Music

Since moving to Los Angeles, I've become a huge fan of the city's indie rock scene, particularly the bands coming out of Silver Lake. I firmly believe that LA has the best music scene in the world, and on any given night in LA, you can hear some of the best bands in America for free or for five bucks. So I decided to start interviewing some of my favorites for the Huffington Post's LA page in a series I call 'The Best Bands in the US(LA).'

Sarah Negahdari is the singer/guitarist of one of LA’s best indie rock bands, the Happy Hollows, who seem poised to break out in a big way. When I heard that HuffPo was starting an LA edition, I decided to take a stab at music journalism and interview some of the many excellent bands playing in LA in a column called The Best Bands in the US(LA).

Eli & Mary Chartkoff are considered elder statesmen of LA’s indie rock scene. Their primary band, the Monolators, have been playing in LA for eight years — an eternity for most bands. But this didn’t stop them from starting another band — the supergroup the Cobra Lilies. How do they find the money and energy to juggle two full-time jobs while fronting two bands? I interviewed Eli & Mary at their home in Eagle Rock to find out.

Hailing from Victoria, TX, Troy Murrah and J. State make up the country/punk/electro/rock/blues duo Restavrant (pronounced restaurant). Using a drum set made of junk (gas can, license plates, a suitcase, etc.) combined with slide guitar, electronic beats, fuzzy vocals and a desire to get crowds dancing, Restavrant has become one of the most compelling bands in LA, with a cult following drawn to their raucous live shows.