LOS ANGELES — If you wanted a demonstration in sound sculpture then Spaceland was the place to be Thursday night. Both Film School and Airiel melted the paint off the walls with layers of distorted reverb and thundering bass riffs.

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It's not an easy task when it comes to building memorable noise-pop gems that you can sing along with, or even dance to, but Film School can do it. The quintet, featuring three new members and an outstanding sophomore release (Hideout, 2007), have become a well-oiled machine. They pumped out an aggressive set including  blistering renditions of "Compare," "Lectric," and the washed out roar of "Sick Hipster Nursed by Suicide Girl." As you can see in their photos, the light show added eye-catching visuals to complement the surreal atmosphere; casting warm sheets of pink, blue and red. It gave the venue a futuristic feel, like you were being transported into another world.

While some of Film School's older material has held up considerably well — "He's a Deep, Deep Lake" sounded inspiring — it's the songs from Hideout that proved to be more fascinating to the band.

"There's this sinking feeling I get when we play 'Compare.' The guitars come in and it creates this feeling where I'm getting lost in the moment, or lifting off the ground, that's what I'm hoping to get out of the song," singer/guitarist Greg Bertens told Buzznet before the show. He couldn't be more right. The band's live assault captures that sentiment as Film School lift off with massive guitars and fuzzy sonics.




Chicago's Airiel opened the night and were the perfect blend of Brit-pop-inspired anthems colliding with wall-of-sound guitars. The last time they came through Los Angeles they were dealt a 20-minute set at the questionable "Club Moscow" night, held at Boardner's every Wednesday. On Thursday night, however, Ariel proved how versatile a band can be when you're given a regular set time in a club that that actually cares about good music. They charged through bangers like "Thinktank" and the super-catchy "You Kids Should Know Better." After their performance it was clear that this quartet demand an even bigger space to contain their massive guitar sound.

Airiel have been making quite a name for themself in the past year with 2007's The Battle of Sealand, and it's starting to pay off.

"After our first time in Los Angeles we got loads of great responses, and fans were writing us asking when we were going to come back. This time around we were able to hook up with Film School on the west coast." guitarist Chris De Brizzio told Buzznet.

Wish you had caught the show? Film School and Airiel will be back on the road in the U.S. after touring in the spring with Ulrich Schnauss in the U.K.

Greg Bertens of Film School


Jeremy Wrenn of Airiel



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