With a nod to and a slight twist on the Ace Frehley classic, I am now back in the "LA Groove". New York was amazing, but I'm now back at work and rocking in full swing once again here on the West Coast (which we all know, is the best coast).  The Silverlake Lounge hosted a kick-ass set this week by One of the Loudest Tragedies Ever Heard, and at Club Moscow, the band Oslo ripped quite possibly the best set they ever have.  Club Moscow was a trip.  Quite the hipster hang. All the girls looked like Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and all the guys looked like Richard Gardner from the Mighty Six Ninety. Speaking of M690, mark your calendars- they will play Club Moscow on November 9th. Should be amazing. Other recent success from the Combat Rock family:  Spins for Nashville Pussy at: WQXA/Harrisburgh, PA, WPLA/ Jacksonville, FL, WLZX/Northhampton, MA, WKZQ/Myrtle Beach, CA, WGRD/Grand Rapids, MI, WAVF/Charleston, SC, KTEG/Albuquerque, NM, WTFX/Louisville, KY, WCYY/Portland, ME.  The new album from UK Legends The Fall is also getting major spins from: WAQZ/Cincinatti, Indie 103/Los Angeles, KCRW/Los Angeles, KATT/Oklahoma City, OK, WHTG/Monmouth, NJ, WGRD/Grand Rapids, MI, WTFX/Louisville, KY, WPLA/Jacksonville, FL, WXRT/Chicago, WWCD/Columbus, OH, WKZQ/Myrtle Beach, SC, WAVF/Charleston, SC, KDGE/Dallas, TX. For the girl-punk band the Randies, we have spins from: KCRW/Los Angeles, WRZX/Indinapolis, IN, WMAD/Madison,WI, WBTZ/Burlington, VT, KUSF/San Francisco, KUPD/Phoenix, AZ. And finally, our very own Nadine Zahr (aka the next Melissa Etheridge) is getting heavy love at Boston Powerhouse WERS. Bands: you want radio airplay, come talk to Combat Rock. And if you happen to be out and about town, I'll probably be there, so come up to me and say hi.... word!

The tenth time is the charm, and so it was this year as my tenth visit to the annual CMJ Music Marathon was my biggest and best yet. Showcasing three killer bands, Combat Rock Promotion was in full force as we saw amazing performances by our clients King Elementary, Nashville Pussy, and Bril. Other highlights from this year’s CMJ included: The Syndicate’s Conflict of Interest Party (which has turned into a family reunion of sorts), where I caught a blistering set from Scotland's Idlewild (I was REALLY impressed), The Team Clermont Party where I just missed the Living Blue, but got to chat with them, the Pirate/Epitaph Party, a killer set by Gang of Four at the Urb Magazine Party -where I dropped a note to drummer Hugo Burnham that read “Rambo says E.S.P.”- (you’ll have to ask me what that means), the Cornerstone/Fader Party ran STRONG for three straight days, and it was there that I caught great sets by Soft, and the Silversun Pickups. Other parties I enjoyed were the Metal Party at the Milkbar where much Jagermeister was downed, the One Little Indian party which ran well into the wee hours of the night, the AAM Party where I caught some amazing sets by Against Me! and the Constantines, and, as always, the Vice Party where I saw random scenesters, liquor by the gallon, and cupcakes. I made a return visit to the mighty Schillers on the Lower East Side, and of course, I drank many Sparks (My favorite NYC Energy Drink, spiked with 6% alcohol by volume). I never did meet up with Arena Rock’s Greg Glover at their showcase, but I had a lovely chat with the band Swords, and they were so nice, they gave me a CD. At the closing night party I caught a crazy set by Kid Millionaire (who looked like he was having a seizure on stage!), and throughout the madness, I had a few New York moments like seeing Yoko Ono in Central Park (For real!) — I said “Hi, Yoko” and she said “Hi” back.  Anyway, it was great hanging with family and friends, and it was great seeing all of you. (I met with so many of you guys this year it would be hard to list you all- but you are all in my heart). Now it’s only six more moths til SXSW…Bring it on!  Oh yeah, and one last thing: “Before Franz Ferdinand, it was the Fall, bitches!!”

What a month August has been! The last two weeks saw me hitting the road with the mighty Oslo.  Adventure and fun was had by all as we drove up the west coast and visited radio stations along the way. Among our friends at radio we saw Benji from KALX/San Francisco, Jaime Cooley from KNRK/Portland, and Rocco from KWVA/Eugene. There were great support bands that we got to make friends with like The Catholic Comb and Go Like Hell, and then there was that Common after-party in Portland that we got to crash. Upon our arrival back in LA, the band ripped a set at the Viper Room to a roomful of screaming hometown fans.  Then, the next day, they graced the studios of local television station KJLA to perform live on the wildly popular show "LATV Live". All work and no play makes Lenny a dull boy, so I headed out to Palm Springs the last weekend in August for some relaxation with the guys. New clients to the Combat Rock family include: girl-punk from the Randies, hilarious rock from New Maximum Donkey, the international superstar Gomo (Who is called the Beck of Portugal), and a new album on it's way soon from UK legends the Fall. In a few days, I'm off to New York for CMJ. Details on that later...