Buzz bands

Put it out there

The story of the fledgling On the Speakers sounds like a treatment for a reality TV show. A frontman from a busted band and a guitar player meet after bashing bumpers in a fender bender. They meet a drummer on the street while he’s banging on a bucket, a bassist signs on and now all four live in a house together, rehearse and write songs. High jinks ensue. In person and on tape, On the Speakers, led by former Creeper Lagoon frontman Ian Sefchick, far exceeds drafts on the drawing board, with the soaring melodies in songs like “Sweet Dreams” providing the dynamic and drama rock fans crave. “I think what this band wants to do is entertain and make people have a good time,” says Sefchick. “There’s a lot of great artists who are self-centered, but to make a connection with the audience you can’t be self-centered. You have to really put it out there for them.” On the Speakers’ six-song EP is available at shows, including their October residency on Monday nights at Spaceland.

Internet close

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, 22-year-old Jamison Covington was living in his hometown of Guthrie, Ky., writing Replacements-inspired pop songs all on his own. A long-distance friendship with L.A. musician Parker Case led them to form JamisonParker, now based in Orange County. Since forming in late January, Covington and Case have signed with Interscope Records and scored an Internet hit with “Home,” which is among the most downloaded songs on MP3.com since it debuted last month. “There’s people out there who don’t have access to good indie record stores, and their only way of finding things is through the Internet,” Covington says. “It’s funny, because there are people [at their shows] that sing along to songs that were on our demo.” The band plays at Chain Reaction in Anaheim on Saturday and at the Troubadour on Sunday.

Fast forward

A packed private party at the Knitting Factory last week helped Rusty Truck -- the nom de twang of Rolling Stone magazine photographer Mark Seliger -- usher in the release of his debut, “Broken Promises.” Backed by a veteran lineup, Seliger performed 10 originals to a crowd that included Liz Phair, Pete Yorn and “Weird Al” Yankovic before Kenny Wayne Shepherd joined him onstage for a blistering cover of Neil Young’s “(When You’re On) The Losing End.”

-- Kevin Bronson, with Colin Devenish and Patrick Day

E-mail us at buzzbands@latimes.com.