Buzz bands

Positive signals

Guitarist Ron Ulicny makes no apologies for the Slow Signal Fade’s self-released “Kindling� EP. “It was recorded in a very small space in Venice -- and I stood next to the toilet the whole day,� he says. “We did everything in 24 hours.� Admirable, not only for the music, a dreamy amalgam of Cure-ish rock and dense pop supporting Marguerite Olivelle’s Alanis Morissette-meets-Sinead O’Connor vocals, but for the do-it-yourself ethic. No wonder Slow Signal Fade earned a nod as one of four bands to play the Amoeba Records’ “Home Grown Summer Showcase Series� on Sunday night at the House of Blues in West Hollywood. The show, which includes Sean Dailey and Desolation Sound, the 88 and the Action Cats, is the first of two featuring independent artists nominated by Amoeba employees. “It’s our way of giving back to the music community,� the store’s Mary Patton says. Patton calls the idea “pretty much a win-win thing� and looks ahead to the second, rootsier bill on Aug. 11 featuring Carlos Guitarlos, Lorna Hunt, I See Hawks in L.A. and Mike Stinson. As for SSF, Ulicny senses that “Home Grown� and a string of other gigs have helped the quartet pick up steam. “I’m starting to believe things were meant to happen,� he says.

Fast forward

Stay at Home Bomb, the punk quartet that includes two former members of Betty Blowtorch, Judy Molish and Sharon Needles, performs Saturday on the “OutFest Presents Platinum� bill at the Ambassador Hotel.... From Detroit: No-nonsense rockers the Witches visit the Troubadour tonight.... Not solo: Shane Alexander of the L.A. band formerly known as Damone performs with a full band Friday at the Viper Room.

-- Kevin Bronson

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