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

The 88 To Tour As Ray Davies' Backing Band

Exciting news out of The 88's camp. The local band is set to tour with Ray Davies as his backing band. The shows will start with Davies performing solo work with Bill Shanley backing him on acoustic guitar followed by Davies being backed by The 88.

Very cool. As you probably know by now, Davies is my all time favorite songwriter....

Here are the dates:

Fri Feb 26th Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Music Box
Sat Feb 27th Westbury, NY North Fork Theatre at Westbury
Mon Mar 1st Alexandria, VA Birchmere
Tue Mar 2nd Annapolis, MD Rams Head Tavern
Wed Mar 3rd Wilmington, DE Grand Opera House
Fri Mar 5th Scranton, PA Scranton Cultural Center
Sat Mar 6th Hartford, CT Webster Theater
Sun Mar 7th Pougkeepsie, NY Bardavon 1869 Opera House
Tue Mar 9th Binghamton, NY The Forum
Thu Mar 11th Ann Arbor, MI Michigan Theater
Fri Mar 12th Lorain, OH Palace Theatre
Sat Mar 13th Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
Mon Mar 15th Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall
Wed Mar 17th Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
Thu Mar 18th Austin, TX LaZona
Sat Mar 20th Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
Tue Mar 23rd Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
Wed Mar 24th Anaheim, CA The Grove of Anaheim
Thu Mar 25th Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon Club

Live Music Options 11/9/09 - 11/15/09

Ray Davies Appears at the Orpheum on Saturday Night

I didn't get up to as much as I'd hoped last week, but did catch Julian Casablancas and the Happy Hollows at Spaceland. Casablancas didn't do anything to win me back, but most of the crowd seemed really into it.

I'll definitely be at Ray Davies this Saturday and I'll most likely check out more of the Happy Hollows tonight.

Monday 11/9/09
[Pick of the Night] The Happy Hollows / The Soft Hands / The Widow Babies / Casxio @ Spaceland (Free) – The Happy Hollows are doing the Monday night residency this month at Spaceland. Last week was a little crazy with Julian Casablancas, but things should be back to normal this week.
[Recommended] The Blind Boy Paxton & Frank Fairfield Show @ Redwood
Band of Horses / Warpaint @ Club Nokia ($30) – Liked their first record, saw them a few times, but just lost interest after their second record came out.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit / Chuck Prophet @ the Echo ($15)
Yellow Fever / Dunes / Best Coast / Night Control @ The Smell ($5)
Imogen Heap @ The Fonda (Sold Out)
Mississippi Man / The Fling / The Silent Comedy / Make Moon @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Mississippi Man is doing the Monday night residency this month at the Silverlake Lounge.
David Gray @ Orpheum Theatre (Sold Out)
Girlyman @ Bootleg ($15)
Moment Trigger / Vulture / Apathetic Ronald McDonald @ Pehrs
The Cribs / The Blood Arm @ The Roxy

Tuesday 11/10/09
[Pick of the Night] Bishop Allen / Throw Me the Statue / Darwin Deez @ the Echoplex ($8) – Enter through the Echo – admission gets you into both shows. I really liked Throw Me the Statue’s first record, but still haven’t heard the new one. This show was moved from the El Rey.
60 Watt Kid / Best Coast / Gowns / Tearist @ The Echo ($8) – Entrance gets you into the show at the Echoplex too.
Inara George / Eleni Mandell / Ferraby Lionheart / Daniel Martin Moore @ Bootleg ($13)
Exene Cervenka / Sara Watkins @ Largo ($20)
Lisa Hannigan / Annie Stela @ Troubadour ($20)
The Sweet Kill / Bone Gunn / Kozmonaut / Little Birds of Los Angeles @ Spaceland ($5)
Captain Ahab / Best Fwends / Totally Michael / I.E. @ The Smell ($5)
Mat Kearney / Vedera @ The Fonda ($25)
The Raveonettes @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($15)
Via Tania / Rachel Cantu / Penelope Fortier / Sonus Quartet @ Bordello ($10)
Wake Up Lucid / The Muddy Reds / Welldiggers Banquet / The Daredevil Christopher Wright @ Silverlake Lounge ($7)
Switchfoot @ the Roxy
The Used @ the Wiltern

Wednesday 11/11/09
[Pick of the Night] The Dutchess and the Duke / Greg Ashley (of Gris Gris) / Seven Saturdays @ Spaceland ($10)
Shrinebuilder @ Viper Room () - Featuring Dale Crover from the Melvins, Scott Kelly of Neurosis, Al Cisneros of Om and Scott "Wino" Weinrich of Saint Vitus.
Grant Hart (of Husker Du) @ Viper Room ($10) - Early show at 6:30 PM
HEALTH / Abe Vigoda / TEARIST / Man’s Assassination Man @ the Smell ($7) – This is a benefit to pay for the installation of a cooling system at the Smell
Low End Theory @ Airliner ($10)
Via Tania / El May / Sonos @ Bootleg ($10)
John Carpenter / The Goldenhearts / The Passports @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Blockhead / DJ Signify / Amplive of Zion / Yppah / Deru @ Echo ($10)
Butch Walker / Waz @ Hotel Café
Fu Manchu / It’s Casual @ Troubadour ($17)
Dub Club: Jr Toots / Ras Benji / Princess Akua / Lloyd Hemmings / Incient Rootsman / Adrew Bees @ Echoplex ($10)
Glassjaw / RX Bandits @ Mayan ($25)
Five For Fighting / Angel Taylor @ Largo (Sold Out)
Marc Anthony @ Gibson Amphitheatre
Paramore @ Hollywood Palladium
Hanson @ House of Blues Anaheim
Electric Six @ Key Club ($18)
Exene Cervenka @ Alex’s Bar in Long Beach ($10)
Harry Connick Jr. @ Grammy Museum ($75)

Thursday 11/12/09
[Pick of the Night] Dead Meadow / Imaad Wasif / The Growlers / Useless Keys @ Echoplex ($12) – Get there early to check out Imaad Wasif and Useless Keys.
Fuck Buttons / Growing @ Echo ($10)
New York Night Train Soul Clap @ Spaceland ($5) – MC Ian Sevonius, DJ Jonathan Toubin and dance contest judges – Mike Watt, Jenna Thornhill, Michael Gerner, Jessica Peleta, Wendy Yao; $100 cash to the dance contest winner
Rainbow Arabia / Javelin / Pit Er Pat / The Urxed / Black Church @ the Smell ($7)
The Orange Peels / Pearl Harbor / Finches / Eleni Mandell Jazz Combo @ Bootleg ($10)
Republic of Letters / Ken Flagg / Nightmare Air / Modern Time Machines / Wrong Way Driver @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Exene Cervenka / Mississippi Man @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($10)
Too Short @ Key Club ($25)
Diet Kong / Tremellow / 19AD / Wait.Think.Fast @ L’Keg Gallery
Hello Kavita / Gypsy River Haunts @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
John Fogerty @ Kodak Theatre ($40 - $70)
Huey Lewis and the News @ Club Nokia ($45 - $85)
Great Big Sea / The Duhks / Jeremy Fisher @ El Rey ($32)
Buraka Som Sistema @ Mayan Theatre ($25)
Greg Proops Chat Show: Craig Ferguson / Nellie McKay @ Largo ($25)
Chris Barron (of Spin Doctors) @ the Mint ($15)
Everclear @ the Roxy
Attack Attack! / I Set My Friends on Fire @ Troubadour ($15)
Keller Williams @ House of Blues Anaheim

Friday 11/13/09
[Pick of the Night] Grand Archives / Sara Lov / S @ Bootleg ($12) – I liked their first record a little better than the new one, but they’re still worth checking out.
Julian Casablancas / The Growlers / Rainbow Arabia @ Downtown Palace Theatre ($35 - $150) – I caught Julian Casablancas at Spaceland. Not too impressed, but you should judge for yourself.
Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)
Red Sparowes @ Vacation Vinyl (Free) - 7:30 PM
Lovvers / The Urinals / Neverever / Signals @ The Smell ($7)
Headlights / Anne Rossi / Pomegranates @ Spaceland ($12)
Fun / Dusty Rhodes & the River Band / The Jakes @ Troubadour ($15)
Bomba Estereo / The Wallburds @ Echo ($10)
Thunderheist / Winter Gloves / Sugar and Gold / Franki Chan @ Echoplex ($14)
The Night at Dramaturgy / Drunk on Crutches / BollWeevil / The Cooling Time / Tricky Sizzler @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Saul Williams / American Fangs / Kimya Dawson / New Kingdom / The Bots @ the Roxy ($21.50) – This is the Niggy Tardust thing that Williams does
Playing for Change / Toots & the Maytals / Ziggy Marley @ Club Nokia ($20 - $247)
Keller Williams @ El Rey ($25)
Peter Mulvey @ McCabe’s ($15)
Captain Ahab / Extreme Animals / Nero’s Day at Disneyland / Tik Tik / Hot Topic @ Pehrspace
Jackopierce @ The Mint ($25)
Totimoshi / Barrio Tiger @ Redwood
Jaguares @ Hollywood Palladium
The White Tie Affair @ Avalon
Everclear @ House of Blues Anaheim
Semi Precious Weapons @ The Viper Room ($15)

Saturday 11/14/09
[Pick of the Week] Ray Davies @ Orpheum Theatre ($43 - $53) – This concert coincides with the release of a new record where Davies revisits many of my favorite Kinks’ songs with the help of a chorus. Davies is my favorite lyricist of all time, so I will be there.
Pinback / Joe Jack Talcum @ El Rey ($20) – I like the records, not crazy about the live performance.
[Recommended] Patton Oswalt @ Largo ($25) – Probably my favorite comic at the moment.
The Raveonettes / Crocodiles @ The Glass House ($15)

Hollywood Brewfest: Great Northern / Dum Dum Girls / The Deadly Syndrome / Nico Stai / Castledoor / The Tender Box / The Diamond Light @ The Fonda ($45 - $60) - The entry fee includes free beer tastings. Event runs from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Sun Araw / Wet Hair / Talk Normal / Sun Circle @ the Smell ($5)
[Recommended] Grand Archives@ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($10)
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream / Abe Vigoda / Lovvers / An Albatross / Le Face @ Spaceland ($12)
Toy Robot / Swagger Sticks / Ken Flagg @ Bootleg ($10)
Health Club / The Ignorant @ L’Keg
Xeno and Oaklander @ Vacation Vinyl (Free) - 5:30 PM
Amiri Baraka / Nylaee @ Echo ($10) – Author; Early start time at 5:00 PM
Stryper / Flight Patterns / Manic Drive @ Club Nokia ($25 - $35)
Russian Circles / Young Widows / Helms Alee @ Echoplex ($14)
Holy Rolling Empire / The Jet Age / The Monthlies / The Hard to Get / Terry de Castro (of Wedding Present) @ Echo Curio
The Chop Tops / Lords of Altamont @ Redwood
Diavolo Dance Theater @ Greek Theatre
The Cat Empire @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Supersuckers @ Alex’s Bar in Long Beach ($17)

Sunday 11/15/09
[Pick of the Night] Mission of Burma / The Henry Clay People @ Echo ($18) – Moved upstairs from the Echoplex.
[Recommended] Ferraby Lionheart / Paige Stark / Charlie Wadhams / Graham Forest @ Spaceland ($5) – I’m a Charlie Wadhams’ fan.
The Mountain Goats / Final Fantasy @ The Fonda ($22)
I Heart Pin-Up Calendar: Leslie & the Badgers / Jen and Abby / Lelia Broussard @ Hotel Café
All Leather / Bipolar Bear / Infante’s Inferno / Protect Me @ The Smell ($5)
Daisy McCrackin / Henry Wolfe @ Bootleg ($8)
Divas of Latin Music @ Greek Theatre
Cartel / This Providence @ Troubadour ($20)
Mark Matos and Os Beaches / Dameon Lee / The Choke / Bumtech @ Echo Curio

Recently Announced Live Shows

Surfer Blood Is Coming To the Echo

Orpheum
11/14/09: Ray Davies performs Kinks songs with the Vox Society Choir (now)
12/4/09: Todd Rundgren (now)

Nokia Theatre
12/5/09: KIIS FM Show – Taylor Swift / Keri Hilson / Fabolous / Ting Tings / 3OH!3 / LMFAO (now)
12/12/09: Stevie Wonder / Jonas Brothers (Friday at 10 AM)
12/16/09: Mark & Brian Christmas Show: Heart / Foreigner (Friday at 10 AM)

Fox Theater in Pomona
12/12/09: Passion Pit (on sale Saturday at 10 AM)

The Glass House
1/22/10: Black Lips (Friday at Noon)

Avalon
11/21/09: Pablove Benefit – Tom Morello / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Shirley Manson (now)

Club Nokia
12/26/09: Salt-N-Pepa (Friday at 10 AM)

El Rey
1/23/10: Black Lips / Nobunny / Jemima Pearl (Friday at 10 AM)

Largo
12/14/09: Aimee Mann Christmas Show (call club)

The Echo
11/27/09: Japandroids / Surfer Blood (now at Ticketweb)
12/9/09: Rock and Comedy Benefit: Black Francis / Tim & Eric / Bob Odenkirk / Brian Posehn / Dave Lovering (magic act) (now)

Echoplex
11/12/09: Dead Meadow / Imaad Wasif / Useless Keys (now)
12/8/09: Rock and Comedy Benefit: Black Francis w/ Flea, members of Pixies, Love & Rockets and more (now)
1/28/10: Fruit Bats / Citay (Monday at 10 AM)

Spaceland
11/16/09: Johnny Echols (of Love) / The Quarter After (now)
11/20/09: Spacehog / Sing Orpheus (now)
12/17/09: Against Me! (now)
12/18/09: Foreign Born (now)

Troubadour
12/19/09: Against Me! (now)

Honda Center
2/26/10: Bon Jovi (AmEx presale now; on sale 11/16 at 10 AM)

Staples Center
3/4/10: Bon Jovi (AmEx presale now; on sale 11/16 at 10 AM)

Live Review: Ray Davies at the Wiltern March 29th

After seeing Ray Davies the last time he played the Wiltern, I was a little apprehensive about shelling out the cash to see him again. I mean, that show was really good, but I've always gotten the feeling that Ray Davies doesn't understand that he's Ray fucking Davies. Fortunately some great tickets landed in my lap and I didn't have to make that tough decision. I mean the guy's my favorite lyricist of all time and Working Man's Cafe is superior to Other People's Lives and I was still apprehensive.

I'm so glad those tickets landed in my lap. Last Saturday's show was superior to the July 2006 show at the Wiltern. Ray started out both shows with the same two songs, "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" and "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" but on Saturday he seemed more energized and excited to be there. I'm guessing that his new guitar player had a big impact on Davies' mood. The guy was relatively young and a long-haired (yes, I'm using that as a noun) which contrasts with a lot of the slick, Biff Clean Teeth-type session guys that many older musicians tend to prefer on the road. The guy had good tone and was having fun playing the songs. The bass player was a a long-haired too.

After those first two songs, the band did "Till the End of the Day," "After the Fall," "Well Respected Man" (with a nice sing-along with the crowd - even I sang along), "Apeman" (which he painfully cut short - such a tease), "Next Door Neighbor," "Celluloid Heroes" (great LA song), "The Tourist," "Working Man's Cafe," and "20th Century Man" (so good). And then there was a 15 minute intermission. Can't complain about that - I got another beer and used the restroom.

After the intermission, Davies came back with an acoustic guitar and started in on "This Is Where I Belong" (again painfully cut short). His guitar player joined him and the two of them did a few of the solo tracks, which benefited a great deal by having stripped down arrangements. They did "In a Moment," "One More Time," "Vietnam Cowboys" (the other members of the band filtered onto the stage at some point, but they still kept the arrangements pretty simple), "Real World," and "No One Listen." They gave me a new appreciation for the recorded versions.

But of course it's great to hear those Kinks tracks. The band broke into "Sunny Afternoon" and the crowd erupted. They went even crazier for "Come Dancing" (not my favorite, but I was a little younger than most of the crowd when that one came out). Then it was some earlier tracks: "Tired of Waiting For You," "Set Me Free," and "All Day and All of the Night." The band left the stage and then came back for an encore of "Low Budget" (which he loves to play, but I can think of about 50 songs I'd rather hear - "Waterloo Sunset" at the top of the list) and "Lola." A bit of a tease for a second encore, but it never happened.

At some point earlier in the evening Davies had introduced the band and noted that he'd finally gotten it right. I had to agree. Really damn good. It made me question how much I really care about seeing him tour with Dave? I mean, I never saw them together, but how important is it? What would be amazing is if he got band together and did Village Green, Arthur, Something Else, Lola or Muswell Hillbillies in their entirety. But I'll happily take what I can get. It made me very happy last Saturday.....

Ray Davies Discount Tix

If you were on the fence about the Ray Davies show tomorrow night at the Wiltern, Goldstar is offering some $15 tickets. One of my favorite new local bands, Everest, is opening the show....

Goldstar Link

New Music Releases 2/19/08

Unlike last week, there are a lot of great reasons to hit the record store this week. Here are a few that caught my ear/eye....

Things I’ve Heard:

Atlas Sound: Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel (Kranky) - If a website were capable of gang banging (in a happy way, not a scary way) an artist, then Pitchfork would gang bang Bradford Cox. He's a young guy who publicly airs a lot moments that probably shouldn't be publicly aired. The Deerhunter album and this album both have some nice moments, but if you're over the age of 25, a lot of the lyrics and the show might feel a bit too painful to relive. See them at the Echo on 3/11/08.

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar) – I already wrote about this one HERE. It's a good record. At the Echo on 3/20/08.

Ray Davies: Working Man’s Café (New West) - Ray Davies is my favorite lyricist of all time, so the expectations are always high when he releases a new album. I listen to those Kinks records from 1965 - 1971 more than anything else. So how's this new album? It's good. There are only a handful of rock 'n' roll guys in their sixties who can pull off something like this. Davies has America on his mind. The songs are about politics, religion, war, aging and the homogenization of America by big business. Most of the songs work for me lyrically and many of the songs have great melodies. My only complaint is the slickness of some of the playing by the band and in turn some of the production. "You're Asking Me" stands out as my favorite track because of the 1960s-esque arrangement. Overall, it's a good record that I can easily recommend for crazy Kinks fans like myself. However if you don't own Face to Face, Something Else, Village Green, Arthur, Lola and Muswell Hillbillies, then you need to do some homework first. No word on any local dates yet.

The Epochs: The Epochs (Rebel Group) - Brooklyn indie pop band. They were recently Spin's band of the day. I haven't listened to it enough to say anything else.

Monade: Monstre Cosmique (Too Pure) - If you're a big Stereolab fan, then you'll like this. This is Laetitia Sadier's (the singer in Stereolab) side project that sounds just like Stereolab. I'm kind of a greatest hits guy when it comes to Stereolab, but found several songs on here that I liked.

The Mountain Goats: Heretic Pride (4AD) - I've never gotten into the Mountain Goats and I've never given them an honest shot. I've heard songs over the years, but been turned off by John Darnielle's nasally voice. When I got a copy of this one, I decided to change that. The first couple of listens were rough. The voice was still a turnoff. But after the fourth or fifth listen I finally started to get to the root of the reason why his fans are so fanatical. The guy's just a really unique songwriter who approaches songwriting like a fiction writer. He's literate and his songs have a strong narrative with lots of imagery and a liberal use of metaphors. I'm not a complete convert yet, but Darnielle's an interesting artist with something to say. Catch them at the Troubadour on 3/4/08 and 3/5/08.

The Raveonettes: Lust Lust Lust (Vice) - Here's another band that I've completely ignored over the years for whatever reason. I've only heard this a couple of times, but it's growing on me. They're known for doing early rock 'n' roll sounding songs filtered through Jesus & Mary Chain distortion. That's accurate. At the root are simple, but very melodic songs with distortion and an icy cool veneer. I might eventually become a convert to these guys too. Critics more familiar with their other albums are calling this a return to form. See them at El Rey on 3/4/08.

Two more that I'm curious to check out:
Grand Archives: The Grand Archives (Sub Pop) - This is the new band from Mat Brooke who was in Carissa's Wierd and then formed Band of Horses with Ben Bridwell. Brooke was on that first BoH album, but never really toured with them. Since I like that first Band of Horses a lot better than the new one, I'm thinking Brooke might have had something to do with that. Some of the tracks on Myspace sound pretty good. Download "Tom Blue Foam Coach" See them at the Troubadour on 2/29/08.

Throw Me the Statue: Moonbeams (Secretly Canadian) - That Aquarium Drunkard character recommended this one the other day. I download a couple of tracks and they're damn catchy. One day I will brave the traffic and go to the one remaining record store in LA proper with a healthy new vinyl selection and buy this. Download "About to Walk"

Other Noteworthy New Releases:
Allison Moorer [Royce Hall on 3/25/08], American Music Club, The Company, Cryptacize, Envy, Flowers Forever, Gary Louris [at El Rey on 3/21/08], The Grand Archives [at the Troubadour on 2/29/08], Headlights [at Silverlake Lounge on 3/19/08], The Heavenly States [at Spaceland on 3/8/08], Marianne Faithful, Mike Doughty [at El Rey on 4/30/08], Morcheeba [at the Fonda on 4/13/08], Panther