This is how I discovered them 4 hours before their only local show for a while as they head off on a European Tour.

I met Jon Pierce (of the newly formed The Drums) a couple summers ago at a lazy weekend afternoon party at his then apartment. I saw a lot of press recently around his new work (I love hearing that folks I’ve met are doing well, and hearing about the new stuff they’re working on. Watching growth is pretty amazing.), and this afternoon I finally sat down to listen to The Drums, which turned me onto the Rcrd Lbl site where I spent some nice time discovering new artists.

I happened to check out Local Natives’ myspace and saw they were playing a few miles from where I’m currently staying. $10 door for an all ages show.. that, or it being LA might explain the toxic smell of Fructis corn syrup shampoo in female hair.

They put on a nice show.. I mean, I was only 4-hours familiar with their music, but what I heard online got me to the door of the venue and a 40 minute line. The pace reminded a little of Brooklyn-based Grizzly Bear or as one friend pointed out: XTC, but these guys are from the west coast (silverlake!). I found the consistent harmonizing endearing, and favored their more dramatic melodies.

The one thing I paid good notice to was that bassist Andy Hamm had the best style of anyone in the venue.. oversized deconstructed grey knit cardigan, and I believe drop crotch pants, something like tan boat shoes, and a baseball cap. Seeing personal style independent of the local culture is always a treat.

I’m glad I got to check out The Echo on my first night out in LA. I know of nowhere to go, so everything is new to me.

(As for their openers.. while Voxhaul Broadcast’s new songs aren’t *bad*, the older ones made me cringe for their flatness. The attempt at tormented screaming at the end of the set left an unerasable expression of horror on my face. I couldn’t stop thinking that their reference was THE VEILS THE VEILS THE VEILS. Oh The Veils, I appreciate you so much more now.)

Listen Here on Rcrd Lbl: “Sun Hands”

Edit on 2/5/2010: My love for Local Natives grows stronger by the month! so good!

For More Reading:

• Local Natives @ RCRD LBL
• Local Natives Myspace
• BBC: Introducing Local Natives
• Local Natives Best of the Decade Artist Survey

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