High Voltage bands powered by Brody Ramone

If Nico Vega were only about one thing, that thing would probably be ‘connection’ because they’re a dynamic four-piece that has the habit of changing you from the inside out especially after seeing them live. Out of Los Angeles, what Aja Volkman-Reynolds (vox), Dan Epand (drums), Jamila Weaver (bass) and Rich Koehler (guitar) do is make emotionally and socially conscious rock that challenges the listener to do better, be better, fight harder, love stronger and do it together like a tribe. Aja delivers the band’s message with a voice that bellows between Grace Slick and Bjork, while her bandmates provide the soundtrack: sometimes ferocious, sometimes downright playful, always powerful. They formed in 2006, have blown away audiences with their uninhibited shows and have one album under their belts which is where you can find their monster, signature call to arms track “Beast”: if you’ve seen the movie “The Hobbit” you may have heard it in the trailer for the game “Bio-Shock.” Their second album is due in the Spring and if you want to catch their goodness live, just look for them out on tour with Imagine Dragons: and that’s a package deal you do not want to miss.

And yes, Dan (the singer from Imagine Dragons) and Aja are married: because families that rock and roll together, stay together.

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Check out their video for the track, Easier, which was featured on last night’s Dirty Glitter by clicking HERE

Los Angeles has more than its share of bands comprised of celebrity offspring: a son, daughter, niece or nephew of so-and-so. Sometimes that singular novel fact is the reason why people buy a ticket to a show. But that shouldn’t be the case with Maudlin Strangers even if singer Jake Hays’ mom is Cherie Currie of the Runaways and drummer Mac Sinise’s dad is Gary Sinise. Along with Sam Porcao (bass) and Blues Williams (guitar) these four young guns are serious players in the LA arena and are within a small crop of young and solid bands reminding ears of the beauty of heavier guitar rock. Their music has a weighty, Queens of the Stone Age-esque undertow but is fresh and of their own design and Jake’s vocals truly belie his young 20-something age. Their full length album is out on Feb. 12th so we have more of their good noise to look forward to real soon.

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When the one and only Neil Young repeatedly taps the same band to go out on the road with him, that band must be pretty bad ass and that’s exactly the case with Everest. In fact, Young’s manager, Elliot Roberts, immediately signed the band to Young’s label after one listen to their 2008 debut album, “Ghost Notes.” These guys are dedicated, consummate lifetime musician-types who have all been in other bands and projects, now settled into the eclectic Everest where they craft rich and towering sounds of American rock with layers of folk and alternative, country and hazy psychelica. Russell Pollard (vocal), Jason Soda (guitar), Joel Graves (guitar, keys), Elijah Thomson (bass) and Kyle Crane as their touring drummer put on a show that never, ever disappoints and as good as the music sounds recorded, hearing it live is no joke. This track, “Rapture” is an urgent and full-bodied song that Russell says he wrote while alone in a “big spooky house.”  It’s off of their 2012 release “Ownerless” which Joel described as a “hopeful love letter slipped under the door.”