L Magazine's 8 NYC Bands You Need to Hear

Local event guide L combines two of our favorite things to blog about (NYC bands and lists) in a feature for the current issue. The publication's criteria? "Bands that have written a bunch of songs we really, really like, and that's pretty much it." Among the chosen ones are a couple of Stereogum's Bands To Watch, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and High Places (watch the latter's SXSW set here). For the photo shoot, everyone convened on Bushwick Country Club with bagels and beer. L also asked the bands to name their favorite local venue, and the answers may surprise you (no, they won't).

• The Lisps (favorite venue: Union Hall)
• The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (favorite venue: Cake Shop)
• Famous Amos (favorite venue: Cake Shop)
• This Is Ivy League (favorite venue: Highline Ballroom)
• La Strada (favorite venue: Sound Fix)
• Team Robespierre (n/a)
• High Places ("They aren't 'real' venues, but Dead Herring House and Cinders Gallery.")
• Violens (favorite venue: Bowery Ballroom)

Compare with last year's models...

• Vampire Weekend
• Frances
• Jealous Girlfriends
• My Teenage Stride
• The Muggabears
• She Keeps Bees
• White Rabbits
• Bear Hands

And Class Of 2006.

• Phonograph
• Bravo Silva
• The Black Hollies
• Megan Reilly
• Oakley Hall
• The Mugs
• Favourite Sons

Next year: your band.

Check out all the pretty pics and profiles at thelmagazine.com. [High Places photo by Zandy Mangold/L.]

Posted at 10:38 AM
Tags: Famous Famous | High Places | La Strada | Team Robespierre | The Lisps | The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart | This is Ivy League | Vampire Weekend | Violens

10 Comments

So if the class of 2006 is any indication as to the bands I need to hear coming out of NYC, that means I can look forward to not having any clue who Vampire Weekend is next year? This list reminds me of amnesia...and what's the fascination with all things Ivy League? I guess Skull & Bones does more than just influence our future presidents, they've wormed their way into indie music too.

Posted by: Jeff at 04/24/08 12:42 PM  | Reply
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No Blonde Acid Cult?

Posted by: Beth at 04/24/08 1:37 PM  | Reply
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so basically, a year from now we'll kinda sorta care about one of them? maybe 2?

Posted by: j at 04/24/08 2:19 PM  | Reply
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my money's on high places for that one band. : ) i

Posted by: Nate at 04/24/08 6:10 PM  | Reply
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These Are Powers are SO much better than every band on the current list.

Posted by: Mike at 04/24/08 7:27 PM  | Reply
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These Are Powers? The noisy BK band with the Sonic Youth fetish?

I'd guess they're a little too noisy for The L, which seems to favor boring strum along white boy music "with an indie twist!"

Posted by: Huph at 04/24/08 7:35 PM  | Reply
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cobra starship? ha

Posted by: eric at 04/25/08 11:38 AM  | Reply
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In all fairness, This is Ivy League and Cobra Starship have 2 completely different styles.

Posted by: B  in reply to eric's comment at 04/25/08 3:12 PM  | Reply
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should STILL be the muggabears

and tk webb and the visions!

Posted by: om at 04/25/08 2:17 PM  | Reply
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Helloooooo? Giraffes?

Posted by: Libby at 04/26/08 11:40 AM  | Reply
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