Spoken Arms

First of all, sorry for the two day absence. Outstanding circumstances prevented me from writing.

Second of all, I have some photos for you.

Last week I had the pleasure of seeing Spoken Arms at The Derby in Los Feliz. I always forget that Los Feliz exists even though it is a mere hop, skip, and a jump away!

Tony of Big Lovin' Panda invited me out. I'd never been to The Derby and found it cozy and warm. There are two bars and two stages, though one room is march larger, with a high arching ceiling strapped with wood.

Our line up was in the "VIP room," and we just missed Siamese Guns, who I had found quite intriguing on a MySpace listen. Another time.

I had given Spoken Arms a listen to at work and found the music perhaps a little too sentimental and genuine for my taste.

But seeing them live altered my judgment. Their singer's delivery - despite the pink elephant suit he donned to appear on stage - confidently echoed indie rock's original sound, and with only a guitar, bass, and drums (That's how I saw them - their recordings feature a keyboard and some other toys as well), the vocals were left somewhat bare and raw, making them unexpectedly powerful and a little bit precious. I was moved despite myself.

Judging from the audience's reaction - which was surprisingly strong for an eight dollar cover - Spoken Arms seem to be a local favorite, and from their easy demeanor, it's easy to see why. They make stuff with heart and they aren't trying to be rock stars. In image-conscious too-cool Los Angeles, sometimes it's refreshing to hear a pink elephant belt his soul out - even when you've had nothing at all to drink.