Live Music Options: 2/22/10 - 2/28/10

Bear Hands: Filthy Brooklyn Hipsters or Next Big Thing? Find Out Thursday or Friday

Last week was a good week for me with Le Switch on Monday at Spaceland and Avi Buffalo, Lou Barlow and Imaad Wasif on Thursday at Spaceland. This week looks promising too...

If you're one of those people that has to see the bands before they get on the festival circuit, may I point you towards: Free Energy, Dan Black, Bear Hands, The Strange Boys, Memory Tapes and Dirty Projectors (guess the latter has already made it).

Monday February 22, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Useless Keys / Free Energy / Repeater / Box Violet @ The Echo (Free) – The last night of Useless Keys’ residency. Free Energy is signed to DFA and they’re heading out on the road with Foreign Born (and also playing Spaceland on Tuesday).
[Recommended] Princeton / Castledoor / LANME @ Spaceland (Free) – The last night of Princeton’s Monday night residency. Castledoor posted on their Twitter that this would be the last show of the band as we know it.
Gamble House / Regrets and Brunettes / Fort Wife / Tommy Santee Klaws / Italian Japanese @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – The last night of Gamble House’s Monday night residency.
Red Arrow Messenger / Damn Sons / United By Sound @ Bootleg (Free) – Red Arrow Messenger concludes its Monday night residency.
Steel Panther @ House of Blues Sunset ($13)
Nicole Kidman / Ellie Fortune / Mason Lindahl / Subtle Selves @ Pehrspace

Tuesday February 23, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Dinosaur Jr. @ Troubadour (Free w/ RSVP) – Can’t beat a free Dinosaur Jr. show.
[Recommended] Ferraby Lionheart / Leslie and the Badgers / Charlie Wadhams / All Spots to Black @ Bootleg (Free) – Solid lineup for free.
[Recommended] Free Energy / Mystery Lights / The Blank Tapes / Early Dolphin @ Spaceland ($7) - Free Energy is signed to DFA and they’re heading out on the road with Foreign Born (and also at the Echo on Monday).
[Recommended] Glacier Hiking / Haim / Kitten / Go West Young Man @ The Echo ($5 w/ RSVP to buzzbands(at)gmail(dot)com)
Dan Black @ Cinespace – Also at Spaceland on Wednesday night. Hip-hop loving artist from Paris (by way of London). His new single in the US features Kid Cudi.
Charlie Sexton @ Largo ($25)
Mariah Carey @ Gibson Amphitheatre
The Icarus Line / Broken Mirrors / Werewolf @ Alex’s Bar ($10)
Blessed Deep / Puppies and Kittens / Garbaj Kaetz @ Echo Curio
Roll the Tanks / Bill Clark Star Vehicle / Oh the Spanish Moss / Torches in Trees @ Silverlake Lounge ($7)
Butch Walker @ Hotel Café

Wednesday February 24, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Club NME: Dan Black @ Spaceland ($1.06) - Hip-hop loving artist from Paris (by way of London). His new single in the US features Kid Cudi. What the hell’s “wonky pop?” This isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but it’s kind of a slow night around town.
[Recommended] Visqueen @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM Show
[Recommended] Visqueen / Steve Soto and the Twisted Hearts @ Alex’s Bar ($6)
Mystery Lights / Manhattan Murder Mystery / Hi Ho Silver Oh / The Shade / The Layabouts @ Echo Curio
Oliver Future / Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound / Queen Kwong @ The Echo ($7)
Low End Theory Club: Fulgeance / Deru @ Airliner ($10)
Mariah Carey @ Gibson Amphitheatre
Sarah Burton / Faye Blais / Rob Laufer @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Nicole Simone / Penelope Fortier / Sonus Quartet @ Bootleg ($10)
Raul Malo / Kelly Dalton / Goldspot @ Hotel Café
The Rescues / Lucy Schwartz @ Troubadour ($12)

Thursday February 25, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Visqueen / Bear Hands / Adam Bones @ Spaceland ($8) – I am very curious to see Bear Hands. Visqueen is fun too.
[Recommended] The Henry Clay People / Le Switch / Olin and the Moon @ The Prospector – If you find yourself in Long Beach, two of my favorite local bands.
[Recommended] The Soundtrack of Our Lives / Nico Vega / ONCE @ The Glass House ($15)
[Recommended] Andrew Lynch / The Section Quartet / Downtown Union / Eagle & Talon @ The Echo ($5)
Cheap Trick @ House of Blues Sunset ($58) – A little too rich for my blood.
60 Watt Kid / Dietra Krushev @ Alex’s Bar ($5)
Cheese on Bread / Diamonds Under Fire @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Ellie Fortune / Mason Lindhahl / Featherbeard @ Echo Curio
Meshell Ndegeocello: Ventriloquism (covers) @ Largo ($30)
Spring Summer / Audra Mae / Senator and the New Republic @ Bootleg ($8)
Dan Wilson / Jim Bianco @ Hotel Café
Icarus Line / Dante vs. Zombies / Broken Mirrors @ The Roxy ($12)
Pancho and Sancho @ Troubadour ($12)

Friday February 26, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Eric D. Johnson / Breathe Owl Breathe / Leslie and the Badgers / Shakey Graves @ Bootleg Theater ($13) – That’s Eric Johnson of the Fruit Bats. The first time I saw James Mercer and Danger Mouse hanging out together was at a Fruit Bats’ show.
[Recommended] The Strange Boys / Chain and the Gang / Neverever @ The Echo ($10) – Good lineup. Check out Aquarium Drunkard for a chance to win tickets.
[Recommended] Memory Tapes @ Spaceland ($10) – They got best new music from Pitchfork late last year and ranked #23 on the end of year list of best of 2009. Indie electronic dance pop rock haze (paraphrasing All Music).
[Recommended] The Soundtrack of Our Lives / Nico Vega / ONCE @ El Rey ($21)
[Recommended] We Were Promised Jetpacks / The Lonely Forest / Bear Hands @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
[Recommended] Timonium / Silian Rail / Summer Darling / Powerdove @ Pehrspace
The Damselles / HoneyHoney / Common Rotation @ Casey’s Pub
Bonebrake Syncopators @ Alex’s Bar
The Haters / Sissy Spacek / Gerrit Wittmer and Paul Knowles / AMK @ The Smell ($5)
Truth & Salvage Co. @ Hotel Café
The Downtown Train / Tricky Sizzler / Ralpheene / Spring Queen @ Echo Curio
Moe. @ Club Nokia ($25 - $35)
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo ($25)
Al Di Meola @ House of Blues Sunset ($28)
Very Be Careful @ The Mint ($12)
Ozomatli @ House of Blues Anaheim
Alberta Ballet – Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and the Drum @ Royce Hall ($18 - $75)

Saturday February 27, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Four Tet / Nathan Fake / Active Child @ Echoplex ($17) – The new Four Tet record is getting great reviews. Active Child’s continuing to get strong buzz too.
[Recommended] Money Mark & Emily Wells @ The Getty (Sold Out) – Sounds like a potentially cool collaboration.
[Recommended] Mike Watt & His Missingmen / Abby Travis @ Redwood Bar
Dirty Projectors / Alarm Will Sound @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($40 - $70) – “Alarm Will Sound plays with Dirty Projectors in a new live version of David Longstreth's The Getty Address at Disney Hall.” Dirty Projectors put out one of the best reviewed albums of last year, but I didn’t really dig it.
Scout Niblett / Dirt Dress @ Spaceland ($10) – Her new record’s getting some great reviews.
Zee Avi / AM @ Troubadour ($12)
Bipolar Bear / Residual Echoes / Neverever @ The Smell ($5)
Goodie Mob @ Club Nokia ($28 - $35)
Help Haiti Live: LeAnn Rimes / Billy Ray Cyrus / Amy Grant / Rebecca St. James @ The Wiltern ($35 - $75)
Pangea / God Equals Genocide @ Echo Curio
Phranc @ McCabe’s (Sold Out)
Bei Bei @ Amoeba (Free) – 5:00 PM
Manhattan Murder Mystery / Blue Jungle / Las Quince Letras @ Pehrspace
Astra Heights / The Romany Rye / Lemon Sun / Jeffertitti’s Nile @ Bootleg ($10)
Ozomatli @ House of Blues Anaheim

Sunday February 28, 2010
Angelique Kidjo @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($45 - $100)
The Macaroons / StoryTimeFunLand @ The Echo ($8) – Family show at Noon
Neil Hamburger @ Spaceland ($8)
Black Apples / Blood Bath / The Like @ Alex’s Bar ($5)
Scream / Holloys @ The Echo ($12) – Scream’s original lineup; early show at 6:00 PM
Justin Roberts @ Largo ($18) – Early show at 2:00 PM
Josh Turner / Peter Brandon @ Club Nokia ($35 - $45)
Ethan Bortnick @ El Rey ($22)
Azatlan Underground / Subsistenzia / Guerilla Queens / In Lak Ech @ The Smell ($5)
Tenlons Fort / Elephant Micah / Miniature Soap / Ben and Bruno @ Pehrspace
Jeff Turmes / Dead Rock West @ McCabe’s ($10)

Live Music Options: 11/2/09 - 11/8/09

The Happy Hollows Monday Residency at Spaceland Starts This Week

Sorry for the lack of posts, thanks for sticking with me.

I caught Kris Kristofferson at the Walt Disney Concert Hall last night. You've got to be a fan of his poetry, because he's not a dynamic performer. That said, he's a legend and I was happy to see him for a second time. I've missed all the recent "secret" shows, but there are a few more this week...

Monday 11/2/09
[Pick of the Week] The Happy Hollows / Pepper Rabbit / Dirt Dress / Special Guests @ Spaceland (Free) – The Happy Hollows are doing the Monday night residency this month at Spaceland. Should be packed. So who is the secret guest tonight? The rumor I’m hearing is that it’s Julian Casablancas of the Strokes. Anybody else know anything different?
[Recommended] The Blind Boy Paxton & Frank Fairfield Show @ Redwood
Vampire Weekend / Avi Buffalo @ Long Beach Art Theatre (Sold Out) – I like their first record, but just have zero desire to ever seen them. They played a secret show on Halloween in Chinatown and a free show yesterday in Boyle Heights.
Mississippi Man / Dietra Kruschev / Amanda Jo Williams / Shakey Graves @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
White Rabbits / Glass Ghost / Local Natives @ El Rey ($17)
I.E. / Dicsobunny / Bastidas / Hello My Name is Red @ Pehrspace
Los Creepers / Rezurex / Viernes 13 @ Echoplex ($10)
Shonen Knife / Ty Segall / Mike Watt @ Echo ($15)
Curt Smith of Tears for Fears / Michael Wainwright @ Hotel Café – Early show at 7PM
Marie Digby @ Hotel Café – Later show at 9:30 PM
Little Dragon @ The Glass House ($13)
Pop Noir / Nico Stai / Make Moon @ The Prospector in Costa Mesa (Free)

Tuesday 11/3/09
[Pick of the Night] Silversun Pickups / Dandy Warhols / Matt & Kim @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($25) – Silversun Pickups put on a big show (if you haven’t seen them in a while).
[Recommended] Devo / Reggie Watts @ The Fonda (Sold Out) – Performing Are We Not Men in its entirety. Devo is pretty great live (at least they were 10 ten years ago when I last saw them).
[Recommended] Lucero “Ramblin’ Roadshow and Memphis Revue” / Jack Oblivian / John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives @ Echoplex ($17)
Port O’Brien / The Parson Red Heads / Evangelicals @ Echo ($12)
Warpaint / Seaspin / Corridor @ Spaceland ($10) – Warpaint has been getting some positive national press lately (even Pitchfork has weighed in).
Lights / Stars of Track & Field @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Black Whales / Devlin / Pigeon @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Caitlin Crosby @ Hotel Café
Stab City @ Redwood
Minus the Bear / The Antlers / Twin Tigers @ The Glass House ($19)

Wednesday 11/4/09
[Pick of the Night] Devo / Reggie Watts @ the Fonda ($42 - $102) – Performing Freedom of Choice in its entirety.
[Recommended] Pixies / No Age @ Hollywood Palladium ($63) – Doing the Doolittle tour. Pixies still put on a great show.
[Recommended] Broadcast / Atlas Sound / The Selmanaires @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson / These United States / Jesse Woods @ Spaceland ($10) – Kyp Malone and a couple of the Grizzly Bear guys performed on Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson’s first record.
Faun Fables / Gwendolyn / Dirt Bird @ The Mint ($12)
Rusted Root @ El Rey ($25)
Low End Theory: Ableton Beats Event @ Airliner ($10) – Plus performances from Thavius Beck, Take, Mattewdavid
Paul Livingston / Mia Doi Todd / Good Listeners / Bone Gunn @ Bootleg Theater ($10)
Low vs. Diamond / Melee / Voxhaul Broadcast @ Echo ($10)
Shotgun Showdown / Cue the Moon / Exdetectives @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Butch Walker / The Chapin Sisters @ Hotel Cafe

Thursday 11/5/09
[Pick of the Night] Avi Buffalo / Bobb Bruno / Wildbunch @ Echo ($10) – Must be pretty good to be 19 and signed to Sub Pop. Aaron Embry had to cancel due to illness, but still get there early to see Bobb Bruno. He's one of the only guys who can open for Wilco, Fiona Apple, Jon Brion and Tweak Bird.
[Recommended] Dinosaur Jr. / Lou Barlow @ House of Blues Sunset ($28) – The new Dinosaur Jr. is well worth picking up. The Lou Barlow is good too.
[Recommended] Pixies / Black Gold @ Hollywood Palladium (Sold Out) – Night two of Doolittle.
Tahiti 80 / Brookville @ Troubadour ($15) – Tahiti 80 used to be a good live band, but it’s been about eight years since I’ve seen them.
R. Kelly @ Nokia Theatre ($54 - $90)
Cage the Elephant / Morning Teleportation @ El Rey ($17)
Still Flyin’ / Yellow Fever / Hearts of Palm UK @ Spaceland ($10)
Nortec Collective featuring Bostich + Fussible @ Echoplex ($17)
Magnolia Memoir / Eleni Mandell Jazz Combo @ Bootleg ($10 / free before 8:30 PM)
The Bravery / Howling Bells / Living Things @ The Wiltern ($25)
Last American Buffalo / Music For Animals / Diamond Light / Cricket and the 2:19 @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Will Hoge / Freeman @ Hotel Café – Early show at 7:00 PM
The Chinese Stars / Sensitive Hearts / Rene Hell / Sewn Leather / Halloween Swim Team @ the Smell ($5)
David Foster and Friends @ Gibson
Boyz II Men @ House of Blues Anaheim

Friday 11/6/09
[Pick of the Night] Pixies / Rain Machine @ Hollywood Palladium (Sold Out) – Night 3 of Doolittle. Get there early for Rain Machine – that’s Kyp Malone’s (TV on the Radio) new band.
[Recommended] Buddy / Or, the Whale / Graydon @ Hotel Café
[Recommended] Julian Casablancas @ Dowtown Palace Theatre ($35 - $105) – The Strokes frontman starts his Friday night LA residency.
[Recommended] Jon Brion @ Largo ($25) – I was admittedly a little bored the last time I saw him, but still worth checking in from time to time.
White Arrows / Brother Reade / Bobby Evans / Boom Bip @ Ukranian Culture Center (Free w/RSVP)
Mum / Hildur Gudnadottir / Sin Fang Bous @ El Rey ($22)
Pink Dollaz / Diplo @ Siren Studios [1050 N. Orange Dr.] (Free) - This is some sort of Kia sponsored event. Starts at 7:00 PM
Ian Anderson performs acoustic Jethro Tull @ The Wiltern ($50 - $100) – I have seen Jethro Tull and there were a lot of Spinal Tap moments.
Death Cab For Cutie / Sea Wolf / Band of Skulls @ Hollywood & Highland Shopping Center - This is some sort of Twilight party.
The Dan Band @ Club Nokia ($19 - $30)
Widespread Panic @ The Orpheum ($48)
Fitz and the Tantrums @ Echo ($8)
Ludo / Meese / Ha Ha Tonka / Without a Face @ Troubadour ($15)
Karma to Burn / 16 / Totimoshi @ Spaceland ($10)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble / The Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Quintet @ Echoplex ($20) – DJ Sets from Madlib and Coleman
Laco$te / Rene Hell / Sewn Leather / Tearist / Tik Tik @ Pehrpsace
Beware of Safety / Woolen @ Bootleg ($8)
Hawnay Troof / Panther / David Scott Stone / The Urxed @ The Smell ($7)
Vicente Fernandez @ Gibson
Matt Costa @ Detroit Bar ($15)

Saturday 11/7/09
[Pick of the Night] Jason Falkner / Nico Stai / War Children @ Spaceland ($12) – A big part of LA’s pop scene.
[Recommended] Janelle Monae / Fool's Gold @ Siren Studios [1050 N. Orange Dr] (Free) - This is some sort of Kia sponsored event starts at 6:00 PM Saint Motel / Rumspringa / Red Arrow Messenger / Army Navy @ The Roxy
No Paws (No Lions) / The Widow Babies / Verbs / E & E @ The Smell ($5)
LMFAO / Shwayze @ Hollywood Palladium
Hanson @ Club Nokia ($30)
The Lawrence Arms / Teenage Bottlerocket / Cobra Skulls @ Troubadour ($15)
Citizen Fish / Star F*cking Hipsters / Molotov Compromise @ Echo ($12)
Over the Rhine / Katie Herzig @ Largo ($30)
Anita Baker @ Nokia Theatre
Nina Storey @ Hotel Café
Widespread Panic @ The Orpheum ($48)
The Revival Tour @ El Rey ($19)
Kill Kill Kill / Meho Plaza / Asphalt Thieves / Coastline Apparition @ Pehrspace
Gamble House / She’s Your Sister @ Bootleg ($8)
Vicente Fernandez @ Gibson

Sunday 11/8/09
[Pick of the Day] Kidrockers: The Silversun Pickups / The Henry Clay People @ Echo ($12) – Adults must be accompanied by a child (ages 3-13 recommended) and vice versa. Early show from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. This is an acoustic show for Silversun. Each band will be playing four songs.
[Recommended] Jay-Z / N.E.R.D. / Wale / J. Cole @ Pauley Pavilion at UCLA ($35 - $80)
[Recommended] Silversun Pickups @ Siren Studios [1050 N. Orange Dr.] (Free) - This is some sort of Kia sponsored event. Starts at 8:00 PM and you might have to test drive a Kia at some point.
[Recommended] The Backward Clock Society (featuring Billy Corgan) / Light FM / The Pity Party / The Pulsars / Tim Rutili / The Happy Stars (featuring Brian Young from Fountains of Wayne) @ Echoplex ($12) – This is a benefit for Laura Ann; early show at 5:00 PM
Langhorne Slim / Dawes / Austin Lucas @ Troubadour ($15)
Widespread Panic @ The Orpheum ($48)
The Cribs / The Blood Arm @ The Roxy
Matt Costa / Aushua / Hallelujah the Hills @ Bootleg ($15)
The Bambi Slam @ Echo ($5)
En Vogue / Ginuwine @ Club Nokia ($35 - $65)
Over the Rhine / Katie Herzig @ Largo ($30)
Vicente Fernandez @ Gibson

Recent Live Show Announcements

Echoplex
6/20/09 – 6/21/09: Shellac / Arcwelder (now at Ticketweb)

El Rey
5/15/09: The Aggrolites / Boogaloo Assassins (presale Friday at 10AM with password Coachella; Saturday at 10:00 AM)
6/13/09: JD Souther (on sale now)

The Fonda
5/22/09: The Kills / The Horrors (presale Friday at 10AM with password Coachella; Saturday at 10:00 AM)

Fox Theatre
6/20/09: Wilco (presale Friday at 10AM with password ASHES; on sale Saturday at 10AM)

The Echo
6/10/09: Constantines / Crystal Antlers (now at Ticketweb)
6/12/09: Jay Reatard / Thee Oh Sees
6/17/09: Viva Voce
7/20/09: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart / Girls
7/23/09: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

Spaceland
5/29/09: Riverboat Gamblers / Miss Derringer (now at Ticketweb)

Troubadour
6/22/09 – 6/23/09: Dinosaur Jr. (on sale 4/17/09)
6/29/09: John Vanderslice (on sale 4/17/09)
7/1/09: Bill Callahan / Bachelorette (on sale now)
7/21/09: John Butler (on sale now)