OLIN & the MOON (photo by Ninelle Efremova)

One of the hardest working bands in LA OLIN and the MOON are either performing, recording, rehearsing, partying or unconscious. I’m not even sure why I’m writing about them because if you hang anywhere near the east side of Los Angeles you probably already know them. Well just in case ya don’t:

Possibly the best most honest heartfelt authentic band you’ll find playing folk flavored rock music right now began in Sun Valley Idaho with Singer/Songwriter David LaBrel, his brother and lead guitarist Travis and drummer Marshall Vore. In Los Angeles they met up with Brian McGinnis (pedal steel, banjo, guitar) and Kyle Vicioso (bass) and started drinkin’, starvin’ and workin’ their butts off. You can see that  the effort paid off in every show. They make a sound that’s  intimate and gigantic all at once. David’s voice delivers the goods communicating quiet strength and intimacy and the boys play with a precision that somehow always looks like reckless abandon. The group’s  camaraderie is  obvious and infectious: wherever Olin and the Moon goes the party’s fine.

I was blown away the first time I saw the GYPSY RIVER HAUNTS play at Cranes Tavern, the brutal blast of rockabilly raunch these boys churn out at-the-drop-of-a-hat damn near knocked me on my ass.

Gypsy River Haunts (photo by Danielle Levitt)

Even more impressive is the fact that they just get more awesome every time I see ‘em, improving the quality and tightness of their performances without taking  the energy level down a single notch. If you like your rockNroll honest, raw and raucous these are the men for you to watch. Andrew Sheppard stands frontNcenter roaring out the words to their tunes with a power  that belies his somewhat diminutive frame while Dustin Hollenbeck attacks that cool maroon tele like a shredder whose discovered that well executed  hot country fused rockabilly licks can blow most metal players into the next county. Johnny and Salvatore man the engine room and keep this monster slammin’.

Are you gettin’ my meaning here (?) … these guys are hot.

OK: here’s the deal-

You can catch both these must see bands this week at the weekly HOMEWORK MONDAYS event ongoing over at CRANES TAVERN ( as well as the Downtown Train – a band exuberantly tackling classic roots, r&b and blues tunes – and Ned Casual’s spot-on DJ sets of authentic the-real-shit rockin roots music). Admission is free – Attendance is mandatory (or it oughta be)

OLIN & THE MOON – GYPSY RIVER HAUNTS – DOWNTOWN TRAIN
MONDAY MARCH 1st
CRANES TAVERN
1611 North El Centro Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90028