Live Music Options: 1/24/11 - 1/30/11

The Vaccines - Next Big Thing? or British Hype?

Last week I caught Dunes and No Joy. Dunes were way too rough around the edges for me. No Joy had potential. This week offers lots of great local acts, lots of hyped acts and several established indie bands...



Monday 1/24/11

[Pick of the Night] Wanda Jackson and the Third Man house band featuring Jack White on guitar / Haunted George @ El Rey (Sold Out) – The Queen of rockabilly. I saw her at SXSW about a decade ago and really enjoyed it.

[Recommended] Iron & Wine @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM; I still haven’t listened to their major label debut.

[Recommended] The Fling / The Belle Brigade / Lucy Schwartz / Jenny O @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] (Free)

[Recommended] Gary Clark Jr. / Royal Bangs / The Vaccines DJ Set @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP) – Blues artist from Austin

Kinch / The Californian / Risers / Free Camp @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Get there in time for the Californian.

Cold War Kids / Grouplove @ Bootleg ($20) – Good chance to see the Cold War Kids in an intimate venue.

White Lies / Giant Drag @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

Cannoneers of the New Command / Tender Box / The Mo-Odds / The Street and Babe Show @ The Echo (Free)

Connie Lim / Jennifer Quiroz @ Hotel Café

Whitman / Jon Barba / Former Ghosts / No Paws (No Lions) @ Pehrspace ($5)

Phil Alvin @ Redwood Bar

John Jorgenson @ Grammy Museum ($15)

Pacific Hurt / Foster the People @ Detroit Bar (Free)

Tuesday 1/25/11

[Pick of the Night] The Vaccines / Sweaters / Bixby Knolls @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($12) – The Vaccines are the latest big, British buzz band. Their US debut went over well last week in NYC.

[Recommended] The Monolators / Walking Sleep / The World Record @ LaBrie’s (Free) – Strong free lineup. The World Record are one of the most underappreciated local bands.

[Recommended] Iron & Wine / Laura Marling @ The Wiltern ($35) – Major label debut out now.

Cold War Kids @ Amoeba (Free) – 6:00 PM show

Olin & the Moon / Amanda Jo Williams / The Damn Sons @ The Echo ($5)

Motorhead / Valient Thorr @ House of Blues Anaheim - Lemmy

Wallpaper / The Dance Party / K. Flay / Dude Royal @ Troubadour ($12)

Young Hunting / Pacific Hurt / Yoya / Repeater @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

WPA / Tom Brosseau @ Hotel Café

Wednesday 1/26/11

[Pick of the Week] Iron & Wine / The Low Anthem @ The Wiltern ($35)

[Recommended] Low End Theory: Tokimonsta / Fu22 @ Airliner ($10) – One of two local artists playing tonight that’s on the Coachella bill.

Foster the People / White Sea / Chain Gang of 1974 @ The Echo (Free) – It apparently got pretty packed last week, so get there early. They’re on the Coachella bill this year.

Typhoon / Brainstorm / Agesandages @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($8)

Toh Kay @ Bootleg ($10) – Late show at 10:30 PM

Kath Bloom @ Bootleg ($10) – Early show at 8:00 PM

Goldsboro / Red Circle Underground / Exiles @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Johnnyswim @ Hotel Café

My Chemical Romance @ Grammy Museum (Sold Out)

Reel Big Fish @ House of Blues Anaheim

Thursday 1/27/11

[Pick of the Night] Monotonix / Ty Segall / Devin Therriault / Tijuana Panthers @ Echoplex ($10) - Should be a high energy night.

The Get Up Kids / Steel Train / River City Extension @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Comeback for the Lawrence, KS band.

Lucero / Steve Soto and Twisted Hearts @ Alex’s Bar ($15) – Great chance to see Lucero at a small venue.

Amos Lee / Vusi Mahlasela @ The Music Box ($25)

The Blow / The Smart Brothers @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($12) – There are a lot of diehard fans of the Blow.

Social Distortion / Aggrolites / Chuck Ragan @ Hollywood Palladium ($39)

Earthless / LSDJ’s / Red Octopus @ The Echo

Crocodiles / Lord Huron / Heavy Hawaii @ Detroit Bar ($10)

Wovenhand / Git Some @ Bootleg ($15)

Hunting For Wolves / Graydon / Farspeaker @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Nina Storey / Karina Denike @ Hotel Café

Grouplove @ Amoeba (Free) – 6:00 PM show

Stalking Zappa @ Grammy Museum ($10)

Railroad Earth @ The Roxy ($27)

Kath Bloom @ Origami (Free) – 4:00 PM

Friday 1/28/11

[Pick of the Night] Melvins @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] (Sold Out) – Details for tonight: Melvins set (current line-up performing normal set) and Stoner Witch in its entirety; wrapping up their residency with another classic album.

[Recommended] Les Savy Fav / Dirt Dress @ Echoplex ($17) – Les Savy Fav are known for good live shows.

[Recommended] Crocodiles / Tamaryn / Heavy Hawaii @ The Echo ($12) – Good lineup. Tamaryn seems like one of the better bands from the Mexican Summer label.

[Recommended] Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)

Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub / Rocco DeLuca @ El Rey ($25) – Famous producer Lanois’ band with Trixie Whitley and Brian Blade.

Free Energy @ The Roxy ($21) – This must be their fifth or sixth LA-area show this year. I saw one of the first at the Echo.

The Get Up Kids / Steel Train / River City Extension @ The Glass House ($26)

The Shrill / Third Rail Order / Like Giants / Hazel / The Lyon Crowns / Phoebe Bridgers @ Troubadour

moe. @ The Music Box ($28)

Social Distortion / Lucero / Chuck Ragan @ Hollywood Palladium ($39)

The Handsome Family / HoneyHoney @ Bootleg ($12)

Juke Cartel @ Hotel Café

Weekend Takes A Break / Professor Calculus @ The Smell ($5)

Peter Case @ McCabe’s ($20)

Exene Cervenka @ Redwood Bar

Maxim Ludwig & the Santa Fe Seven / Travis Howard / Uncle Lucius / Deadman @ The Mint ($10)

Ying Yang Twins @ Key Club ($22)

Black Apples @ Origami (Free)

Amos Lee / Vusi Mahlasela @ House of Blues Anaheim

Karsh Kale & MIDIval Punditz @ Galaxy in Santa Ana ($25)

The Humpers / Throw Rag / Electric Frankenstein / The Bourbon Saints @ Alex’s Bar ($15)

Saturday 1/29/11

[Pick of the Night] Ween @ The Wiltern ($42 - $47) – There was a Ween show in Austin, TX circa 1999 that stands out as one of the most memorable shows I’ve ever seen.

[Recommended] Darwin Deez / Fol Chen @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($10) – One of the recent buzz sensations out of Brooklyn. Other Music in NYC describes it as a cross between the Strokes’ demos and Phoenix.  

[Recommended] Patton Oswalt @ Largo (Sold Out) – One of my favorite stand up comedians.

Deerhoof / Ben Butler and Mousepad / Nervous Cop @ Echoplex ($15)

Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) @ El Rey ($32) – I am a Mott the Hoople fan, but never followed his solo career.

Social Distortion / Lucero / Chuck Ragan @ Hollywood Palladium (Sold Out)

The Handsome Family / Sean Rowe @ McCabe’s ($15)

Charlotte Martin / Andrew Vladeck @ Bootleg ($15)

Tyler Hilton @ Hotel Café

Whitman / Jon Barba / Casey Chisholm / Crazy Band / Rob Thomas and His Unicorn Warriors @ The Smell ($5)

So Many Wizards / Moses Campbell / The Cosmonauts @ 252-D South Main Street in Pomona ($5)

El Ten Eleven / Superhumanoids @ Detroit Bar ($10)

Lower Heaven @ Origami (Free) – 8:00 PM

Karsh Kale & MIDIval Punditz @ Royce Hall ($28 - $38)

The Zeros / The Humpers / The Dragons / The Ringleaders @ Alex’s Bar ($15)

Sunday 1/30/11

[Pick of the Night] Peter Bjorn and John @ Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock ($12) – I still really like the Falling Out and Writer’s Block records.

Against Me! / Cheap Girls / Fences @ The Music Box ($15)

Savage Republic / The Urinals / Clipd Beaks @ The Echo ($12)

The Finches / Sun Foot / Anna Oxygen / Wolf and Cub @ The Smell ($5)

Neil Hamburger / The Kenny “K-Strass” Yo-Yo Extravaganza / Clownvis Presley @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($8)

Adrian Legg @ McCabe’s ($18)

Somos Mysteriosos / Sylvia Juncosa / Electric Children / Lightnin Woodcock @ Redwood Bar

Fences @ Origami (Free) – 6:00 PM

Space 15 Twenty Record Fair @ 1520 Cahuenga – Get yourself some records.

Live Music Options: 9/14/09 - 9/20/09

Everest Play the Troubadour on Friday (photo: Dominic DiSaia)

Another week, another crowded live music landscape. This week features lots of great local bands, some of the more promising new national bands and a plethora of established acts.

Monday 9/14/09
[Pick of the Night] Leslie and the Badgers / Ruby Friedman / Correatown / Olin and the Moon @ The Echo (Free) – Night two of their Monday night residency.
Saint Motel / Astra Heights / The Black & White Years / Divisible @ Spaceland (Free) – Night two of their Monday night residency.
The Icarus Line / Ogod / Radio Freq @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Joshua James / Cory Chisel @ Troubadour ($12)
Golden Hits / Sweatson Klank / As Is / Warrior Line @ Echo Curio
Doug Benson @ Largo ($20)
Ace Frehley @ Grammy Museum ($10)
The Blind Boy Paxton and Frank Fairfield Show @ Redwood Bar
Dadfag / Computer Lab @ Pehrspace
Josiah Leming @ Hotel Café

Tuesday 9/15/09
[Pick of the Night] Throw Me the Statue / The Brunettes / Devon Williams / Nurses @ The Echo ($10) – Very solid lineup. I thoroughly enjoyed Throw Me the Statue’s first album, but still haven’t heard the new one.
[Recommended] Farmer Dave Scher @ Silent Movie Theater ($13) - Short films and Farmer Dave. His new record's a lot of fun.
Arctic Monkeys / The Like @ Hollywood Palladium (Sold Out)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs / Yacht @ Fox Theater in Pomona (Sold Out)
Vieux Farka Toure / Weave @ Echoplex ($16) – Son of Ali Farka Toure
Sea Wolf @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($10)
The 88 / Hanne Hukkelberg / Jeremiah Streeter / Simon Lynge @ Spaceland ($10) – The 88 continues its Tuesday night residency. They’re joined tonight by Norwegian singer-songwriter, Hanne Hukkelberg.
The Devil Whale / Novi Split / Young Whiskey @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Broken Nobles / Man’s Assassination, Man / Hiking / The Widow Babies @ the Smell ($5)
Kellie Pickler / Bob DiPiero @ House of Blues Sunset Strip ($12.50)
Spacewaves / Molino / Heavy Water Experiments @ Echo Curio
Darfur Benefit: Keaton Simons / Mandi Perkins @ Knitting Factory ($15)
Ed Helms @ Largo ($25)
Sonos @ Hotel Café
Fanfarlo / The Love Language @ Troubadour ($12)
Stab City / Arctic in the Tropic / Lightning Woodcock / Got What? @ Redwood Bar
Frank Turner @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM

Wednesday 9/16/09
[Pick of the Night] Phoenix / Metric / The Soft Pack @ Greek Theatre ($45) – The new Phoenix record is very catchy.
[Recommended] Monotonix / Signals / TPF! / PROTECT ME @ The Smell ($10) – Israel’s Monotonix is renowned for its energetic live show.
Chairlift / Glasser / John Maus @ Troubadour ($15) – Part of the same Brooklyn scene that brought you MGMT and Yeasayer. Their song “Bruises” (thanks to the iPod Nano commercial) has over 7.7 million plays on Myspace. If they could just get a penny per stream they’d probably make more money off that than they’ll ever make off of touring.
Club NME: Diane Birch @ Spaceland ($12) – Piano playing singer-songwriter with a Carole King thing going on. See her performance on the Today show the other day.
Sea Wolf / Afternoons / Sara Lov @ Glass House in Pomona ($13) – The former Irving bandmates share a bill.
Pinch / N-Type / Gaslamp Killer @ Roxy (Free with RSVP)
French Semester / Team Abraham / Rademacher / Downtown Union @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Old Californio / Well Digger’s Banquet @ Redwood Bar
Dilated Peoples @ The Keyclub ($23)
The Killers @ Hollywood Bowl (Sold Out)
Dirt Dress / Growlers / Audacity / My Pet Saddle @ Bootleg ($10) – Solid bill of promising new local bands.
Low End Theory: Samiyam / Take / Sacred Lefto @ Airliner ($10)
Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine @ The Fonda ($31 - $77)
Esperanza Spalding / John West @ El Rey ($27)
Oak & Gorski @ Hotel Café

Thursday 9/17/09
[Pick of the Night] Timber Timbre / Minor Canon / The Street and Babe Shadow / What Laura Says @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) – Toronto’s Timber Timbre play sweeping, cinematic music. They’re on the Arts & Crafts label. The Minor Canon’s still one of my favorite local bands. The Street and Babe Shadow is Luke Paquin (Hot Hot Heat) and Paige Stark – named after a T. Rex song.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs / The Breeders / Yacht @ Greek Theatre (Sold Out) - I've seen the Yeah Yeah Yeahs a few times over the years but I've just never been a big fan.
Sea Wolf / Afternoons / Sara Lov @ Troubadour ($14) – Sea Wolf and Afternoons both arose out of the Irving breakup.
The Airborne Toxic Event / The Henry Clay People / Red Cortez @ Fox Theater Pomona ($18) - Still working the record out on the road.
The Drones / Model Actress / Bridezilla @ The Echo ($10) – I’ve heard great things about Australia’s the Drones, but still haven’t seen them.
The Gaslight Anthem / Murder By Death / The Loved Ones / Frank Turner @ The Fonda ($19)
Clean Air Clear Stars Pre-Party: Miranda Lee Richards / The Shine Brothers / Highway / Go Fever @ Spaceland ($8) – The kickoff party for this weekend’s festival out at Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown.
Blink-182 / Weezer / Taking Back Sunday / Asher Roth @ Verizon Wireless in Irvine (Sold Out)
The Broken Meters @ Redwood Bar
Brooke White @ The Glass House in Pomona ($21)
Grant Lee Phillips & Christina Courtin @ Largo ($20)
VOICEs VOICEs / Pistol Pistol / Make Moon @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Every Time I Die @ House of Blues Sunset Strip ($20)
Gary Allan / Peter Brandon @ Club Nokia ($30 - $48)
Bajofondo / Anomie Belle @ Mayan Theatre ($27)
Soulive / The Shady Horns @ El Rey ($22)

Friday 9/18/09
[Pick of the Week] Everest / These United States / The Parson Redheads @ Troubadour ($12) – You’ll remember that I was a huge fan of Everest’s debut album. I’m a big Parson Redheads fan too.
Little Boots / Music Go Music / Yes Giantes @ The Roxy ($20) – Dim Mak presents. Should get the kids dancing.
Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)
The Psychedelic Furs / Happy Mondays / Amusement Parks on Fire @ Club Nokia ($28 - $35)
Meat Puppets / Dead Confederate / Ume @ El Rey ($20)
Night Horse / Sea of Air / Emeralds @ Bootleg ($10) – Heavy tunes.
Hanne Hukkelberg @ Hotel Café – If you miss her at Spaceland on Tuesday (I heard she was very engaging).

Platicines / Funeral Party / Layton / Seven Saturdays @ Spaceland ($8)

Lobster Fest: The Bangkok Five / The Binges / Dilana @ Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro
G. Love & Special Sauce @ House of Blues Anaheaim ($23)
Pink / The Ting Tings @ Staples Center ($50 - $75) - I saw Pink hanging out at Spaceland one night and she's surprisingly hot.
Blink-182 / Fall Out Boy / The All-American Rejects @ Verizon Wireless in Irvine
Saccharine Trust / The Urinals / The Chuck Dukowski Sextet / Saturn / Pipsqueak @ The Smell ($5) – Veteran hardcore bands.
Jake La Botz / Rose’s Pawn Shop @ Redwood Bar
Meho Plaza / Octave Cat / Kill Kill Kill / Blinding Light @ Pehrspace
Robbie Fulks @ McCabe’s ($16)
Gipsy Kings @ Greek Theatre ($40 - $120)
Very Be Careful @ The Mint ($12)
Dragonforce / Sonata Arctica @ House of Blues Sunset Strip ($25) – Completely over the top.
The Absynths / Naima Earth / Family Tree Analog @ Echo Curio
Mod Amish / Marasol @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Bajofondo / Anomie Belle @ The Glass House in Pomona ($15)

Saturday 9/19/09
[Pick of the Night] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart / The Depreciation Guild / Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Troubadour ($15) – I saw these guys at Spaceland earlier this year. Better live than you might expect. Cymbals Eat Guitars are getting a ton of buzz lately too.
The Most Serene Republic / The Grates @ Spaceland ($12) – Most Serene Republic is another well respected Canadian band on the Arts & Crafts label. The Grates are a high energy Australian band who I caught in March at SXSW.
Lobster Fest: Los Straightjackets / Rocket / The Henry Clay People / Dios / Dazzler / Shorty's Kiss Band / Love Grenades / Oliver Future @ Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro
Southern Culture on the Skids / Triple Chicken Foot / Speedbuggy / 5 O’Clock Somewhere @ Echoplex
I See Hawks in LA / Gina Villalobos / Elliot Randall @ Bootleg ($10)
The Psychedelic Furs / Happy Mondays / Amusement Parks on Fire @ House of Blues Anaheim ($33)
Cobra Lillies / Moses Campbell / Tommy Santee Klaws / Amanda Jo Williams @ American Legion in Highland Park ($5)

Chelsea Girls / Killola / Go Betty Go! @ the Roxy ($15)
Big Whup / So Many Wizards / American Gil & the Major Dudes / Voice on Tape @ the Smell ($5)
David Scott Stone / Name of the Moon @ L’Keg Gallery
Every Time I Die / Bring Me the Horizon @ The Glass House in Pomona ($22)
Gipsy Kings @ Greek Theatre ($40 - $120)
The Humpers / The Hangmen / Stab City / Barrio Tiger @ Redwood Bar
Hiking / The Deadly Finns / Devon Williams @ Pehrspace
Pink Martini @ Hollywood Bowl ($15 - $116)
Boomkat @ Hotel Café
Porcupine Trio @ Club Nokia ($28 - $38)
Mason Jennings / Crash Kings @ El Rey ($22)
Echoes de Luxe / Mammal / NewClearChild @ Mr. T’s Bowl
CASPA @ House of Blues Sunset Strip ($20)
Gabby La La / The Ukulady / Kit’N Tenders / Javarnanda / Megan Jacobs @ Echo Curio
Facundo Cabral @ Orpheum ($55 - $113)

Sunday 9/20/09
[Pick of the Night] Frightened Rabbit / The Twilight Sad / We Were Promised Jetpacks @ Knitting Factory ($15) – Three Scottish bands. The first two are pretty good – but haven’t heard the third.
[Recommended] India Calling!: Ravi Shankar Centre Ensemble / Rhythm of Rajasthan / Anoushka Shankar @ Hollywood Bowl ($10 - $98) – I like hearing some Ravi Shankar from time to time.
Mount Eerie / No Kids / Karl Blau / Tara Jane O'Neil @ Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock ($10)

Lobster Fest: The Happy Hollows / Gram Rabbit @ Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro
By Sunlight / Shirley Rolls / Last American Buffalo / Chris Garneau @ Spaceland (Free)
The Avengers / Pansy Division / Paul Collin’s Beat @ The Echo ($15) – Veteran Bay Area punk bands.
Brunch Americana: The Vaquetones / The Palominos / Dave Gleason @ Redwood Bar
Pieta Brown / Dead Rock West @ McCabe’s ($15)