Big bands are hard to come by these days. Now, I’m not talking Benny Goodman or Tommy Dorsey big bands, but big bands that encompass more than just a guitar, bass and drums – maybe a rhythm guitar if you’re lucky. One of the less exciting effects of the lo-fi explosion of the ‘90s is the ultimate non-big band: the two-piece band, seen is its most popular form in the pasty faces of the White Stripes. But I digress. Big rock bands are rare beasts in today’s music scene. That’s where L.A.’s own Jail Weddings enter stage left, a mammoth ten-piece act that consists of no less than three vocalists, a violin, a piano, drums, bass and two guitars, not to mention a sax.

The band’s MySpace page describes their sounds as “Soul/Melodramatic Popular Song/Pop.” Apt but understated, this distillation fails to mention Jail Weddings’ ability to conjure up a jubilant atmosphere of doom and gloom that is also somehow grandiose, like a crumbling, cavernous ballroom strewn with empty bottles and soiled napkins after the world’s most sordid party.

Their first seven-inch, “Somebody Lonely” b/w “The Honeymoon Loop” is nothing short of stupendously brilliant. Released by Red Wine/ Revenge Records, the single is reportedly already sold out of its limited first pressing and is almost gone in its second run of 200 copies on beautiful black vinyl. The good news is that Canada’s New Romance For The Kids label will shortly be releasing the band’s sophomore effort, another limited single (500 copies) with two more songs. Our fair city may neglect its current garage rock stalwarts in favor of the Silver Lake indie scene, but the day will come when record collectors will bite, kick and pull hair to get a hold of these records. Mark my words.