If you recall the dust-up at the Atwater Bar last year, you may have written off the space -- as well as the Griffin -- as a place to catch live music in LA for good. But never fear, because the Moon Room has opened its doors on that site, and shoegaze alt-rockers Moaning will play a free show there on February 13th. The trio have a new album called Uneasy Laughter dropping in March, on which they'll debut their more synth-friendly sound. While the usual doom-tinged drum & bass and abrasive guitars aren't going anywhere, Moaning have brought a few new instruments into the mix to add a little texture to their tracks. It'll make you laugh, it'll make you dance, and it'll make you want more. Take a look at the video for the album's first track "Ego" below, and catch Moaning at the Moon Room on 2/13. - Will Sisskind

Last week Oakland-based Sour Widows released one of their first singles, “Tommy” off their upcoming self-titled EP. The EP was recorded at Fantasy Studios just before they closed (and in part over at Decibelle Studios in SF). The song is dreamy and full of hooks and melodies we crave. The band is playing a few upcoming shows, including some SXSW spots. Be sure to check them out! -Lucille Faulkner

Upcoming shows 1.19 - San Francisco - Club Night, Patio 2.16 - San Francisco - KXSF Live Session 3.16-3.22 - Austin - SXSW 4.2 - San Francisco - Ratboys

If you’re feeling stressed out--or feeling anything at all--I suggest plugging into one of Yolanda’s newest jams, “Sick Pike.” The song is dreamy drift into trippy town and the accompany video matches that vibe to a t-shirt. The animated short features a flower-eyed dino-creature mounting a horse and galloping into a forest. Illustrator and guitarist for the group (as well as Bells Atlas, Perhapsy) has really expanded as an illustrator into some fun and elaborate territory and we’re all for it. The single was recorded mostly at home and mixed mostly at Tiny Telephone. We missed their release show but stay tuned more more more and tune into this lovely dreamy find. -Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Those with a vested interest in LA's shoegaze community shouldn't sleep on Split Moon, who will release their newest album Slow Satellite on February 28th. The project of singer and guitarist Mark Starr, this rebirth of the band LEAF creates music that sounds like a whole symphony; the wailing of Starr's guitar layers over and over upon itself, washing you with waves of trance-inducing sound. The group's first single from Slow Satellite, "Shades", has the post-punk elements of Joy Division and the shoegaze bliss of My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver; take a listen to it below. - Will Sisskind

On January 24th, dream pop quartet Trends will mark the release of their debut album Palettes with a colorful show at The Roar Room. Trends has grown from lead vocalist Marina Paiz's lo-fi solo project to a four-piece indie powerhouse, creating songs that expand from soft and introspective musings to rapid-fire proclamations in both sound and verse. Palettes has the band processing life's complex moments through song; on tracks like "Ampersand" and "Blanket Party", Trends explore grief and missed opportunity, as well as what we do to cope and make our own way through our lives. Take a look at the music video for "Branches", a single from Palettes, below. - Will Sisskind