LA Live Music Options: 7/21/08 - 7/27/08

Secret Machines Play the Viper Room on Sunday

Another stellar week of live music options. There are heavily hyped new bands (Hercules and Love Affair, Sebastian Tellier), legends (Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks) and plenty for Americana fans (Lucero, James McMurtry and Dwight Yoakam). Not to mention Secret Machines and Darker My Love....

Monday 7/21/08
[Recommended] Jail Weddings / The Moon Upstairs / Thee Makeout Party / Weave @ the Echo (Free) – The Moon Upstairs record was in my top 10 for local releases last year.
[Recommended] Letting Up Despite Great Faults / The Rhone Occupation / Whalebone @ Echo Curio (Free) – I haven’t been to a show at Echo Curio yet, but I liked Letting Up Despite Great Faults last record.
[Recommended] Princeton / You Me and Iowa / Army Navy / Whitman @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Under the Influence of Giants / The Snow / Hello Vegas @ Spaceland (Free) – From their Myspace page: “Under the Influence of Giants are a group of hot guys that will force you to masturbate with blueberry jam.”
Plasticsoul / Karabal Nightlife / The Breakups @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Two Sheds / Leslie and the Badgers @ Hotel Café
The Zac Brown Band / Rescues @ Troubadour ($12)
Bad Bones @ the Scene

Tuesday 7/22/08
[Recommended] Ray Davies @ Grove of Anaheim ($35 - $55) – Really hard for me to get down to Anaheim on a weeknight, but I highly recommend it if you can….
James McMurtry / Dedringers @ Troubadour ($20) – McMurtry’s a singer-songwriter out of Austin. His new record is political and dark. Check out “Cheney’s Toy” on his Myspace page. And yes, he’s Larry’s son (ever read All of My Friends are Going to Be Strangers? It’s pretty great).
Peter Walker @ Echoplex ($12) – This is the Peter Walker known for being a highly influential raga and flamenco acoustic guitarist, not the one who started Dangerbird Records and now plays in Eulogies.
Summer Darling / Chikita Violenta / Writer / Amateurs @ the Echo – Solid local lineup, plus Chikita Violenta out of Mexico City.
Jay Brannan / Annie Stela @ El Rey ($16)
Babyland / The Prids / Shiloe @ Spaceland ($8)
Happy Stars / The Meadows @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Wednesday 7/23/08
[Recommended] Club NME: Lucero / Jessica Lea Mayfield / Glossary @ Spaceland ($15) – Lucero’s always been called Southern rock’s version of the Replacements. Great drinking music for their rabid fan base.
[Recommended] Steely Dan @ Nokia Theatre ($50 - $110) – A part of me wishes I was going to this. I have a new found appreciation for them after watching the Classic Albums making of Aja. They’ve got an 11-piece backing band.
[Recommended] Inara George & Van Dyke Parks @ Tangier Restaurant (Sold Out)
Randy Newman @ Largo (Sold Out) – Performing songs from his forthcoming record.
Hercules and Love Affair @ the Echo ($18 / adv tix sold out) – Disco with a lot of buzz. Being on DFA definitely helps.
Learning Music / Golden Dogs / From Leaf to Feather @ Tangier ($10)
Cute is What We Aim For @ Troubadour ($15)
Tenlons Fort / Avi Buffalo / Ema and the Ghosts @ Mr. T’s Bowl
The Old Believers / Active Set / Hard to Get / The Meemies @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Thursday 7/24/08
[Recommended] Lucero / Jessica Lea Mayfield / Glossary @ the Echo ($15) – If you miss them at Spaceland Wednesday (or you’re under 21).
[Recommended] The Meeting Places / Archways / Antiques / The Eye The Ear and the Arm @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) – The Meeting Places is Scott McDonald’s band.
[Recommended] The Riverboat Gamblers @ Viper Room ($15) – The Riverboat Gamblers put on a high energy live show.

Anavan / Bipolar Bear / tik tik @ the Smell ($5) – Anavan’s another local band that should capitalize on all the attention on the Smell. They’re heading off on a big European tour at the end of October.
Tokyo Police Club / Afternoons @ Hammer Museum
Dizzee Rascal / Kenan Bell / Hollywood Holt / 87 Stick Up Kids @ the Echoplex ($22) – Dizzee Rascal’s got a few fun songs.
The Warlocks / The Vandelles / The Meek @ Troubadour ($14)
Middle Class Rut / Burning Brides / Nebula @ Safari Sam’s ($10)
The English Beat / The Alarm / The Fixx @ Henry Fonda ($35)
Ron Sexsmith @ Largo ($30)
The Life and Times / Nueva Volcano / Solare @ Spaceland ($8)
The Kin / The Rescues @ Hotel Café
Sleepingboy / The Health Club @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Sirhan Sirhan @ the Scene
Foxy Shazam / Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ Key Club
Benefit for Spencer Rollins: Young Animals / Cobra Lilies / Dorian Wood / Exitmusic / Avi Buffalo @ All Star Lanes ($5)

Friday 7/25/08
[Recommended] Darker My Love / Fool’s Gold @ the Echo (Free before 10:30 PM / $5 after) – I’m telling you, the new Darker My Love has total breakout potential.
[Recommended] Jon Brion @ Largo ($30 / $20 for 2nd set only)
Bullet for My Valentine / Cancer Bats @ Wiltern ($27.50)
Rocky Votalato / Owen / Vast Atlantic @ Troubadour ($14)
Diana Ross @ Hollywood Bowl ($10 – $114)
The Republic Tigers / Radars to the Sky @ Spaceland ($8)
John Webster Johns / Residual Echoes @ El Cid ($7)
That Noise / Ninja Academy @ Pehrspace
The Youngs / David Scott Stone @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Wyclef Jean @ House of Blues ($35)
Los Lonely Boys / Los Lobos @ Greek Theatre ($35 - $55)
EPMD @ Crash Mansion ($25)
Bipolar Bear @ the Scene

Saturday 7/26/08
[Recommended] Wanda Jackson @ Knitting Factory ($23) – Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneer.
[Recommended] Greg Proops Chat Show w/ Flight of the Conchords (Sold Out)
Sebastian Tellier @ Knitting Factory Front Room ($15) – Some good buzz for this Frenchman. His new record was produced by Daft Punk.
Howlin Rain @ Spaceland ($10) - Ethan Miller's (Comets on Fire) other band.
Harvey Milk @ Relax Bar – Veteran metal act that recently got a best of new music from Pitchfork.
Does it Offend You, Yeah? / The Black Ghosts @ the Echo ($18 / Advance tickets sold out) – Newish dance rock band with some pretty good buzz.

Lemon Sun / Rumspringa / Eastern Conference Champions / Gangi @ Troubadour ($10) - LA Record is presenting this show.
Tha Alkaholiks @ Fat Beats Records (Free show at 4:00 PM) – Celebrating the release of their live DVD. Fat Beats is located at 7600 Melrose.
The Human Value / Biblical Proof of UFOs / Kids of Widney High / Artichoke @ Zen Sushi
Seasons / Odd Modern / Downtown Union @ Pehrspace
Alkaline Trio @ House of Blues ($18.50)
Gary War / Summer Vacations @ the Smell ($5)
Tha Alkaholiks @ Crash Mansion ($20)
Zizek Urban Beats Club @ Getty Museum (Free) – El Guincho canceled.
Louis XIV @ Huntington Beach Pier
Dusty Rhodes & the River Band @ Key Club
Year Long Disaster @ Swing House Studios - Fresh off some arena dates with the Foo Fighters.
Diana Ross @ Hollywood Bowl ($10 – $114)

Sunday 7/27/08
[Recommended] Secret Machines @ Viper Room (Sold Out) – Secret Machines recently announced plans to self-release their new album this fall with the help of World’s Fair. If you haven’t had the chance to see them live, I highly recommend it.
[Recommended] Dwight Yoakam / Chris Cagle / Emerson Drive / Lee Brice @ The Greek ($40 - $60) – Yoakam’s a whole lotta fun to see live.
[Recommended] Gnarls Barkley / Fallou Dieng / Deerhoof @ Hollywood Bowl ($10 - $123) – Gnarls Barkley’s gotta be a lotta fun to see live too.
[Recommended] Little Radio Summer Camp: Castledoor / Weather Underground @ Little Radio ($10) – 1218 Long Beach Ave in Downtown LA.
Grande Ole Echo @ the Echo (Free) – Early show at 5:00 PM.
Brunch Americana @ Safari Sam’s (Free) – Early show at Noon
The Black Ghosts @ Turntable Lab
At the Gates @ the Fonda ($32)
Neil Hamburger / Abe Lincoln Story @ Spaceland ($8)
Bart Davenport / Michael Berg / Underground @ Tangier
Lemon Sun / Rumspringa / Eastern Conference Champions / Gangi @ Troubadour ($10)
Howlin’ Rain / Mark Fosson @ McCabe’s ($12)