Buzz bands

Concept, then content

Call it album-by-outline. The Lawrence, Kan. -- by way of L.A. -- quintet the Appleseed Cast had one song and a concept when they embarked on making their sixth album, “Two Conversations.” Guitarist/vocalist Christopher Crisci then came up with the song titles. “Then we wrote the songs to the titles,” guitarist Aaron Pillar said. “We even had a dry-erase board in practice....It was different, recording songs to make the story work.” The result is a relationship-obsessed collection of moody indie-rock that manages to be brainy and visceral. The band, which performs at Spaceland on Tuesday and Chain Reaction in Anaheim on Wednesday, credits its survival to fleeing the Southland five years ago. Valley native Pillar met Crisci in L.A., and the band, as it was then configured, decided the Midwest was a more economical place to live and carry on their music pursuits. Said Pillar: “It really saved our band.”

Fast forward

Bedroom Walls, those quiet purveyors of what the trio has dubbed “romanticore,” celebrate the release of their album “I Saw You Coming Back to Me” with a show Friday night at the Derby.... With its dates on the Warped Tour behind and a debut album due Sept. 16, Level plays Friday at Club Lingerie.

-- Kevin Bronson

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