Rock Picks: Autolux, Rickie Lee Jones, Black Mountain, the Gourds, and more

For the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 7

Comments (0) By L.A. Weekly Music Critics Wednesday, Jan 30 2008

HoneyHoney at the Roxy

HoneyHoney are a duo from Venice who used to go by the name Zanzibar Lewis. Suzanne Santo sings with an old-timey, rootsy affectation as partner Ben Jaffe lazily plucks an acoustic guitar behind her. "Glory Box" is an intriguing slice of folk-rock as she pines longingly for love. "Give me a reason to be a woman," she wails invitingly, stretching out her lonely pleas with jazzy phrasing. In attempting to evoke classic Americana on the woe-is-me ballad "Homeless Heart," Santo risks coming off as jivey with her mannered down-home delivery when she coos, "The slow morning crawl is making Mama's head spin," but she's rescued by Jaffe's rich slide-guitar wallowing and, ultimately, her own passion. She's more affecting on the spare, languid tune "Bouncing Ball," blending her winsome crooning into Jaffe's nonflashy chord changes. HoneyHoney are scheduled to open for Rocco DeLuca at this showcase for bands on Ironworks Music, the label run by actor Kiefer Sutherland. (Falling James)

Andy Goodwin

Out of their heads: The Gourds

More About

Also playing Thursday:

CECI BASTIDA, FREE MORAL AGENTS at the Bordello; THE LILYS at the Echo; COLBIE CAILLAT at House of Blues; YAKBALLZ at the Knitting Factory; WATKINS FAMILY HOUR at Largo; ENTRANCE BAND, TWEAK BIRD at Silverlake Lounge; DANNY B. HARVEY at Taix; THE KOOKS at the Troubadour.