Magnet coming to LA - finally
After picking up a Russian NME in a Novosibirsk metro a few years back I came across a review for Magnet's On Your Side. Being enthused by the review, I searched out On Your Side upon my return to the states only to find that it hadn't yet been released in the US. The months past and little by little Magnet (who is Norwegian singer/songwriter Even Johansen's moniker) was picked up on the new music radar and was asked to perform on KEXP and KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic whose host, Nic Harcourt, called On Your Side one of the best albums of 2004. Being blown away by the live versions of his songs, based around a steal lap guitar coupled with flerby reverb and delay, I couldn't wait to see a performance of the man I had heard about for so long.

After missing shows at the Troubadour and the Viper Room over the last couple years Magnet is finally returning to the states and is making a stop here in LA.

Here is one of the key tracks off Magnet's new album The Tourniquet (out this spring but already available on iTunes).

Magnet - "Hold On"

3/7/06 - Troubadour (opening for Isobell Campbell) (tix)
3/14/06 - Hotel Cafe

If you want to hear a snippet of Magnet's live show take a listen to his live EP on iTunes or here at KCRW.