2016 is a leap year, and you know what that means: February gets five Mondays! Moonlight an extra night at these FREE Los Angeles residencies. Lena Fayre graces the Bootleg after a sold out show at Chicago's Art Institute — and possibly with new songs from an upcoming release? The bar stage gets a fifth Monday sendoff from Marjorie Fair. From Aliso Viejo to Los Angeles, trio Adult Books begin their monthlong stay at The Echo, switching it up on the third Monday with a performance at the spaced out Echoplex — read their latest interview with Lo-Pie. Pom Poms and The Controversy share four nights at The Satellite. Finally, Bright Missiles tear it up on Tuesdays at Silverlake Lounge, after Silver Snakes' last free Monday with AEGES, Minnow, and The Royal. - Ryan Mo

Lena Fayre at The Bootleg (21+):

Feb. 1 — with Vox, AKW
Feb. 8 — with TRACE, Lush Guts
Feb. 15 — with YASSOU, Me Yow
Feb. 22 — with Phebe Starr

Adult Books at The Echo (21+):

Feb. 1 — with The Molochs, Drinking Flowers, Terminal A
Feb. 8 — with Colleen Green, Psychomagic, Mother Merry Go Round
Feb. 15 — with Numb.er, Tracy Bryant, Wyatt Blair
Feb. 22 — with Part Time, Billy Changer, Noah Kwid (at The Echoplex)

Pom Poms and The Controversy at The Satellite (21+):

Feb. 1 — with Mothertapes, Chasing Kings
Feb. 8 — with Artists TBA
Feb. 15 — with Artists TBA
Feb. 22 — with Artists TBA
Feb. 29 — with Artists TBA

Bright Missiles at Silverlake Lounge (21+):

Feb. 8 — with Steps of Doe, Fan Fiction, Judy Gloom
Feb. 15 — with The Modern Age, Yo, The Noogles
Feb. 22 — with Pizza Friday, Deep Breaths, V.V. Friendly
Feb. 29 — with Jubilo Drive, Bedbugs, Ghosts In Pocket

What happens when an unstoppable force hits immovable object? A Controversy. Laura Vall, andThomas Hjorth are the unique and talented duo that make up The Controversy, an electro pop band with psychedelic elements with influences that range from Bjork and Beck to Portishead and Massive Attack. Their newest single, "Two Voices", holds nothing back. “Two Voices is about the insecurities we all battle with everyday,” Vall says, “the doubts that we face and how these can hold you back, even if they are just in your head.” Growing up is inevitable; we begin to realize as adults that the only thing truly stopping us is ourselves. But hard work pays off, and in 2012 the band won Artist of the Year (Artists In Music Awards) and Best Alternative Song (Hollywood Music In Media Awards), but that didn’t make the room smaller for this group. “It was great validation and a pat on the back for us but we know that we need to keep pushing forward and keep fighting. We know that there is still a long way to go and this is just the beginning.”

Varying in analog and digital synths, electronic beats, and even sampling inanimate objects to create a unique sound, The Controversy stops at nothing to keep their audience captivated on their sound. Nothing is out of the question - pencils hitting a glass, bumping pots and pans together and even pieces of wood are used to create that illuminating sound that is unlike anything we hear on the radio. After not playing a live show for over a year, Vall has plans for 2015 that include an exciting light show, a full experience and a strive for greatness. The Controversy is both the immovable and the unstoppable. As Vall suggests, “Just let go and free yourself from all these demons, you’ll enjoy life more and feel better about yourself." - Kayla Hay