After playing in several jazz groups in which the names of the bands were anagrams of the musicians’ names, the members of Los Angeles-based jazz trio Nonagram decided the band’s name would be not another anagram.
Author Archives: Brendan Hornbostel
Delve into some of Los Angeles’ musical landmarks
A site can be a powerful sight: an enigmatic landmark that characterizes a city.
Album Review: “The Terror” by The Flaming Lips
A 13-minute love ballad, titled “You Lust,” that stretches back and forth from captivating melody to synthetic breakdown, separated repeatedly by an ominous whisper and finally ending with a woman’s spoken psychological confession – there’s just nothing like The Flaming Lips, for better or for worse. “The Terror” is The Flaming Lips’ 13th studio album […]
Against the Grain: Stone Temple Pilots, Crash Kings show
One thing I learned a long time ago is that the music of tomorrow cannot be written without the music we have today.
Against the Grain: Brendan Hornbostel: Black Flag, Iceage build on West Coast Punk
Beyond the blazing fast drums, aggressive guitars and piercing vocals that have made West Coast punk an against-the-grain entity is the adoption of an anti-authority, do-it-yourself attitude that embraces individuality.
Against the Grain: Sublime, Wax emit California aura in music
There are few places in America where the sun shines brighter than Los Angeles, especially in music. Artists blend the carefree atmosphere of genres like reggae and ska, bringing a relaxing charm to the city’s music.
Against the Grain: Bobby McFerrin, Pentatonix redefined use of vocals
The human voice is an extremely versatile instrument. It can bend, run and stretch over as many as four octaves. While singing has generally been accompanied by instruments such as the piano and the guitar, some artists have thrown aside instruments in favor of their own voices. Exactly how far can the human voice be […]