UPDATED: Recently Announced Live Shows

The (almost) full Hollywood Bowl schedule has now been announced. Notbale for my readers: Baaba Maal with Tinariwen and Fool's Gold, Goldfrapp, Fami Kuti, A Beatles Celebration, Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Cliff, Chemical Brothers.

And another Greek Theatre show was announced: Caetano Veloso on 4/15/10 (tickets on sale Saturday at 10 AM)

The Roxy
3/26/10: Hank III & Assjack

Largo
3/15/10: She & Him (call club)
3/30/10: Brad Mehldau (call club)

Gibson Amphitheatre
2/12/10: Haiti Benefit - It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia [live on stage] / Family Guy [Live] (Thursday at 10 AM)
3/12/10: Zak Brown Band (Saturday at 1 PM)

The Wiltern
2/2/10: Haiti Benefit – Tenacious D / Frank Black / James Mercer of the Shins / Bob Odenkirk of Mr. Show / Patton Oswalt (now)
2/25/10: Trailer Park Boys (Friday at 10 AM)
3/24/10: Devendra Banhart and the Grogs (Friday at 10 AM)
4/6/10: Five For Fighting / Matt Wertz (Friday at 10 AM)
5/22/10: The National (Friday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Palladium
3/31/10: Megadeath / Testament (Friday at 10 AM)

Spaceland
4/24/10: Shearwater (now at Ticketweb)

Hotel Café
2/20/10:Meiko (now)
2/24/10: Raul Malo (now)
2/27/10: Evan Dando (TBD)
3/5/10: Bell X1 (now)

Troubadour
3/12/10: The Happy Hollows (now)

The Glass House
3/12/10: Little Boots / Dragonette (now)
8/27/10: The Juliana Theory (2/4/10 at Noon)

Greek Theatre
8/7/10: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band (TBD)

Hollywood Bowl
5/7/10: Peter Gabriel (TBD)
8/11/10: Buddy Guy / B.B. King (TBD)
8/18/10: The Neville Brothers / The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (TBD)
8/23/10: Dave Matthews Band (on sale 2/26/10 at 10 AM)
9/3/10 – 9/4/10: Earth, Wind & Fire (TBD)

Best of the Decade: #20 - #11

I know what you're thinking: "Are you really still counting down your best of the decade?" Yes, yes I am. I've been busy. Previously #30 - #21 and #40-31 and #50-#41.


20) Kelley Stoltz: Below the Branches (2006 on Sub Pop) – My girl and I went mad for this one when it came out. It makes me happy every time I hear one of his songs in a commercial because I know he’s getting paid.
MP3: Memory Collector


19) Radar Bros.: And the Surrounding Mountains (2002 on Merge) – I’d like to hear a band like Mastodon or Baroness do a tribute to this album. This has been my favorite LA band since I moved here in 1996 (although they were unseated for brief periods of time by Beck, Wiskey Biscuit and Elliott Smith).

Still Evil - Radar Bros.

18) Outkast: Stankonia (2000 on La Face) – Obviously I’m not a huge hip-hop fan. I love a lot of singles, but there just aren’t that many albums that hold my attention. This album, while still overstaying its welcome, is one of the exceptions. “B.O.B.” might even be the song of the decade. “We Luv Deez Hoez” is pretty hilarious too.

B.O.B. - OutKast

17) Iron & Wine: The Creek Drank the Cradle (2002 on Sub Pop) – I like these spare, acoustic records. This filled the void left while Elliott Smith was on his unfortunate decline. I enjoy all of his stuff, but this one made the strongest impression.
MP3: Lion's Mane

16) Okkervil River: The Stage Names (2007 on Jagjaguwar) – These guys are still my pick to be the next big indie crossover act. All it’s going to take is one high profile song placement (if that’s what they want).
MP3: Our Life Is Not a Movie Or Maybe

15) Dr. Dog: We All Belong (2007 on Park the Van) – Dr. Dog could be exhibit A for an imaginary essay entitled “Pitchfork – Culturally Relevant? Or Download Guide for 12-Year-Olds?”
MP3: My Old Ways

14) Jay-Z: The Blueprint (2001 on Roc-A-Fella) – One of the only hip hop albums of the last 15 years that I can just put on and let it play all the way through.

Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - Jay-Z

13) Grandaddy: The Sophtware Slump (2000 on V2 Records) – Indie rock done right. This is a classic. They got tagged the American Radiohead after this one.

The Crystal Lake - Grandaddy

12) Elliott Smith: Figure 8 (2000 on Dreamworks) – Not as strong as Either/Or or XO, but still very inspired. I still can’t go into the Roost without thinking about this record.

Everything Reminds Me Of Her -...

11) The Strokes: Is This It? (2001 on RCA) - Pretty, pretty, pretty good. I still think I’m going to hear Tom Petty’s “American Girl” every time I hear the intro to “Last Nite.” Tom Petty’s cool with it, so I guess we should be too.

Last Nite - The Strokes

Live Music Options: 1/25/10 - 1/31/10

Citay Play the Echoplex on Thursday (with the Fruit Bats!)

Monday 1/25/10
[Pick of the Night] The French Semester / Team Abraham / Le Switch / Wonderground @ The Echo (Free) – The French Semester are doing the free Monday night residency in January. Get there by 10 PM to see Le Switch (one of my favorite local bands). They’re now a bit more rockin’ as a quartet.
[Recommended] Girls @ Detroit Bar ($12) – Great chance to see one of the Coachella bands in a more intimate setting (if you’re willing to make the drive to Costa Mesa).
[Recommended] Year Long Disaster / Dirty Sweet / Karma to Burn / Dead Meat @ Spaceland (Free) – Hard rock takes over Spaceland as Year Long Disaster is doing this month’s Monday night residency. The band features Daniel Davies (son of Dave Davies from the Kinks). The last night of the residency.
[Recommended] Frank Fairfield @ Redwood Bar
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)
[Recommended] Sarah Silverman / Aziz Ansari @ Largo (Sold Out) – Benefit for Haiti
The Northstar Session / Whispering Pines / Sally Jaye @ Bootleg (Free)
The Steelwells / Dusty Rhodes and the River Band / Mississippi Man / Eugene and the 1914 @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Talibam! / Vaginals / David Scott Stone @ Echo Curio
Warm Streams / Cockwind / Stress Ape / Hot Topic / Kill Kill Kill @ Pehrspace
Oren Lavie @ Hotel Café

Tuesday 1/26/10
[Pick of the Night] Olin and the Moon / The Henry Clay People @ The Echo (Free) – Can’t beat a free chance to see The Henry Clay People. The last night of Olin and the Moon’s Tuesday night residency.
[Recommended] Jenny Lewis and Friends Benefit for Haiti @ Largo ($40) – Azure Ray, Jonathan Rice, Morgan Nagler, Becky Stark and Jason Boesel are some of the friends.
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)
Summer Darling / By Sunlight / Vanaprasta / Shiloe @ Spaceland ($7)
The Union Line / Voxhaul Broadcast / We Barbarians @ Bootleg ($10)
The Cribs / Jemina Pearl @ The Glass House ($15)
Giant Ships / Cydney Robinson @ Silverlake Lounge ($7)
Mateo @ Hotel Café
Guns N’ Broses / Stress Ape / I.E. @ The Smell ($5)
Nick Jonas & the Administration / Diane Birch @ the Wiltern ($40 - $50)

Wednesday 1/27/10
[Pick of the Night] Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band / The Donkeys @ The Echo ($10) – Catch Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band before they head out on the Warped Tour this summer. I like some of the Donkeys stuff I’ve heard. MP3: The Donkey’s “Walk Through a Cloud”
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)
Sisu / Asbury / Twilight Sleep @ Spaceland ($5)
The Airborne Toxic Event / Aushua @ Troubadour (Sold Out) -
Nick Jonas & the Administration / Diane Birch @ the Wiltern ($40 - $50)
Kissing Cousins / By Sunlight / Ryan Harrison / Daniel Ahearn @ Echo Curio
Low End Theory Club: Nalepa Dub Orchestra / Virtual Boy / St. Andrew / Fuzz @ Airliner ($10)
Silent Star / The Wallburds / Hotel St. George @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Michael Runion / Jason Boesel / Z Berg / JJamz @ Bootleg ($10)
Lucy Schwartz / Chris Pureka @ Hotel Café
Royal Crown Revue @ the Mint ($15)

Thursday 1/28/10
[Pick of the Week] Fruit Bats / Citay / Extra Classic @ Echoplex ($15) – I’m really into both the Fruit Bats (MP3: The Ruminant Band) and Citay (MP3: Careful with That Hat)
[Recommended] The Parson Red Heads / The Chapin Sisters / Social Studies / All Spots to Black @ The Echo ($7) – Good lineup.
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125) – Good night to go see the return of Pee-wee.
Mos Def @ the Key Club ($20) – The Key Club is opening back up.
Wayne Hancock @ Amoeba (Fre) – 6:30 PM
The Mother Hips / Travel By Sea @ Hotel Café
Abe Vigoda / Silk Flowers / Bronze / Tearist @ The Smell ($5)
Fishtank Ensemble / Diego’s Umbrella / Jessica Fichot @ Spaceland ($7)
Broken Lizard Live @ El Rey ($17) – An early and a late show
Nick Jonas & the Administration / Diane Birch @ the Wiltern ($40 - $50)
Chris Thile and Friends @ Largo ($25)
Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring Rick Vito @ House of Blues Sunset (call)
Jason Webley / Eliza Rickman @ Echo Curio
Jason Diaz / Wade Ryff / Zmed Brothers / Peppermint Wolf @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Death Kit / Yours Til Death / The Half-Hearted @ Bordello ($5)
Wayne “The Train” Hancock @ The Mint ($15)
Four Year Strong @ Troubadour ($15)
HoneyHoney @ Viper Room ($10)

Friday 1/29/10
[Pick of the Night] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125) – Most people are really enjoying the show (especially fans of the TV show).
LL Cool J @ Key Club ($30)
Chris Cornell @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Timbaland Presents Shock Value II Tour with The Fray & The Honor Society @ House of Blues Sunset ($37.50)
Nick Jonas & the Administration / Diane Birch @ the Wiltern ($40 - $50)
John Doe & the Sadies / CC Adcock / Jace Everett @ Echoplex ($12)
Polysics / Sabrosa Purr @ The Roxy ($15)
The Tender Box / Satellite Crush @ The Echo ($5)
VV Brown / Reni Lane / Love Grenades / Scott Simons @ Spaceland ($10)
Greg Proops Chat Show @ Largo ($25) – With Chris Thile and Kathleen Madigan
Andy Clockwise / Nneka @ Hotel Café
The Adolescents / Riverboat Gamblers / John Doe @ Alex’s Bar ($15)
GPKISM / Seileen @ Bootleg ($20)
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($38 - $99)
Bowling for Soup @ El Rey ($20)
Boomsnake / Slang Chicken / Superhumanoid @ Echo Curio
Janiva Magness @ McCabe’s ($15)
Figurine / Psychic Powers / Suzanne Kraft @ Pehrspace
My Name Is Dalloway / Magic Fingers @ The Smell ($5)
Tim Reynolds & TR3 @ the Mint ($20)
Thee Makeout Party / Brendan Daniel & the Chics @ Redwood Bar
Pink Floyd Experience @ Orpheum ($32 - $40)
Eddie Izzard @ Nokia Theatre

Saturday 1/30/10
[Pick of the Night] Bowerbirds / Julie Doiron @ The Echo ($12) – Early show at 5:00 PM; Bowerbirds are the third Dead Oceans band I’ve recommended this week. MP3: Northern Lights
[Recommended] Farmer Dave Scher / Lithuanian Prince / Greater California @ The Prospector – This is listed on the venue’s site, but not Farmer’s. Make sure to call ahead.
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)
[Recommended] Riverboat Gamblers / Throw Rag / Mike Watt & the Secondmen @ Alex’s Bar ($15)
Daijobu @ Troubadour ($10)
Nico Stai / Chief / Yikes! A Lion / Fences @ Spaceland ($8)
The Residents @ the Fonda ($25)
Moving Units / Rumspringa / Casxio @ The Glass House ($20)
Lelia Broussard / One Trick Pony @ Hotel Cafe
Strung Out @ El Rey ($19)
John Nolan / Mansions @ Bootleg ($10)
The Music of Led Zeppelin @ The Wiltern
I See Hawks in LA / Old Californio @ Redwood Bar
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo ($25) – Kaitlin Olson and Mary Lynn Rajskub will appear
How I Wrote That Song featuring Common, Zak Brown, Sebastian Krys and Colbie Caillat @ House of Blues Sunset ($15) – Early event at 1:00 PM
Asura / Sequins and Skeletons / Ana Carvelle / Anenon @ Echo Curio
David Lindley @ McCabe’s ($22.50)
Kill Kill Kill / Manhattan Murder Mystery / Meredith Meyer @ Pehrpsace
Tim Reynolds & TR3 @ the Mint ($20)
Pink Floyd Experience @ Orpheum ($32 - $40)
Eddie Izzard @ Nokia Theatre

Sunday 1/31/10
[Pick of the Night] Crash some Grammy parties
Neil Hamburger / J.P. Incorporated / Brendon Walsh @ Spaceland ($8)
Digable Planets @ Key Club ($20)
David Lindley @ McCabe’s ($22.50)
Ivan and Alyosha / Brown Sugar Sinks / Greg Jong @ Bootleg
The Lucky Stars @ Redwood Bar

Radiohead Haiti Benefit Announced

From Radiohead's site:

Radiohead for Haiti

Just to clarify times for ticket sales

Auction starts Thursday 21st January 08.00 pm PST
Auction ends Saturday 23rd January 11.00 am PST

Well, that's all clear now....

x

Philip

Radiohead for Haiti

We're doing a show this Sunday (24th January) to raise funds for the relief effort in Haiti. The venue is The Music Box Theatre at The Fonda in Los Angeles, doors at 7pm. All proceeds are going to the Oxfam Haiti relief fund. We're trying to raise as much money as possible, so tickets will be sold by auction at this site from 8pm tonight until 11am Saturday (PST):

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/09004434FC1C86AC

We're in the middle of recording at the moment, so you'll be catching us on the fly.... but if you're up for it, then we are too.

See you then
x

Philip

Recently Announced Live Shows

Love Is All Play the Echo on April 18th

The Fonda
4/27/10: Dr. Dog / Deer Tick (on sale 1/22 at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre
5/16/10 – 5/17/10: Ricky Gervais (presale for AmEx cardholders starts 1/18 at 10 AM; on sale 1/22 at 10 AM)

The Roxy
2/2/10: Wale
2/16/10: Clipse

Glass House in Pomona
3/26/10: Ted Leo / Bleached (Friday at Noon at Ticketfly)
4/15/10: She and Him (now)
4/23/10: Rx Bandits (now)

Gibson Amphitheatre
2/21/10: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (now)
2/24/10: Mariah Carey (Saturday at 1PM)

The Wiltern
4/30/10: A Day to Remember (Friday at 10 AM)

Fox Theater in Pomona
3/20/10: Daniel Tosh (Saturday at 10 AM)
5/2/10: A Day to Remember (Saturday)

Empire Polo Club
4/16/10 – 4/18/10: Coachella (3 day passes on sale Friday at 10 AM)

The Echo
2/14/10: Kid Rockers Presents - Dengue Fever (now at Ticketweb)
4/18/10: Love Is All / Love Grenades (now)

Spaceland
2/13/10: Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub (now)
2/18/10: Solo Acoustic Evening with Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters and Audra Mae (now)

Troubadour
1/29/10: Chris Cornell (Friday at 1:00 PM)
2/24/10: The Rescues / Lucy Schwartz (Friday at 10 AM)
3/20/10: Devil Makes Three / Old Man Markley (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
4/2/10: The Wedding Present / Ringo Deathstarr (now)
5/25/10: Nada Surf / Telekinesis (now)

King King
2/21/10: Sloan (now at In Tcketing)

Coachella Lineup Announced

What do you think? I guess the highlights for me would be Jay-Z and Baroness on Friday. On Saturday I'd go see Devo (who I've seen before), the XX and Girls (who I hear aren't very good live). The big draw for me would be Sunday: Pavement (who I've seen a couple of times), Phoenix, Sly and the Family Stone, Gil Scott-Heron and De La Soul.

I have seen as many of these bands as I've seen in years past. Some of the other bands I remember having seen before: PiL (they were good 20 years ago), Echo and the Bunnymen (they play the hits), She & Him (I like M. Ward), Yeasayer (seeing them live made me hate them), White Rabbits (not terribly memorable), Muse (great live band), Faith No More (they were pretty good 20 years ago), Z-Trip (entertaining), the Raeveonettes (I'd rather just listen to their albums), Camera Obscura (I saw a bad show), OCMS (decent), Bassnectar (wanted to drill out my eardrums to make it stop), Edward Sharpe (just too much), Gorillaz (awful), Thom Yorke (I'd rather see Radiohead), Spoon (I'd rather sit at home and listen to the records), Julian Casablancas (I'd rather see the Strokes), Yo La Tengo (did you build a time machine to 1995?), Matt & Kim (cute for a song or two), Local Natives (I'd rather see them at Spaceland)...

Live Music Options: 1/18/10 - 1/24/10

The Hot Rats Play Spaceland on Tuesday and the Troub on Thursday

Hopefully you're all at the Spoon show at El Cid. I was in Las Vegas all weekend, so I didn't get this updated until now....

Tuesday 1/19/10

[Pick of the Night] White Denim / Brazos @ Troubadour ($14) - A lot of good bands in Austin these days...

[Recommended] The Hot Rats / Lemon Sun @ Spaceland ($15) - The Hot Rats is Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey of Supergrass doing a bunch of cover songs. Supergrass is great, so it should be a fun show.

The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)

Olin and the Moon / Dusty Rhodes and the River Band @ The Echo (Free)

Aziz Ansari @ Largo (Sold Out)

Boomsnake / Pepper Rabbit / Gamble House @ Bootleg ($10)

The Karabal Nightlife / Where Astronauts Go to Hide / Line and Circle @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Rachel Cantu @ Hotel Cafe

Moses Campbell / Penny Sledge / The Symbolick Jews @ The Smell ($5)

Wednesday 1/20/10

[Pick of the Night] Har Mar Superstar / Neon Trees / Little Red Radio @ Spaceland ($12) - Bringing the fun.

Jel / Odd Nosdam / Free the Robots @ Airliner ($10)

The Ettes / The Blood Arm / Heavy Young Heathens @ The Echo ($10)

Residual Echoes / El Chon @ Echo Curio

Daniel Merriweather / Samantha Ronson @ Troubadour ($15)

Black Lips / Japanese Motors @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($15)

As Tall As Lions @ the Glass House ($12)

Aziz Ansari @ Largo (Sold Out)

The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)

Royal Crown Revue @ The Mint

Thursday 1/21/10

[Pick of the Night] Idaho Falls / Red Cortez / Old Californio @ Spaceland ($7) - Get there early to see Old Californio.

[Recommended] Music Go Music / Wounded Lion @ the Echo ($10) - Some good ABBA sounds.

[Recommended] The Hot Rats / Lemon Sun @ Troubadour ($15) - If you missed them at Spaceland on Tuesday. Radiohead and Spoon were hanging out at Spaceland to see them.

Maus Haus / The Californian / Melanoid / Pomegranate @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)

Big Bang / Persephone's Bees / Annie Stela @ The Roxy ($12.50)

The Watkins Family Hour / Ben Lee @ Hotel Cafe ($20)

Mangled Bohemians / Simo Soo / Intergalactic Noise @ Echo Curio

Fantastica Bastidas / M31 / The Cigarette Bums / Peg Leg Love / Animals on Coke @ The Smell ($5)

The Last 55s / Cowgirls and Indians @ Bootleg ($8)

Friday 1/22/10

[Pick of the Night] Jon Brion @ Largo ($25) - He's cut it down to once a month.

[Recommended] Cold War Kids / Alec Ounsworth @ The Wiltern ($20) - Pitchfork favorites (kidding).

[Recommended] Black Lips / Nobunny / Audacity @ The Glass House ($12)

Jemina Pearl @ The Echo ($10) - From Be Your Own Pet

Robin Williams on Fire / Mincemeat or Tenspeed / Realicide / Simo Soo / tik tik @ the Smell ($7)

Black Sparrow Press / Blackbird Baum / Cobra Lillies / Mista Cookie Jar @ Pehrspace

Joseph Arthur @ Troubadour ($20)

My Flag is on Fire / Graham Forest @ Echo Curio

Andy Clockwise / Tracy Bonham @ Hotel Cafe

John Hammond @ McCabe's ($22.50)

Movits / The Blasting Company @ Spaceland ($10)

The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)

Shwayze @ The Roxy ($18.50)

Anti-Flag @ the Fonda ($16)

Lalah Hathaway @ El Rey ($35 - $50) - Donny's daughter

Saturday 1/23/10

[Pick of the Night] Black Lips / Nobunny / Jemina Pearl @ El Rey ($17) - Solid lineup

[Recommended] Wrong Way Driver / Letting Up Despite Great Faults / Socadia / Modern Time Machines @ Spaceland (Free)

Lucky Dragons / Mi Ami / Foot Village / VNC / Missincinatti @ the Smell ($7)

Joseph Arthur @ Troubadour ($20)

Mindy Smith / Landon Pigg @ Bootleg ($20)

Full Frontal / Haunted Tiger / Scatterd Like Birds / John Thill @ Pehrspace

City and Colour / Lissie @ The Fonda (Sold Out)

My Imaginary Friends / The Monthlies @ Echo Curio

The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)

Sunday 1/24/10

[Pick of the Week] The Minor Canon / Rademacher / Andrew Lynch / Quiet Americans @ Spaceland ($7) - One of my favorite local bands. Good lineup.

Memory / Protect Me @ The Echo ($5)

John Thill / Pizza! / I.E. / Musical Charis / Aristides @ The Smell ($5)

The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)

I See Hawks in LA / Matt the Electrician @ McCabe's ($15)

Talibami / Sex Worker @ Echo Curio

Recently Announced Live Shows

The Fonda
4/27/10: Dr. Dog / Deer Tick (on sale 1/22 at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre
5/16/10 – 5/17/10: Ricky Gervais (presale for AmEx cardholders starts 1/18 at 10 AM; on sale 1/22 at 10 AM)

El Rey
1/28/10: Broken Lizard Live (now)
2/20/10: Fanfarlo (now)
3/10/10: Little Boots / Dragonette / Fan Death (now)
3/11/10: The New Mastersounds (Friday at 10 AM)
4/10/10: Liars / Fol Chen (now)
4/28/10: Dark Star Orchestra (now)
5/1/10: NEEDTOBREATHE (1/30 at 10 AM)
5/21/10: Shout Out Louds (now)

Wilshire Ebell Theatre
3/27/10: Krishna Das / Deva Premal & Miten (Friday at 10 AM)

Glass House Pomona
1/30/10: Moving Units / Rumspringa / Casxio (now)
3/12/10: Little Boots / Dragonette / Fan Death (now)
4/30/10: NEEDTOBREATHE (2/12 at Noon)
5/25/10: Kaki King / An Horse (Friday at Noon)

McCabe’s
2/6/10: Langhorne Slim (now)
2/14/10: Van Dyke Parks (now)
2/27/10: Phranc (now)
5/8/10 – 5/9/10: Jennifer Warnes (now)

The Echo
3/2/10: Nice Nice / We Break Cameras (now at Ticketweb)
3/3/10 – 3/4/10: Shrinebuilder (now)
3/18/10: Xiu Xiu / Tune-Yards (now)
4/21/10: Megafaun / Breathe Owl Breathe (now)

Echoplex
2/13/10: James Lavelle (now)
4/17/10: jj / Delorean / Bachelorette (now)


Troubadour
2/20/10: Brendan Benson / Frank Fairfield (now)
3/9/10: Manchester Orchestra / The Features (now)

Bootleg
2/11/10: Alec Ounsworth (now at In Ticketing)
2/21/10: Mirah (now)
3/5/10: Mike Watt (now)
3/6/10: Jarrod Gorbel (now)
3/25/10: The Low Anthem (now)

Best Albums of the Decade: #30 - #21

The countdown continues. For #50 - #41 click HERE and for #40 - #31 click HERE:

30) Secret Machines: Now Here Is Nowhere (2004 on Reprise) – It was seeing these guys live a bunch that made me a believer. There aren’t enough bombastic drummers in the world.

Sad And Lonely - Secret Machin...

29) Dungen: Ta Det Lugnt (2004 on Subliminal Sounds) – Such strange Swedish psych music. Still sounds so unique.

Panda - Dungen

28) Pernice Brothers: Yours, Mine & Ours (2003 on Ashmont) – No surprise that Joe Pernice is a huge Morrissey fan. His ability to write downer and/or biting lyrics over upbeat ditties makes him a favorite of mine.

Sometimes I Remember - Pernice...

27) Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes (2008 on Sub Pop) – I’m still surprised how well this record did commercially. I mean, I love it, but this type of thing is right up my alley. The kid’s so young, I’m curious to see where his songwriting goes.

Ragged Wood - Fleet Foxes

26) My Morning Jacket: Z (2005 on ATO Records) – This is their most consistent set of songs. It broadens their sound, but doesn’t stray too far from their earlier records.

Anytime - My Morning Jacket

25) Blonde Redhead: 23 (2007 on 4AD) – I honestly like all their albums from the decade, but this one stands out as my favorite. Pitchfork seemed to think it was a sellout record, but who gives a shit?

Spring And By Summer Fall - Bl...

24) Loretta Lynn: Van Lear Rose (2004 on Interscope) – This one proved that Loretta’s still got her voice (both literally and as a songwriter). Nashville’s so dysfunctional that all the legends have to step away from it to make a good record.

Van Lear Rose - Loretta Lynn

23) Sigur Ros: Agaetis Byrjun (2001 on Fat Cat) – They create a musical world that you can get completely lost in. Pretty remarkable stuff.

Svefn - g - Englar - Sigur Rós

22) Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker (2000 on Bloodshot) – How can a guy make such a phenomenal record and then annoy me for the rest of his life? He’s put out some good songs here and there, but nothing that connected with me like “Come Pick Me Up.”

Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams

21) The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow (2003 on Sub Pop) – There’s not a dud on it. James Mercer is underrated as a lyricist.

Gone For Good - The Shins

Live Entertainment Options: 1/11/10 - 1/17/10

Pee-wee Herman Starts His Residency at Club Nokia

Mostly another good week to check out some local bands...

Monday 1/11/10
[Pick of the Night] The Minor Canon @ Unknown Theatre – Two sets – 10 PM and 11:30 PM – One of my favorite local bands.
[Recommended] The French Semester / Asbury / The Monolators / Manhattan Murder Mystery @ The Echo (Free) – The French Semester are doing the free Monday night residency in January. Pretty good openers tonight.
[Recommended] Year Long Disaster / Hydrovibe / It’s Casual / Fatso Jetson @ Spaceland (Free) – Hard rock takes over Spaceland as Year Long Disaster is doing this month’s Monday night residency. The band features Daniel Davies (son of Dave Davies from the Kinks).
Odawas / Dominique Leone / The Vespertines @ Echo Curio – Odawas record for the Jagjaguwar label.
Jesca Hoop / Maria Taylor @ Hotel Café
Thurston Moore Is a Faggot / Tenlons Fort / Elijah Crampton / Tik//Tik @ Pehrspace
The Northstar Session / Clockwork / David George @ Bootleg (Free)
The Steelwells / Yellow Red Sparks / The Romany Rye @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Jake LaBotz / Champagne Velvet / Broken Meters @ Redwood Bar
Weed Diamond / Tan Dollar / Wonder Wheel @ Synchronicity

Tuesday 1/12/10
[Pick of the Night] The Parson Red Heads / Seven Saturdays / Go West Young Man @ Bootleg ($8) – The Parson Red Heads are another one of my favorite LA bands.
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125) – The first night of his residency that runs through February 7th. A lot of the characters from the TV show will be guesting.
[Recommended] Obi Best / The Monthlies / Queen Kwong / Meredith Meyer @ Spaceland ($7)
[Recommended] Vampire Weekend / Very Be Careful @ The Fonda (Sold Out) – Catch them here or catch them at Coachella later this year. The new record comes out today and is much more inconsistent than their debut.
Beth Orton @ Largo ($30)
The Phenomenal Handclap Band @ Cinespace – Also at the Echo on Wednesday
The Secret 6 / Lantvrn / Lucy Ryder @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Cloaked Light / Pale Blue Sky / Josh Burke / Infinite Body / Rale / Mirror to Mirror /
Earn / Pedestrian Deposit @ Echo Curio – Static Aktion showcase
Olin and the Moon / Eleni Mandell @ The Echo (Free) – Olin and the Moon are doing a Free Tuesday night residency this month.
Ruby Friedman Orchestra @ Hotel Café
Captain Sean Wheeler / Zander Schloss @ Redwood Bar
Ruido De Fondo @ Troubadour ($12)
Alberta Cross / Hacienda @ Detroit Bar ($10)

Wednesday 1/13/10
[Pick of the Night] Spaceland on Ice: Le Switch / The World Record @ Perhsing Square (Free) – Starts at 7:00 PM. Two more of my favorite local bands.
[Recommended] Club NME: The Meeting Places / Wrong Way Driver / The Robotanists / Ovideo @ Spaceland ($7)
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)
The Phenomenal Handclap Band / Holloys / Jogger / White Arrows @ The Echo ($10) – Some good New York/London buzz for these New Yorkers. The record features a lot of guests.
Low End Theory: Alex B / Dibia$e / Devonwho @ Airliner ($10)
Boats! / Batwings Catwings / Rough Kids @ Echo Curio
Dub Club: Willi Williams backed by the Expanders @ Echoplex ($10)
Oh Darling / The Passports / Mia Maestro / Nadine & Terence @ Bootleg ($8)
Molino / Space Waves / Half Hearted @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Chris Pureka @ Hotel Café Royal Crown Revue @ The Mint ($20)
The Vignettes @ Redwood Bar
Moses Campbell / Nana Grizol / Devon Williams / Pangea @ The Smell ($5)
Kina Grannis @ Troubadour ($10)

Thursday 1/14/10
[Pick of the Night] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125) – Good night to go see the return of Pee-wee.
[Recommended] Twilight Sleep / The Arms / A Decent Animal / Red Tide @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
The Builders and the Butchers / Blue Giant / Mia Riddle @ Spaceland ($10)
Kimya Dawson / Your Heart Breaks / Angelo Spencer @ The Smell ($8)
Alberta Cross / Hacienda / The Jakes @ Troubadour ($12)
Agnostic Front / Death By Stereo @ Redwood Bar
The Fresas / Toy Robot / The Antiques / Franklin Music School @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Julia Nunes / Danny Tieger / Make Moon @ The Echo ($15) – Early show starts at 7:00 PM
Creedle / Upsilon Acrux @ Bootleg ($10)
The Daylights @ Hotel Café
Robert James / Cigarette Burns / Manhattan Murder Mystery @ L’Keg
The Finches / Red Pony Clock / The Paddle Boat @ Synchronicity

Friday 1/15/10
[Pick of the Night] GZA / Curtains / DJ Dark Alley @ Echoplex ($16) – A good chance to see the Genius.
[Recommended] Dios / ForceField ON / Bella Novela / Triceratops / Eugene and the 1914 @ Alex’s Bar
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125)
Abe Vigoda / Alps of South New Wales / M. Women / Signals @ Echo Curio
Night Horse / Dusted Angel / Normandie @ Spaceland ($8)
Tigers Can Bite You / Luke Janela / Modern Time Machines @ Pehrspace
Jesca Hoop / Andy Clockwise @ Hotel Café
Jackie Green / Truth & Salvage Co. @ Troubadour ($18)
Psychic Powers / Evan Voytas @ The Echo ($5)
State Radio / The Aggrolites @ El Rey ($19)
Richard Shindell / Antje Duvekot @ McCabe’s (Sold Out)
Throwing Seven / Black Sequin Disaster / Siva Noir / Street Spirit / Native June @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Mount Righteous / Seasons @ Bootleg ($8)
The Black Widows / The Neurotics / The Crazy Squeeze @ Redwood Bar

Saturday 1/16/10
[Pick of the Night] A.A. Bondy / Nik Frantis / Willy Mason @ Echo ($10) – Early show starts at 6:00 PM; Talented singer-songwriter.
[Recommended] Le Switch / Les Blanks / Roman Candles @ L’Keg – Good lineup for L’Keg.
[Recommended] Asobi Seksu / Coby Brown / Yellow Red Sparks @ Hotel Café – Asobi Seksu goes on early at 8:00 PM; Dream pop.
[Recommended] Mike Watt & His Secondmen / Saccharine Trust / Gestapo Khazi @ Redwood Bar – Powerful live show.
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125) – Two shows: 4:30 and 8:00 PM
Hockey / Asa Ransom / Eastern Conference Champions @ Spaceland ($10)
Foot Foot / The Finches / Ash Reiter / Loyal Sons and Daughters @ Echo Curio
Jesse Sykes & Phil Wandscher @ McCabe’s ($15)
Mose Allison @ Largo
Meho Plaza / SISU / boxViolet / Soccoro @ Pehrspace
The Condors / Cue the Moon / ExDetectives / Wet and Reckless @ Mr. T’s Bowl My American Heart @ Troubadour ($14)
Orphan Fairytale / Dolphins Into the Future / Monopoly Child Star Searchers @ Synchronicity

Sunday 1/17/10
[Pick of the Night] Adam Franklin / Rabbits / The Arms @ Spaceland ($12) – Adam Franklin was the frontman in Swervedriver.
[Recommended] The Pee-wee Herman Show @ Club Nokia ($30 - $125) - Two shows: 4:30 and 8:00 PM
Part Time Punks: Yummy Fur / Neverever @ The Echo ($8) – Yummy Fur features members of Franz Ferdinand and the 1990s (Yummy Fur pre-dates those bands). This is one of five shows to support the reissue of their back catalog.
Castanets / Tiger Saw / Alps of New South Whales / Bridges Academy Rock Recital @ Bootleg ($10) – Castanets are on the Asthmatic Kitty label.
Andrew Jackson Jihad / Kepi Ghoulie / Partners in 818 @ Echo Curio
Mose Allison @ Largo
Peppino D’Agostino @ McCabe’s ($15)
Orphan FairyTale / Dolphins Into the Future / Eekhorn X / Helmutmut / James Ferraro @ L’Keg

Recently Announced Live Shows

Harlem (recently signed to Matador) Play Spaceland on February 20th

Echo
Mondays in February: Useless Keys
1/16/10: A.A. Bondy (now at Ticketweb)
1/17/10: The Yummy Fur (now)
1/21/10: Music Go Music (now)
1/30/10: Bowerbirds (now)
2/16/10: Magic Kids / Pearl Harbour (now)
3/12/10: The Cave Singers / The Dutchess and the Duke / The Moondoggies (now)
3/24/10: Cymbals Eat Guitars / Bear in Heaven MP3: Bag of Bags (now)
Echoplex
2/11/10: Eydea & Abilities featuring Dosh (now at Ticketweb)
3/11/10: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (now)
3/19/10: High Places (now)
4/22/10: Japandroids (now)
5/7/10: King Sunny Ade (now)

Spaceland
Mondays in February: Princeton
2/19/10: Ancestors / Black Math Horseman (now at Ticketweb)
2/20/10: Harlem (now) MP3: Friendly Ghost
2/27/10: Scout Niblett (now)
3/5/10 – 3/6/10: The Clientele / The Wooden Birds (now) MP3: I Wonder Who We Are
3/9/10: Laura Veirs / Old Believers / Cataldo (now)
3/12/10: Quasi (now) MP3: Repulsion
3/16/10: Efterklang (now)

Troubadour
2/11/10: The Thermals MP3: Now We Can See / Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (now)
2/20/10: Brendan Benson (TBD)
3/3/10: El Perro Del Mar / Taken By Trees (now)
3/27/10: Ted Leo (TBD)
5/25/10: Nada Surf (TBD)

Bootleg
1/17/10: Castanets (now at In Ticketing)
1/23/10: Mindy Smith (now)
2/2/10: Nervous Wreckords (now)
2/12/10: Chicago Underground Duo / Pit Er Pat (now)
3/10/10: Delta Spirit (now)

Silverlake Lounge
Mondays in February: Gamble House

El Rey Theatre
1/22/10: Lalah Hathaway (on sale now)
2/12/10: Christian Death (now)
3/20/10 – 3/21/10: Gomez (Saturday at 10 AM)
3/26/10: Copland (now)

Club Nokia
2/27/10: Goodie Mob (presale now, password = STILLSTANDING; Friday at 10 AM)
4/10/10: Mint Condition (now)
4/9/10: Owl City / Lights / Paper Route (presale now, password = SNEAKY; Friday at 10 AM)

Fox Theatre Pomona
4/7/10: Owl City / Lights / Paper Route (presale now, password = SNEAKY; Friday at 10 AM)
4/14/10: Vampire Weekend (presale now, password = CONTRA; Friday at 10 AM)

Largo
1/12/10: Beth Orton (call club)

3/23/10: Acid Mothers Temple (now)
3/24/10: Garotas Suecas (now)
4/13/10: Retribution Gospel Choir

Glass House Pomona
2/25/10: The Soundtrack of Our Lives (now)

Best Albums of the Decade: #40 - #31

Here's part two of my best albums of the decade. For #50 - #41 click HERE....

40) Belle & Sebastian: The Life Pursuit (released in 2006 on Matador) – Not as important to me as their early music, but the record has a looser vibe that makes it fun to listen to. We’re still waiting for the proper follow-up.

Another Sunny Day - Belle & Se...

39) The Avalanches: Since I Left You (released in 2000 on XL) – Infinitely more interesting than Girl Talk. According to their Wikipedia page it contains 3,500 samples. Still no follow-up, but supposedly their working on clearing samples.

Frontier Psychiatrist - The Av...

38) TV on the Radio: Dear Science (2008 on Interscope) – One of those rare bands that gets better with each release (so hopefully their hiatus does go on indefinitely). Like most bands with multiple songwriters there can be a little inconsistency at times.

Halfway Home - TV On The Radio

37) Peter Bjorn and John: Writer’s Block (2006 on Wichita) – I feel like a lot of folks still dismiss these guys as a one hit wonder. But this record’s solid all the way through (and the one before it, Falling Out, might even be a little better).

Amsterdam - Peter Bjorn and Jo...

36) Everest: Ghost Notes (2008 on Vapor) – These guys toured with Neil Young and Wilco and still didn’t get a whole lot of attention for this record. While most bloggers were scouring the internet to find musicians who just learned to play guitar last week and record straight to ghetto blaster, I was listening to this.

Into Your Soft Heart - Everest...

35) Aloha: Some Echoes (2006 on Polyvinyl) – Indie prog? I’m not really sure why I got so into it, but I probably listened to this record more than their moms and girlfriends.

If I Lie Down - Aloha

34) David Vandervelde: The Moonstation House Band (2007 on Secretly Canadian) – Another artist where I feel like I’m his biggest fan. There are some definite Bolan/T. Rex-isms but that’s fine and dandy with me.

Jacket - David Vandervelde

33) Spoon: Girls Can Tell (2001 on Merge) – It was great living in Austin when Spoon was at its peak. Britt Daniel seems to hate LA so much, they never seem to put on an interesting show here, but I saw some good ones in Austin. Possibly the most consistent band of the decade.

Anything You Want - Spoon

32) The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic (2001 on Mint) – With so many mediocre bands out there why don’t more singers/songwriters put their egos aside and join together? They were my go to band of the decade for uplifting music.

The Slow Descent Into Alcoholi...

31) The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002 on Warner Bros.) – This was the beginning of the end of one of my favorite bands. The best songs have been licensed in so much crap, it’s hard to hear them objectively anymore. Hopefully they find their way again.

Fight Test - The Flaming Lips

Besnard Lakes MP3: Albatross

One of my most eagerly anticipated new releases is: The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night (out March 9th on Jagjaguwar). They put on a phenomenal show at the Troubadour while touring for their last record; unfortunately only about 20 people saw it. Face melting.

Here's an appetizer from their new record, courtesy of Jagjaguwar:
MP3: Albatross

Best Albums of the Decade: #50 - #41

Now that you're all completely sick of these lists, here's the bottom ten in my top 50....



50) Radiohead: Kid A (2000 on Capitol) – After seeing this at the top both Pitchfork and Rolling Stone’s best of the decade I went back and re-listened to it. Being a fan of melodic guitar rock, I only enjoy listening to four of these songs. They were still a great live band around this time though.

Idioteque - Radiohead

49) Interpol: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002 on Matador) – I haven’t listened to this in about six years, but it holds up a lot better than I was expecting. It’s still a little uneven, but an intense listen overall.

PDA - Interpol

48) Elliott Smith: From a Basement on the Hill (2004 on Anti) – Like all posthumous records, this one was mired in controversy after his family brought in Rob Schnapf and Joanna Bolme to finish it even though they weren’t involved in the recording. Smith’s most inconsistent work but plenty of gems.

Pretty (Ugly Before) - Elliott...

47) Soundtrack of Our Lives: Behind the Music (2002 on Republic) – This is timeless psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll done extremely well (and holds up better than some of the stuff on this list). After being a little too weird and proggy before, the band hit its peak on this record. They got the entire audience at the Troubadour down on the ground, which is an impressive feat in LA.

Infra Riot - The Soundtrack Of...

46) The Postal Service: Give Up (2003 on Sub Pop) – Almost seven years after its release, and you still can’t turn on your TV for five minutes without hearing one of these songs. After Ben Gibbard moved to LA (Jimmy Tamborello has always lived here), I’m sure Sub Pop’s Jonathan Poneman was hoping he’d finally get his follow-up, but the world’s still waiting (and sadly, settling for Owl City instead).

The District Sleeps Alone Toni...

45) Fugazi: The Argument (2001 on Dischord) – In all honestly, this is the least listened to of anything on this list. I still prefer their early stuff, but it’s still Fugazi. Imagine the money they could make if they went off hiatus and did the festival circuit. I mean you know, they could donate it to charity or whatever…

44) Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago (2008 on Jagjaguwar) – I’m a sucker for a really well done strummy, sensitive guy album. This might be the best one since Iron & Wine came on the scene.

The Wolves (Act I and II) - Bo...

43) Fruit Bats: Spelled in Bones (2005 on Sub Pop) – This record came around at the perfect time for me; it was the summer of 2005 and a few months into a great new relationship.

The Wind That Blew My Heart Aw...

42) Broken Social Scene: You Forgot It In People (2003 on Arts & Crafts) – The band that launched Feist, Metric, Jason Collett, et al. I saw one of their first US shows at the Silverlake Lounge. I remember ordering the original pressing directly from Canada before it got released here.

Cause = Time - Broken Social S...

41) The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely (2008 on WB/Third Man) – The appearance of this record on the list is a statement of just how hard (or rare?) it is for a band to make a straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll record these days. From top to bottom, this is just a fun record to listen to.

Salute Your Solution - The Rac...