To health, and a wealth of Limbeck

[Humble apologies for the dearth of posts last week. I was walloped and waylaid

by the condition my doctor called "That Nasty Thing That's Been Going 'Round,"

Now, here's to wellness:]

Limbeck's music wears like a flannel shirt on

a brisk morning. The Orange County foursome, which shunned their pop-punk leanings after

their first album, has matured largely in a tour van, with the highways and landscapes

of the U.S. coloring their experiences. Limbeck recently expanded its travels to include

Australia, where singer Robb MacLean and band mates Patrick Carrie, Justin Enstmiger and

Casey Prestwood were greeted warmly on a 16-city tour. "Everyone was so

hospitable," MacLean says. "They laugh a lot at your jokes -- which really

lowers the bar on how funny your jokes have to be." On April 10, the quartet

unveils its fourth album, this one titled, simply, "Limbeck." It's another

growth spurt for the band's wide-eyed but grown-up Americana. The band won't be back in

its home state until April 18 and 19 (Chain Reaction and the Troubadour, respectively)

to play behind the release, but here's a new song to tide fans over:

Download: "Big

Drag"

Photo of Limbeck by Bryan Sheffield

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Emma Burgess, who was the subject my

Buzz Bands print column this week, will be back at the Hotel Cafe on March 27 (it's

the release show for Norwegian songstress Kate Havnevik's album

"Melankton"). Burgess' album "Swim" is thus far only available

digitally, at eMusic on her MySpace website using the SnoCap software. Here's a taste:

Download: "Big

Break"

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I was also sorry to have missed the Jason

Lee-endorsed Midlake last week at the Troubadour,

not that their album "The Trials of Van Occupanther" was as life-changing as

Mr. Lee apparently found it. This song has been around the web a while, but here's a

taste in case you missed it:

Download: "Roscoe."

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Seems like ages until the May release of "Trading Twilight for

Daylight" by the gorgeously melancholic local outfit Great Northern. They play tonight at the

Viper Room with the Pity Party at

Indie 103.1's "Check One ... Two" night. In the interest of tiding you over:

Download: "Home."

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Touts for Monday, March 5: The red-hot Airborne Toxic Event opens its

residency at the Echo, with the Happy

Hollows among those supporting. ...  Australians the Panda Band play Spaceland in the

first of their three L.A. dates in seven days; the occasion is the first night of Berko's residency. ... Buffalo Roam and Castle Door have a dual residency at

the Silverlake Lounge. ... The Vacation rock Safari Sam's. ...  And To Live and Die in L.A. and Kissing Tigers play a free show at the

Troubadour.