Wavves – “Demon to Lean On”

L.A.-based Wavves has released the second single from his forthcoming album, Afraid of Heights, due March 26 on Mom+Pop/Warner. The big leagues haven’t softened Wavves’ crashing sound, but “Demon to Lean On” is also one of the most refined pop songs he’s released thus far, with nice touches like the occasional castanets and milky guitar in the verses. But those crushing Blue-album Weezer chords in the chorus should bring many more kids into the Wavves fold. Wavves previously released the “Sail to the Sun” single and video. They’ll be touring with FIDLAR in the Spring.

Thee Oh Sees Announce New LP

Another year, another Thee Oh Sees album. If that sounds like a knock, it isn’t — San Fransisco garage kings Thee Oh Sees have released three albums in the past two years (including last year’s Putrifiers II), all of them great, so there’s no reason to think this one won’t follow the same route. Between these guys and Ty Segall, there must be something in the water in San Francisco that makes garage bands incredibly prolific and solid at the same time. Acid, maybe. Floating Coffin is out April 16 on Castle Face.

Amoeba, Goldenvoice and FYF are presenting punk supergroup OFF! live at the Henry Fonda Theatre Feb. 8, with Negative Approach, Bad Antics and a special guest. Tickets are $17.50, plus a $2 service fee.

Tickets are limited to quantities on hand, until they sell out. Amoeba stops selling tickets for a show at 5 p.m. on the day of that show. Please call the store at 323-245-6400 for current availability or to purchase/hold.

See a full list of tickets available for sale at Amoeba Hollywood here.

Off! was formed in L.A. in 2009 by punk vets Keith Morris (of Circle Jerks/Black Flag) on vocals, Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides) on guitar, Steven McDonald (Redd Kross) on bass and Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes drummer Mario Rubalcaba. The band released a series of EPs, corralling them into the First Four EPs release in 2010 before releasing their official first album in 2012. The widely acclaimed releases each consist of 16 lightspeed hardcore punk songs at about a minute long each.

The line wrapped around the block to see Local Natives play one of the biggest Amoeba in-stores in recent memory.

The L.A.-based band appeared Jan. 29 in support of their sophomore album, the epic Hummingbird, released the same day. Despite having released only one previous album, Gorilla Manor, in 2009, it was clear by the shouts of screaming girls and dudes alike that the band’s cult has grown sizably over the years.

The band opened with “You & I,” the majestic opening track of Hummingbird, with singer Kelcey Ayer booming his throaty voice through the store in the song’s opening lines and the band engaging in solid harmonies. “Breakers” sounded intense live, inspiring a clap-along.

From the get-go, it didn’t sound as though the band needed time to find their footing or were still trying to work out kinks in new songs; they sounded well-rehearsed and ready to go. They paused to sweetly give a shoutout to their hometown, offering gratitude and reflecting on the times they were on the other side of the stage.

In an offering to their fans, they launched into “Wide Eyes” from Gorilla Manor, a song they’re probably sick-to-death of playing, to huge response — a kind move in a show meant to promote their new album. They moved back to Hummingbird for standout “Heavy Feet,” which features some of the liveliest drumming and singing on the album, doubling that strength live in the show’s best moment.

Album Picks:

Local Natives – Hummingbird

LP $16.98

CD $12.98

Deluxe CD $16.98

Deluxe LP $24.98

The second album by Local Natives is such a lush expansion of their sound, it could as well by the work by another band. This is not to say they’ve ignored their strengths — the active percussion work is still there, on the drums of “Heavy Feet,” which rumble like old train tracks — but they’ve pulled back a bit energy-wise, allowing for a more mature and world-weary sound, especially lyrically and vocally, and they’ve filled out some of the empty space with keyboard warmth and renewed dedication to gorgeous vocal harmony. Opener “You & I” follows in Fleet Foxes’ recent tradition of glowing openers, the kind of music you want to wake up to. The time the band has taken to put Hummingbird together is apparent, in the way “Black Spot” unfolds unhurriedly or how “Breakers’” alternating surge and respite gives a sense of its oceanic setting without putting too fine a point on it. For fans who are willing to grow up with them, or for those just coming into the fold, Local Natives’ Hummingbird is simply stunning. Catch them at Amoeba Hollywood Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.!

Every year Amoeba kicks off Mardi Gras with a Fat Tuesday celebration, and this year once again a portion of the proceeds from all three Amoeba stores will benefit relief efforts in New Orleans.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Taking place Feb. 12, the celebration will include a performance by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band at 2 p.m., DJs spinning New Orleans sounds starting at 1pm and our annual Second Line Parade follwing DDBB. The family-friendly event draws crowds every year.

This year Amoeba will be exclusively distributing the CD Congo Square Vol. 1, the first of six planned volumes tracing the development of New Orleans music, with all proceeds of the sale benefiting New Orleans relief efforts. Read more about The Congo Square Project in Billyjam’s interview with Congo Square producer Fabian Jolivet. Additionally we invite you to check out Amoeba.com’s Vinyl Vaults, featuring more than 100 remastered songs by blues great Louis Armstrong, from the years 1923 to 1932, many exclusively available from Amoeba to download for the first time ever. Read more about our Louis Armstrong archives here.