• We got a chance this weekend to finally see ALL THE REAL GIRLS in action and we were certainly impressed, but we were pretty dang surprised, too: There playing lead guitar was ELIJAH OCEAN, LOVERLESS frontman. You could see why he'd allowed himself to be recruited. Left to tear up his machine and provide backing vocals, he was the perfect foil for vocalist/guitarist PETE DONOVAN, who's got a whole mod look going on that fits his indie rock-meets-the Allman Brothers songwriting. All in black, with dangling locks, Ocean looked a young J Mascis, while the COSBY BROTHERS held down bass and drums. Opening for PARANOID SOCIAL CLUB, who weren't about to be shown up, the show drew musicians aplenty to the Empire: KURT BAKER (the LEFTOVERS), KYLE GERVAIS (GRAND HOTEL), and RYAN ZOIDIS (RUSTIC OVERTONES) among them.
• SPARKS THE RESCUE have had a new record on the back burner for a while, in limited release while they awaited the right label deal. This week they announced a relationship with FEARLESS RECORDS, who've also got, ironically, THE MAINE, along with AT THE DRIVE IN, the PLAIN WHITE T'S, and PORTUGAL THE MAN, among a number of others. The band now embark on an ambitious tour with RACING KITES, the DANGEROUS SUMMER, and THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, which includes a stop at SXSW.
• GUNTHER BROWN have a date scheduled for their debut release: April 16, at One Longfellow. More to follow.
• THE REFUGEES, the all-gal supergroup featuring local girl CINDY BULLENS, continues to rack up acclaim. At the INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS (of which, we'll admit, we've never heard), their Unbound took home the Overall Grand Prize, and the group won Best Group/Duo honors.
