no” on. Performances include bits from The Bird and The Bee, Willoughby, Electrocute’s “Uh Oh”, The Poyamorous Affair’s “Whoever Controls the Groove” and Lady Tigra’s ode to Michelle Obama “First Black, First Lady” which we are making available for exclusive download over at RCRDLBL: www.spacelandrecordings.com/rcrdlbl. So go download it, throw it on your iPod and rock it straight to the polls!

Watch all four parts of episode 9 HERE

Once again this summer, Spaceland was proud to present Sunset Junction Festival. The annual festival takes place in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles where Sunset Blvd meets Santa Monica Blvd. This year’s festival included acts from local bands like The Henry Clay People, Airborne Toxic Event, The Happy Hollows, Beachwood Sparks and headliner’s Cold War Kids, Black Keys, The Germs and !!!.

Brandon and ManiaTV along with Spaceland Recordings were there to catch Brooklyn based dance rockers !!! perform to the thousands gathered on Sunset Blvd. Some behind the scenes interviews feature Lester Bangs quotes, hanging from rafters, ringtones and apples. Live performances include the songs “Must Be the Moon”, “A New Name”, “Heart of Hearts” and “Myth Takes”. You can watch all 4 parts of the episode HERE

Also, we are happy to include an exclusive LIVE download of “Must Be the Moon” here over at RCRDLBL: www.spacelandrecordings.com/rcrdlbl

Enjoy!

Dane

For the 5th year in a row F Yeah Fest descended upon Echo Park and once again, the spaceland venues of The Echo and The Echoplex played host to some of the fest’s biggest acts, including Two Gallants, Crystal Antlers, No Age, David Vandervelde, Miko Mika and many others. Spaceland Recordings and ManiaTV were on hand again to capture Matt & Kim’s set. The loveable duo pleases an Echoplex crowd with their songs “Yea Yeah”, “Cut Down”, “Silver Ties” and “It’s A Fact”.

Watch all 4 parts of their episode HERE

I remember first hearing the name Langhorne Slim a couple years back and for some reason thinking of the cartoon rooster Foghorn Leghorn from Looney Tunes.  It was the first time I saw him a month later that I realized he’s about as close to a cartoon come to life as any performer I’ve seen.  Over the past two years, I’ve seen the guy and his War Eagles a handful of times (CMJ ’06 and 3 times in LA) and he never fails to impress with his frantic fingerpicking, wiley dance moves and occasional rolls on the stage floor.  Bringing a much needed life to the genre of folk that usually consists of a smooth voiced guy or girl sitting on a stool with just a guitar.

Langhorne Slim was among many up and coming artists on the label V2 to be able to release an EP, build some buzz and then to find themselves label-less after V2 folded…but Langhorne landed on his feet with Kemado Records who this April put out his debut self-titled full length.  The band recently brought their raved about live show to Spaceland happy to once again we present you with some live footage and exclusive interviews from that night.  The sixth episode in the At the Show series on ManiaTV includes the songs “Restless”, “I Love You, But Goodbye” and “Be Set Free”.  Brendan sits down with Langhorne as he discusses playing Letterman, War Eagle cuddle time and his Mom telling him when his music is in movies.  Watch the entire episode now at www.spacelandrecordings.com/attheshow

Also, we are making an exclusive download of “Restless” available over at RCRDLBL

-Dane

Showing the true amount of diverse acts that come through the Spaceland venues, this week we bring you Bob Log III, the one man band whose identity is at all times masked by a spaceman like helmet complete with a mic inside.  It’s the fifth episode of the ongoing “At the Show” series on ManiaTV.

The experimental slide guitarist from Tuscon who can count Tom Waits among his fans wows a packed audience at The Echo as he takes on the duties of drums, vocals and guitar.  Bob Log III stirs up the crowd with shouts of “f*&% yeah” between songs such as “Damn That Sounds Good” and “Make You Say Wow”.  Brendan is present once again and backstage talks with Bob ,who through the muffled haze of his helmet mic describes himself as “a mother lifting a bus off a baby”.A southern mad man who can crowd surf mid song and then just as easily play with two girls from the audience on his knees, Bob Log III is a truly unique artist who made for a truly unique night at the echo.

Watch all 4 parts of “At The Show” at: www.spacelandrecordings.com/attheshow

Also, once again we are pleased to make one song available for exclusive download at RCRDLBL.  This time it’s Bob Log III’s “Make You Say Wow”.

See you soon,

Dane

Pop Levi is now a Los Angeles resident after re-locating from England.  He was born in London, started his musical career in Liverpool and toured for 3 years as Ladytron’s bass player before he fell in love with Los Angeles and promptly moved his band out here.   Steering away from the electro side of Ladytron, Pop’s solo stuff recalls more T-Rex and Ziggy Stardust era glam rock.  He released the EP “Blue Honey” and the full length “Return to Form Black Magick Party” over the past couple years on Ninja Tune Records to some critical acclaim.  Recently, he has come out with his latest full length offering “Never Never Love”.

A couple weeks ago, Pop Levi performed at The Echo’s regular Friday night event “Club Underground” alongside Spaceland Recordings alumn The Parson Red Heads.  Brendan and ManiaTV were there again to take you inside the club for some live performances of the songs “Call the Operator”, “Semi-Babe” and “Sugar Assault Me Now”.  Brendan also chats with the man about the age of Itunes, being English in LA and an improptu re-enactment of the Last Supper at neighboring French restaurant Taix.  Watch Episode 4 of “At the Show”

We’re also pleased to make an exclusive live download of “Sugar Assault Me Now” available here at RCRDLBL.

Until next time,

Dane

As one who has spent many nights at The Echo (living 3 blocks away helps) I can say that some of the best nights are the crowded sweaty ones where dancing is a requirement not an option. This is the case every Friday night for Club Underground nights, Sunday’s for Part Time Punks and then there’s the touring bands of the likes of Girl Talk, Cut Copy and others who come through regularly. British electro-rockers Does It Offend You, Yeah? carried the dance torch recently and Spaceland Recordings was able to catch some of that live and is inviting you in to share the experience with their latest episode of “At the Show” on ManiaTV.

Watch some live footage of the band performing to an appreciative audience as they play their hit “Let’s Make Out” and a few others. Brendan from ManiaTV also sits down and talks with the guys. So come on in and enjoy another intimate show at The Echo by a band that is known for their often raucous and energetic live shows.

www.spacelandrecordings.com/attheshow

Also we are pleased to make a live version of “Let’s Make Out” an exclusive download at www.spacelandrecordings.com/rcrdlbl

Enjoy!

-Dane

DOWNLOAD: Does It Offend You, Yeah? “Let’s Make Out” [Live at the Echo]

For the second episode of our series “At the Show” on ManiaTV.com we are pleased to present Portland, OR’s The Thermals. The Sub Pop band has put out 3 albums and here share some insight into touring, making video’s and more…as well as perform fan-favorites “How We Know”, “St. Rosa and the Swallows”, “A Pillar of Salt” and “Overgrown, Overblown” at the Echo’s big brother in the basement, The Echoplex. View all 4 parts of the episode here.

I personally first met the band back in 2005 at WOW Hall in Eugene, OR when I was living there. The group was nice enough to sit down and do an interview with me before the show and that same humor and level-headedness that I encountered that day is on full display here during the interview segments. Also on display, is their incredible live set that leaves an entire audience dehydrated but in high spirits.

Also, we’re offering up a FREE download of the track “St. Rosa and the Swallows” from their live CD on Spaceland Recordings which is available here

-Dane

Download: The Thermals – St. Rosa and the Swallows (Live)