Every year in mid-March, a boatload of Brit bands that make it across the pond to Austin’s monstrous mega music mosh - the South by Southwest Festival - find time to swing by Los Angeles before heading back home. Who will be the next Bloc Party who had their 15 minutes of fame in the US after their heralded SXSW and Troubadore sets in LA two years ago? Or the next Arctic Monkeys who swung across the radar stateside after their over-blogged SXSW and LA shows last year? Whilst June wisely hides from the fray in the sunny beaches of Santa Monica, Tim dives into the Hollywood ho-down.

Next stop, the City of Angels! A must for the Brits following the tumbleweed triumphs of South by Southwest, in the rodeo of rhythm Austin Texas. Yeehaw! A mini Britrock invasion rode in from the Wild West into the luxurious Los Angeles nightlife. Rather than leaving sun sympathetic, many decided to basque in the warmth of the California music craze. Los Angeles became the afterparty of excellence. Known as the Reading of the Westside, SXSW is known for breaking Brits in the States and where else can you find more fame than in the city of disasters and celebrities? In Britney's case both. Speaking of rehab, Ms. Amy Winehouse couldn't quite compose her manic melodies enough to make the stage at the NME friendly Spaceland in Silverlake. Scheduled to perform, Winehouse adapted to LA's nonchalant no-show habits a little too well. But not to fear as The Horrors straight from Artrocker’s front and back cover, and centerfold - are spooking up a storm down the block over at the Echo in Echo Park. Where else can you see a crowd make The Horrors look casually clad? Rumor has it policies were mangled as the group performed suicide dives into the goth feathered crowd. Way to go Horrors! Getting kicked out on your first trip to Silverlake is creds bound for icon status!

Speaking of horror some people cringe at the mere mention of the band The Feeling. With sensitive schoolboy harmonies their critically panned debut has been generating press praise in the States that eventually landed them an opening spot for the Kiefer Sutherland discovery Rocco de Luca. These were 24 harmonious hours of British bliss.

The night is far from over when The View and The Pipettes are fueling fun and fury at the Troubadour near Beverly Hills. Going to this luscious venue was like going back in time with The Pipettes and their bubblegum glam making way for the scrawny Scotts, The View. Their homage to the postpunk era generates enough electricity to exceed the charisma they're bound to accomplish. Let's take a little time to enjoy The View!

More chaotic than Rosie O' Donnell on Election Day, The Fratellis stormed through an acoustic set at LA's final record store: Virgin Mega on Sunset. We're such sellouts. The following night the fiery Fratellis plugged in and power piercing, performed a blazing set at the Troubadour. On the radio front, our mini Brit invasion continues with Rodney B’s newest discovery, Kovak. Featuring a lively flurry of electro funk drawing heavily on the techno beats of Goldfrapp and the slick glam of LCD Soundsystem. From Brighton, like the Subways if the Subways had musical abilities and creativity to match their enthusiasm. With pelvic penetrations and rump rocking rhythms, Kovak is securing their disco ball spotlight with their first single ‘I Love the Dancefloor’.

And finally the band as American as apple pie, Apples in Stereo. The Apples came out during the height of Britpop and were often misplaced in the genre despite being from the rocky mountains of Colorado. However they share a similarity to bands like Pulp, Doves and Spiritualized all of whom didn't maintain their influential status well into the mist of their careers. Apples received wide appeal for their carefree, whimsical sounds reminiscent to the neophyte of the SFAs, the power pop of Weezer and the twee charms of Belle and Sebastian. Playing songs from their career defining New Magnetic Wonder the Apples planted a seed of sunny harmonies into the hearts of long time fans at the Spaceland on Thursday. Already being considered the song of the year, Energy" sounded like a cathartic symphony of sugary spice and everything nice. That actually sums up the entire set. Catch them while you can. Like the Verve these folks are known to call it quits on more than a few occasions. The Apples in Stereo are no drag. Nor was our post-SXSW invasion. If this is an indication of what Angelinos are in for at Coachella we just may have ourselves an international incident.

Tim Estrada
 

Tim Estrada is an intern in radio promotion hoping to one day walk in the footsteps of such oddball music personalities as Dr. Demento and Rodney Bingenheimer by bringing funloving poppy music to the states.