Hailing from San Diego, the fresh sound of this up-and-coming band, which resembles a blend of Kings of Leon and Cold War Kids, is sure to explode through your speakers and light a spark that’s impossible to put out. “You Ain’t That Special,” deadpans vocalist Tom Pritchard, in the bittersweet original track of the same name by his band, Dynamite Walls. It’s an accusatory sentiment that encapsulates the swagger and candor of a band that clearly is special. Pritchard and his cohorts specialize in smart, insinuating tunes that capture both the hopes and disillusionment of contemporary American life. Indeed, in an age of sledgehammer rhythms and infantile lyrics, Dynamite Walls’ original songs are so triumphantly nuanced, they restore one’s faith in intelligent pop-rock song craft. They played the Give Some Love Showcase at SXSW this year with Bedouin SoundClash and After Midnight Project.

Check them out at their myspace: www.myspace.com/dynamitewalls

This is one musical explosion you don’t want to miss!

Featured on Luxury Wafers Live Sessions blog:

Dynamite Walls - Mystery - Luxury Wafers Sessions from Luxury Wafers on Vimeo.

TODAY at 4 on the USC Campus between Bovard Auditorium and Taper Hall

Interesting things to do this weekend:

Who could turn down free pizza? I can guarantee you that Captain Ahab and Sonic Death Rabbit will put on a great show. And I’d really like to know more about the genre, acoustic beardcore. address/map

On Sunday there will be another “beat swap meet” in Chinatown, outside of the Grand Star Jazz Club from 12-6pm. You can buy, sell, or trade records and purchase dj related items and apparel. Inside the club, there will be a party going on. You can get in free to this if you bring a canned good. (the swap meet itself is outside and free) address/map

Definitely a few of my favorite Los Angeles bands and no strangers to the scene. A fantastic time is promised.

Fellow Trojan and singer/songwriter Alyssa Suede comes into the Live Show on February 27th. Tune in 1-2pm.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti is coming to play the Live Show on KSCR this Friday February 20th from 1-2pm. The L.A. five-piece will be opening for Animal Collective next Thursday the 26th at the Henry Fonda (a very, very sold out show). Tune in for a live set and interview.

Has anybody been feeling a little dicked around by Ticketmaster? If you purchased a ticket for the Henry Fonda show with Animal Collective, Lucky Dragons, and Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, then you may have received an alert via e-mail/phone yesterday that the show was re-scheduled for Monday 2/23. If you changed your schedule, then you may like me be totally pissed off that another alert arrived this morning that the show was re-scheduled again to the date AC has on their Myspace, Thursday the 26th.

We’ve already been through so many uncertainties and date changes. Ticketmaster really needs to get it together. I feel like I should at least be refunded my convenience fee.

The USC campus has never been immune to bicycle thievery, but in the last month this has proved especially apparent. Within my small circle alone, two bicycle thefts and two wheel losses (unfortunately including my own) have occurred in the last month. Here are a few tips for novices and experts for prevention:

• Get a great U-Lock. This article by Slate may be two years old, but the principle remains the same: not all locks were created equal. Another lesson learned is that security may come at a price. The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock was the winner and can be found on Ebay for as low as $50. An investment, really, as the true value of a bicycle is not known until it’s gone…

• Even for short-term locking, use a cord lock in addition to the U-lock. Especially if you have quick-release wheels and even if you have a bolted-on wheel, an additional 15 seconds of locking really is worth it.

• Lock through the frame, wheel, and to a rack, even if this means more walking to find an appropriate place. Pull the cord lock through your frame, front wheel, and to your lock.

Other guides to safe locking: SF Bicycle Coalition, eHow.