At last, an indie band that doesn't hide its 'Foreign' roots

By Meredith Deliso

Foreign Born may be big fans of Brooklyn, but the Los Angeles-based indie band has no plans to move from the West Coast.

“There’s a stigma around LA. Brooklyn’s reputation works for it, LA’s reputation works against it,” says lead singer Matt Popieluch, whose band mostly comprises native Angelenos, despite what the band name might suggest. “I’d say I don’t think it’s deserved. There are cool bands here right now. We’re part of a music community that I’m proud of. I don’t want to be anywhere else right now.”

The occasional tour does pull the rising indie band out of their home base from time to time, and when they come to town next month, you might find them at Prospect Park, relaxing between gigs at the Mercury Lounge at the end of July and The Bell House on August 3 (with shows in Philadelphia and Washington, DC., added in between those for good measure).

“That’s one of my favorite parks in America,” says Popieluch. “Last time I was there I had such a nice walk. It blocks out the city when in the middle of those trees. I just like the utter change of scenery.”

After being on the road for a month in a coast-to-coast tour, the band could use some R&R. Last month, they released their second full length, on Secretly Canadian, “Person to Person,” a celebration of LA in hand claps, expressive group harmonies and tribal guitar licks that provides perfect summertime fare. The album has also found a fan in Brooklyn-based Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste, who hailed the album’s “crisper sounds [and Popieluch’s] wonderful voice.”

After the album must follow the music video, and Foreign Born just came out with a new one for the lead single “Winter Games,” and are working with Matthew Lusner (behind the Brooklyn-based Dirty Projector’s new video for “Stillness is the Movement) for “Early Morning.”

While the band still finds time to be involved in other projects (Popieluch counts himself a member of his girlfriend Cameron Mesirow’s pop band Glasser, fellow Foreign Born songwriter Lewis Pesacov’s band, Fool’s Gold, as well as his own solo effort, Big Search), Foreign Born is definitely the focus now.

“I think it’s healthy to keep things turning a little bit,” says Popieluch, “and get variety so everything stays fresh.”

Nothing like an utter change of scenery.

Foreign Born play the Bell House (149 7th St.) on August 3 at 7:30 p.m. with The Veils and Faces on Film. Tickets are $14. For more information, call 718-643-6510.