Author Archives: Jennifer Quiroz

This summer has seen a group of awesome shows by the guys in Chop Love Carry Fire. Previously mentioned on TVD, Chop Love Carry Fire is a new band comprised of some seriously veteran musicians: Jeremy Toback and Butch Norton. From Hotel Cafe and the Bootleg to Central and Molly Malone’s, the guys have been on a tour of LA, cementing their place onto the scene.

I was able to check out one of the summer CLCF shows back at Molly Malone’s and I was really impressed. There is just so much sounds coming out of three guys. There is simultaneously this intricacy and a simplicity in the arrangements: an interplay of straight forward rhythm, the force of rock, and intoxicating melody. And the talent is right in your face. All of their playing; it makes you part your lips and nod your head. There is also something familiar and nostalgic in the music; omething from my childhood in the 90s. It’s rock with a hypnotizing sound, and a mood and a purpose.

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Maybe it has to do with that I just finished Rob Sheffield’s book Love Is A Mixtape. Maybe it’s cause I’m a musician. Maybe it’s cause I have an obsession with how people meet. Maybe it reminds me of a guy or guys I used to date. But there is something I love about the lyrics of Michelle Branch’s new single “Loud Music.”

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Formed in Los Angeles, the White Arrows’ story seems like it could have been written by one of the city’s many screenwriters. Mickey Schiff was born legally blind, and spent his childhood sharpening his auditory senses and teaching himself music. Suddenly, at age 11, Schiff amazingly gained sight, and his world came alive in a burst of Technicolor light. After studying ritualistic shamanism at NYU, Mickey returned to L.A. to start White Arrows with brother Henry Schiff and childhood friend J.P. Caballero. However, unbeknownst to the brothers then, J.P. was literally family, courtesy of a sperm donation by his dad to help some friends conceive.

Curious what a band with that story sounds like? The band describes their sounds as “a joyous burst of kaleidoscopic beats, genre-hopping and psychedelic textures,” all with a little bit of L.A.’s Eastside sound thrown in to make it feel like home. Hometown heroes, Airborne Toxic Event, have already embraced them by having them open up for their big El Rey show this past April.

If you like what you hear, the White Arrows are headlining The Bootleg Theater this Thursday, August 25th. Tickets are only $8 and doors are at 9pm.

For more information:
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In LA by-way-of San Diego, Josh Damigo is the kind of singer/songwriter who will not only charm you with his songs and voice, but also with his humor and honesty. In a town known for image and all the truth-bending that comes along with trying to fit into it, Josh is earnest, hardworking, and a fighter. From his lyrics and his stage banter to his youtube videos and blog, he lets you in… and because he is so honest, I listen. And I relate.

He won the Best Acoustic Music Artist at last year’s San Diego Music Awards and has opened for the likes of Sean Mullins, Tyler Hilton, Zac Brown Band, Green River Ordinance, and Carolina Liar. My favorite song of his is “LA Is Not Your Home,” a simultaneously brutal and humorous take on living in Los Angeles. I’ve lived in LA all my life – and I love this city – but I still relate to this song so much. I don’t think there is anyone in this city who hasn’t lived here and not felt disjointed somehow. This song puts that feeling into words.

Check out “LA Is Not My Home” and TVD’s interview with Josh Damigo after the jump. And if you’d like to see him live (and you do), you can catch him at On The Rox Friday, September 2nd at 8pm. Tickets are only $5.

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Chop Love Carry Fire, the new project formed by veteran musicians Jeremy Toback and Butch Norton, will be live at Molly Malone’s this Wednesday, August 17th.

I first heard Toback back when I was a wide-eyed intern at LA’s Channel 103.1fm, the now defunct Triple A format radio station that helped set the stage for my love of the singer/songwriter genre. He is most well-known for his solo work (check out “You Make Me Feel”) and as a member of the alternative band Brad he had with Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard (listen to “The Day Brings.”) Norton is best known for his work with the Eels, along with the likes of Fiona Apple, Tracy Chapman, Aimee Mann, Rufus Wainwright, and Lucinda Williams. Joining them onstage will be guitarist Billy Mohler (Smashing Pumpkins, Macy Gray).

In other words, this show is going to be serious. And it’s all at Molly’s. One of the most intimate rooms you can see a rock show in Los Angeles.

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Giving you guys a little warning with this one, just in case it sells out, and cause I’m currently obsessed with the new single “Faster” off Matt Nathanson’s latest album Modern Love.

I’ve been a fan of Nathanson’s ever since I saw him play a small little coffeehouse in college, before he was signed, and the way he got the entire coffeehouse of people who had never heard him before to sing along to Bon Jovi’s “Living On A Prayer.” So when he got signed and I started hearing him on the radio, I felt a certain pride. I was happy he had made it so far.

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That’s would be me! While you guys have gotten to know me as a music lover and the LA editor for The Vinyl District, I’m also a singer/songwriter… and this Saturday, August 6th, I’ll be playing an acoustic set at Room 5.

Room 5 is one of my favorite, little intimate spots in the city, complete with big, cushy red leather chairs, a stage perfectly suited to go acoustic on, and a sound system where you feel like the voice on the other end envelops you.

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I’m letting you all plan ahead for this one! I just found out the lovely Meiko – with her distinctly introspective voice and catchy melody lines – will be returning to Hotel Cafe on August 24th.

When listening to her music, the first thing you hear is this beautiful, original voice. It is this combination between sweet and soulful, raspy and smooth. The simultaneously soothing and catchy melodies then sweep you away into the wonderfully detailed and relateable story-telling of her lyrics.

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