From the most public corners of Northeast Los Angeles comes new indie-folk band Border Collie, consisting of Elon Thomas (guitars, vocals), Kiefer Detrick (guitars, vocals, drums), and Julian Bonilla Rivera (bass). After bumping shoulders playing shows at The Echo and at various house shows, they got together in the fall of 2022, and started releasing music in May of 2023. After producing their first singles and EP of 2023 in their home studio, Border Collie enlisted the help of a couple of old friends to catapult them into a busy 2024: Trevor Zem (drummer for Ethan Tasch, Mk.gee) joined Border Collie at Scott Frankfurt Studio for a one day recording session late last year. ‘up closer’ retains Border Collie’s live-in-the-studio feel, but with a newfound presence and crispness that complements the stubborn (and almost delusional) optimism that abounds the band’s prior output. Singers Kiefer Detrick and Elon Thomas share a loose and acrobatic harmony the whole way through, tripping around meaning and purpose, feeling all and knowing none. Despite the steadfast locomotion of drummer Trevor and B.C. bassist Julian Rivera’s rhythm section—you might get the urge to hold the lid down on the band’s roll-boiling energy.