Buzz on October 11th, 2010

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[Buzz Bands contributors Addy Danti, David McKay and Meriah Doty check in with the visiting bands on Saturday night at Filter’s Culture Collide:]

Who: Bambi Kino
In three or fewer words: The Hamburg Sound
What’s the big deal?: Four indie-rockers form a band to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first shows in Hamburg, Germany. Guitarists Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices), and Mark Rozzo (Maplewood), drummer Ira Elliot (Nada Surf), and bassist Erik Paparazzi (Cat Power) do a bona fide tribute to the spirit and energy of the early Beatles, down to the boots and leather jackets. They even take their name from the adult movie theater in Germany where the Beatles used to room. Trading off vocals and engaging in four-part harmonies over masterful instrumentation, the quartet sticks strictly to covers the Fab Four actually performed, well before they were known as the “Fab Four.” Their enthusiasm for songs by Carl Perkins, Arthur Alexander, Dorsey Burnett, Eddie Cochran and more was absolutely infectious, and the packed house at Taix could not get enough.  It was a blissful tribute to the Beatles and the music that they grew up on and loved on the night of what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday. – Addy Danti

Who: Monotonix
In three or fewer words: Complete chaos
What’s the big deal? For Monotonix, the line between band and audience isn’t just blurred, it is obliterated. After setting up in front of the Spaceland stage, the Israeli punk trio proceeded to move a beat-up drum kit to every corner of the room during a truly chaotic set that at one point saw singer Ami Shalev hoisted above the audience – while playing drums – to become perhaps the first man to literally hit the ceiling at the famed Silverlake club. – David McKay

Who: Mariachi El Bronx
In three or fewer words: Las Culturas Chocan
What’s the big deal? If any band truly embraced the international spirit of Culture Collide, then it was L.A punk stalwarts the Bronx, performing a storming set before an amped-up Spaceland crowd as Latin alter ego Mariachi El Bronx. Citing a lack of knowledge of the inaugural festival, singer Matt Caughtran joked “We’re really happy to be here at Cultures Collide. We played the New Ayran Children festival  last week … that didn’t go down too well.” – D.M.

Who: White Lies
In three or fewer words: New new wave
What’s the big deal? Nearing the release of their sophomore album – due out Jan. 17 – the U.K. guys of White Lies packed a powerful synth-infused sound, headlining the Echoplex on Saturday. Frontman Harry McVeigh’s deep, wordy vocals pick up where Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins left off. Less pop and more rock, his brooding charisma conducts the band’s sonic swells. – Meriah Doty

Who: Pink Noise
In three or fewer words: Jagged post-punk
What’s the big deal? This Tel Aviv-via-Brooklyn quartet spent some time in L.A  this year recording their third album, “What Will Happen When Someone Finds Out,” with TV on the Radio guitarist Dave Sitek. The NYC transplant was in attendance to witness a muscular display of razor-sharp, discordant post-punk driven by powerhouse drummer Yuval Lion and singer/bassist Sharron Sulami. You can catch a sneak preview of the forthcoming full-length at the band’s MySpace page, where two new tracks are streaming. – D.M.

Who: Nive Nielsen and the Deer Children
In three or fewer words: Folk cooperative
What’s the big deal? Nearly all of Greenland opened the show as eight female and male multi-instrumentalists took the stage. Some of the more interesting contraptions played included the saw, French horn, a distorted loud speaker mic and a steel guitar that looked to be homemade. Mostly subtle, soft and slow, the best songs were those that rebelled against the chorus, unexpectedly dying out in a spacey abyss. – M.D.

Who: Zebra and Snake
In three or fewer words: New-wave National.
What’s the big deal?: Electronic hand claps and Friday night dance beats sit behind this Finnish duo’s pop songs. Their recorded material is a well-studied take on late ”80s all-ages club nights, but live, the lead singer sounded a whole lot like Matt Berninger, and just as emotional. The synthesizers were front and center throughout, using volume to keep up with the beats. Toward the end of the set, things even started sounding industrial. Could we be heading back there again? – A.D.

Who: Battle Circus
In three or fewer words: Haunted rock opera
What’s the big deal? These Kiwi rockers brought a heavy hand of metal-styled bass and drums. Topped with the operatic vocals of Marcel Bellve, who jumps octaves regularly, and intricate organ playing by Yvonne Wu–Battle Circus is fit for any eerie mansion. Dramatic and true to genre, the timing of the performance, just ahead of Halloween, set the holiday mood. – M.D.