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in Los Angeles and traveling back and forth. "L.A. is a major metropolitan area," he says. "Statistically, there are good musicians there. Everyone was down to play. That was one thing that was cool about L.A. versus here; everyone would end up bringing a guitar over to a party. There were more house party jams." La Rocha decided to return home to con tinue uniting musicians and inviting them to play his songs. "It can be a scheduling nightmare, but it always ends up paying off," he says. "I think that's one of the healthiest parts of the Atlanta scene, having that fresh ness [of performers]. When you finally get those cats herded in the right direction, and you get the rehearsal in, it's always good." La Rocha hopes to tour more extensively behind Stealing Time before Ocha Scores gets its proper release. "We did it live to t?oe, and everyone got to write on that one," he says of the EP. "Everyone got their own parts; that was a cool way to do it." Not only was Stealing Time the first record ing where more members got to compose, but it also has one of the more interesting physi cal appearances of any recent release. Pressed onto 12-inch vinyl, the front side features four songs. The back, however, sports one playable track as well as an intricately engraved Ocha la Rocha logo. "It's supposedly the first time they were able to do a playable engraved side of a record," la Rocha says. Still, the forthcoming LP will make up for its simpler pressing with musical payoff, he asserts. "I think it has a higher production value in general," la Rocha says. "It's kind of glitzier, and a little cleaner. Better song writing, too. We had some time." La Rocha and the band plan to spend the coming year doing exactly that, taking their time recording another album and letting the music do more working for itself. From safe at home, Ocha la Rocha's songs are going places. Julia Reidy . WHO: The Stone Foxes, Ocha la Rocha, The Falcones, Woodfin WHERE: Caledonia Lounge WHEN: Thursday, June ® -3 p.m. HOW MUCH: $5 (21+), $7 (18+) V J A Atlanta’s Star Community Bar to having songs appear on Hollywood television shows like ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" and MTV's "The Hills." Somehow, however, Johnny la Rocha and his band Ocha la Rocha seem to be at home doing both. Formed in 2004, Ocha la Rocha—la Rocha himself and a cast of rotating Atlanta musi cians, including Ponderosa's Kris Sampson and Snowden's Chandler Rentz, among others— play a laid-back brand of psychedelic Southern rock. They released their debut full-length, Ocha Lives, in 2005 and an EP called Stealing Time in 2010, the latter of which was pro duced by Geffen Records alum James Barber (Drivin' N' Cryin', Ryan Adams). The band's forthcoming sophomore full-length, Ocha Scores, has yet to see release, as the band is still shopping for a label. But these records by themselves prove only a small part of Ocha's impact. In 2007, the band signed with an upstart music licensing firm and quickly found its music in the strang est of places. From TV shows like "America's Funniest Home Videos" to movies like Hot Tub Time Machine, Ocha la Rocha's songs have a film and television career of their own, in placements often as unexpected as they are far-reaching. "We were in this documentary about Troll dolls, [for instance]," la Rocha says. "That was pretty odd. But we haven't ended up in a Propecia commercial or anything. Not yet." The bandmembers don't place the songs themselves, which means they don't get a say in whether the show or movie has any con nection with the music's intent. "A lot of the time, as long as the check cashes, I'm cool with it," la Rocha says. "I think if there's any backlash I feel, it's definitely internally, because no one h-,s said, 'It sucks that you're on that show.' Times are so tough for musi cians, everyone understands. It's not like I'm writing tunes specifically for shows." The publishing contract, la Rocha says, was responsible for turning what had been a hobby into a career—something that has been sustainable over almost seven years. "[The contract] really is what changed [our career], that kept it going," he says. "Plus, just having a rotating cast of characters in the band. I've probably had 30-plus members at this point." Pulling from kindred bands all over, Atlanta has fostered Ocha la Rocha's journey, Ath«*n*. fr.iriMt I>«j*. \«*r vk «• to IJfjA 1 0 min ti'i« Rates from s 349 Furnished apartment?, & townhomi.". 1 to 4 bedrooms, f .ill private b.ithrootm M In unit w.r.lmr & drynr Swimming pool*., fitnr-v. rontnr % Tdnni*., b.r.kotb.ill, voll**yb.ill ^ On Mt<* t.innifKj *..ilor» I■*«-r p«*r\on l<-.r.in'j, roornrrt.it** rn.it* hirt*j down ends JUNE 25 HOIlAll:, A 706.543.4400 JUNE 8,2011 FLAGPOLE.COM 13
