Buzz Bands

Sounds like the ‘60s? Could be Kennedy

There is Kennedy the man and Kennedy the band, but they’ve become basically the same thing: A local pop act with a silly sense of humor and some seriously catchy songs. On the group’s self-titled second record, released last week on Sea Level Records, it’s clear that Kennedy (the band) spent some quality time listening to the Kinks, Byrds and other mod superstars. The group’s hooky songs are souped up with such ‘60s accoutrements as syncopated hand claps, crazed harmonica, vibratto organ, even “Deliverance”-style banjo. Kennedy (the band), which performs tonight at the Three of Clubs in Hollywood, just finished a monthlong residency at Spaceland, and that’s a long way from four years ago, when Kennedy (the man) was living out of his van and recording music in the studio of the radio station where he worked. He has since found not only his band but a permanent residence in Burbank.

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Her debut is a do-over

Singer-songwriter Charlotte Martin has been hearing the buzz for some time. Before signing to RCA Records more than two years ago, the 26-year-old Martin recorded an independent CD, “One-Girl Army,” which got her national press in “Details” magazine, among other places. Because of business complications, the CD was never released. Now Martin, who moved to L.A. from Illinois almost three years ago, gets a second chance at a first impression with her RCA debut, due next spring. The delay isn’t a bad thing though, as Martin says it’s given her time to get in touch with her goth voice. A self-proclaimed Cure fanatic, she says, “If Kate Bush and Robert Smith [of the Cure] had a kid and she played piano, it would be me.” Martin plans to take a couple of nights off from the studio to play around town before the end of the year.

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Happy to be here, indeed

It’s homecoming night Friday at the Derby for Britpoppers Aberdeen, as well as the end of a long, strange road. The band, which disintegrated in the mid-’90s after a couple releases on U.K.-based Sarah Records, released the pop gem “Homesick and Happy to Be Here” earlier this year. But a tour was, well, improbable, since during the hiatus, vocalist Beth Arzy had moved to London and hooked up with the Trembling Blue Stars. The problem was solved when Stars principal Bob Wratten agreed to a dual tour -- his material getting acoustic treatment. On the cross-country tour that ends Friday, Arzy did double duty, lending backing vocals to Wratten and fronting Aberdeen, which she co-founded with John Girgus a decade ago. “It was not as hard as I thought it would be,” Arzy said. “I mean, it was not as grueling as doing the double shift at Denny’s. I’m more relaxed with the Trembling Blue Stars material -- I’m not real big on stage presence, so I have to rock the Jack Daniels a bit before I can get out in front.”

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Briefly

Punk veterans Chip and Tony Kinman, co-founders of the Dils who are now doing business as Cowboy Nation, have released a collection of rough-edged, low-fi alt-country, “Cowgirl a-go-go.” They open for the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash on Friday at the Mint.... Orange County electronauts Channel warm up for Nina Hagen and ex-Bauhaus bassist David J at the Key Club on Saturday night.... Stop at a local Borders in the next month or so, and you’re liable to see Gabriel Mann, whose album “Tug of War” Was released last week. Mann’s trio is being promoted as part of a special program called “Under the Radar,” a joint project by the chain and an independent A&R; firm.

-- Compiled by Kevin Bronson, with Susan Carpenter and Steve Baltin

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