Live Music Options: 6/8/09 - 6/14/09

Jason Lytle Plays the Greek Theatre on Friday

I really enjoyed the Minor Canon record release party last Tuesday. Such a great band.

Monday 6/8/09
[Pick of the Night] Castledoor / Hopewell / John Webster Johns / Eastern Conference Champions @ Spaceland (Free) - Castledoor continues their Monday night residency.
[Recommended] Oliver Future / Other Lives @ The Echo (Free) - Oliver Future's residency should get a boost from Other Lives.
[Recommended] Corridor / Paulo Zappoli / Avi Buffalo / Addiquit / Telepathic Liberation Army @ Echoplex (Free) - Avi Buffalo goes on at midnight.
Metric / Sebastien Grainger @ The Wiltern ($20)
Scott H. Biram / Jake Labotz @ Redwood Bar & Grill
No Horses / Old Toy Trains / Linda Draper / Jubilee Singers @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Doug Benson @ Largo ($20)
John Thill / American Gil & the Major Dudes / Stellaluna / Serows / Beckett ‘n Frenz @ The Smell ($5)
Lelia Broussard / Chantal Kreviazuk / Jerry Hannan / Ferras @ Hotel Café
Kinky Katskins / Bamn / Abused Romance / Armada / Beautiful Criminal @ Viper Room

Tuesday 6/9/09
[Pick of the Night] Patrick Wolf / Living Things / Jaguar Love / Plasticines @ The Roxy ($15)
[Recommended] The Lemonheads / Model/Actress @ Spaceland ($18) - The Lemonheads have a new album of covers. I quickly listened to the Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons covers, but haven't gotten to the rest of it yet. The two I heard were good.
[Recommended] Camera Obscura / Future Static @ The Glass House ($15)
[Recommended] Sonic Youth Listening Party: Pocahaunted / Shiloe @ Origami Vinyl (Free) - Ignore the Pitchfork review (I always do) and pick this sucker up.... it's good. Some free pizza too.
Sebastien Grainger / Woodhands @ Cinespace ($5 w/RSVP)
Gaslamp Killer / Big Moves / Pollyn @ The Echo ($10)
The Tragically Hip @ Troubadour ($35)
Secret Chiefs 3 / Kayo Dot @ El Rey ($18)
Grizzly Owls / Square on Square / Zenda @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Jeff Buckley CD/DVD Release @ Largo ($45)
Michael Schenker @ Key Club ($25) – Founding member of the Scorpions
Raining Jane / Bushwalla / Macek / Price / Lindsey Ray @ Hotel Café
Your Majesty / Lady Sinatra / Who Rides the Tiger / The Bourbon Saints / Veritas @ Viper Room
Mike Stinson @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Jason Simon / Blank Blue / Hopewell @ the Prospector

Wednesday 6/10/09
Pick of the Night] Constantines / Crystal Antlers / I Was a King @ The Echo ($10)
[Recommended] The Hectors / Tandemoro / Untiil June / Glare of Rockets / Soul Puppet @ Viper Room
Club NME: Rainbow Arabia / Spirit Vine / Voices Voices @ Spaceland ($8) - If you're a Pitchfork and Gorilla vs. Bear follower, you've seen a lot written about the new-ish band from the old Wiskey Biscuit keyboard player....
Peter Murphy @ House of Blues Sunset - Bauhaus vocalist.
Butterfly Boucher / Patrick Park / Susie Suh / Kelli Rudick / Yellow Red Sparks @ Hotel Café
HoneyHoney / 2-Headed Dog / Nicole Atkins @ Largo ($20)
Low End Theory Club: Nosaj Thing @ Airliner ($10)
Municipal Waste / Trap Them @ Knitting Factory
Dub Club @ Echoplex
The Tragically Hip @ Troubadour ($35)
VLA / Mr. Gnome / Chasing Kings @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Bastidas / Animals on Coke / The Shock Deformity and Amputee @ The Smell ($5)
The Neighborhood Bullys @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Thursday 6/11/09
[Pick of the Night] Camera Obscura / Agent Ribbons @ The Fonda ($20)
[Recommended] Iwaad Wassif & Two Part Beast / Hopewell / Jason Simon (from Dead Meadow) / Jonathan Terrell @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Handsome Furs / The Cinnamon Band / The Monolators ($15) - Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade.
Au Revoir Simone / The Antlers / Princeton / Findlay Brown @ El Rey ($17) - The Antlers have some buzz surrounding them.
The Church / Adam Franklin / Bolts of Melody @ The Roxy ($30)
Children Collide / Bloodcat Love @ Spaceland ($10) - All the Australian bands play Spaceland....
The Tragically Hip @ Troubadour ($35)
She Wants Revenge / Great Northern / Io Echo @ The Glass House ($20)
Testament / Unearth / Lazarus A.D. @ House of Blues Sunset
Random Patterns / Intricate Machines / Ovideo / Star Parts @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
The Rescues / Arrica Rose / Terra Naomi / Anne Heaton / Billy the Kid @ Hotel Café Picture Atlantic / Giant State / The Frail / Red Letter Agent / Monster Eats the Pilot / Thunder From Heaven @ Viper Room
Balkan Beat Box @ Key Club ($20)
Paper Planes / Mike Stinson @ The Prospector

Friday 6/12/09
[Pick of the Week] Neko Case / Jason Lytle @ Greek Theatre ($35)
[Recommended] Jay Reatard / Thee Oh Sees / Earthmen & Strangers @ The Echo ($14) [Recommended] Love Is All / Still Flyin’ / Shark Toys @ Echoplex ($16) - Popular Swedes.
Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)
Saturn / So Cow / Shark Toys / Le Face @ L'Keg Gallery - I've heard good things about So Cow...
[Recommended] Kenan Bell / Robert Francis @ Spaceland ($12) - This show's a benefit for Taco Zone - the hipster-favorite taco truck that sits near the Von's parking lot on Alvarado. Last weekend somebody allegedly threw a molotov cocktail on it (while it was open). That place has saved my ass a couple of times...
Del Tha Funky Homosapien @ House of Blues Sunset
Nikka Costa / JD Webb @ Troubadour ($25)
IAMX / Hypernova @ El Rey ($25)
Saint Motel / Links / Fight From Above / Heavy Hands / Last Exit @ Viper Room
Reik / Jesse Y Joy @ Club Nokia ($51 - $81)
Laura Jansen / Come Gather Round Us / Austin Hartley Leonard / The Dylan Trees / Beth Thornley / Joel Stein @ Hotel Café
TPF! / Dozal Brothers / Neon Navajo / Fast Astronauts @ The Smell
Rival Sons / Sangre Sangre / Death on Wheels @ The Roxy ($12)
Lady Dottie & the Diamonds / Quetzal Guerrero & the Warriors / New Rome Quartet @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Tijuana Panthers / dirt dress / Rad Cloud / no paws (no lions) @ Pehrspace

Saturday 6/13/09
[Pick of the Night] The Felice Brothers / Willy Mason @ Troubadour ($18)
Telepathe / Abe Vigoda / Nite Jewel / Blue Jungle @ The Smell ($5)
Clipse / Pac Div / B.O.B. @ Club Nokia ($23)
The Night Marchers / Japanese Motors / Lamps @ Lot 613 [613 Imperial Street] (Free w/ RSVP) - Free tequila and tacos. No Age and Travis Keller will be DJ'ing.
Playboy Jazz Festival: The Neville Brothers / Jimmy Cobb’s Band / Norman Brown’s Summer Storm / Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings / New Birth Brass Band @ Hollywood Bowl ($20 - $145) – Tons of other bands starting at 2:30. Bill Cosby is the M.C.
Datarock / Casxio / Wallpaper @ Key Club ($15)
[Recommended] Restavrant / Warpaint / Dogweed / Parker Macy Blues / Stanley Lucas Revolution / Brookline @ Spiral Park in Echo Park (Free) - Fun lineup. 1246 W. Court St.
An Evening with Wendy and Lisa @ Largo ($25)
JD Souther / Jill Sobule @ El Rey ($28)
[Recommended] Bolero / Pink Snowflakes @ The Prospector - Bolero is Josh Schwartz's band.
Halloween Jack / The Sweet Kill @ Spaceland ($12) - Halloween Jack is a glam covers band featuring Gilby Clarke. They're doing a Saturday night residency at Spaceland this month.
Reik @ Fox Theater ($40)
Smog Sessions @ Echoplex ($15) – Dubstep night.
Brandon Rogers / Ashleigh Haney / Melineh Kurdian / David Baron / Sara Haze @ Hotel Café
Green Jelly / 45 Grave / Rosemary’s Billygoat / Frankenstein / Radioactive Chickenheads @ Knitting Factory
Agent Orange / Sex Cobra @ Knitting Factory Front Stage
The Dave & Deke Combo @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Sunday 6/14/09
Grand Ole Echo: Mike Stinson / Dogweed / Elliott Randall @ The Echo (Free)
Brunch Americana: The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash / David Serby / Brennen Leigh @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Useless Keys / Venus Infers / One High Five / Something To Burn / The New Up @ Viper Room
Bat for Lashes @ Lucky Store on 3rd St. Promenade 3:00 - 5:00 PM (Free w/ RSVP) - First come, first served - RSVP required for the performance. Jimmy Tamborello and Jason Bentley will also be DJ'ing.
Kissing Cousins / Restavrant @ Silver Factory Studios - CD release show for Kissing Cousins.
Billy Ray Cyrus @ House of Blues Sunset
Anavan / Daniel Francis Doyle / Math the Band / That Ghost @ The Smell ($5)
The Present / Queens / Julia Holter @ Spaceland ($8)
Naked Hearts / Pwrfl Power / Cap Lori / Alex and Sam @ Hotel Cafe
Part Time Punks @ The Echo (Free)

Live Music Options: 1/19/09 - 1/25/09

If you happen to be a Pitchfork writer, this week's shows might make your head explode. Animal Collective, Department of Eagles, Crystal Antlers, No Age, The Mae Shi, Abe Vigoda, The High Places, The Walkmen, Beach House, Truckasauras, Jay Reatard and Sharon Jones all in one week? Oh my!

Monday 1/19/19
[Recommended] Rocco DeLuca / Musee Mecanique / Correatown @ Spaceland (Free) – Last week Daniel Lanois got up on stage to back Rocco and then performed several of his own songs. Make sure you see Correatown this week.
[Recommended] Robert Francis / Lex Land / Amateurs / Avi Buffalo @ the Echo (Free) – I still need to make it out one of these Robert Francis shows.
Olin and the Moon / Mouse Kills Tiger / Gamble House @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Black Math Horseman @ Mountain Bar
Magick Orchids / The Health Club / Billygoat @ Echo Curio
Harry Shearer Songs of the Bushmen @ Largo
Narf Records Showcase: American Gil & the Major Dudes / Vaginals / Knight Rider @ Pehrspace
Jake Walden / Zera Vaughn @ Hotel Café
Jake Labotz Band @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Weyou / Aymeric Haina / Vosotros @ The Scene
The Chealsea Smiles @ Viper Room
High Places / Glasser @ Kerckhoff Grand Saloon at UCLA

Tuesday 1/20/09
[Recommended] Crystal Antlers / Ancestors / Magic Lantern / Slang Chickens @ the Smell ($5) – Two of the better local psych-y metal bands.
[Recommended] Sara Lov / Willoughby / The One AM Radio / Evan Way @ Spaceland ($12) – Solid local lineup.
[Recommended] Mike Stinson / Dave Gleason @ Redwood Bar & Grill – For the country fans.
The Walkmen / Beach House / Johnny and the Moon @ The Fonda ($18) – Very surprised this isn’t sold out yet.
Castledoor / Earl Greyhound / He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister @ the Echoplex (Free before 10:30 PM, $5 after)
Stab City / Off with Their Heads / Pu$$y Cow / Toys that Kill @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Michael Gerald Bauer @ Silverlake Lounge
Coby Brown / Theresa Anderson / Mia Riddle / TJ Stafford @ Hotel Cafe

Wednesday 1/21/09
[Recommended] Club NME: The Ettes / Useless Keys / Tulsa Skull Swingers @ Spaceland ($8)
60 Watt Kid / Bobb Bruno / VOICEs VOICEs / KaiserCartel @ Silverlake Lounge ($7) – I like seeing Bobb Bruno.
Glacier Hiking / Army Navy / Sara Haze / Former Future @ Troubadour ($10) – Army Navy just got a really good review on Pitchfork.
Truckasauras @ Boardner's
Metronomy / The Mae Shi @ El Rey ($15)
Curumin / Money Mark @ the Echo ($10)
Low End Theory Club: Exile “Radio” Record Release Party @ Airliner ($10)
Fountains of Wayne @ Largo ($30) – Acoustic
Mangled Bohemians / Molino / Electric Russia @ Echo Curio
Peachcake / MC Lars / Get Back Loretta / Glare of Rockets @ Knitting Factory
Luna is Honey / Zombellele @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Yami Bolo @ Echoplex ($12)
The Rescues / Josh Kelley / Son Of a Velvet Rat @ Hotel Café
Captain Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss / Ryan Pitts @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Missing Persons @ Viper Room ($20)

Thursday 1/22/09
High Places / Hecuba / Infinite Body @ The Echo ($10)
Wovenhand / Silver Summit / Blue Giant @ Spaceland ($12)
North Mississippi Allstars / Hill County Revue @ Troubadour ($20)
Fountains of Wayne @ Largo ($30) – Acoustic
Chromeo @ Key Club (Sold Out)
Angel City Outcasts @ Knitting Factory
The Power Cords / The Christopher Walk-Ins / Coca-Cola @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Off with Their Heads @ Relax Bar
Amebix / Book of Black Earth / Doomsday Hour / Bruise Violet @ Echoplex ($15) – early show at 5:30 PM.
Lelia Broussard / Shane Mack and Ashley Arrison @ Hotel Café
Creedle / Van Stone / El Ten Eleven / Falsetto Teeth @ Silverlake Lounge - Creedle features Rob Crow of Pinback.
Quetzal Guerrero & the Warriors @ Redwood Bar & Grill
War Tapes / Love Grenades / Sam Sparro DJ set @ The Roxy
The So So Glos / Ashtray Babies / A.M. / Dylan Doren @ The Smell ($5)

Friday 1/23/09
[Recommended] Jay Reatard / Earthmen and Strangers @ the Echoplex ($14) – I do enjoy Mr. Reatard.
[Recommended] Jon Brion and Friends @ Largo (Sold Out)
Animal Collective @ the Fonda (Sold Out) – I think my head would explode if I sat through an Animal Collective show.
Department of Eagles / The Cave Singers @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Classify Department of Eagles under bands that I inexplicably don’t like. It would make more sense if I did….
Japanese Motors / The Growlers @ The Echo ($5)

The Hectors / Death to Anders / Divisadero / Tasso @ Highland Park American Legion Hall ($5)
Thorns of Life @ Center for Arts in Eagle Rock – Thorns of Life is Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil), Aaron Elliot and Daniela Sea (from the L Word)
The Adolescents / The Crowd / White Flag / Los Creepers @ Knitting Factory ($17)
O.A.R. @ Club Nokia ($33)
Chris Pierce / The Elevaters / Chris Joyner @ El Rey ($20)
Monstro / Dragging An Ox Through Water / Eliza Victoria / Traditionist @ Echo Curio
Doug MacLeod / Lawrence Lebo @ McCabe’s ($15)
Headtraffic / Beware of Safety / Ready the Jet! @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Electric Children / Norfolk / Sounds of Noise / Cupids @ Relax Bar
Caitlin Crosby / Chris Pierce @ Hotel Café
Very Be Careful @ the Mint ($12)
Tom VandenAvond / Becky Lee / Drunkfoot @ Redwood Bar & Grill
The Head Cat / Ricky Warwick / Miss Derringer @ the Roxy
Naomi Elizabeth / You’re in Urine / The Tleilaxu Music Machine / Luna is Honey / Pizza! @ The Smell ($5)
Pussycat Dolls Lounge @ Viper Room ($25)

Saturday 1/24/09
Animal Collective / DJ Turquoise Wisdom @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
The Raveonettes / The Soft Pack / DJ Travis Keller @ The Fonda ($20)
Tapes ‘n Tapes / Wild Light / Wavves @ El Rey ($17)
The Kris Special / The Minor Canon / The Peculiar Pretzelmen / Erinn Williams @ Echo Curio
One Trick Pony / Spider Problem / Evan Voytas @ Pehrspace
Sarah Silverman / Nick Swardson @ Largo ($25)
Futurecop / Franki Chan / Thunderheist / We Are the World @ Echoplex ($12)
Fred Eaglesmith / Marvin Etzioni @ McCabe’s ($15)
Wounded Lion / Nothing People / Bad Trips / Bipolar Bear @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Vultures United / She Rides / Strange Fruit / Faith Snakes / Cathedrals @ Relax Bar
Griffin House with Katie Herzig / Ron Pope @ Hotel Café
Zodiac Death Valley @ Redwood Bar
Stress Ape / The Dawns / Laco$te / Nguzunguzu @ The Smell ($5)
Pussycat Dolls Lounge @ Viper Room ($25)

Sunday 1/25/09
[Recommended] Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings / Ivan Milev @ Club Nokia ($30) – Really good stuff.
No Age / Rings / Mika Miko / Abe Vigoda / David Scott Stone / Jennifer the Leopard @ the Smell – Show begins at 1:00 PM. The Smell All-Stars.
Part Time Punks: Anavan @ The Echo ($5)
Brunch Americana: David Serby / Amy Farris / Sarah Gayle Meech @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Truckasauras @ Cinespace
Stab City / Supersonic Jets / Sweater @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Molotov @ El Rey ($37) – Mexican hip-hop
Dreaming Dead / Vomit Entrails / The Cauterized / The Funeral Pyre @ Knitting Factory
The Sunshine Sisters @ McCabe’s ($8) – Matinee show at 11:00 AM
Kris Delmhorst / Jeffrey Foucault @ McCabe’s ($16)
Neil Hamburger / Ron Lynch / Brent Weinbach / Eccentric / Bryson Lang @ Spaceland ($8)
Haim / Alex and Sam / Prism Eye @ Hotel Café
The Karabal Nightlife / Seasons / Odd Modern / Cobra Lilies @ The Scene

Live Music Reviews - Secret Machines, Jay Reatard, etc.

Here’s some of what I’ve been up to for the past couple of weeks…..


Wednesday 7/23/08: Lucero @ Spaceland
I’ve only owned one Lucero record, which I liked (not loved), but was still curious to check out their set. I was impressed; Spaceland was packed and their heavily tattooed fans were there to drink. For me, their live set was more compelling than that one record I own. Just a really good Southern-style rock ‘n’ roll band.

Sunday 7/27/08: Hypernova @ Little Radio
Hypernova’s an Iranian dance-rock band. They’re super tight and catchy if you’re into bands like Franz Ferdinand. Unfortunately I had to leave before Castledoor took the stage.

Sunday 7/27/08: Secret Machines @ Viper Room
My girlfriend turned me on to Secret Machines when we started dating. She’s known the guys for longer than she’d want me to say, so I’ve benefited from a lot of free tickets (Wiltern, El Rey, Avalon, ACL, etc.). I was a little apprehensive this time, because it was the first show I’d seen since guitar player Ben Curtis left to form School of Seven Bells. Their new guitarist is another guy who played in a shitload of Dallas bands, Phil Karnats.

I hadn’t been to the Viper Room since the Pink Taco guy bought it, and it didn’t seem like much had changed. By the time the band started, it was packed with big cornfed bastards everywhere. As is always the case with Secret Machines’ shows, it was ear punishing-ly loud. You know it’s a great SM show when Josh Garza is just pummeling the drums with those giant baseball bat sticks.

Secret Machines has always been a bit of an anomaly as a rock ‘n’ band because their guitar has always taken a back seat to the rest of the band. Karnats seems like he might change all that. While he didn’t step into the spotlight, he definitely held his own with Curtis and Garza. The set was a lot more hard rocking and less krautrock than recent appearances. And that pleased me. Can’t wait to hear the new record.

Wednesday 7/30/08: Jay Reatard / Cheap Time @ the Echo
Ever since reading about Cheap Time on Other Music, I’ve been intrigued. They started off with ties to Be Your Own Pet, but their record is a lot more interesting than the last Be Your Own Pet album. The Nashville power trio came out with loads of energy and garage rock attitude. The songs were less lo-fi than the record, but only a couple (“People Talk” and “Wildlife”) stood out from the rest. They’re still kids, so I’ll keep them on the radar. A suitable opener.

By the time Jay Reatard took the stage, it was ridiculously hot and quite possibly over capacity. He came out and immediately owned the stage. The Memphis trio was powerfully intense and much tighter than the early recordings would suggest. Live, the band treads the Circle Jerks-ish ground where metal (Flying V and all) and punk meet. It was a nice vacation from the (occasionally too) innocuous indie bands I usually see. The band commands the crowd’s attention without much interaction. He’s had some problems with spectators in the past, but he’s no GG Allin (or even Henry Rollins for that matter) out looking for a fight. I even saw him give a bunch of autographs before the set. After the show the merch table was swarmed (I saw one guy spend $60) and the bass player looked very pleased. Gas money to San Diego….

Download Jay Reatard’s “See-Saw”

Friday 8/1/08: Viewing Party for Airborne Toxic Event at Spaceland
LA can be such a fickle town; Bodies of Water played an early set downstairs to a handful of people. I can’t say much, because I was at home watching the Kurt Cobain documentary, About a Son. I haven’t listened to Nirvana’s music in about a decade, but it was interesting to hear Cobain speak. The film’s not great, but if you were ever a Nirvana fan, it’s a renter.

I showed up to see Lipbalm (Sylvia and Dia) DJ. Saw a bunch of friends, and had a good time. T.A.T.E. did a good job on the show too. They’re hitting the road with the Fratellis soon.
See T.A.T.E. on Rehearsal Space
Listen to a podcast of T.A.T.E. on Morning Becomes Eclectic

Ticket Giveaway: Jay Reatard / Cheap Time @ the Echo

I've got two pairs of tickets to give away for the Jay Reatard show this Wednesday night at the Echo. Opening the show is Cheap Time, who I'm very curious to check out. Matador Records is about to release the fifth (in a series of six) of Jay's limited edition 7" singles. Number five has Jay covering Deerhunter, with Deerhunter returning the favor on the backside. Both bands play hook-filled rock 'n' roll along the lines of the Dickies, the Queers or maybe Redd Kross. And both released records on the local label, In the Red.

To win these tickets email me [dukeufo at hotmail] with the name of your favorite punk band. Please put Reatard in the subject line. The contest closes Wednesday at Noon.

Buy tickets for the show.