BUZZ BANDS

Wasn’t too long ago that Kenan Bell, above, cringed when he heard “rapper” uttered with his name. “In so many places there’s a negative connotation with the word,” the 25-year-old says, agreeing that, yes, one of those places might be the private school in Montrose where he teaches fourth- through sixth-graders. “But even with the negative persona rap music has, I think I can make music that embodies better things.” Bell, above, is off to a good start -- with childhood pal Jason Burkhart and music vet Jon Siebels (Eve6), he released his “Good Day” EP earlier this year, is putting the finishing touches on a full-length album and has captured the fancy of L.A. crowds with his spry melodies and sprightly wordplay, thanks in part to a live lineup that includes the likes of guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and drummer Eric Gardner. A rock and jazz fan whose parents sang gospel, Bell manages to blend pop sensibilities, indie-rock edge and hip-hop attitude into rapid-fire soliloquies that even his students could love. “You can think of hip-hop as teaching through rhyme,” he says good-naturedly, even if he concedes he never imagined being the lecturer. “I was always more in the background -- Jason and I just spent a few years trying to produce music,” Bell says. “But it was festering in me. Now I feel like it’s a calling.” Having picked up a little buzz with remixes of songs by the Smiths (“This Night Has Opened My Eyes”) and MGMT (“Weekend Wars”), Bell and his band head to New York City and London next month for the usual label courtship rituals. He’s back in October to do the Monday residency at Spaceland. Next up, though: a gig opening for Dizzee Rascal next Thursday at the Echo. Also: Bodies of Water celebrates the release of its sophomore album (and first for Secretly Canadian), “A Certain Feeling,” with a show tonight at the Echo. . . . Buzz building for its forthcoming sophomore effort, Darker My Love plays the Echo on Friday. . . . And to readers, musicians and patrons of the L.A. music scene, thank you. After almost six years and more than 250 installments, today’s is the final Buzz Bands column.

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-- Kevin.Bronson@latimes.com