EAST L.A. GREEN/HARDCORE BAND IT’S CASUAL ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM

The New Los Angeles II: Less Violence, More Violins
release date: November 20th, 2012 record release party November 23rd at the Troubadour in West Hollywood

Los Angeles green/hardcore band It’s Casual hail from the East side neighborhood of Boyle Heights. They’ve become synonymous with public transportation advocacy and known for their incredibly loud, incendiary live performances. Their new studio album, The New Los Angeles II: Less Violence, More Violins, streets on November 20, 2012 and will be available as CD, cassette, download and vinyl. Band will perform live to celebrate the album’s release at the Troubadour in West Hollywood on Friday, November 23rd with Fatso Jetso and special guests TBA, doors are at 8:00pm, 10:00 pm set time, tickets $10.00, all ages.

Eddie Solis is the face of the new East Side sound and the Los Angeles Transit Revolution. With his band, It’s Casual, Solis uses every forum available to advocate for improved public transportation for all Angelenos. Radio stations across the state of California have given him a platform to speak about the ways in which popularizing the use of, and improvements to, public transportation can make a positive impact on the environment, communities, people’s health and their wallets. Stations like KPCC the Southern California NPR station and statewide programs like California Report (aired on 66 stations throughout the state) have featured Solis. He’s been a regular guest on KXLU, KNAC, Pocho Hour of Power on KPFK.

A Studio360 segment by noted journalist and pedestrian advocate Alissa Walker (Gelatobaby blogger) features an interview with Solis. It’s Casual wrote and performed the song “Commuting in Los Angeles” exclusively for the program which also features Terry Bozzio who penned the anthem “Walking In L.A.” Solis will soon begin hosting his own radio show and podcast called Los Angelista from Skid Row Studios based in downtown Los Angeles. The show will feature guests, and topics will include local food, music, Latino and SoCal culture. Solis’ photo exhibit, Through The Eyes of a Bus Rider, will be included to Santa Ana’s December downtown art walk.

Steven Cuevas, who featured the band on Southern California Public Radio opined “…the “Redline” video (directed by photographer/Jackass affiliate Rick Kosick) seethes with the tension of being stuck on one of the city’s many thoroughfares, name-checking the 405, 210, 101 and more. Best of all, the song really rocks.” AOL’s Noisecreep enthused “Who would have thought that a two-piece, Black Flag-worshipping hardcore band would have a green message? The enemy? Traffic jams, congestion and all the shit that comes with it.” And pop culture curators Giant Robot wrote “…full-on aggro (yet smart) blasts of metallic (yet fun) brand of SST-informed hardcore.” The band’s music video for “The Redline,” was picked up widely averaging 3,000+ views per week. It was heavily reported on by Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, OC and LA Weekly, LAstreetsblog, MoveLA, The Source, etc.

The first track on the new album, “The Goldline,” kicks off with the final drum beat from the previous album’s last track “EZ Pass.” The track also sets the tone for the record’s message including the age old struggle people from the East Side have faced getting across the L.A. River. Much has been written about this theme in music (Los Lobos) and literature. The Goldline opens the City in both directions and change is imminent. Track two “Less Violence, More Violins” goes deeper and explores what happens when you cut funding for after school activities and music programs. Gangs proliferate and kids get in trouble because they have nothing to do and no supervision. This song is a battle cry and each song on the album reveals what Solis has witnessed on the bus, and growing up in East L.A. The songs on this album interlock with or complete ideas presented on Part I.

The New Los Angeles Part II: Less Violence, More Violins, was recorded August 2012 at Buzzbomb Studios in Orange, California and tracked, mixed, mastered by Paul Miner (Death by Stereo, H2O) who also plays bass guitar on the title track. The album was produced by It’s Casual. The eleven tracks on the album include: 1. “The Goldline,” 2. “Less Violence, More Violins,” 3. “Keep The Children Occupied,” 4. “California Is Not An ATM Machine,” 5. “WIC,” 6. “Sharing Is Not Caring,” 7. “Their Own Cash,” 8. “Tap Card,” 9. “Live Food,” 10. “The Gap Is Widening” and 11. “Kids Having Kids.”

It’s Casual are featured on a split 7-inch with Early Man out now on Demon Problem Records and have shared the stage and toured with artists like Mastodon, High On Fire, Prong, Fu Manchu, Story Of The Year, Zeke, Nails and Fireball Ministry. Visit It’s Casual online at itscasual.tv on Twitter @ES13 and on Facebook.