BUZZ BANDS

Country Star

Stars singer Amy Millan leaves her dream-pop heaven for earthy folk, and ramshackle popsters the Parson Red Heads are more adorable than you.

December 7, 2006

Millan reveals her roots

Fans who know Amy Millan as chanteuse of the Canadian chamber-pop group Stars don't really know Amy Millan — at least, not the singer-songwriter revealed on "Honey From the Tombs." Her solo debut, released in October, emancipates songs that had been shelved for at least seven years, in all their twangy, confessional glory.

Twangy?

"Actually, I was surprised to find out how much people were surprised," Millan says of the reaction she's received for her alt-country turn. "I didn't realize people had such a formed opinion that they took this as a departure. This is actually the person I was when Stars found me."

That person is a songwriter and storyteller grounded in roots music. "There's something inherently communal in traditional music," she says. "It's sad, but there's a kind of celebration ... because you're not alone in your loss."

Of course, her life has changed markedly since her late teens and early 20s, when she penned this material. "I by no means disrespect the person I was when I wrote these songs," says Millan, who performs tonight at the Troubadour on a bill with San Diego singer-songwriter Greg Laswell. "It's all about giving these songs a life which I think they deserve."

Now this is commitment

Last summer, the Parson Red Heads left Oregon for Los Angeles, hoping their faded folk-pop would find a warmer reception here. All six band members moved into a one-bedroom apartment. "It was fun," says singer-guitarist Evan Way, 22. "But also dirty and uncomfortable."

It didn't dampen the spirit of the Red Heads' feel-good music. After a few months, they scored residencies at Lava Lounge and Silverlake Lounge, moved into their own places and eventually released the "Field Music Carnival" EP. For their residency the next two Mondays at the Echo, the Parsons' ranks have swelled to 12, with singers and percussionists taking on the more energetic material from their upcoming LP "King Giraffe," due in January.

There are real blood and marital ties with the Parsons, as well as a few natural redheads. Evan's older sister, Erin Way, plays keyboards, and drummer Brette Marie Gentry is his wife as of a few months ago. "All couples should be in bands together," Evan says with a smile. "We get to share the most important thing in our lives with each other."

Something to crow about

Consider the credentials: Nathan Larson (guitarist, Shudder to Think; film composer), Emm Gryner (underrated singer-songwriter, often compared to Sarah McLachlan), Kevin March (drummer, Dambuilders and Guided by Voices) and Jordan Kern (rising young guitarist).

Add them up, and you get — Hot One? The outlandish (and outrageously fun) take on — how do we say this — rooster rock?

"It's a bit over the top, yes, but I hope people take it in the proper spirit. It's kind of a parody," Larson says. "It's not our usual fare — you know, when I'm scoring a film, or when I produced Emm's last album, you wonder 'Does this sound pretty enough?' or 'Is that string part right?' or 'Does the flugelhorn come through?' This is just picking up a guitar and wailing.

"It's catharsis for us, really, as artists."

Dripping sweat, oozing sex and spewing all manner of naughty words, Hot One hits Spaceland on Friday night behind a debut album (released on Larson's own Modern Imperial imprint) that would make L.A. Guns proud. The music has gotten a warm reception so far, Larson says: "It's a really fun project, and it's not like we're presenting it in a deadly serious way."

Fast forward

Touts: Get your dance on — Ladytron, the Faint and Ratatat play the Palladium tonight, and Kill Hannah rocks the El Rey Theatre on Monday.... Back from tour, the Little Ones bring their upbeat music to the Echo on Saturday.... Yes, it was that Jet, playing Spaceland on Sunday.... Jay Bennett (ex-Wilco) visits the Silverlake Lounge on Monday.... Hyper rapper Spank Rock plays Safari Sam's on Tuesday.... Singer-songwriter Sara Melson heads a deep lineup starting at 6 Friday night at the Joint for the UCLA Holiday Jam, benefiting the charity Imagine L.A. ... And Lamps, a seven-piece whose members sport some impressive résumés, celebrates the release of its "Please Come Down" EP on Tuesday at El Cid.



buzzbands@latimes.com

Recommended downloads

Watch the video for Amy Millan's "Baby I" at www.arts-crafts.ca/media.php.

Download the Parson Red Heads' "Punctual as Usual" at www.myspace.com/redheads.

Download Hot One's "Do the Coup D'Etat" at www.myspace.com/hotonerock.

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