HMLTD 'To The Door' Premiere

If you've not heard of London six-piece HMLTD by now, you're missing out. In just over a year, the band have already made a huge impact by selling out numerous shows at Moth Club, Corsica Studios, 100 Club and have also gotten rave reviews from platforms like The Guardian, NME, BBC Radio, Loud And Quiet and many more. With hit singles like 'Is This What You Wanted' and 'Stained', the band recently released the wild new video for their latest single 'To The Door' which premiered on The Fader.

HMLTD at 100 Club | Photo by Neelam Khan Vela

HMLTD headline Scala next on 3 May for their biggest UK show to date with The Rhythm Method and Dead Pretties as support. This one is is a show not to miss.

root of it all: cosmonauts

Formed in 2009 by guitarists Derek Cowart and Alexander Ahmadi, California four-piece Cosmonauts have been going at it for about eight years now, and all these years have blessed us with some of our favourite music. From their early cassette releases on Burger Records to the classic LP If You Die Then I Wanna Die, the band's latest record comes in the shape of A-OK, three years later after Persona Non Grata. Released on Burger Records last year, we see the band delving into a heavier psych and dream-pop driven sound on this record, with standouts such as Doom Generation, Party At Sunday, Discophilia, Short Wave Communication and A-Ok. 

Currently on tour supporting the new LP, we're thrilled to have them at Moth Club next week on the February 24th. Ahead of the show, we got to sneak in their busy tour schedule to catch up with singer/guitarist Derek Cowart about how they got the ball rolling with A-OK and the influences that have shaped the album.

A-OK is available to purchase here

---

The Cars' Self-Titled Album

The artwork on the cover always left an impression on me. The beautiful girl, the way she’s looking up into the sun and holding the glass steering wheel is such a perfect pop art image. Originally we were going to try and have a photo in that vein, but it never really came together. So, after loving and using some of Felipe Flores previous pieces and designs, we decided to work with him to create the kind of album cover we had in mind. I sent him some album covers we liked and a surplus of peoples’ Instagram photos, as creepy as that sounds… Ha. So the A-OK! album art turned out to be an image of a girl taking a selfie. What’s more modern than that?

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

Having grown up with internet access means we’ve always had access to any kind of music… or anything really. There’s been a constant overload of different music that we’ve loved, hated, or both. We probably ended up misunderstanding and projecting ourselves on everything we listened to. Paul’s Boutique is an album that took all kinds of samples, styles, etc and mashed them together in a cohesive, energetic, and totally new record. That was obviously even a decade before anyone was downloading top 40 hits on Kazaa Lite. We grew up with that record and the Beastie Boys ability to pull from the all directions and make it their own was a definite influence on us in general. Maybe not literally, like with samples, but with different influences. Hopefully that comes across with us. We’ve never been afraid to wear what we love on our sleeves, but also want to make something that reflects RIGHT NOW.

Spacemen 3 - Playing With Fire

I guess actually that one and Sound of Confusion… or all of their stuff really haha. Especially in the early Cosmonauts songs and recordings. The cascading sounds from every direction on their albums accompanied by drony hypnotism and beautiful lullaby melodies. Those are the things that brought Alex and I together, originally.

The Jesus And Mary Chain - Psycho Candy

The songs and walls of feedback on that record are amazing. To me, it’s a perfect album. All that aside, I think it’s their bratty and unapologetic nature that put the final hooks in us. Super cool sad guys causing riots and getting beat up, while playing the loudest bummer pop songs. That’s the stuff rock n’ roll romance is made of.

Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad

Our Band Could Be Your Life is essentially the bible for anyone trying to make independent music. If you haven’t read it, you should. Reading about the radical art and music that losers just like us made is really inspiring.

Blade Runner by Ridley Scott

Blade Runner is an awesome sci fi movie we all watched growing up. The dystopian Los Angeles and futuristic tonal soundtrack had to have left some impressions on us haha.

---

Get your tickets here

root of it all: omni

With their latest LP 'Deluxe' released via Trouble In Mind Records last year, Atlanta trio Omni have quickly become one of our new favourite bands. Boasting of singer Philip Frobos, drummer Billy Mitchell and former Deerhunter guitarist Frankie Boyles, the band excellently channels lo-fi pop of the 70s and have since gotten attention from the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian and Stereogum to name a few.

Embarking on their Europe/UK tour which kicks off this month, we're thrilled to host their London leg of the tour for not just one but two headline shows at The Shacklewell Arms and The Montague Arms this February. Ahead of their appearance, we spoke to the band about a few elements that have influenced them over the years which you can read more about below.

---

David Bowie - Velvet Goldmine

Philip: Somehow I never knew about this Ziggy Stardust outtake, but it played randomly on someones playlist over the holidays and its been on repeat ever since. I've played it for all of my pals who would know/want to know and its a consistent surprise, what a gem!

The Fade Out Series

Philip: This is a beautifully done series about an actress on the verge of stardom in the 40's who is mysteriously murdered and an on set writer having to solve the crime. These dudes just write/draw amazing pulp comics, and if you are into comics I would recommend picking up anything they do together. I think they set current the standard for pulp/noir.

You can read more about it here

The Jam - That's Entertainment

Philip: On our tour this summer, I played the song "That's Entertainment" in the van and Frankie and I have been digging into their career and youtube live performances. They do the 3 piece so well and its very inspiring considering thats our format, especially live. All Mod Cons, Sound Affects and various other singles have been on repeat for months. 

Grant Green - A Day In The Life

Frankie: This is a great Beatles cover. I bought this cd in 2005 or so from a used cd shop next to the grocery store. I am still listening to it. I listened to this song today.

Sorcerer by William Friedkin

Frankie: I can't remember how it came to be that I saw this film but I did and I liked it a lot. I think about it.

John Whitney - Permutations (1968)

Frankie: John Whitney is very inspiring. 

---

Tickets available here

Tickets available here

feature: a giant dog

Formed in high school in Houston by the friendship of Sabrina Ellis (vocals), Andrew Cashen (vocals, guitar) and Orville Neely (drums), Austin's A Giant Dog are quickly becoming a band to watch. The trio kicked things off by covering the likes of Joan Jett, The Ramones, AC/DC and the best one of all by covering the finer points of the Back to the Future soundtrack at school dances under the moniker Youth In Asia. After reuniting in Austin in 2008, the band then came to full form with the addition of guitarist Andy Bauer and bassist Graham Low.

With a huge reputation in Austin built from their electrifying live shows, AGD cites influences of their sound from Mark Bolan to Alice Cooper, and frontwoman Sabrina bring an even more electrifying energy to stage with her presence that is said to be like a mix of Iggy Pop and Tina Turner. The band recently released their third LP Pile on Merge Records, with the album focusing on factors like divorce, frustration, getting older and trying to get by the mess through the power of rock N roll. AGD are currently on their first ever Europe/UK Tour and we're delighted to put them on for their debut London show.

Ahead of their show tonight at The Waiting Room, we got to speak to vocalist and guitarist Andrew about how the ride has been for the band the past year. You can read more about it below.

Pile is available to purchase through Merge Records here

---

Andrew Cashen

So all I've done this year is sit in a van. The van has been my home. About nine months out of this year have been on the road between A Giant Dog and our other band Sweet Spirit. There is not much to do besides sleep, read, and listen to music. Music usually wins. I feel like when I first decided to play music, my knowledge was minimal. I knew I liked Minor Threat, Black Flag, The Ramones. That was the end all be all of music. I thought that was what I would listen to the rest of my life. Alice had just stuck her pinky toe into the rabbit hole. Through the years, with hours upon hours of time to listen, appreciate, not appreciate music, my knowledge has expanded. 

I could go into detail about what each of these songs means to us but that is boring. I've purposely made a pretty eclectic playlist. I don't think any of these bands necessarily sound like us but the common factor that I appreciate with all of these songs is the production. In the studio when we make a record, we really try to pull out all the stops with strings and horns and vocals. I like to think of us as Van Morrison or Randy Newman making a punk record. Some people lump our band into the punk category but I have never thought of us as a punk band. 

I hope you enjoy these songs, I hope you don't enjoy some of these songs.

James Ray - Got My Mind Set On You

CHRISSY ZEBBY TEMBO - TROUBLE MAKER

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - JUNGLE

LABI SIFFRE - BLESS THE TELEPHONE

LEE MOSES - BAD GIRL

TWIN PEAKS - WALK TO THE ONE YOU LOVE

GERRY RAFFERTY - RIGHT DOWN THE LINE

EMITT RHODES - WITH MY FACE ON THE FLOOR

HARRY NILSSON - JUMP INTO THE FIRE

KELLEY STOLTZ - PRANK CALLS

---

A Giant Dog headline The Waiting Room tonight. Last chance for advance tickets here