BUZZ BANDS

Get past the name

One of the Loudest Tragedies Ever Heard might be one of the silliest names ever concocted for a rock band, but its music is neither tragic (well, except for the suicide song) nor disconcertingly loud. Giddy? Yes. Calamitous? Probably, as audiences will find during the L.A. quartet’s three-Monday stint at the Silverlake Lounge beginning Sept. 12.

With its swirl of references to punk, new wave and metal, the Tragedies’ debut album, “Situation Nowhere,” embodies an era when nothing is static -- witness the six versions of “Loaded Gun” on the band’s website. You’d think a studio whiz was in charge.

Turns out, one is: producer and remix specialist Johnny Fisher. “The people I remixed for didn’t know I played and wrote songs, and the people who knew I was in a band didn’t know I remixed,” he says. “So I dreamt up this really horrific band name and made it work for everything.”

Fisher assembled a quartet including two rockers (bassist Natalia Bolanos and drummer Claudia) and a fashion photographer (guitarist Mark Zarnow). “I didn’t want to make a record without a real band,” Fisher says. “There’s something that happens when you play live music.”

Released on indie label Wedgie/Ameroo, in which veteran manager Ted Gardner has a hand, “Situation Nowhere” has had several songs creep onto radio playlists -- “Mind Over Matter” and “Love and Attention” in L.A., “Suicide (Nothing Says Forever)” on the East Coast, “Loaded Gun” in the Midwest. Says Fisher: “It’s as if the songs are creating their own identities.”

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Fast

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Earlimart has parted ways with its label, Palm Pictures, but singer-guitarist Aaron Espinoza remains busy in his Eagle Rock studio, working on the follow-up album to 2004’s highly regarded “Treble & Tremble.” The band is touring in support of Son Volt (local date: Sept. 13 at the El Rey Theatre) without label support.... Meanwhile, Palm’s other L.A. connection, the rock trio Moving Units, is in negotiations to secure its release from the label, singer-guitarist Blake Miller says.... Midnight Movies is shooting to record its sophomore album in November, with singer Gena Olivier giving up principal drumming duties. With Jason Hammons having left the trio, the band will morph into a quartet. Joining Olivier and guitarist Larry Schemel will be Sandra Vu on drums and a bassist to be named. Olivier will still be up front, with a partial kit and keyboards. The band is slated to play the Sept. 17 installment of the Saturday series Night Vision: MOCA After Dark.... L.A. quintet Scarling celebrates the release of its album “So Long, Scarecrow” with a show Friday at the Troubadour. (Also: Tuesday at Cinespace).... The debut album from L.A.’s Max Bemis, a.k.a. Say Anything, has been picked up by J Records. “... Is a Real Boy,” originally released a year ago by Doghouse Records, will be re-released in October with an extra disc of alternate versions of the songs, and Say Anything will tour this fall with Saves the Day.... Shaking the cobwebs off the goths: The Key Club hosts Death Rock Diva Night on Friday, with Dinah Cancer and the 45 Grave topping a four-artist bill that harks back to ‘80s horror-punks.... The “unannounceable” surprise guest Monday at ArthurFest is Devendra Banhart (who plays Oct. 7 at the Vanguard).

-- Kevin Bronson