The battle is on!  L.A. is playing host to a full-on, fist-to-fist brawl this Sunday as three of music’s finest come out to show everyone what they’ve got.  So where should you go to feast your ears and get your feet moving?  THE POP FIX has got the lowdown right here for you…

The three bands duking out this week are some of those who know the indie rock scene the best: the British, and some new dwellers of the ultra-hip scene of Echo Park.  Keane is headlining Largo at the Coronet, Little Joy will be at the Troubadour and Friendly Fires take over Spaceland.

Source: Keanemusic.com

Keane first made a mark on the music scene with their soft piano rock in 2004, and the British band has been consistently putting out music ever since, between the constant touring and even lead singer Tom Chaplin’s rehab session.  Their latest album, “Perfect Symmetry,” was released quietly last month but shows off a poppier and dancier side, with almost Brandon Flowers-esque vocals.  It’s definitely a new direction for the band – gone are the soaring stadium-ready anthems, now are the hand claps and playful singing.  Unexpected?  We agree, which is why their live show will definitely be something to see.

Source: Myspace.com/littlejoy

Little Joy emerges from the nearby locale of Echo Park and is named after a cute cocktail lounge just down the street from where the band recorded.  For quick reference, this indie group will be known as the side project of drummer Fabrizio Moretti from the Strokes, and his chilled, simple drumming keeps its trademark here, but this is far different from the Strokes’ tough NYC persona.  Brazilian Rodrigo Amarante and Moretti’s girlfriend Binki Shapiro round out the rest of the cast, and provide the soothing vocals, ukulele and guitar that give Little Joy the special ‘sing-along in the corner with friends’ feeling.  This trip to the Troubadour will be the band’s first official performance in L.A., and what can beat seeing a band’s first show in their hometown?

Source: Friendly Fires

Friendly Fires also come from the great land of England, but one day will live in Paris, they promise, they’re on it.  Or so says their upbeat single, “Paris,” a dreamy song unmatched in its young optimism, from their self-titled album released back in Sept.  For a self-produced debut album, the band keeps its indie shoegaze pop sound varied – for one half they sound (appropriately) French a la The Teenagers without the crude lyrics, and for the other half they sing and groove so confidently they might as well have come from L.A.  They’ve made their rounds around L.A. a couple times already, but they won’t be back for a while as they head off on a European tour, so you don’t want to miss their sendoff from their biggest year yet.

Ding ding! And THE POP FIX winner is…

Little Joy, with a nightcap of Friendly Fires.  As we said, nothing can beat seeing a band’s first show right in their hometown, and the Troubadour is a great venue to have an intimate sing-along.  Then put your dancing shoes on and head over for Friendly Fires at the 21+ Spaceland – the bar’s notorious for putting their headliners on stage late into the night so you’ll probably be able to catch their set.

And if you still want to see Keane, check out their Thursday performance at the Echo instead.  The Largo show is an acoustic one, and that would mean missing out on seeing them try out their new sounds.

Happy dancing!