Happy Hollows: Spells

It seems to be the popular trend in rock journalism to compare any female singer fronting a rock band and harboring a sweet, wounded voice to Kim Deal. But the thing about Los Angeles’ the Happy Hollows is that front woman Sarah Negahdari sounds so much like the Breeders/the Pixies firecracker it’s next-to impossible to ignore. That’s really where any comparisons to the former Mrs. John Murphy stop. Armed with an electric guitar and a mean knowledge and skill to accompany it, Negahdari displays a fearlessness and confidence that is equal parts Carrie Brownstein and Lita Ford, as Spells so righteously signifies. If this is the now sound of the Los Angeles underground, then New York City needs to step it up a notch or three.