You know the expression “If these walls could talk…”? Well, if the walls in Hollywood’s Swing House Studios ever find themselves with the gift of gab, I’m immediately hounding them for an interview. For 15 years, one band after another has passed through the studio’s seven rooms, and the latest group to find themselves within Swing House’s fabled walls is San Francisco’s Picture Me Broken. Fresh off their win for Best Breakout Bay Area Artist at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, the underage quartet brought their blend of melodic hard rock and screamo to Hollywood last week, performing a showcase at the studio to give listeners a taste of their latest EP, “Dearest (I’m So Sorry).”

I watched the show from an elevated couch in a corner of the cozy performance room but was forced to reconsider my vantage point soon after the set began. The level of sound bassist Austin Dunn, guitarist Nick Loiacono, and drummer Conor Lung created caused the couch to shake and me to wonder how sturdy the platform holding it was. However, as soon as frontwoman Layla Allman opened her mouth all concerns for my physical safety evaporated, and I found myself drawn into the performance. The group’s sound was reminiscent of From Autumn to Ashes but with a female singing both the ethereal and the kickass vocal parts. Allman would effortlessly transition from growling screams to feather-light melodies in the same breath, and watching her bang her head of long blonde hair along with the boys, it’s clear to see this is one girl who can definitely hang in a music scene dominated by men.

Also check out our interview with the band HERE

For more info on PMB check out:

http://www.myspace.com/picturemebroken

or

www.purevolume.com/picturemebroken