Drummer Byron Pagdilao and bassist/vocalist Lee Lewallen of The Electric West haven't missed a beat since last summer's departure of guitarist Dee Kay. New blood keeps the band pumping, and with a fresh body on the six-string, the grave-rocking post punk heralds have released a new song for 2016. "Death Birds", with its lurching rhythms and creeping feedback, comes as an early release following 100 RSVPs to their upcoming show at The Echo.

Listen to "Death Birds" and catch The Electric West howling this Thursday at The Echo with Green Gerry as they support Figs Vision. - Ryan Mo

The dreamgaze-y quartet Last Canyon (fka Nightmail) released their newest EP "gold, sight, and silver" yesterday in an El Cid performance with post-punk revivalists The Electric West and the bright-eyed melancholic surfpop of Little Magic.

It's been three years since their debut self-titled EP, an abrasive yet melodic spectrum of synth and oscillating guitars, and the group certainly have not lost their sharpness even as they announced a name change last October following singer-keyboardist Tammy Herrera's departure. However, small changes to sound were in order: the halcyon voices of bassist Dvin Kirakosian (ex- Courtney Love and the Chelsea) and drummer Brian Ramirez now intertwine as they fade in and out of focus. Nick Nevlin (light fm) and Gabriel Fernandez (Facts on File) trade line for line on the guitars, re-imagining the nostalgic tones of 90's dreampop with new romanticism, new sincerity, and new conviction.

"gold, sight, and silver" is available to stream on the Last Canyon's Soundcloud. Listen to it below, starting with the sublime first track "Daymoon". - Ryan Mo

San Fernando Valley has this band called Draag, and they don't play by genre conventions. After splitting with his first band Tremellow, guitarist/vocalist Adrian Acosta started with an idea to get the finest musicians he knew in one room, playing whatever they wound up playing. He admits to SpeakIMG in an interview, "When I started the band, I really had no idea the kind of band I was putting together. I just knew who I wanted on my team." That statement might sound like heresy to a lot of musicians, but in this case it worked out perfectly for Draag, who recently played at the Make Music Pasadena Festival with The Electric West, Hobart W Fink, Tashaki Miyaki, and more.

Their influences go off several deep ends, from Talking Heads to The Pixies and Autechre, and you might hear bits of new wave, post-punk, krautrock, and surf punk. Hell, Traci Lordz's opening track "Milk Money" even gets into some a cappella goodness. But Draag aren't just piecemealing these elements to show their skills (we acknowledge said skills, though) — they're faithfully honing their own ideas with an arsenal of sounds: high-gain fuzz, '80s synth presets, oscillating delay, and dance-y drum machines. So far, it's working out really well for them.

Draag released their debut record Traci Lordz earlier in January, and are currently in the process of booking their fall shows and working on a new release. Listen to "Gown" from Traci Lordz below. - Ryan Mo

LA County's kickoff festival is here: Make Music Pasadena is happening tomorrow, June 6th, with over 150 bands playing at the heart of downtown Pasadena! Along with main stage big-timers like Kishi Bashi, How To Dress Well, Sir Sly, Nick Waterhouse, and rising stars Jr., Kera & The Lesbians, and Autumn in June, music & arts collectives around the county will also curate some of the tastiest home-grown acts. The main stage activities end with Pasadena Symphony & Pops' grandeur performance, but these side venues will be going strong late into the night.

You can find the complete schedule here on MMP's site, and we definitely recommend hitting up these side-stages below:

All Scene Eye presents two live stages at Armory Center for the Arts: check out Kat Myers & The Buzzards, The Electric West, Draag, Holland Belle, Tashaki Miyaki, and more.

Sherpa Music MGMT, One Question Sessions, and De La Vie TV presents at Old Towne Pub: DARK FURS, Crystales, Sanglorians, LA Takedown, Le Cos, and more.

For Friends Of Sound presents at Der Wolfskopf in the evening: OYLS, Kid Bloom, Slow Graffiti, GDNA, and more.

Montecito Music and Media presents at Shoppes at Stats: Shattered Skyline, Cool Face, The Wild Reeds, Valley Queen, bed, and more.

Open Kanvas presents at Club 54: Veteran Assassins, Noah V, Kennis Clark, Born Allah, and more plus a surprise headliner.

Remember: this music festival is FREE and starts at 11 AM. Parking structures are dotted across the city, but will definitely fill up soon, so make it out early! - Ryan Mo, photo credit: Chris Molina

LA music & arts collective Bonus Druthers are hosting a second Pity Party tonight (wait — when was the first one?!) at the Missing Piece Theatre in Burbank. Stuck in NoHo with no plans? Start your summer break by getting intimate and sweaty with four great LA bands.

The Electric West: the post-punk blood brothers that will fog up any venue. Dig their new album Verdugo but missed them at Ghost Noise's residency? Redeem yourself! You'll be glad you did.

Tiny Stills: moniker of Kaitlynn West, Tiny Stills blasts easy-dancing indie pop way loud, the kind of stuff that would make Colleen Green proud. 

Sullen Ray: producer Seth Eubanks' solo-thing-that-turned-into-a-duo with singer Dee Clement. Rosy 90's reminiscent duets and righteous jams. 'Nuff said.

Draag: the up-and-coming quintet sporting valley fuzz and valley feels. It's crunchy, it's heavenly; it's gaze-inspired rock that inspires you to mosh.

Feeling thirsty? Bonus Druthers got you covered with a pop-up the traveling Baxter's Speakeasy: all-you-can-drink happy hour from 5-7PM while supplies last! Shoutout to Culver City's Exposition Studios who are helping out with live sound. Acoustic sets start at 5 — get some earbuds if you bus in at 8. Tickets 10$. - Ryan Mo