Susan Richardson

Mulhollands: What Radio Needs To Start Playing by David Tanny (Jan 11, 2008)

One band that comes to mind is Gnarls Barkley, whose song "Crazy" was one of the most remembered songs of 2005. He was one of the Internet success stories, albiet, a rare one.

With so many soundalike bands coming out on the radio, horrid goth bands, groups whose compositions don't make me feel anything but numbness, I just concluded a few years ago that if you want to hear new music, don't depend on Clear Channel, or Ryan Seacrest anymore. None of them has a pulse on the heartbeat of the Internet music generation. All they want to play all the time is predictable monotonous acts that are gone in two months and stick with the same half-dozen acts that are mostly worn out its welcome.

One music act that radio should be embracing, but continues to be ignored, except for this 47 year old middle-aged Internet music man, is one that I've been writing about every now and then and has a pulse on what makes people want to tune into their band, see them perform, and buy their music.

I don't see any of the freelancers at The Reader's Blurt section writing much of anything interesting. Hey, Ken Leighton and Jay Allen Sanford. How come you don't write about music that's interesting? Why so much emphasis on punk bands? What about melodic rock bands that we like to hear? Why can't you journalists get it? When will I start seeing more interesting things in Blurt? Why don't the Reader hire some WGA writers? They could come up with better ideas for the Reader's Blurt section than what they're coming out with.

Here's an act that the alternative weeklies are completely ignoring. I'm talking about a band that plays at clubs, bars, bowling alleys all over the Southern California outland, except in San Diego as far as I know, but someday, that should change as this band may someday be touring outside the Los Angeles basin where they have been playing for three years as a band.

This such band is The Mulhollands. Now, who are the Mulhollands you ask? More on that later, but how they got their name is that they picked their name directly from Hollywood's famed street, Mulholland Drive, known for its long winding road high above the Los Angeles with picturesque views. It's also the street where the band often meets to write songs together.

From a myspace blog named at the end of this article:

"With her striking eyes and model good looks, lead singer Sarah Jeanette is no stranger to Hollywood. Her mom is Susan Richardson, best known for her role on Eight Is Enough. Her godfather is Dick Van Patten. Growing up in Pennsylvania, she was reportedly offered several modeling jobs (which she turned down) and even acted in her high school play. But after graduation, Jeanette moved to Los Angeles to pursue a different dream û music. Here she met guitarist Jeremy James who also moved to L.A. from Nashville to pursue his dream in music. Together, along with bassist Jeff Mizushima and drummer Danny Alfaro, The Mulhollands have created a power pop sound with a punk attitude.

"Last month, in support of their first EP "With Our Eyes Closed," The Mulhollands played their final show of 2007 at The Viper Room. That night's slate included OK Stranger and The New Hotness. This electrifying night also included surprise guests in the crowd including Jodie and Jeff from The Automatic Music Explosion and Gram Rabbit quietly sitting in a corner booth. Jodie even took the stage to sing a couple songs with The Mulhollands.

"It's hard not to like The Mulhollands. Jeanette's stage presence seemed natural and unforced, probably due to her upbringing by her famous mother. And with lyrics like, "It's just another sunny day in Southern California" and soaring arrangements in songs such as "Baby Its Alright" and "Beautiful Night" it's only natural that, with their SoCal sound, they list the Beach Boys as one of their influences. Their songs are laced with addicting melodies and catchy lyrics. No doubt about it, The Mulhollands are a SoCal band, their sound reminiscent of an ending road-trip driving down the Pacific Coast Highway, hair blowing in the wind with the top down. Their songs are that good which is not too overpowering but yet still able to generate enough punch to rock your socks off. If the Red Hot Chili Peppers' laid back sound did what it did to identify SoCal rock, The Mulhollands are doing the same by injecting a romanticizing feel to it.

"In a city where there are more downs than ups, The Mulhollands are destined for success, their songs such as "Malibu" recently being featured on television shows (most notably last July's special about a certain Beckam couple). They're having fun and playing music on their own terms through pure talent and perseverance. Like the long windy road that they've adopted as their name, The Mulhollands are perched high atop the City of Angels, admiring the view and enjoying the ride."

The Mulhollands Official Site: http://www.myspace.com/themulhollands. More photos in our pics page are located at http://www.myspace.com/picksysticks