The Standard

Gather round, it’s time for another installment of The Standard, Hollywood’s Desert Nights. This week’s line-up include the incomparable Jenna Bryson, the lovely & amazing Justine Bennett, and the fantastic The Family Bones.

A little “Magic” by Jenna Bryson

Mash-up the Americana style of Taylor Swift with the groove of Jason Mraz, then add a touch of Beyonce-esque soul, and voila! Jenna Bryson’s music is melodic and “catchy”, and her lyrics playful and honest. Her influences run the gamut winking at Mozart, Cole Porter, Etta James, Journey, and Sarah McLachlan. In fact, speaking of the Lilith queen, someone once said that Jenna Bryson is what might happen “…if Kelly Clarkson and Sarah McLachlan had a baby and then sent it to be raised by Jewel.” And while that comparison is surprisingly accurate, Jenna still has her own thing goin’ on, including feisty, anti-love songs, tunes about un-fairytales, and emotionally raw ballads aimed to move, inspire, and “cast a spell” on you.

Click here to listen to Justine Bennett.

Justine Bennett grew up amongst artists and hippies in the remote mountains of British Columbia, listening to the folk songbirds of her piano teaching mothers generation. As a late teen, she packed her bags and moved to San Francisco, where she earned her singer/songwriter pedigree busking on the streets. With alto vocals evocative of Joni Mitchell and Natalie Merchant, Justine’s vintage sweetness blends today’s sound with the echo of another era. In 2009, Justine brought her music to Los Angeles. Since then she’s released two records through her label Authentik Artists, and is winning a following that’s steadily growing.

The Family Bones, looking cooler than ever! Click here to have a little listen.

The Family Bones is a loose collection of musicians formed in late 2010 by Justin Webb. With this new project, Webb has called upon the skills of some of the best players with whom he’d crossed paths over the years, including Michele Stodart (Magic Numbers), Cal Campbell (Instant People, Glen Campbell Band), Jonny Polonsky (Pucifer, Pete Yorn), and Jason Falkner (Jellyfish, Air, Beck). The resulting self-titled album, The Family Bones, expands upon the retro-space rock musings of his earlier career with classic soul songwriting and a timeless yet modern production aesthetic. The current live lineup features Webb, Cal Campbell, Jonny Polonsky, and Joey Ayoub.

What is Desert Nights?

Desert Nights is a weekly gathering at The Standard, Hollywood. Every Wednesday, we curate three acoustic musical acts to perform a set in the Cactus Lounge. The vibe is warm and intimate, evoking an impromptu jam in a musician’s living room. The music begins at 7:30pm.