MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #12 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival
The last installment of HEADROOM for the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival goes live tomorrow. The very next day, we clean the rust off our dancing shoes (and dance moves) and make tracks for northeast Los Angeles, where three of Pasadena's finest bars will host over fifty of the choicest independent bands and solo artists in the world. They're coming from Chile. Ireland. Haiti. Hell, there's even a Canuck in the mix, along with homegrown sounds from states far and wide. Here at youbloomHQ, it's regrettable to see the end of what has turned out to be a lively, illuminating outing on a kind of heavy metal hay wagon with bockety wheels and a passed out driver. HEADROOM is a unique space where artists who will be sharing stages also get to share stories about the one thing bringing you all together: sweet, sweet tacos. Wait, what? It's not tacos?? Well, what on earth could possibly...can somebody get our source on the line? I swear, one of these days...OH. Right. Riiight. It's music. I knew that, think I was just hungry. Can somebody get a taco delivery on the line? On the reals, though, it's been dope. Much obliged to all the artists who participated in this digital confession box. (I mean, if you hadn't, we'd have bugged your phones and gossiped about you anyway, but high five! You saved us an absolute fortune and raised eyebrows from the guy at the electronics store. So it's win-win!) This batch of performers have some pretty insightful things to say about the first time music made an impression on their tiny spongey minds - including one guy getting smothered in the name of soul (hint: it's about boobies). Way to take one for the team, brother. We'll leave you to your reading, friends, and thank you once again for making HEADROOM LA '15 the most fun yet. Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the final goss, give us the thumb of approval on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Soundcloud, and, of course, get on down to the fest. It starts Thursday. Don't miss it or you'll be eating your sweet sweet tacos alone. Take it from someone who knows.![my first time](http://www.youbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Direct-Divide-1030x687.jpeg)
It’s a curious thing, the electric violin. At once impossible to ignore and signature (what would The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly” be without it?), it’s a rarity in rock and pop music; it’s full range of sounds as yet uncharted in the more well-known genres. Putting it front and center are what Direct Divide do, which is both brave and intriguing, their unique sound complemented by tight rhythms, searing vocals, and intelligently placed guitar melodies. For fans of: Lourds, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Andrew Bird’s darker stuff
![my first time](http://www.youbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Julian-denmantau1-687x1030.jpg)
They arrived in Los Angeles on a mission: to be the biggest band in the world. German born and bred, they’ve honed their chops and are stopping at nothing to share their tight, bohemian, insanely danceable music with every pair of ears from here to the moon. Set to be a highlight show at youbloom LA, you really need to see these guys. For fans of: the good Pearl Jam stuff, Jack Penate, Paolo Nutini
![my first time](http://www.youbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Feli-and-The-LemonShakers1.jpg)
They sound like sunshine and cocktails, and have no shortage of musical chops, with caressing vocals, dreamy pop guitar melodies, and infectious, hip shaking rhythms. Even the empty spaces have style. One to watch. For fans of: Goodbye Chanel, Bombay Bicycle Club, Blondie
![my first time](http://www.youbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Robert-blue-moon-updated.png)
Whip smart and acerbic, yet feel-good and uplifting, this is a group with cunning musical abilities and a tangible desire to venture beyond the well-tread environs of intellectual hip-hop. Crvscxnt Moon blend soul and gospel into a refreshing helping of music with something to discuss. For fans of: J. Cole, Blackalicious, Mr. Lif
![my first time](http://www.youbloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/bjj.jpg)
Cool, clever, and impassioned, the masterly BJ Smith has the kind of industry chops you hear whispered about across the bartop when he walks into the room. He produces. He sings and plays. He writes songs. He tours with top brass; picks his own band members; slides an R&B song your way like passing a love note. He’s impeccable. Don’t miss him. For fans of: Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, your own heartbeat