Live Music Options: 9/19/11 - 9/25/11

TV on the Radio Play the Bowl on Sunday

Monday 9/19/11
[Pick of the Night] James Blake / Teengirl Fantasy @ The Music Box ($25)
Ivy / Races / Duniven @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP) 
Big Black Delta / Kristeen Young / War Widow / The MIDS @ The Satellite (Free) 
Ben Harper @ The Mint (Sold Out) 
Big Moves / LA Font / The Preachers / Yoya @ Bootleg (Free)
Exitmusic / Jack and White / Peachy Keene / Rainman @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Joan Osborne @ El Rey ($27)
Beth Hart Band @ Echoplex ($21)
Kissing Cousins / Writer / Raw Geronimo / Bad Bibles / Rainbow Jackson @ The Echo (Free)
Bon Iver / Other Lives @ The Shrine
Dave Alvin @ Grammy Museum ($20)

Tuesday 9/20/11
[Pick of the Night] Low / Bachelorette @ El Rey  ($20) 
Correatown / The Damselles / Hi Ho Silver Oh @ Bootleg ($8) 
Bon Iver / Other Lives @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($40 - $50)
LA Ghost / Sisu / Images / Mr. K @ The Satellite ($8) 
The Vacant Lots @ The Echo ($5)
Return to Forever IV / Zappa Plays Zappa @ Greek Theatre ($40 - $90)
Laura Marling / Alessi's Ark @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Joe Jonas @ The Wiltern 
Johnny Gill @ Grammy Museum ($15)
The Dead Ships / Manhattan Murder Mystery / One Trick Pony @ The Central (Free) 

Wednesday 9/21/11
[Pick of the Night] Futurebirds / Waters / Loch Lomond @ The Satellite ($10) - On Aquarium Drunkard's Autumn Tone label. I enjoyed them at SXSW this year.
[Recommended]  Quebec in Hollywood: Patrick Watson / Besnard Lakes / Malajube / The Barr Brothers @ El Rey ($20) - Besnard Lakes are a great live band.
Twin Shadow / Diamond Rings @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Gwendolyn / RT in the 44s / Old Californio @ Bootleg ($8) 
Joe Jonas @ Fox Theater in Pomona
Benefit for the Bicycle Kitchen: The Cooling Time @ The Echo ($10)
Randy Travis @ Grammy Museum (Sold Out)
The Watkins Family Hour @ Largo
Low End Theory @ Airliner ($10) - James Blake and Flying Lotus performed last week, so you never really know what's going to happen.

Thursday 9/22/11
[Pick of the Night] Kurt Vile / RTX @ Detroit Bar ($15) - Still dig his new record.
[Recommended]   Aaron Embry / Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights / The Goodnight Noises / Red Circle Underground @ The Viper Room ($12) - Aaron was playing as Amnion.
[Recommended]  Sonny Rollins @ Royce Hall ($30 - $100)
Systems Officer / Phantom Works @ The Echo ($12) - Armistead from Pinback
Joseph Arthur / Rosi Golan @ Troubadour ($20)
This Is Your Library: Mia Doi Todd / Bleached @ LA Central Library ($5 - $15) 
Jason Simon / The Black Apples / 1776 / Peace @ The Satellite ($8) 
Nick Mason @ Grammy Museum ($20)
Miami Horror / Class Actress / Gigamesh @ El Rey ($22)
J. Cole @ Club Nokia (Sold Out)
fdeluxe / Wendy & Lisa @ Largo ($30)
Two Door Cinema Club @ The Wiltern
The Janks / American Tomahawk @ Bootleg ($10) 
Andy Clockwise / Useless Keys @ The Roxy Theatre ($10)

Friday 9/23/11
[Pick of the Night] Afrika Baambaata /  Sugar Hill Gang / Grandmaster's Furious Five / Rob Base / Tone Loc / Freestyle Evolotuion / Newcleus @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($34 - $80)  - Hard to say if these guys are good anymore?
[Recommended] Cheap Trick's Dream Police @ Greek Theatre ($35 - $75) 
The Features @ The Satellite ($10) - Fun band. I saw them a few months ago.
Bright Eyes @ Hollywood Forever (Sold Out) Twin Shadow / Diamond Rings @ Troubadour (Sold Out) 
Weekend / Talk Normal / Tan Dollar @ The Echo ($12)
Monarchy / Hot As Sun / The Holloys @ Echoplex ($15)
Buddy Guy @ Grove of Anaheim
Hank 3 @ The Roxy (Sold Out)
Inara George / The Quick Hellos @ Bootleg ($15) 
The Shore @ Bootleg (Free) - Late show at 11:00 PM
Demi Lovato @ Club Nokia (Sold Out)
Dark Star Orchestra @ El Rey ($29)
fdeluxe / Wendy & Lisa @ Largo ($30)
Bobby Long @ McCabe's ($20)

Saturday 9/24/11
[Pick of the Week] Junior Boys / Young Galaxy @ El Rey ($20)
Ladytron / Geographer @ The Wiltern ($27 - $34) 
James Vincent McMorrow / William Elliot Whitmore / John Gold @ Bootleg ($15)
Miami Horror @ Detroit Bar ($15)
Burkina Electric / DJ Spooky @ Echoplex ($20) 
Har Mar Superstar / Blake Miller / Minutes 'Til Midnight @ The Satellite ($14)
Lee "Scratch" Perry @ The Roxy ($20) 
Colour Revolt / Colourmusic / Torches in Trees @ The Echo ($10)
Sing-a-long Sound of Music @ Hollywood Bowl
D-Generation @ Troubadour ($20)
The Game / E-40 / Young Buck / Twista / Mack 10 @ Nokia Theatre ($30 - $90)
Basia @ Club Nokia
Matthew Morrison @ Grammy Museum ($20) 
Marc Anthony @ Gibson Amphitheatre 
Jennifer Warnes @ McCabe's (Sold Out)

Sunday 9/25/11
[Pick of the Week] TV on the Radio / Arctic Monkeys / Panda Bear / Warpaint / Smith Westerns @ Hollywood Bowl ($25 - $90)
[Recommended] The Knux / J Davey @ The Roxy ($14) 
[Recommended] Tarfest: Everest / Saint Motel / Obi Best / A House For Lions / Infantree / Ash Panda @ Hancock Park (Free) - Noon to 6PM
[Recommended] Abbot Kinney Fest: Thundercat / Kisses / Mia Doi Todd / Family of the Year / Dumbfounded / Swahili Blonde / Hanni El Khatib / Seasons @ Abbot Kinney (Free) - 10AM to 6PM
Southern Culture On the Skids @ The Echo ($14) - Early show at 5:00 PM
James Vincent McMorrow / William Elliot Whitmore / John Gold @ Bootleg ($15) 
Veronica Falls / Neverever / Sea Lions @ The Echo
Dream Theater / Trivium @ Nokia Theater LA Live 
Neil Hamburger @ The Satellite ($8)
Marc Anthony @ Gibson Amphitheatre
Jim Lauderdale @ McCabe's ($20)

Live Music Options: 10/4/10 - 10/10/10

I made it out to No Age/Sonic Youth/Pavement last week. Sonic Youth played a rushed set (under 45 minutes) of old (pre-1989), mostly deep cuts. Pavement played a rushed set (70 minutes or so) of greatest hits. Bob was a little too restrained for my tastes. All in all a good show, but for $79/ticket maybe had my expecations too high. Might write more on that later...

Another great week this week...

Monday 10/4/10

[Pick of the Night] Guided By Voices / Times New Viking @ The Wiltern ($42) – I started to get GBV fatigue by the time they called it quits. But the setlists for this “classic lineup” reunion have been great.

[Recommended] Radars to the Sky / Le Switch / Wires in the Walls / The Lonely Wild @ Spaceland (Free) – I’m digging the new Le Switch album (it’s coming out in early November). This is the first night of Radars to the Sky’s residency.

[Recommended] Wet & Reckless / Robotanists / Fences / The Head and the Heart / LA Ghost @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – The first night of Wet & Reckless’ residency. The band features Jess from the Movies.  

[Recommended] Evan Voytas / Telegram / Blank Blue @ The Echo (Free) – The first night of Evan Voytas residency. Blank Blue is DJ Nobody’s band.

[Recommended] Twin Shadow / The Head and the Heart @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP) – They just got best new music on Pitchfork today. The two tracks I’ve listened to sound good.

Tired Pony / A House for Lions @ El Rey ($22) – Features Peter Buck, Richard Colburn,

Scott McCaughey, Gary Lightbody, Jacknife Lee

Kevin Blechdom / Universal Studios Florida / Byron Westbrook / Wah Wah Exit Wound / Back to the Future the Ride @ Pehrspace

Phil Alvin @ Redwood

Tuesday 10/5/10

[Pick of the Night] Belle & Sebastian @ Hollywood Forever (Sold Out) – This is rain or shine, so I hope it doesn’t rain. They’re showing Trainspotting at 7:15 with the band to follow. The new record didn’t immediately grab me, but I’ve seen them put on some good shows over the years.  

[Recommended] Jenny & Johnny / Farmer Dave Scher / Whispertown @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice are Jenny & Johnny. It’s about what you’d expect. If you’re a fan of Jenny you’ll probably like it.

First Aid Kit / Ferraby Lionheart / Basia Bulat @ The Echo ($15) – Swedish sisters.

Hexham Heads / Nightmare Air / The Terrapin / C-Horse @ Spaceland ($5)

Angus & Julia Stone / The White Buffalo @ El Rey ($18)

Talvin Singh / Ariana Delawari @ Echoplex ($17)

Repeater / Northern Sky / Modern Memory / Box Violet @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Van Morrison @ Greek Theatre

Anna Nalick @ Hotel Café

Slash @ House of Blues Sunset ($46)

Child Abuse / Bipolar Bear / Protect Me / Not in the House @ The Smell ($5)

Alain Johannes @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM

Roseanne Cash @ Grammy Museum ($25)

Wednesday 10/6/10

[Pick of the Night] Broken Bells / Autolux @ The Wiltern (Sold Out) – Broken Bells doesn’t really equally the sum of its parts (James Mercer and DangerMouse) but it’s ok.

The Futureheads / Young the Giant / The So So Glos @ Trobuadour ($17)

CocoRosie / We Are the World @ The Music Box ($28)

Nightmare & the Cat / Rye Douglas & the Echo Sounding @ Spaceland ($7) – Samuel Stewart and Django Stewart’s band (the sons of Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama).

Peter Wolf @ Largo ($30) – J. Geils Band fans take note.

Tera Melos / Skinwalker / Kill the Capulets @ Bootleg ($10)

Auditorium / Masks / Kazai Rex / Communist Daughter @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Slash @ House of Blues Sunset ($46)

Low End Theory: Mexicans with Guns / Salva @ Airliner ($10) – I bet they weren’t thinking of trying to get through customs when they named themselves.

Thursday 10/7/10

[Pick of the Night] Culture Collide: Black Lips / City Riots / Kamp! / LexiconDon @ Echoplex ($20 for festival pass) – Kicking off the Culture Collide festival (which has a surprisingly good lineup).

[Recommended] Lissie / Dylan Leblanc @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – That Dylan Leblanc record keeps coming up on my shuffle and I always look to see who it is.

Arcade Fire / Colin Stetson @ Shrine Auditorium (Sold Out) – I’m still not sure I’ve been able to get all the way through the new album. I wish bands knew how to edit themselves.  

Culture Collide: K-X-P / Superhumanoids / Zebra and Snake / Risers @ Spaceland ($20 for festival pass) – Lots of interesting international bands.

Culture Collide: Casiokids / Harry’s Gym / Kordan / Slang Chickens @ The Echo ($20 for festival pass) - Lots of interesting international bands.

Culture Collide: Sebastian Tellier (DJ) / Voxhaul Broadcast / The Witness Protection Programme (DJ) / El Guincho (DJ) @ The Standard ($20 for festival pass)

Culture Collide: Gamble House / Annie Stela / Hello Saferide @ 826LA ($20 for festival pass)

Culture Collide: The Black Atlantic / Gold Lake / Nive Nielsen & the Deer Children / Laleh / Tristen @ Taix ($20 for festival pass)

Culture Collide: Black Lips @ 826LA ($20 for festival pass) – Conversation and acoustic performance

Parlour Suite / The Sweet Hurt / Big Phony / Black Cherry @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) – The new Sweet Hurt record is well worth picking up.

Hawksley Workman @ Hotel Café

The Like @ Detroit Bar ($10)

Bob Schneider @ Key Club ($18) – Sandra Bollock’s probably thinking that Schneider was a pretty good boyfriend after that latest jerk.

Friday 10/8/10

[Pick of the Night] Culture Collide: Klaxons / Land of Talk / Besnard Lakes / Suuns / Baby Monster @ Echoplex ($20 for festival) – I’m a big Besnard Lakes fan. Powerful live show too.

[Recommended] Culture Collide: El Guincho / Gold Lake / The Outline / Capsula / Two Sheds @ Spaceland ($20 for festival pass) – El Guincho makes fun, slightly schizo music.

Caribou / Nite Jewel / Emeralds @ The Music Box ($23) – I’ve always liked the Caribou records.

Culture Collide: Boxer Rebellion / White Lies (DJ Set) / Amusement Parks on Fire / The Witness Protection Programme @ The Echo ($20 for festival pass)

Chapterhouse / Ulrich Schnauss / The Meeting Places @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Pretty good bill.

Arcade Fire / Colin Stetson @ Shrine Auditorium (Sold Out) – Night two

Liz Phair / Bushwalla @ El Rey ($27)

Tokyo Police Club / Tygers of Wrath / The Shape of the Earth @ The Glass House ($16)

Culture Collide: Tokyo Police Club @ Taix (Free w/ RSVP) – Acoustic performance and free beer from 2 – 4PM

Les Shelleys (Tom Brosseau and Angela Correa) / Gregory Page @ McCabe’s ($12.50)

Culture Collide: City Riots / L. Stadt / Battle Circus / Harrys Gym @ Taix ($20 for festival pass)

Jack Johnson @ Hollywood Bowl (Sold Out)

Maroon 5 / OneRepublic @ Greek Theatre

Kaskade @ Hollywood Palladium ($52)

The Urxed / Universal Studios Florida / Back To the Future the Ride / Moon Pearl @ The Smell ($5)

Big Sandy @ Redwood

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band @ The Mint ($15)

Saturday 10/9/10

[Pick of the Night] Culture Collide: Montonix / Mariachi El Bronx / Pink Noise / The Franks / Jacuzzi Hi-Dive @ Spaceland ($20 for festival pass) – High energy night.

[Recommended] Culture Collide: Cass McCombs / Laleh / The Black Atlantic / Nive Nielsen & the Deer Children @ 826LA ($20 for festival pass) – Good singer-songwritery night.

Culture Collide: White Lies / Voxhaul Broadcast / L. Stadt / Zebra and Snake @ Echoplex ($20 for festival pass)

Klaxons / Baby Monster @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

Street Dogs @ El Rey ($18)

Land of Talk / Besnard Lakes @ Detroit Bar ($12)

Culture Collide: Amusement Parks on Fire @ Taix (Free w/RSVP) – Acoustic performance with free beer from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Jim Kweskin @ McCabe’s ($20)

Maroon 5 / OneRepublic @ Greek Theatre

The Fab Four @ Club Nokia

Bassnectar @ The Wiltern

Kaskade @ Hollywood Palladium ($52)

Keith Sweat @ Grove of Anaheim

Continues / Felt Drawings / Bloodysnowman @ The Smell ($5)

Bob Knows Best / Glen and the Sunshine Gang / Tanuki Suit Riots / The Dirty Pints @ The Glass House ($14)

Rocket / Paper Cranes / Garbage Girls @ 3 Clubs (Free)

The Gears / Poop / Symbol Six @ Redwood

Rascal Flatts @ Verizon Wireless ($30 - $80)

Sunday 10/10/10

[Pick of the Night] Culture Collide: Tokyo Police Club / Phantogram / White Lies / Monotonix / The Boxer Rebellion / Cass McCombs / Amusement Parks on Fire / Josiah Wolf / The Tender Box / Glaciers / Sea Wolf (acoustic) / Fran Healy (acoustic) / AM / Sara Lov @ Reservoir St. Between Alvarado & Sunset (Free w/ RSVP) – Runs from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM; It’s hard to beat free.

[Recommended] Jimmy Scott’s 85^th Birthday Celebration @ House of Blues Sunset ($43) – Sweet, sweet voice.

[Recommended] Tom Tom Club / Paul Ryder / Fools Gold DJs @ Echoplex ($23) – Worth the price just to hear “Genius of Love”

[Recommended] Ana Caravelle / DNTEL / The Long Lost @ Bootleg ($10) - DNTEL

Grand Ole Echo: Jason Heath & the Greedy Souls / Johnny Angel Wendell & the Wasted Knights / Patty Reese @ The Echo (Free) – Early show at 5:00 PM

Residual Echoes / Mmoss / Catwalk / Haunted Tiger @ The Smell ($5)

The Weepies / Lucy Schwartz @ El Rey ($22)

The Marietta James / Peer Manor / Kill Kill Kill / Toy District @ Spaceland ($5)

Renee Olstead / Palmdale @ Hotel Café

Ira Glass @ Grove of Anaheim ($53 - $80)

Kenny White @ McCabe’s ($15)

Recent Concert Announcements

Are you following me on Twitter? I already plugged the Arcade Fire shows there late last week...

Shrine Auditorium
10/7/10 – 10/8/10: Arcade Fire (presale Thursday at 10 AM, password = KROQSUBURBS; Friday at 10 AM)

Culture Collide Festival (Spaceland, The Echo, Echoplex, 826LA, The Standard, Taix)
10/7/10 - 10/10-10: Black Lips / Klaxons / Tokyo Police Club / Phantogram / The Bronx / Montonix / Casiokids / Land of Talk / The Boxer Rebellion / The Besnard Lakes / Sea Wolf / Voxhaul Broadcast and others (Now at Ticketweb)


Hollywood Palladium
11/19/10: Black Label Society / Children of Bodom / Clutch (Friday at 10 AM)

The Wiltern
9/25/10: X Japan (Now)
10/22/10: Minus the Bear / Tim Kasher / AM (Friday at 10 AM)
10/24/10: Sufjan Stevens (Now)
10/26/10: Never Shout Never / The Maine (Saturday at 10 AM)
11/26/10: Pretty Lights (Friday at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre
9/24/10: Gladys Night / The O’Jays (now)
10/2/10: The Australian Pink Floyd Show (now)

The Music Box
10/29/10: Kate Nash (Saturday at 10 AM)
11/26/10: Bonobo / Tokimonsta (now)
11/30/10: Grinderman (presale Thursday at 10 AM, password = HEATHEN; Friday at 10 AM)

El Rey Theatre
10/4/10: Tired Pony (presale Friday at 10 AM, password = HORSE; Saturday at 10 AM)
10/12/10: Punch Brothers / Chris Thile (Saturday at 10 AM)
10/25/10: UNKLE (Friday at 10 AM)
11/14/10: Marc Cohn (Saturday at 10 AM)
11/26/10: Dawes / The Moondoggies / The Romany Rye (now)

Fox Theater Pomona
9/28/10: Jimmy Eat World / We Were Promised Jetpacks (Friday at 10 AM)

Troubadour
9/28/10: Guster (Saturday at 1:00 PM)
10/6/10: Futureheads (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
10/7/10: Lissie (Friday at 1:00 PM)
11/26/10: The Queers / The Riptides (Saturday at 1:00 PM)

Spaceland
9/16/10: Radio Moscow / Night Horse (now at Ticketweb)
9/17/10: The Parson Red Heads / Le Switch (now)
9/25/10: Speed Buggy (now)
10/15/10: David Bazan / Wye Oak (now)

The Echo
8/27/10: The Little Ones (now at Ticketweb)
9/2/10: Marijuana Death Squad / Har Mar Superstar / The Holloys / Woah Hunx (now)
9/17/10: Men (now)
10/19/10: Scout Niblett (now)

Silverlake Lounge
Mondays in October: Wet & Reckless

Walt Disney Concert Hall
10/20/10: Ravi Shankar (create series now, or box office opens on Sunday)
10/27/10: Neil Sedaka (see above)
11/10/10: Buika / Lila Downs (see above)
12/8/10: Natalie Cole (see above)
2/15/11: Wynton Marsalis (see above)
3/5/11: Herbie Hancock (see above)

Echoplex
9/25/10: Waved Out – Dungen / The Entrance Band / John Grant / The Fresh & Onlys / Shannon and the Clams / John Carpenter / Christmas Island / So Many Wizards / Summer Darling / Young Prisms (now at Ticketweb)
10/5/10: Talvin Singh (now)
10/22/10: Owen Pallett / Little Scream (now)
11/2/10: Stew & the Negro Problem (now)
11/11/10: The Soft Pack / Kurt Vile (now)
11/12/10: Pains of Being Pure at Heart / Weekend (now)

Detroit Bar
10/3/10: The Soft Pack (now)
10/7/10: The Like (now)
10/9/10: Land of Talk / The Besnard Lakes (now)

Live Music Options: 5/10/10 - 5/16/10

Besnard Lakes Visit the Troubadour on Thursday

I only made it out once last week for the Passion of the Weiss show at Spaceland on Saturday night. I caught DaVinci, Pollyn and Freddie Gibbs. Gibbs is the real deal. If you're a fan of seeing rappers at all, give him a look. The beginning of this week is a little slow, but it picks up starting Thursday....

Monday 5/10/10
[Pick of the Night] The Like / The New Fidelity / Bloodbath @ The Echo (Free) – I haven’t heard the new incarnation of the Like, but they’re very photogenic.
Sweethead / Ashes Divide / Normandie / Dead White Underbelly @ Spaceland (Free) – Last week’s show had a few big time celebs in attendance; so if you’re a paparazzi from TMZ or if you’re Midwestern cousin is in town, there’s even more reason to go. Sweethead features Van Leeuwen (guitar in Queens of the Stone Age), Serrina Sims, Norm Block (drums in Mark Lanegan Band, Plexi) and Eddie Nappi (bass in Mark Lanegan Band, Handsome).
War Tapes / The New Room / 1, 2, 3 / Tracy Dean and Jesus @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – War Tapes is doing the May residency at the SLounge.
Kazai Rex / Latin Meds @ Old Town Pub in Pasadena (Free)
Los Campesinos! / Signals @ The Glass House ($15)
Fang Island @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM
The Benson Interruption @ Largo
So & So @ Hotel Café
Court Yard Hounds @ Grammy Museum (Sold Out) – Two of the Dixie Chicks.
Let Go of the Rail / State Rec / Guf Trup / California Priest @ Pehrspace

Tuesday 5/11/10
[Pick of the Night] Del the Funky Homosapien @ The Roxy (Free)
[Recommended] Charlie Wadhams Trio @ Hyperion Tavern (Free)
[Recommended] Cue the Moon / Wet & Reckless / Detangler / Very @ Spaceland (Free) - Last minute addition. Wet & Reckless is Jess from the Movies and Very is Brian Cleary from the Movies.
Fuck Buttons / Sun Araw / Infinite Body @ Troubadour ($15) – Noisey electronic music. Fuck Buttons are Pitchfork darlings – both albums have gotten the best new music designation.
Kate Nash / SuperCute! @ El Rey (Sold Out)
Smog Sessions @ The Echo (Free w/ RSVP)
The Nerdist @ Largo ($25)
Roger Steffens’ “Life of Bob Marley” @ Grammy Museum ($10)
Knee High / The Killbirds / The Cooling Time @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Nina Storey / Darrelle London @ Hotel Café
CCR Headcleaner / Back to the Future Ride / Heatrock @ Echo Curio
Roger Clyne @ The Mint ($15)

Wednesday 5/12/10
[Pick of the Night] Low End Theory: Baths / Mary Anne Hobbs @ Airliner ($10)
Johnny Osbourne / The Melodians @ Echoplex ($15)
Evan Voytas / Bell Gardens / Superhumanoids @ The Echo ($7)
Barrio Tiger / Stab City / Stepfather @ Spaceland (Free)
V.V. Brown / Darrelle London @ Troubadour ($15)
The Damn Sons / Rocket @ 3 of Clubs (Free)
Ben Folds and a Piano / Kate Miller-Heidke @ The Music Box ($38)
Diane Birch / AM @ El Rey ($22)
Grant Lee Phillips and Friends @ Largo ($25)
Ojos Rojos / Lantvrn / ExDetectives / Rocking Horse People @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
The Daylights @ Hotel Café
Sierra Leone’s Refugee Allstar @ The Roxy ($19)
White Shit / Shearing Pinx / Nu Sensae / Bipolar Bear @ the Smell ($5)
Woolen / The Nocturnes / Pope Anything @ Echo Curio
Radney Foster @ The Mint ($15)

Thursday 5/13/10
[Pick of the Week] The Besnard Lakes / The Happy Hollows / Infantree @ Troubadour ($12) – Great albums and explosive live show.
[Recommended] Bob Log III / Frank Fairfield @ Echo Curio ($8)
Ninjasonik / Weave! @ Spaceland ($10) – Good chance to see these Brooklyn hipsters before they come back for the M.I.A., N*E*R*D, Flying Lotus, Sleigh Bells show in July.
Mississippi Man / Pepper Rabbit / White Arrows / The Fling @ The Echo ($7)
James Taylor & Carole King @ Hollywood Bowl ($18 - $175) – I don’t sit around and listen to James Taylor much, but Carole King is one of the most important songwriters of all time.
Drake / Mike Posner @ Club Nokia (Sold Out)
Ben Folds and a Piano / Kate Miller-Heidke @ The Music Box ($38)
Jakob Dylan and Three Legs featuring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan / The Felice Brothers / honeyhoney @ The Wiltern ($25 - $45)
James Mulvey / John Carpenter @ Space 1520 (Free)
David Mamet presents “Theatre” @ Largo (call club)
Jamie Drake / Brother Sal @ Hotel Café
Sun Araw / CCR Headcleaner / NASA Space Universe / Moment Trigger @ The Smell ($5)
Crash Kings @ The Roxy ($10)

Friday 5/14/10
[Pick of the Night] Andrew Bird / Simone White @ Largo (Sold Out) – Andrew Bird puts on an extremely compelling live show. It would be interesting to see him at Jon Brion’s home away from hotel.
[Recommended] Flying Lotus (A/V set) / Ras G / Dr. Strangeloop / Kutmah / Jerimiah Jae @ Echoplex ($20) – Flying Lotus is blowing up right now. Pretty much the most critically acclaimed cat going.
Useless Keys / The Delta Mirror / Full Frontal / Sleepy Eyes of Death @ Spaceland ($7)
Turin Brakes / Hard Drugs / Lucy Schwartz @ The Echo ($10)
James Taylor & Carole King @ Hollywood Bowl ($18 - $175) – I don’t sit around and listen to James Taylor much, but Carole King is one of the most important songwriters of all time.
Bajofondo and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($53 - $80)
Wreck of the Zephyr / Random Patterns / Boomsnake / Lovely Bad Things @ Echo Curio
Ben Folds and a Piano / Kate Miller-Heidke @ House of Blues Anaheim
Klymaxx / Lisa Lisa / JJ Fad @ House of Blues Sunset
Summer Darling / Worker Bee / Golden Years / Wires in the Walls / George Glass @ Pehrspace
Wavefest 2010: Michael McDonald / Chaka Khan / Poncho Sanchez / Mindi Abair @ Greek Theater ($24 - $155)
Dredg / Facing New York / Send the Sages @ Troubadour ($20)
O.A.R. / ALO @ The Wiltern ($15)
Oliver Future / London to Tokyo @ Bootleg ($8)
Justin Young / Chris Pierce / Jeremy Messersmith / Brother Sal @ Hotel Café
Anna Oxygen / The Finches / Key Losers / Ponce De Leon @ The Smell ($5)
LA Font / Unfunky Folks @ Synchronicity

Saturday 5/15/10
[Pick of the Night] Flying Lotus (live band) / Ravi Coltrane / The Gaslamp Killer / Gonjasufi / Matthew David @ Echoplex ($20) – This is the live band version of the Flying Lotus show. Expect a lot of improv and new interpretations of the songs.
[Recommended] Andrew Bird @ Largo (Sold Out)
[Recommended] Le Switch / Les Blanks @ Origami Vinyl (Free) – 7:00 PM show; The bands recently released a split 7” so cruise on down, see some live songs and drink some free beer.
[Recommended] Ricky Gervais @ Nokia Theatre ($40 - $75) – Funny guy.
Jeremy Messersmith / Jeremiah Streeter @ Bootleg ($10) – My friends in Minneapolis tell me he’s a talented singer-songwriter with a strong pop sensibility.
Annuals / The Most Serene Republic / What Laura Says @ Spaceland ($12)
Johann Johannsson @ Silent Movie Theatre ($15) – Icelandic composer.
Usher / Ludacris / Akon / Justin Beiber / Ke$ha / Adam Lambert / Iyaz / B.o.B. @ Staples Center ($40 - $225)
James Taylor & Carole King @ Hollywood Bowl ($18 - $175) – I don’t sit around and listen to James Taylor much, but Carole King is one of the most important songwriters of all time.
Leila Adu / Howardamb / Voice on Tape @ Echo Curio
Patti LuPone @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($46 - $84)
Torches in Trees / Phoenix and the Turtle / Walk @ Pehrspace
Dredg / Facing New York / Butterscotch@ Troubadour ($20)
a-ha @ Club Nokia (Sold Out)
Nicole Kidman / Essay / Knight Rider @ The Smell ($5)
Stab City @ Redwood Bar
Carney / Red Arrow Messenger @ El Rey ($18)
California Metalfest IV: Fear Factory / Job For a Cowboy / Whitechapel / Dying Fetus @ Fox Theater & Glass House ($40)
Thirty Seconds to Mars / Shiny Toy Guns / Neon Trees / Street Drum Corps @ Greek Theater ($35)
Freedy Johnston / The Sin City Allstars @ The Mint ($15)
Snow & Voices @ Hotel Café

Sunday 5/16/10
[Pick of the Night] The Parson Red Heads / Freddy & Francine / Will Courtney @ McCabe’s ($15) – The Parson Red Heads have been recording, can’t wait to hear the new songs.
[Recommended] Sonny Rollins @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($46 - $116) – Saxophone legend is an understatement.
[Recommended] Ricky Gervais @ Nokia Theatre ($40 - $75)
Sea Wolf / Patrick Park @ The Autry Museum ($15) – Singer-songwritery BFFs
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream / All Wrong and the Plans Change / Ultraviolet Lights @ Spaceland ($10)
Blue Jungle @ Redwood Bar
Bonfire Madigan / Rachael Cantu / Josh Norton @ Bootleg ($10)
Grand Ole Echo: Dan Janisch / 50 Cent Haircut / William Lee & the Modern Primitives @ The Echo (Free)
Xeno & Oaklander / Epee Du Bois / Frank Alpine @ The Echo ($8)
California Metalfest IV: Bleeding Through / The Faceless / Born of Osiris / Sleeping Giant / Earth Crisis @ Fox Theater and Glass House ($40)
a-ha @ Club Nokia ($20 - $50)
Toots & the Maytals @ Key Club ($28)
Psychic Handbook / E&E / Secret Circuit and Suzanne Kraft @ Synchronicity

Recently Announced Live Shows

Admiral Radley (members of Grandaddy & Earlimart)

Bootleg
3/24/10: Admiral Radley [Jason Lytle, Aaron Burtch, Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murray] (now at in ticketing)
4/26/10: Aqualung (not at in ticketing)

Viper Room
3/3/10: Shooter Jennings
3/11/10: Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders
3/23/10 – 3/24/10: Janelle Monae
4/29/10: The Mary Onettes

Silverlake Lounge
3/24/10: One Night Only (now at in ticketing)

El Rey
5/5/10: The Hold Steady (presale Thursday at 10 AM, password = BROOKLYN; Friday at 10 AM)

The Fonda
3/21/10: Groove Armada (Thursday at 10 AM)
6/24/10: Fat Freddy’s Drop (Saturday at 10 AM)

Club Nokia
4/2/10: The Dan Band (Friday at 10 AM)
4/8/10: Revolver Golden Gods / Rob Zombie (Friday at 10 AM)

Fox Theater – Pomona
5/4/10: Coheed and Cambria / Circa Survive (Saturday at 10 AM)
5/15/10 – 5/16/10: California Metalfest IV (Friday at 10 AM)

The Mint
3/5/10: Limbeck
3/13/10: A Sunny Day in Glasgow / Pollyn

Troubadour
3/17/10: Sick Puppies (Thursday at 10 AM)
3/19/10: Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
4/30/10: The Antlers (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
5/6/10: Alexisonfire (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
5/13/10: The Besnard Lakes (Thursday at 10 AM)

Echoplex
3/13/10: You Say Party We Say Die (now at Ticketweb)

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