Buzz Bands

Youth is served

The twentysomethings in American Eyes seem perfect for the Key Club’s Ruby Tuesdays promotion -- and not just because they’re performing at the Sunset Strip club every week this month. They crave live rock shows, and they run in circles where not everybody is of drinking age. “It’s amazing they would even put on these shows,” says vocalist Dave Zonshine, 22. “It’s a great opportunity, because a lot of our fans are in high school.”

The free shows for clubgoers 15 and older feature resident bands with a rotating cast of supporting acts. “For a while, I didn’t know if we could get kids to come over to Hollywood,” says the club’s booker Carrie Istad, who, 2 1/2 months into the promotion, is encouraged by the turnout the club has had for promising local acts such as the Adored, Ashbury, the Blood Arm and Oslo. American Eyes, friends since their days in elementary school in Agoura Hills, have a batch of shout-along songs that recall a young Offspring. Their first EP should be done at month’s end.

Delaware divine

If Cliff Hillis lived in L.A., he might have a posse -- or at least a gig writing catchy jingles for movies or television. But Hillis lives in Delaware, where he makes earnest power pop that is neither twee nor overblown -- material that would fit snugly on a playlist with Squeeze, Teenage Fanclub and Jason Falkner. Hillis’ second album, “Better Living Through Compression,” just released on L.A. indie label TallBoy Records, features contributions from Mike Bitts and Steve Brown of the Innocence Mission.

“I recorded it on my own over the past couple of years, and I couldn’t be happier,” says Hillis, 34, who makes a rare visit to L.A. tonight, performing at the Derby on a bill with the Eugene Edwards Band and Robbie Rist.

Fast forward

“Gentle Explosion,” the new collection of soft rock/laconic lounge from L.A.’s Mello Cads, is due out Tuesday, and the sharp-dressed quartet will celebrate with a show at Spaceland.... Then there’s a heaping helping of sweet soul sounds: Sol Uprising, the collaboration between Lil Sci and Stacy Epps, performs Friday night at the Temple Bar.... Minibar seems to grow more engaging with each outing. In support of Keane on Friday at the Troubadour, the L.A.-based London expatriates followed a strong set by Matt Pond PA with a sparkling set of their own. Minibar opens for the Wallflowers on Monday and Tuesday at the House of Blues Anaheim.

-- Kevin Bronson