Ten Pitchfork Approved LA Based Artists To See at SXSW

Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison)


10 Pitchfork Approved Bands From LA to See at SXSW (official showcases only)

1) No Age on 3/19/10 at 12:15 AM @ Red 7 Patio or on 3/20/10 at 1:00AM @ Barbarella – Their two albums have gotten an 8.0 a 9.2 and their EP got an 8.3. They sort of paved the way for Pitchfork to start paying a lot closer attention to the LA music scene.
2) Flying Lotus at 1:00 AM on 3/17/10 at The Phoenix – The album Los Angeles was #28 on Pitchfork’s best of 2008 and scored a best new music nod.
3) Best Coast on 3/20/10 at 11:00 PM @ Barbarella – They’re one of four LA bands playing Pitchfork’s daytime party on Friday. Their single “When I’m with You” got a best new music designation.
4) Dam-Funk on 3/17/10 at 10:00 PM @ Speakeasy Cabaret or on 3/20/10 at 12:00 AM @ Mohawk Patio – One of the other LA bands playing Pitchfork’s daytime party. Recently got an 8.2 for Toeachizown.
5) Local Natives on 3/18/10 at 11:00 @ Emo’s Main Room or on 3/19/10 at 9:00 PM @ Galaxy Room Backyard – The third LA band playing Pitchfork’s daytime party. Their debut album recently got the best new music designation and an 8.4 rating.
6) Warpaint on 3/17/10 at midnight @ Emo’s Jr. – They have written a ton about them (here’s a 7.0 review of “Billie Holiday”), but they’re the last of the LA bands playing Pitchfork’s day party.
7) Liars at 1:00 AM on 3/19/10 at Antone’s – Their last three records have gotten best new music from Pitchfork.
8) Fool’s Gold on 3/19/10 at 11:15 PM @ Emo’s Main Room – Their debut album got a solid 7.6 and was in the honorable mentions of best of 2009. Their track “Surprise Hotel” got an 8.
9) Abe Vigoda on 3/17/10 at 2:00 PM @ Austin Convention Center or on 3/20/10 at 12:00 AM @ Barbarella – Their EP got a 7.7 and their full length got an 8.3.
10) Active Child on 3/19/10 at @ Latitude 30 – He was the focus of a “rising” profile and his first single got an 8 out of 10.

This Week's Live Music Choices

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas - so it's mostly local bands playing this week....


Monday 12/14/09
[Pick of the Night] Mere Mortals / The Meeting Places / The Black Apples / The Secret 6 @ Spaceland (Free)
[Recommended] The Minor Canon @ Unknown Theatre – They put out one of my favorite records this year.
[Recommended] The Blind Boy Paxton & Frank Fairfield Show @ Redwood Bar
Mew / The Outline @ The Fonda ($20)
We Are the World / Rainbow Arabia / Jessica 6 / Loving Thunder @ Echo (Free)
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros / Los Cafeteras @ Mayan Theatre (Sold Out)
Links / Imagine Dragons / Eastern Conference Champions / Vanaprasta @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Links are doing the Monday night residency this month.
Aimee Mann Christmas Show @ Largo (Sold Out)
The All American Rejects @ The Roxy ($22.50)
Birth! / Psychic Handbook / A Vague Sound @ Pehrspace
Joe Purdy / Meaghan Smith / Sweet Talk Radio @ Hotel Café

Tuesday 12/15/09
[Pick of the Night] The Damselles / The Hi Hos / Evan Way / Sweet Little Things @ Echo (Free w/packaged toy / $5)
[Recommended] Kenan Bell / Res / Gavin / Glassell Park 3 / The Pocket Rockets @ Spaceland ($7)
The Rural Alberta Advantage / The Shaky Hands / Pepper Rabbit @ Bootleg ($12)
Aimee Mann Christmas Show @ Largo ($40)
Vantage / Ballerina Black / Anthem of Silence @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Joe Purdy / Meaghan Smith / Erin Mclaughlin @ Hotel Café
The All American Rejects @ The Roxy ($22.50)
Melt Banana / Tera Melos @ The Glass House ($12)

Wednesday 12/16/09
[Pick of the Night] Spaceland on Ice: Correatown / Obi Best @ Pershing Square (Free) – Starts at 7:00PM
Club NME: Saint Motel / Rumspringa / Oliver Future / Early Dolphin @ Spaceland ($5)
The Good Listeners / The Sonus Quartet / Hi Ho Silver Oh / Penelope Fortier @ Bootleg ($10)
Low End Theory Club @ Airliner ($10)
Melt Banana / Tera Melos @ Troubadour ($15)
Lilofee / Twilight Sleep / Acid Girls / War Tapes @ Echo (Free)
Power 106 Cali Christmas: 50 Cent / T-Pain / Pitbull / Fabolous / Jermih / Jay Sean @ Gibson ($65)
Zero 7 / Phantogram @ Orpheum Theatre (Sold Out)
Cassorla / Brandon Intelligator / Sasson / Cooperation @ Echo Curio
The Watkins Family Xmas Hour @ Largo ($20)
Deep Sleep Ops / Abbot Kinney / Toy Robot @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Skeleteen / Duhkha / Free Moral Agents / Rare Grooves @ The Smell ($5)

Thursday 12/17/09
[Pick of the Night] Against Me! / Roll The Tanks / Oh! Pioneers @ Spaceland ($12) – Limited tickets available at the door. One of the most respected of the young-ish punk bands.
[Recommended] Fool’s Gold / The Entrance Band / Tearist / DJ Josh Klinghoffer @ Echo ($10)
[Recommended] Mitchell Brown / Lucky Dragons / Daedelus @ Mountain Bar
Sea Wolf / Imaad Wasif / Chasing Kings @ The Roxy ($12) – I do enjoy seeing Immad Wasif.
Manhattan Murder Mystery / Lost Lake / Guppies / Magick Orchids @ L’Keg Gallery
Watts Ensemble / The Grabs / Yellow Alex @ Bootleg ($8)
Man’s Assassination Man / Brass Badger / Hiking / Exdetectives @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Mia Doi Todd @ Hammer Museum (Free) – Premiere of her new Michel Gondry directed video, followed by a live performance.
Sarah Silverman @ Largo ($25)
Timothy B. Schmit / Jack Tempchin @ Troubadour ($20)
The Urinals / Woven Bones / Wounded Lion / PROTECT ME @ The Smell ($5)
Hunting Hat / A Cozy Kitchen / Blue Bird / Claire Cronin @ Echo Curio
Ho-Ho-Tel 2009 @ Hotel Café – 50 artists playing over three days
Oliver Future/ City Museum @ The Mint ($5)
Merle Jagger @ Redwood Bar

Friday 12/18/09
[Pick of the Night] Foreign Born / Best Coast / El Sportivo and the Blues @ Spaceland ($12)
[Recommended] Harper Simon / The Chapin Sisters / Farmer Dave @ Bootleg ($12) – Good chance to see Farmer Dave.
Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)
Red Cortez / The VLA / Rademacher @ Edgar Varela Fine Arts Space - 542 S. Alameda St.
Camp Freddy @ The Roxy ($20)
El Vez / Los Straightjackets / The Lovely Elvettes / Lil Luis and the Wildfires @ Troubadour ($18)
Very Be Careful / Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkestra @ Echo ($10)
Bridgework / Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls / Robotanists / Asbury / Neptune’s Favor @ Mr. T’s Bowl
The Aquabats / Buck O’ Nine / Supernova @ The Fonda ($20)
Ozomatli / Mariachi Reyna @ Club Nokia ($26.50 - $40.50 for two day pass)
Tremelow / Signals / Snowsuit / No Babies / Whitman @ Echo Curio
Gossip Tree / My Pet Saddle / The Funeral Party @ Pehrspace
Ho-Ho-Tel 2009 @ Hotel Café – 50 artists playing over three days
Bipolar Bear / Old Blood / Broken Mirrors @ The Smell ($5)
Brian Setzer Orchestra @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($35 - $75)

Saturday 12/19/09
[Pick of the Night] LA Record Christmas Party: The Soft Pack / Abe Vigoda / Leslie & the Badgers / Daedelus / Daddy Kev / Nobody / Kutmah @ Bedrock Rehearsal – 1623 Allesandro (Free w/RSVP and toy donation) – Free tequila tastings and pop up shops from Vacation Vinyl and others
[Recommended] The Deadly Syndrome / eskimohunter / Castledoor / The Pity Party / Signals / 400 Blows @ El Rey ($17) – Solid local lineup. The Deadly Syndrome and 400 Blows are two of my favorites.
[Recommended] Avi Buffalo / Joel & Kevin Morales / Repeater @ the Prospector in Long Beach ($5)
X / Calexico @ the Wiltern ($30)
Against Me! / Roll The Tanks / Oh! Pioneers @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Spain / B.R.A.M. / Mad Gregs @ Spaceland ($10)
El Ten Eleven / Baths / Triorganico @ Bootleg ($10)
Dead Meadow / Lower Heaven / 60 Watt Kid @ Detroit Bar ($10)
Lovely Bones / The Justice / Nova Nueva / When Planets Align @ Mr. T’s Bowl
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo ($20)
Cave Country / The Mystery Lights / Elaine and the Layabouts / Tenlons Fort / Tomorrow’s Tulips @ Pehrspace
Ozomatli / Wil-Dog y su Banda Sinaloense @ Club Nokia ($26.50 - $40.50 for two day pass)
Jail Weddings / Gestapo Khazi / Dalmacio von Diamond & the Enochian Keys @ The Smell ($5)
Chelsea Girls @ the Roxy ($15)
Blue Tape, Red Tape / Michael Nhat / Sleepwalkers Local / Regular Assholes / Kerplow @ Echo Curio
Ho-Ho-Tel 2009 @ Hotel Café – 50 artists playing over three days
Honest John Plain / The Superbees / Motorcycle Boy @ Redwood Bar
Brian Setzer Orchestra @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($35 - $75)
The Kris Special @ L’Keg

Sunday 12/20/09
[Pick of the Night] 5 O’Clock Somewhere @ the Echo (Free) – 5:00 PM show; Good time covers of country songs.
Cobalt Cranes / 60 Watt Kid / Moses Campbell / The Arms @ Spaceland (Free with formal wear)
Savage Republic / Spirit Photgrapher / The Beaters @ The Echo ($5)
Plum Union / Son of the Velvet Rat / Olentangy John / The Senors of Marseille @ Echo Curio
Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys / The Hi-Lo Playboys / The Palominos @ Redwood Bar

Live Music Options: 9/28/09 - 10/4/09

The live music highlight of last week was seeing Ross Flournoy at the Little Room at Largo. That's a great little spot to see music. With the future of the Broken West in doubt, it was great to see him perform a couple of new songs along with some Broken West classics.


Monday 9/28/09
[Pick of the Night] Leslie and the Badgers / Sian Alice Group / Best Coast / Paperplanes @ The Echo (Free) – The final night of their Monday night residency.
[Recommended] Saint Motel / Gangi / Mississippi Man / Links @ Spaceland (Free) – The final night of Saint Motel's Monday night residency.
[Recommended] The Blind Boy Paxton & Frank Fairfield Show @ Redwood
Blitzen Trapper / Wye Oak @ El Rey ($17) – I saw Blitzen Trapper a couple of years ago and was so unimpressed that I never gave them another chance. Probably unfair of me. I do like Wye Oak.
The Icarus Line / Broken Mirrors / Noman / Dante vs. Zombies / The High Saints @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) - The final night of The Icarus Line's Monday night residency.
! ! ! / Indian Jewelry @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($18)
Davy Knowles @ the Mint
Ty Segall / Okie Dokie / Audacity / W.H.I.T.E. @ The Smell ($5)
Greg Proops @ Largo ($20)
Bestial Mouths / Shane Shane / Sister Mantos / Goes Calypso @ Pehrspace

Tuesday 9/29/09
[Pick of the Night] Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Sold Out)
The 88 / Quazar and the Bamboozled / Pierre de Reeder / Oh Darling @ Spaceland ($10)
Old Crow Medicine Show / Chuck Mead of BR5-49 @ John Anson Ford Amphitheatre ($35)
Blitzen Trapper / Wye Oak @ The Glass House ($14)
Fool’s Gold @ Amoeba Music (Free) – Celebrating the release of their debut album. Pitchfork gave it a pretty good review today.
Steve Martin w/ Steep Canyon Rangers @ Largo ($40) – Early show at 7:30 PM and late show at 10:00 PM
Sheryl Crow / Ben Harper / Benji & Joel Madden / Tom Morello / Jonny Lang @ Club Nokia ($60 - $100) - Benefit for Feeding America
Tim Exile / We Are the World @ The Echo ($10)
Wallpaper @ Cinespace
Paramore / Paper Route @ Fox Theater (Sold Out)
Matt Valentine and Erika Elder @ Echo Curio
Stab City / Pussy Cow / Spider Problem @ Redwood
AFI @ The Roxy (win tix on KROQ)
The Color Turning @ Viper Room
Roughed Up Folk / Infrared Sunday / The Child / Pigeon @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Wednesday 9/30/09
[Pick of the Night] Buzz Bands One Year Anniversary: Eastern Conference Champions / Voxhaul Broadcast / Samuel Stewart / Radio Freq @ The Echo ($8 / $5 with RSVP) – Bronson’s celebrating one year of the blog.
Club NME: Paper Route / Toy Horses @ Spaceland ($8) – Paper Route is taking a break from its tour with Paramore to play this small club show. Toy Horses are just in town from Wales for a couple of local shows. Dub Club: Ranking Joe @ Echoplex ($10)
Steve Martin w/ Steep Canyon Rangers @ Largo (Sold Out)
Low End Theory: Devon / Tokimonsta @ Airliner ($10)
Seasons / Bastard Love Child of Rock and Roll @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Kylesa / Saviours / Bison BC / Black Math Horseman @ Knitting Factory ($12)
Pearl Jam / Ben Harper & Relentless7 @ Gibson (Sold Out)
Alice in Chains @ Avalon (Sold Out)
Datarock / Esser / Kav @ El Rey ($17)
The Horrors @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($15)
The New Royales @ Viper Room
Souls of Mischief @ Troubadour
Matt Valentine and Erika Elder @ Echo Curio
Meaghan Smith / Eric Corne / Ruby Friedman Orchestra @ Bordello ($10)

Thursday 10/1/09
[Pick of the Night] The Cave Singers / Lightning Dust / Big Search @ The Echo ($12) – I like the new Cave Singers record a lot better than their first.
[Recommended] Amusement Parks on Fire @ Spaceland
[Recommended] Dwight Yoakam / Emmylou Harris / Melissa Etheridge / Vince Gill @ Club Nokia ($750 and up) – Benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame
[Recommended] Billy Joe Shaver @ Redwood Bar – Outlaw country legend.
Loney, Dear / Asobi Seksu / Anna Ternheim @ Troubadour ($15)
Pocahaunted / Experimental Dental School / Foot Village / Railcars @ the Smell
Dusty Rhodes and the Riverband / Far Out / Seasons / The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra /
Sea Lions @ Knitting Factory ($8)
Trivium / White Chapel / Darkest Hour / Dirge Within @ The Glass House ($22.50)
Maria & Jennie of Sahara Hotnights / The Deadlies @ Viper Room
Paramore / Paper Route @ Hollywood Palladium
Pearl Jam / Ben Harper & Relentless7 @ Gibson (Sold Out)
Warren G @ the Roxy ($23.50)
Sonus Quartet @ Bootleg Theater
The Horrors / Japanese Motors @ El Rey ($20)
Desolation Wilderness / Devon Williams / Infinite Body / Christmas @ Silverlake Lounge
Dominic Massaro / Thurlow @ Echo Curio
Randy Travis @ House of Blues Anaheim

Friday 10/2/09
[Pick of the Night] Amadou & Mariam / Tommy Jordan @ The Fonda ($30 - $42) – The blind couple from Mali released one of the best reviewed albums of the year.
The Postmarks / Brookville @ Spaceland ($10)
Robert Earl Keen @ Troubadour ($20)
Year Long Disaster @ Viper Room
The 1921a / Frank Fairfield / Sunny War @ McCabe’s ($5)
World Party / Parade of Lights @ El Rey ($18)
Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)
The Horrors / Japanese Motors / Future Static @ The Glass House ($15)
David Bazan / Say Hi @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($10)
Big Sandy & His Flyrite Boys @ Redwood Bar
The Chuck Dukowski Sextet / Insects vs. Robots / The Shrine @ the Smell ($5)
Shelley Short / Alexis Gideon / Erin Muir / Queen Victoria @ Echo Curio
Celebration of Pinkerton featuring members of OZMA & Teaneck / The Color Turning @ Knitting Factory ($12)
Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps @ Bootleg ($10)
Loggins & Messina @ Greek Theatre
The Idyllists @ Hotel Café

Saturday 10/3/09
[Pick of the Week] Eagle Rock Music Festival: No Age / Jail Weddings / Free Moral Agents / Fol Chen / Leslie and the Badgers / Faraway Places /The Gaslamp Killer / Bobb Bruno / Patrick Park / Blank Blue / Dusty Rhodes and the River Band / Amateurs / Nico Stai / The French Semester / The Pity Party / The Happy Hollows / Ovideo / Underground Railroad to Candyland / The Gears @ Colorado Blvd. In Eagle Rock (Free) – A nice laidback music festival with a little something for everybody.
[Recommended] Crosby, Stills & Nash @ Greek Theatre ($46 - $91)
Elvis Perkins in Dearland / Tom Brosseau & Correatown @ Troubadour ($15)
Push Play / Care Bears on Fire / DNA @ The Roxy ($15.50)
The Mother Hips / Abe Vigoda / Moonrats / Lemon Sun / Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound / Ojos Rojos @ The Glass House ($13)
You Me & Iowa / Radars to the Sky / The Veltexans @ Spaceland ($10)
The Pharcyde @ KeyClub ($35)
Jolie Holland / Michael Hurley @ Largo ($25)
Dougie MacLean @ McCabe’s (Sold Out)
New Model Army / Mellowdrone / Versailles @ Knitting Factory ($18)
Led Zepagain / Which One’s Pink? @ Club Nokia ($28)
White Leopards / Bestial Mouths / Italic Indian / Animals on Coke @ L’Keg Gallery ($5)
CMG and the Night / The Littlest Viking / The Black Heartthrobs @ Echo Curio
Ladyhawke / Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head / Semi Precious Weapons / Julian Perretta @ Avalon ($29)
The Rocketz / Henchmen / Gambler’s Mark / The Faraway Boys @ Knitting Factory ($15)
Holly Conlan / Pedestrian / The Brendan Hines @ Hotel Café
Ming & Ping / Wooden Ponies @ Bootleg ($10)
The Fab Faux @ Orpheum ($39 - $120)

Sunday 10/4/09
[Pick of the Night] Gil Scott-Heron / Orgone @ El Rey ($30) – He’s a living legend.
[Recommended] Kidrockers: The Damselles / Quazar and the Bamboozled @ the Echo ($12)
[Recommended] The Minor Canon / Aerodrone / Big Bang Band / The Buffalo Blackjack Band @ Dakota Lounge at 1026 Wilshire Blvd – The Minor Canon is one of my favorite local bands.
Jack Penate / Miike Snow @ Echoplex ($12) – Miike Snow are Swedish hitmakers who are now fronting their own band. Jack Penate has a lot of strong buzz too. He’s a South Londoner who mixes soul, pop, and afro-beat. They’ll be appearing at Spaceland next Wednesday too.
David Bazan / Say Hi @ Troubadour ($17) – Pedro the Lion frontman
Railcars / Paper Rainbow / Magick Orchards / The Endless Bummer @ the Smell ($5)
Dublab 10th Anniversary @ The Echo ($5) – All post-punk dance party
Gurf Morlix / Tony Gilkyson @ McCabe’s ($15)
Kylie Minogue @ Hollywood Bowl ($30 - $175)
Sad Horse / Bugs / Devon Williams @ Echo Curio

Updates on Local Bands

I haven't done one of these in a long time. Here's an update on local bands:

Division Day just announced a slew of new tour dates. Their new album, Visitation, comes out on Dangerbird on 8/18/09. It’s going to catch you off guard (in a very good way). Check out their Myspace page for some streams and tour dates. Buy tickets for their September 2nd show at Spaceland HERE. Go to their label site to download a free remix.

Speaking of Dangerbird, Sea Wolf have completed their sophomore album. White Water, White Bloom is set to be released on September 22nd. Pre-order the record and see a slew of tour dates HERE. Buy tickets for their Sept. 17th show at the Troubadour HERE. Looks like the previously announced Spaceland show has been replaced.

Lou Barlow’s got a new solo record, Goodnight Unknown, coming out on October 6th through Merge Records. In addition to playing with Dinosaur Jr., he’ll be the opener too. Check out the tour dates HERE. Buy tickets for the November 5th show at the House of Blues HERE. Download the first MP3: “Gravitate”

Warpaint recently signed with Manimal Vinyl with Exquisite Corpse set to be released on September 22, 2009. Download two MP3: Billie Holiday (Pitchfork gave the track a 7 out of 10)and MP3: Elephants. Josh Klinghoffer is now an official member of the band. You can catch them at Sunset Junction on August 22nd.

Speaking of Sunset Junction, the performance schedule is HERE. Other local bands on the bill are: Gran Ronde, Miss Derringer, War Tapes, Rumspringa, Nico Vega, The Submarines, Love Grenades, Nico Stai, Local Natives, Fool’s Gold, Night Horse and Mika Miko (or Mica Miko – as the SJ website spells it).

Miss Derringer have a new record, Winter Hill, out on Triple X. Pitchfork recently gave it a solid 7.7 out of 10.

Night Horse have three split 7” singles coming out this summer on Tee Pee Records (the first one is already out and the next one comes out 8/4/09). Download MP3: Choose Your Side

Fool’s Gold recently signed with IAMSOUND. Their debut, self-titled record comes out on September 29th. Download MP3: Surprise Hotel (Pitchfork recently gave it an 8 out of 10).

Luke Top, Fool’s Gold’s frontman, recently released a solo record. Friends came out via Slow Death Records. Download MP3: Friends

Members of Foreign Born are also a part of Fool’s Gold. Foreign Born’s new record, Person to Person, continues to get good reviews. It currently rates a 70 on Metacritic. MP3: Vacationing People and MP3: Early Warnings

Labelmates of Foreign Born (Secretly Canadian’s got a great roster), Music Go Music will release their debut full-length, Expressions, on October 6th. Download MP3: Warm In the Shadows

Bedmates of Foreign Born (at least a bedmate of the lead singer), Glasser also got a track review from Pitchfork. “Glad” received a 7 out of 10.

Princeton’s debut full-length, Cocoon of Love, comes out September 29th on Kanine Records. They’ll be opening a slew of shows for Ra Ra Riot to coincide with the release. Follow this link to Pitchfork to download the first single, “Calypso Gold”

Speaking of Pitchfork (as I have like 10 ten times in this roundup), they recently reviewed the new Fol Chen record. Read that HERE. Spin Magazine recently put together a Prince covers record for its subscribers. Fol Chen and Lavender Diamond were featured. Fol Chen is headed to Europe for a September tour. See the dates HERE.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are also touring Europe in support of their debut album, Up From Below. See the dates on their Myspace page. Download MP3: 40 Day Dream (Pitchfork gave the track a 6 out of 10)

Rainbow Arabia released some new music, Kabukimono, yesterday through Manimal Vinyl. Download MP3: Harlem Sunrise

And last, but not least, Aaron and Nikki from Amnion will be appearing on Penn & Teller: Bullshit! this weekend on Showtime. Those two are so nice and positive, they don’t deserve the mean-spiritedness of the show, but they’ve got a great attitude about it. Watch a clip HERE.

I’m sure I’m forgetting a million bands, sorry everybody……..