The Standard

Mosey on over for another titillating installment of The Standard, Hollywood’s Desert Nights. This Wednesday, grab a cocktail, sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Count Fleet are pretty damn great - make sure to like them on Facebook to get the latest scoop.

Count Fleet: Los Angeles-based Count Fleet’s jangling indie pop epitomizes the notion that the hills of Echo Park are fast becoming the latest refuge for “big-hearted folk music coming from the scene” (Buzzbands.LA). Following in the footsteps where LA bands like the Beachwood Sparks and Mazzy Star left off, Count Fleet’s lush sound finds its middle ground somewhere between Laurel Canyon’s psychedelic country legends The Byrds and the sunny West Coast harmonies of Brian Wilson, all the while maintaining a modern indie ethic. Formed around the songwriting of Elliot Glass, there’s a timelessness to the music that’s hard to classify, already drawing them comparisons ranging from Gram Parsons to The Velvet Underground, Wilco to Jon Brion, Camera Obscura to The Tallest Man On Earth. Although Count Fleet follows in the psychedelic folk tradition, they’re careful not to diverge too far into the realm of psychedelia, rooting the songs with distinctly sincere lyricism and a concise pop treatment that makes a sound all their own. Since releasing their debut demos as a self-titled EP in the beginning of 2011, the act has grown from a duo featuring Glass on vocals and guitar along with Caitlin Dwyer on bass (Letting Up Despite Great Faults) to a permanent five-piece band, including notable Los Angeles producer Raymond Richards (Local Natives, Broken West) on lead guitar, Jacob Summers on drums and Tom Sirikulbut on keys. On record the band has seen contributions from a number of esteemed friends and musicians from the LA scene including Mike Green (Belle Brigade), Jordan Hudock (Henry Clay People), Lucas Ventura (Races), Erin Way (Parson Red Heads) and Brian Whelan (Broken West). In August 2011, the band released a limited edition vinyl 7” single on local label Manzan Records and briefly toured the West Coast. Since returning to Los Angeles, they’ve completed work on their full-length debut, Strangers, produced by Richards.

Monsters Calling Home - Growing Up on Vimeo.

Monsters Calling Home - like them on Facebook!

Monsters Calling Home: The L.A. indie-folk ensemble Monsters Calling Home started with a song by the name, penned by Alex Hwang about a conversation between an American son and his immigrant father. As folk music has the power to do, it transcended cultures and generations — at least Hwang’s pals thought so. With three friends he met at a San Fernando Valley church, Joe Chun, Daniel Chae and Sally Kang, the band Monsters Calling Home was born, soon to include John Chong and Jennifer Rim. The sextet’s exuberant music — they jokingly call it “gangster Oriental folk” — relies on gang vocals, sprawling arrangements and the orchestral sweep provided by violinists Chae and Rim. Monsters Calling Home’s sense of humor is tacit acknowledgment that they’re playing against stereotypes, but as their heartfelt song “Growing Up” attests, music can be the tie that binds. (Buzzbands, LA)

The lovely Haroula Rose, make sure you follow her on Twitter!

Haroula Rose: Haroula Rose grew up in Lincolnwood, Illinois to Greek parents, and with music constantly playing through the house. Her five song debut EP “Someday” led to TV/film placements such as “How I Met Your Mother” and “American Horror Stories” and enough encouragement to make a full-length record for which she travelled to Athens, GA to work with acclaimed producer and musician Andy Lemaster (Bright Eyes, Now It’s Overhead, Maria Taylor). Currently Haroula is at work on releasing a limited edition 7” alongside an EP, and her second full length is scheduled for fall 2012. It is being produced by lauded singer and songwriter Jim White.

“Haroula Rose sings with the spirit of a gypsy soul, always searching for meaning or a seed of truth in each fleeting moment. Her voice is at once intimate and solacing, its gentle inflections betraying a subtle, plaintive sway that enriches moments of guitar-driven folk with the pathos of classic country.” —No Depression

“Chicago-bred, L.A.-based singer-songwriter Haroula Rose’s self-released “These Open Roads” is a deceptively easy-on-the-ears debut that launches Rose as a triple threat: a deft and resourceful melodicist, a subtly superb acoustic guitar crafter and a distinctly winsome vocal presence.” —LA Weekly

What is Desert Nights?

Desert Nights is a weekly gathering at The Standard, Hollywood, hosted by KCRW’s DJ Valida. Every Wednesday, Valida curates three acoustic musical acts to perform a set in the Cactus Lounge. The vibe is warm and intimate, evoking an impromptu jam in a musician’s living room. The music begins at 7:30pm, it’s always free and always a good time. Guaranteed.