Nightmare of the Elf

Nightmare of the Elf has been stirring up trouble in the Los Angeles area since the beginning of 2004. The band consists of John Landau on vocals and guitar and Naren Renz on keyboards. The style is a mix of new wave, goth, punk attitude and a bit of experimental fun and performance art. The release of their debut album, Graveyard Dance Party, in March 2005, has drawn interest both domestically and internationally.

The release of their debut album, Graveyard Dance Party, in March 2005, has drawn interest both domestically and internationally.
Polish site, Cold Magazine, calls N.O.T.E. a mix of Oingo Boingo, Devo, Bauhaus, and A Certain Ratio. Livid Looking Glass Magazine (Los Angeles) feels the band "combines classic new wave with a heavy dose of Oingo Boingo and The Toy Dolls."
"Nightmare of the Elf is Nightmare Before Xmas meets the Dead Kennedys, a rambunctious, risky combination of eldritch imagination and dark, theatrical rock n' roll," says Landau, speaking about his vision, both musically and visually, of the project.

On N.O.T.E.'s live performances, the L.A. Weekly says (from a Pick of the Week) "Nightmare of the Elf encourage a Mardi Gras atmosphere of goths in trash bags doing the Taffy Pull, gnarled U.K. punk codas marrying gnarly U.S. guitar cop-outs."
Mostly, Nightmare of the Elf has performed around the Los Angeles area, but has made it up into the Berkeley area to play at the renowned punk club, Gilman St, with Babyland, and plans more shows outside of the L.A. area in the future.

As for the members of Nightmare of the Elf, each brings their own bit of experience to help round out the vision of the band.
Naren was classically trained on the piano and has been playing in bands and music projects since the mid-90s. He says, "When I first heard Nightmare of the Elf, it was on a four track tape recording, and I thought, THIS is the project I was born to be part of!"
John has been involved in the theatre since 7 years of age, not only acting, but composing and staging plays; including musical theatre. He has been known in the L.A. area goth scene for being outlandish and spontaneous - qualities he draws upon as front man for the band.

-- from the band's bio page at http://www.nightmareoftheelf.com