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

Janelle Monae Plays the Palladium on Saturday 

I only made it out once last week, for Kelley Stoltz at Spaceland. I'm loving his new record. He's not a super dynamic performer, but I thought he sounded great. Some pretty good choices each night this week...


Monday 10/25/10

[Pick of the Night] Jessie Baylin / Richard Swift @ Bootleg ($10) - I'm a big Richard Swift fan.
[Recommended] Wet & Reckless / Rumspringa / Bowery Beasts / LA Font @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) - Wrapping up their Monday night residency.

[Recommended] Evan Voytas / Lesands / Allo Darlin @ The Echo (Free) - Last night of the Monday night residency.

[Recommended] Radars to the Sky / Torches in Trees @ Spaceland (Free) - Last night of the Radars to the Sky residency.
UNKLE / Sleepy Sun @ El Rey ($27)

Boom Boom Satellites / Vampires Everywhere! @ Troubadour ($18)

The Wellspring / Little Stevies / Carter Hulsey @ Hotel Café

JP, Chrissie & the Fairground Boys / Amy Correia @ House of Blues Sunset ($23)

Bilal @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM set

Miss Josie Bunnie @ Pehrspace

Phil Alvin @ Redwood Bar

Justin Beiber / Sean Kingston @ Staples Center ($40 - $66)

Juliette Commagere / Aqualung @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP)

Tuesday 10/26/10

[Pick of the Night] Murder Ballads: Frank Fairfield / Simon Stokes / Boy Scout Jamboree / Triple Chicken Foot / Vaud & the Villains / Amanda Jo Williams / Driftwood Singers / Julia Holter / RT n’ the 44’s / Emily Lace & Henry Wolfe @ Echoplex ($8) – Performing songs from the pages of murder ballad history.

[Recommended] Reigning Sound / The Ettes / Shirley Rolls @ The Echo ($12) – Memphis garage legend. Also at Spaceland on Wednesday.
Thrones / Christian Mistress / Gypsyhawk @ Spaceland ($8) – Joe Preston's solo project - he's played with Earth, Melvins, High on Fire and Sunn O))). 

Giant Drag / Lonely Trees / Square on Square @ Bootleg ($10)

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros @ Grove of Anaheim ($33)

Lights / Jeremy Fisher @ El Rey ($15)

Mad Planet / Sean Shan / Ballerina Black @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Seabear / Grandchildren @ Troubadour ($15)

The Harmony Tour: Never Shout Never @ The Wiltern

Eliza Doolittle @ Hotel Café

James Lavelle DJ set @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM set

Carnage Asada / The Mormons @ Redwood Bar

Wednesday 10/27/10

[Pick of the Night] Reigning Sound / The Ettes / Death Hymn Number 9 @ Spaceland ($12) – Memphis garage legend. This band merges soul. Also at the Echo on Tuesday.
Gorillaz / N.E.R.D. @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($80 - $143) - They were bad on their first tour, but I've heard they're pretty cool now. 

The Nervous Wreckords / Taylor Locke & the Roughs / Hunting For Wolves @ Bordello ($10)

Low End Theory: Onra / Thavius Beck / My Dry Wet Mess @ Airliner ($10)

Neil Sedaka @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($45 - $116)  

Father’s Day / The McDaniels / Laco$te / clipping @ The Smell ($5)

White Sea / Seven Saturdays @ Hotel Café – White Sea features Morgan Kibby of M83

Playing For Change @ Wilshire Ebell ($35 - $75)

VersaEmerge / Anarbor / The Dangerous Summer / Conditions @ Troubadour ($10)

wOOtstock: An Evening of Geeks + Music with Paul and Storm @ Largo

All Spots to Black / Welldiggers Banquet / Woolen / Drunk On Crutches @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Bullet For My Valentine / Escape the Fate / Black Tide / Drive A @ Palladium ($36)

Tim & Eric / Neil Hamburger @ the Glass House ($20)

Jason Simon @ Vacation (Free) – 7:00 PM

JP, Chrissie & the Fairground Boys / Amy Correia @ House of Blues Anaheim ($23)

Thursday 10/28/10

[Pick of the Night] Built to Spill / Revolt Revolt / Finn Riggins @ El Rey ($25) - I've always been a big Built to Spill fan. They're not exciting to watch on stage, but sound great. 

Black Cobra / Ancestors / Black Math Horseman / Lantvrn @ Spaceland ($12 or $18 for Thursday and Friday) – It’s an American heavy metal weekend at Spaceland (Thursday and Friday anyway). Night one of the All Hallows Eve fest.

Meiko @ Hotel Café

Breathe Owl Breathe / Little Wings / The Migrant / Give Me Motion @ Bootleg ($10)

AP Tour Fall 2010: Bring Me the Horizon / August Burns Red / Emarosa @ Fox Theater Pomona ($20)

Fun. / Steel Train / Jarrod Gorbel @ The Music Box ($16)

The Broken Column / Act As If / Hello Vegas @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Foxy Shazam / Free Energy / Hollerado @ Troubadour ($15)

Bilal / J*Davey / Quadron @ Echoplex ($20)

Raw Power Rangers / Insect Surfers @ The Echo ($8) – Raw Power Ranger cover Raw Power as a rock opera

Sarah Silverman @ Largo ($25)

Rocky Horror Picture Show @ The Wiltern

Corinne Bailey Rae / Orgone @ Avalon ($40)

Kate Nash / Stacy Clark @ The Glass House ($20)

Spindrift / Vieja / Strangers Family Band @ Redwood Bar

Moving Picture Show / The Suicide Denial @ Viper Room ($15)

Starfucker @ Detroit Bar ($10)

Fear @ Key Club ($20)

Mini Mansions / Slang Chickens @ Space 1520 (Free)

Friday 10/29/10

[Pick of the Week] 2^nd Annual Rock and Roll Circus: The Henry Clay People / The Little Ones / Andy Clockwise / We Barbarians / The Monolators / The Dig / Downtown Union @ The Echo and Echoplex ($12) – Starts at 7:00 PM. Side show acoustic performers include: Red Cortez, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Marvelous Toy, The Steelwells, Olin and the Moon and The Hectors. I've got some tickets to give away for this one. 

[Recommended] Big Business / Night Horse / The Fucking Wrath / The Shrine @ Spaceland ($12 or $18 for Thursday and Friday) – Night two of the mini-All Hallows Eve fest
[Recommended] Peelander-Z / Brothers Collateral / Sir Weston @ Grand Star ($12) - Another Aquarium Drunkard presents show. "Japanese Action Comic Punk Band" who wear some bright ass costumes on stage. I saw them at SXSW a couple of years back and it's a high energy show.

[Recommended] Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan / Willy Mason @ El Rey ($20)

[Recommended] Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)

Audacity / Plasma Centre / Blue Jungle / Cum Stain @ the Smell ($5)

Spain @ Origami (Free) – 8:30 PM

Devics / Jake Blanton / Willoughby @ Bootleg ($8)

AP Tour Fall 2010: Bring Me the Horizon @ Club Nokia

Kate Nash / Peggy Sue @ The Music Box ($23)

Stone Temple Pilots / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Nokia Theatre ($40 - $80)

Moving Units / Rainbow Arabia @ Troubadour ($23)

Suicide Silence / Mychildren Mybride @ The Glass House ($20)

Peter Mulvey & Jeffrey Foucault @ McCabe’s ($16)

The Secret Sisters / The Americans @ McCabe’s ($18) – Late show at 11:00 PM

JackAss / Kings of the Wild Frontier / Los Dugans @ Redwood

Nico Vega / Saint Motel @ The Roxy ($14)

Saturday 10/30/10

[Pick of the Night] Of Montreal / Janelle Monae @ Palladium ($38) - Promises to be very theatrical. Janelle Monae's great. 

[Recommended] Ninjatune 20^th Anniversary: Amon Tobin / Kid Koala / DJ Food & DK / Eskmo / Toddla T & Serocee / Ghostbeard / Cut Chemist @ Echoplex ($25) - Should be a good time.
Cut Chemist / The Duke Spirit / Gram Rabbit @ The Legendary Park Plaza ($75)  

Portugal. The Man / White Denim / HoneyChild @ El Rey ($22) - White Denims got a show lined up for Spaceland next week. 

The Lovetones / The Asteroid #4 / The Quarter After @ Spaceland ($8)

Pelican / Goatsnake / Nails @ Troubadour ($15) - A good week for fans of heavy jams.
Tiger Army / Jack Grisham & the West Coast Dukes / Throw Rag @ The Grove of Anaheim ($28)

Lady Antebellum / David Nail @ Nokia Theatre

The Dan Band @ Club Nokia ($20 - $30)

Beats Antique / Eliot Lipp @ The Music Box ($25)

Suffocation / The Faceless @ The Glass House ($25)

TS and the Past Haunts / Silian Rail / Cue the Moon @ Pehrspace

Where Angels Suffer @ Viper Room ($24)
Hard Haunted Mansion: Bloody Beetroots / Mr. Oizo / Busy P / Crookers / Fake Blood / Rusko / Brodinski / Destructo @ Shrine Auditorium (Sold Out) 

Sunday 10/31/10

[Pick of the Night] DJ Shadow / Pigeon John @ House of Blues Sunset ($33) - I haven't followed him too closely since Endtroducing... but he's probably still interesting

[Recommended] Joe Pug / Nik Freitas @ Spaceland ($10) - I've heard good things about this folky, singer-songwriter. Not the most festive option on Halloween night, but good if you're already sick of the dress up parties. 

Moses Campbell / Broken Water / Morgan and the Organ Donors / Whitman @ The Smell ($5)

Frank Alpine / Violet Tremors @ The Echo ($5)

Halloween Silent Film: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($38 - $63)

Tiger Army / Mad Sin / Hillbilly Casino @ The Grove of Anaheim ($28)

Horrorpops / Rezurex / Fangs of Fur @ The Glass House ($22)

Kasio Antaxia / The Rizlas / Dharma Bums / Black Beverly Heels @ Redwood

Murderdolls @ The Roxy ($15)

Hard Haunted Mansion: Underworld / A-Trak / Boys Noize / Calvin Harris / Flying Lotus / Jack Beats / Destructo / Booka Shade / AC Slater @ Shrine Auditorium ($75)

Recently Announced Live Shows

The Music Box
9/14/10: The Tallest Man on Earth / S. Carey (Friday at 10 AM)

Echoplex
9/25/10: Dungen (TBA)

Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown
9/24/10: Dungen (now)

Verizon Wireless in Irvine
9/26/10: Zac Brown Band / Robert Randolph & the Family Band (Saturday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Palladium
9/11/10: Scissor Sisters (Friday at 10 AM)
10/30/10: Of Montreal / Janelle Monae (now)

The Wiltern
11/12/10: Stars (Friday at 10 AM)

Club Nokia
9/21/10: Ratatat (Friday at 10 AM)
10/22/10: Vince Gill (Friday at 10 AM)
10/23/10: The Temper Trap / Delphic / The Hundred in the Hands (Saturday at 10 AM)

Fox Theater Pomona
9/24/10: Ratatat (Friday at 10 AM)
10/22/10: The Temper Trap / Delphic / The Hundred in the Hands (Saturday at 10 AM)

Grove of Anaheim
10/30/10 – 10/31/10: Tiger Army (Saturday at 10 AM)

Spaceland
10/12/10: Remy Zero (now at Ticketweb)

Live Music Options: 6/14/10 - 6/20/10

Janelle Monae Plays the Greek on Sunday

It was a good week last week. The Henry Clay People packed them in at Spaceland for their record release show on Tuesday (a lot of fun and a suprisingly long set of mostly originals - T. Rex and Bruce Springsteen did slip in). Karen Elson proved she's talented on Wednesday night.

Highlights this week include the Woodsist Festival and intimate shows with Billy Joe Shaver, Bert Jansch and Thurston Moore. Plus summer must be here, the Bowl and Greek are blowing up....

Monday 6/14/10
[Pick of the Night] Line and Circle / Square on Square / Willoughby / Buddy @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Line and Circle continues their Monday night residency. Strong lineup tonight. Get there early to see Buddy at 9:00 PM and stay through Willoughby at Midnight.
[Recommended] Dr. John @ Grammy Museum (Sold Out) – Living legend alert.
Rainbow Arabia / Former Ghosts / 60 Watt Kid / Afghan Raiders @ The Echo (Free) – Rainbow Arabia continue their residency.
We Barbarians / The Union Line / The Fling / Sucker for Pumps @ Spaceland (Free) – We Barbarians continue their residency.
Nodzz / Dunes / Animal Style / Neverever @ Synchronicity
Thou / Graf Orlock / Harassor / Moloch @ The Smell ($6) – F Yeah Fest presents this show.
Thou / Moloch @ Vacation Vinyl (Free) – 7:00 PM
Chief / Haim / Grouplove @ Troubadour ($12) – Buzz Bands has a post on these guys today.
The Benson Interruption @ Largo
The Myronics Crime / Mason Lindhal / Michael Saalman @ Pehrspace
The Lady Tigra / Thomas Nicholas Band @ Viper Room ($10)

Tuesday 6/15/10
[Pick of the Night] Thurston Moore / Spectre Folk @ Synchronicity – Sonic Youth’s main man does an acoustic 12 string show at a small gallery space.
[Recommended] Woodsist Festival: Real Estate / Woods / Kurt Vile / Abe Vigoda / Art Museums / The Mantles / Nodzzz / Sun Araw / All Saints Day / The Baths @ The Echo & Echoplex ($12) – A festival from the influential lo-fi label
Abandoned Pools / Vanaprasta / Chasing Kings @ Spaceland ($10) – Presented by our pals at Buzz Bands.
Sting with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra @ Hollywood Bowl ($30 - $210) – Lease Event
Melody Gardot / Federico Aubele @ El Rey ($32)
The Prids / Kissing Cousins / Tasso / The Soft Tags @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
My Education / Nohow On @ Bootleg ($15)
Alaskas / Haunted Horses / Back to the Future the Ride / Dunes @ The Smell ($5)
The Rooftop Vigilantes / French Exit / Horse Marriage @ Echo Curio
Andy McKee @ the Mint ($15)
Jay Brannan @ the Roxy ($15)
Purple Melon / Laura Saggers @ Viper Room (Free)
Mike Posner @ Key Club ($60)
Justin Currie / Jaymes Reunion / Jane Carrey @ Troubadour ($20)
Murderdolls @ The Glass House ($15)
Kimberly Caldwell @ Hotel Café
Alex Bleeker / Julian Lynch / Ducktails @ Origami Vinyl (Free) – 5:00 PM
Georgia Anne Muldrown & Declaime (aka Dudley Perkins) @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM set

Wednesday 6/16/10
[Pick of the Night] Junip / Ferraby Lionheart @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts ($17) – Junip is Jose Gonzalez , Elias Araya, Tobias Winterkorn.
[Recommended] Everest @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM set; Also appearing at the Troubadour on Friday
[Recommended] Shellshag / Signals / Stoned at Heart / Rare Grooves @ Spaceland ($10) – Kind of a noisey, DIY night for Spaceland. Shellshag’s a boy girl duo from Brooklyn.
Low End Theory: Strangeloop / Shlohmo / Teebs / Timeboy @ Airliner ($10)
Hot Hot Heat / Eastern Conference Champions / The Janks @ Bootleg ($12) – Hot Hot Heat continues their Wednesday night residency.
Local H / Left Brain Heart / Morning Teleportation @ Troubadour ($15)
Chicago / Doobie Brothers @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($40 - $150)
Bret Easton Ellis “Imperial Bedrooms” with Jerry Stahl and Joseph Mattson @ Largo
Dub Club: David Rodigan / Downbeat the Ruler @ Echoplex ($10 - $15)
Lunar Youth / The Ivy Walls / Actress @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Pedestrian @ Hotel Café
Andy McKee @ the Mint ($15)
Chiddy Bang / The Pack / 2 AM Club @ The Glass House ($12)
Matt Pond PA / Wintersleep @ Detroit Bar ($12)
The Damn Sons / Brandon Mccullouch and the Deadbirds @ 3 of Clubs
Julian Lynch / Tan Dollar / Queen Victoria / Speculator @ Synchronicity

Thursday 6/17/10
[Pick of the Night] Vato Negro / Skinwalker / Unfact / Technology @ The Echo ($10) – Vato Negro is Juan from The Mars Volta. The other bands feature members of Jesus Lizard, The Locust and RX Bandits.
Loch Lomond / Hey Marseilles @ Bootleg ($10)
Fitz and the Tantrums / Music For Animals / Henry Wolfe @ Spaceland ($10) – Fitz and the Tantrums continues their Monday night residency.
Matt Pond PA / Wintersleep / Lunar Youth @ Troubadour ($15)
GBH / Outernational / The Bombpops @ The Music Box ($20)
Run Run Run / Holy Rolling Empire / Kozmonaut / Whitman @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Jenny Owen Youngs @ Hotel Café
Rooney / Young Veins / Black Gold @ House of Blues Anaheim
Bikos / Hot TV / The Modlins @ Pehrspace
Falcon Eddy / Abe Marber / Night Control @ Echo Curio
Alborosie @ The Roxy ($25)
Video Games Live @ Nokia Theatre ($25 - $75)
Murderdolls @ Key Club ($13)
50 Cent Haircut / Qualia / Briar Rose @ 3 of Clubs
Sun Araw / Matt Carlson / Brother Raven / Metal Rouge @ Synchronicity

Friday 6/18/10
[Pick of the Week] The Whigs / Everest / Thousand Dozen Gloves @ Troubadour ($15) – The Whigs put on a great live show. Everest is one of my favorite local bands. No brainer.
[Recommended] Citay / Slang Chickens / My Pet Saddle @ Spaceland ($10) – I dig kicking back and listening to their guitar sounds like a hippie.
[Recommended] Division Day @ Origami Vinyl (Free) – 7:00 PM set; Great way to kick off your night before heading to the Troub, Echo, Echoplex, Bootleg or Spaceland.
Freestyle Fellowship (Aceyalone, Myka 9, Self Jupiter) / Busdriver / Nocando @ Echoplex ($17) -
Pantha Du Prince / Delphic @ The Echo ($12) – Recent recipient of Best New Music on Pitchfork.
Active Child / Rocco Deluca @ Bootleg ($10) – Interesting bill. Active Child’s gotten some love from Pitchfork.
The Cool Kids / Kidz in the Hall / Donnis @ The Glass House ($10 RSVP / $20) – I saw the Cool Kids at SXSW one year. Pretty enjoyable.
Opening Night at the Bowl honoring Donna Summer, the Carpenters and Jean-Yves Thibaudet @ Hollywood Bowl ($17 - $156)
Freestyle Explosion: Stevie B / Shannon / Company B @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($20 - $50)
Jim Lauderdale @ McCabe’s ($15)
Totally Serious / Witt / Snuffaluffagus @ The Smell ($5)
Hi Ho Silver Oh / Tenlon’s Fort / Olentangy John / Judson & Mary @ Echo Curio
Gemma Ray / Wheels on Fire / Dirt Dress @ Redwood
Russell Taylor @ the Roxy ($20)
Yogi / Janet Robin / Brother Sal @ Hotel Café
The Whispers @ Grove of Anaheim
City of Progress @ Vacation Vinyl (Free) – 7:00 PM
Religious Girls / Pregnant / Shinta @ Synchronicity

Saturday 6/19/10
[Pick of the Night] Billy Joe Shaver / Eilen Jewell / Dave Gleason @ Redwood – Some serious outlaw country. Billy Joe Shaver’s a legend, but don’t go after him with a knife or he’ll shoot you (in self defense). He’s been acquitted for that shooting, so catch him out on the road.
[Recommended] Beach Boys Tribute @ 3110 North Broadway ($16) - See separate post
[Recommended] Make Music Pasadena: Matt & Kim / The Antlers / Warpaint / Breakestra / The Growlers / Voxhaul Broadcast / Big Whup / Moses Campbell @ Pasadena - Dear Festival: You might consider putting the date of the event somewhere on your page.... [they've since updated their site with the date]. Good lineup and you can't beat free. I think LA should have more free outdoor music festivals, so please support them when the occur.
PacSun Beach Party: Circa Survive / Minus the Bear / Ra Ra Riot / Yelawolf @ 1550 Pacific Coast Hwy (Free if you pick up a ticket at a PacSun store)
Brazzaville / The Chromium Heart @ Spaceland ($10) – I remember back when David Brown was still in Beck’s band.
Jamie Lidell / Alex B @ El Rey ($22) – Blue-eyed soul.
The Like / Infantree / Tijuana Panthers @ Troubadour ($12)
21st Annual Mariachi USA Festival @ Hollywood Bowl ($30 - $172) – Lease event
Rooney / The Young Veins / Black Gold @ The Music Box ($20)
Imogen Heap / Geese / Ben Christopher @ The Greek Theater ($25 - $35)
The Blasters @ the Echo ($14) – Early show at 6:00 PM
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo ($25)
Portugal. The Man / The Builders and Butchers @ House of Blues Anaheim
Jackshit @ McCabe’s ($15)
Elevaters / Coby Brown / Lelia Broussard @ Hotel Café
Religious Girls / Pregnant / Magick Orchids @ The Smell ($5)
Gypsyhawk / Lungbutter / Professor / Tap This @ Echo Curio
Julio Iglesias @ Grove of Anaheim
Jin Akanishi @ Club Nokia ($35 - $150)
Meho Plaza @ Vacation Vinyl (Free) – 7:00 PM
Obscurer / Warm Climate / Dubumba @ Pehrspace
Ovideo @ Origami Vinyl (Free) – 7:00 PM

Sunday 6/20/10
[Pick of the Night] Erykah Badu / Lupe Fiasco / Janelle Monae @ Greek Theatre ($39 - $101) – Really good lineup. Get there early for Janelle Monae, she’s a spitfire.
[Recommended] Bert Jansch / Pegi Young @ Largo ($30) – Jansch is another living legend (and one of the most influential acoustic guitarists ever). I was excited to pick up the first Pentangle record at the flea market two weekends ago.
PacSun Beach Party: B.O.B. / Matt & Kim / Neon Trees @ 1550 Pacific Coast Hwy (Free if you pick up a ticket at a PacSun store)
Baaba Maal / Playing For Change / Yeasayer / Tinariwen / Fool’s Gold @ Hollywood Bowl ($12 - $131) – Bowl show, so take in your wine, beer, dope and brie. I’m most interested in seeing Tinariwen.
The Warlocks / The Meek / Green Eyes @ The Echo ($10)
So Many Wizards / The Blank Tapes / Moses Campbell @ McCabe’s ($10)
Café Kids: Priscilla Ahn / Tom Freund @ Hotel Café – Another venue jumping on the Kidrockers bandwagon; Early kids show starting at 2:00 PM
Rick Shea / The Famous Volcanos / Kasey Anderson @ The Echo (Free) – Early show at 5:00 PM
Chrome Wings / Italic Indians / Barr / Protect Me @ Echo Curio
Ross Sea Party / Geographer / Jump Jump Dance Dance @ Spaceland ($5)
Thrones / Hot Victory / Festa L’Animale / Demoralize @ The Smell ($5)
Druglords of the Avenues / Goldiggers @ Redwood
Athlete @ Detroit Bar
Jin Akanishi @ Club Nokia ($35 - $150)
Raymond Byron / Ohioan / Rafter @ Synchronicity

Live Music Options: 3/22/10 - 3/28/10

Admiral Radley Play the Bootleg on Wednesday

If you missed SXSW this year, have no fear...multiple great shows every night this week.

Monday March 22, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Serena Maneesh / Depreciation Guild / Seaspin @ Troubadour ($12) – Quality Norwegian shoegazers.
[Recommended] The Minor Canon / Go West Young Man / Two Guns / This Machine Kills Fascists @ The Air Conditioned Supper Club in Venice - Westsiders need to show up to shows on their side of town, I’m sure they get sick of driving to Echo Park and Silver Lake. The Minor Canon’s one of my favorite local bands.
[Recommended] Seaspin / Twilight Sleep / Future Ghost / French Miami @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Seaspin continues its residency (and also plays at the Troubadour tonight).
[Recommended] Moonrats / He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister / Halloween Swim Team @ Spaceland (Free) – Moonrats’ residency continues.
Kashmir / Oliver Future / Italian Japanese @ Bootleg ($10)
The Infamous Stringdusters @ Largo ($25)
The Frequency / Horse Stories / Last Man Standing @ The Echo (Free)
David Scott Stone / The Faraday Trippers / Sleepwalkers Local / Oscillator @ Echo Curio
Smokers in Love @ Bordello ($8)
Moment Trigger / Whitman / Adam Papagan & David Liebe Hart / Orca Team @ Pehrspace
Powersolo @ Redwood
Julia Holter / Nudge / Matthew David @ Synchronicity

Tuesday March 23, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Janelle Monae / Bruno Mars / Malina Moye @ Viper Room ($15) – Janelle Monae was one of my highlights of last year’s SXSW conference.
[Recommended] Titus Andronicus / Let’s Wrestle / Slang Chickens @ Bootleg ($12) A couple of pretty well respected indie bands. Let’s Wrestle is on Merge and Titus Andronicas is on XL Recordings.
Acid Mother Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. / Over-Gain Optimal Death / Kill Kill Kill @ Spaceland ($12) – One of the most prolific bands out there.
Spring Summer / Patrick Park @ Hotel Café
Kreator / Kataklysm @ House of Blues Sunset ($28)
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour / Wallpaper / White Apple Tree @ The Echo ($15) – Straight outta Denmark.
Curt Smith of Tears for Fears / Zoe Keating @ Largo ($25)
Lovelikefire / Kashmir / Space Waves / Red Tide @ Silverlake Lounge ($10)
Taylor Locke & the Roughs / White Arrows / Paper Zoo @ Bordello ($8)
Rodrigo y Gabriela @ Grammy Museum ($12)
Britain Ashford / Spring Queen / Olentangy John @ Synchronicity

Wednesday March 24, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Admiral Radley / The Henry Clay People / Gooby Goo & Peekers @ Bootleg ($10) – Admiral Radley is the new band featuring Jason Lytle of Grandaddy and Aaron Espinoza of Earlimart. The Henry Clay People have a new album in the can that will come out in June.
[Recommended] Ray Davies / The 88 @ The Grove of Anaheim ($45 - $55) – I enjoy the hell out of seeing Ray Davies pretty much every time. Still my favorite lyricist of all time. Also at the Canyon Club on Thursday night.
[Recommended] Janelle Monae / Bruno Mars/ Otis Heat @ Viper Room ($15) – Night two.
[Recommended] Cymbals Eat Guitars / Bear in Heaven / Freelance Whales @ The Echo ($10) – Hipster central.
[Recommended] Chatmonchy @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM – If you like cute, Japanese girls, I think you already know what to do.
Devendra Banhart and the Grogs / Dorothy and the Originals @ The Wiltern ($25 - $30)
Club NME: Garotas Suecas / Think About Life / Bullied By Strangers / Neverever @ Spaceland ($10) – Straight outta Brazil. Fun stuff.
Samuel Stewart / Sister Crayon / Fergus Brown @ Hotel Café
World’s Greatest Ghost / Tempo No Tempo / Big Whup @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Bad Religion / The Adolescents @ House of Blues Sunset ($25)
Endless Hallway / Kozmonaut / Kill the Academy / Magnuson @ Troubadour ($5)
Low End Theory: Samiyam / Kutmah / Ages @ Airliner ($10)
The Low Anthem / Timber Timbre @ Largo ($25) – Also at the Bootleg Thursday night (for $10 cheaper).
The Growlers @ Alex’s Bar ($5)
The Loneliest Monk / Tiff Randol / Nadine et Terence @ Bordello ($10)
Y La Bamba / Falsetto Teeth / The Franks / Children of the Kai @ Echo Curio
Orca Team @ L’Keg
White Fang / Wampire / Neon Navajo @ Synchronicity

Thursday March 25, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Ray Davies / The 88 @ Canyon Club in Agoura Hills ($35 - $49) – Pretty tasty combo. Ray Davies always entertains me.
[Recommended] The Deadly Syndrome / Signals / Rabbits @ The Echoplex ($10) – This is the record release party for the new Deadly Syndrome record. It’s a little more introspective and more of a slow burner than the first one.
[Recommended] She & Him / The Living Sisters @ El Rey (Sold Out) – Zooey and M. Ward.
[Recommended] The Morning Benders / Miniature Tigers / We Barbarians @ Troubadour ($12) – I never could get past the silly band name, but the Morning Benders play good, music supervisor approved indie rock.
[Recommended] Dead Meadow @ Hollywood Forever Cemetary Masonic Lodge (Free) – Order the album from the band and get a guaranteed slot. Nice riffage.
The Low Anthem / Timber Timbre / The Barr Brothers @ Bootleg ($15)
Bad Religion / Off with Their Heads @ House of Blues Sunset ($25)
Tobacco / The Hood Internet / The Baths @ The Echo ($12) – Beck guested on the new Tobacco record, so maybe he’ll show up? Tobacco’s the side project of the lead singer of Black Moth Super Rainbow.
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo ($25)
Glacier Hiking / Eastern Conference Champions / MWK @ Spaceland ($7)
Grand Hallway / Mighty Tiger / The Sequel @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Narrows / Kerretta / Dangers @ The Smell ($8)
Pierced Arrows @ Detroit Bar ($10) – Ex-Dead Moon.
The Photo Atlas / The Rouge @ Viper Room
The Rhone Occupation / Random Patterns / Family Portrait / Fictionist @ Echo Curio
Caspian / Arms and Sleepers / Beware of Safety @ Pehrspace
Joey Ryan @ Hotel Café
Barrio Tiger / Sun Trash / The Jew Cocks @ Redwood
John Mayer / Michael Franti & Spearhead @ Staples Center ($40 - $80)
Shooter Jennings @ Grammy Museum ($12)

Friday March 26, 2010
[Pick of the Week] Radar Bros. / Bell Gardens / Extra @ Spaceland ($10) – I just can’t get enough of the new Radar Bros. record (out Tuesday on Merge Records). See the new lineup with Dan Iead (Broken West), Brian and Stevie (the Movies) and Be Hussey.
[Recommended] Yacht / Bobby Birdman / Small Black / Washed Out / Pictureplane @ Echoplex ($14) – Ground zero for the hipsters.
[Recommended] Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)
[Recommended] Jay-Z @ Staples Center (Sold Out) - They give you another excuse not to go to Coachella this year.
Metric / Codeine Velvet Club / Nico Vega @ Hollywood Palladium ($31) - I saw them at the Silverlake Lounge back in the day.
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists / Sally Crewe & the Sudden Moves @ The Glass House ($14) – High energy shows.
Foreign Born / Jail Weddings @ The Echo ($10) – Local indie rockers on the Secretly Canadian lable.
Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore / Frank Fairfield @ McCabe’s ($15)
Tobacco / The Hood Internet @ Detroit Bar ($10)
Hank III with Jackass @ The Roxy ($22)
The Splinters / Jeff the Brotherhood @ Origami Vinyl (Free) - 6:00 PM
Three Bad Jacks / Blazing Haley / Los Creepers / Fighting Chance @ Troubadour ($15)
Copeland / I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business @ El Rey (Sold Out)
The Paper Chase / Kiss Kiss / A Decent Animal @ Bootleg ($12)
Ty Segall / Jeff the Brotherhood / The Splinters / Wounded Lion @ The Smell ($5)
Pato Banton @ Alex’s Bar ($12)
Stag Hare / Bigger Insides / Summer Recreation Camp / Catcher @ Echo Curio
Moses Campbell / Your Yellow Dress / The Dining Dead @ Pehrspace
Spindrift / The Upsidedown / Magic Mirror / Matt Tow @ Redwood

Saturday March 27, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Surfer Blood / Best Coast / Turbofruits / Active Child / The Coathangers / Dirt Dress / Gamble House / The Po Po / Moon Duo / The Sandwitches @ Echoplex ($10) – Starts at 3:30 PM. Hosted by Matt Dwyer and Matt Braunger. Presented by Aquarium Drunkard. I really dig the Surfer Blood record. Best Coast got some great writeups out of SXSW. The Sandwitches have some promising stuff too.
[Recommended] Field Music / Learning Music @ Bootleg ($10) – Field Music are an underrated British indie pop band.
[Recommended] Dirt Bird / Kissing Cousins / Modern Time Machines / Wrong Way Driver / Wet & Reckless @ Mr. T’s Bowl – Good local lineup.
[Recommended] Japan Nite 2010: Chatmonchy / Red Bacteria Vacuum / Omodaka / Okamoto’s / Jinny Oops! / Ajuku Girls @ Viper Room ($14) – Always a fun time. Chamoncy and Jinny Oops
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists / Sally Crewe & the Sudden Moves @ Troubadour ($16) – High energy stuff.
The Morning Benders @ Detroit Bar ($10) – If you missed them at the Troubadour.
The Like / Sweaters / Vum @ The Smell ($5) – The Like’s doing the Monday night residency at the Echo in May.
The Quarter After / Federale / Chief Nowhere / Ojos Rojos @ Spaceland ($8)
Krishna Das / Deva Premal & Miten with Manose @ Wilshire Ebell ($35)
B-52’s @ Canyon Club ($60)
Paul Wall / Chamillionaire @ The Grove of Anahiem
Kit / Death Sentence: Panda! / 60 Watt Kid / The Old Lumps @ Echo Curio
Fay Wrays / Dead Ponies / The Shade @ Pehrspace
Pierced Arrows / Lullabye Arkestra / D-Rex / Living Sickness / Goldiggers @ Redwood – Ex-Dead Moon.
Hugh Cornwell @ Alex’s Bar ($12)
Bill Orcutt / Peter Kolovos @ Synchronicity

Sunday March 28, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Air / AM @ Walt Disney Concert Hall (Sold Out) – Any chance you get to see a cool band at the Disney is a guaranteed unique and memorable experience.
[Recommended] Giant Cloud / Le Switch / The World Record @ Spaceland (Free) - Last minute add. Free show with the Le Switch and The World Record - two of my favorite LA bands. Giant Cloud are from New Orleans, and signed to Park the Van.[Recommended] Surfer Blood / Turbofruits @ Detroit Bar ($10) – If you miss them at the Echoplex
[Recommended] Slumberland Records 20th Anniversary Show: Boyracer / Brown Recluse / Devon Williams / Go Sailor / Henry’s Dress / Neverever / Pants Yell! / Summer Cats / The how @ The Echo ($15) – Starts at 7:00 PM
KSCR Fest: Thee Oh Sees / The Entrance Band / The Growlers / Rumspringa / Princeton @ USC Campus Between EF Hutton/Founders Park (Free) - From 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
The Standells / The Zeros / Peter Case / Pierced Arrows / Giant Drag / Ty Segall / Lords of Altamont / Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss @ Echoplex ($20) – Starts at Noon
The Refugees @ McCabe’s ($15)
Nellie McKay @ Alex Theatre in Glendale ($26)
Neil Hamburger @ Spaceland ($8)
W.A.S.P. @ The Key Club ($25)
Guy Blackman / Crayon Fields @ Echo Curio – starts at 3:00 PM
Aaron Drake / Scott Cazan / Ulrich Kreiger @ Echo Curio
Lemon Bear / Back to the Future the Ride / Cowan / Suzi Star @ 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)

Saturday Night at SXSW

The Knux at Vice

Janelle Monae at Vice

Janelle Monae at Vice

The Knux at Vice

Asher Roth at Vice

So I finally looked at a SXSW schedule on Saturday evening. What did I come up with? A hip-hop showcase at a club called Vice.

Readers should know by now that I'm not an avid hip-hop fan. Records typically have to crossover for me to really pay attenion. Which leads us to the first artist of the night, Asher Roth.

I'd never heard of Asher Roth before. Apparently he's a middle to upper middle class white fella from Pennsylvania who got lots of attention by sampling Weezer. As I walked in, I got really nervous. Out of all the choices at SXSW this is what I chose? Bummer. Special guests The Cool Kids came on stage for a couple of tracks and that made it somewhat interesting.

Next up was the Knux. If it wasn't for Jeff Weiss, I wouldn't know who the hell the Knux was either. Knowing very little about them, I was a tad fearful they were going to be some fairly bland backpack rap act. Thankfully they were not. Apparently there's a growing trend in hip-hop to have musicians on stage. I have my suspicions that the keyboard player wasn't doing much, but he looked cool. It was a high energy performance and infinitely better than Asher Roth. Very fun to see live. Things were looking up.

The artist I'd heard the most about was Janelle Monae. I read somewhere a while back that she's originally from Kansas City, so I took an interest in her. (I still hadn't brought myself to listen to her stuff, but I was curious.) She wasn't what I expected at all. She's a tiny, slighly Grace Jones looking, spitfire of energy. Her band of musicians includes a guitar player who modeled his look after Andre 3000 in the "Hey Ya" video. Her music had a lot of range. She effortlessly moved from manic, "Hey Ya" style hip-hop-meets-rock to an emotional version of the standard, "Smile" (popularized by Nat King Cole). She ended her set by leaping into the crowd and crowd surfing all the way to the back of the house. No surprise that No Doubt has tapped her to open their reunion tour.

A very fitting and positive way to end SXSW 2009.