While there's no crystal ball to predict the future of any local unsigned band with much certainty, everyone has an opinion -- and here are BAM's, regarding some of the bands we feel have at least a fair shot at success in this fertile, musical mecca called LA. Since the local clubs are fairly bursting at the seams with talent (and, sometimes, lack thereof) it was a little hard to narrow down the picks for LA's "Best Undiscovered Bands." Nevertheless, we put our collective noggins together and, after much debate (and name calling), we came up with these 14 choices.
Venice may be the name of two of the world's most beautiful, culturally rich and diverse cities, but it's also the name of a local band whose material is, in many ways, as beautiful, rich and diverse as its namesakes. The band consists of two sets of brothers, who also happen to be cousins (Michael Lennon on guitar / vocals and sibling Mark Lennon on vocals; along with Kipp Lennon on vocals and his brother Pat Lennon on guitar / vocals), along with bassist Mark Harris and drummer Scott Crago. Formed 13 years ago, Venice recorded an album in 1991 with producer Danny Kortchmar (Don Henley) for Modern / Atlantic that never really saw the light of day. But despite this disappointment, the band has continued to perform in LA and is now preparing itself for another major assault. Venice's new material is reminiscent of the songwriting style of someone at the caliber of Don Henley or Billy Joel, and is complimented by slick and soaring vocal harmonies, and that layered, well-produced sound that brings to mind classics like Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. Venice will be performing at the Troubadour in West Hollywood on March 14th. Contact: Michael Lennon at (310) 398-2642.
(I've decided not to type up the rest of this long article. For
the record, Venice was listed first, and then the article followed
up with the Cowsills, the Continental Drifters, Jerry Giddens,
BB Chung King and the Screaming Buddah Heads, Monkey Paw, Engines
of Aggression, Brotherhood of Sexual Survival, Civil Defiance,
Grinchfist, Ninth, Mouth, the Fizzy Bangers and Wood and Smoke.)
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