New Music Releases: January 25th, 2010

Last year I pretty much ignored covering new music releases (which made it really difficult when it came time to compose my best of list). So this year, I’m going to try to return to doing a weekly post about new music.

Pick of the week:

Apex Manor: Year of Magical Drinking (Merge) – I was pretty shocked when the Broken West broke up, but happy to find out that lead singer Ross Flournoy was recording a new album. Apex Manor is the result of those sessions. There are elements of power pop, 70’s AM radio and probably some of the dirtiest lyrics to ever come out on a Merge release. Live at the Satellite on February 12th. [TIX]

MP3: Under the Gun

Other recommended releases:

Iron & Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean (Warner Bros.) – They made a leap to a major for some reason (hopefully  a big advance?) and the sound got bigger. Sam Beam’s songwriting is still at the heart of it all and that’s enough for me.

Other Releases That Caught My Eye (but I haven’t listened to yet):

[Local] Cold War Kids: Mine Is Yours (Downtown) – The Long Beach band goes bigger on their new release. Reviews have been mixed. Live at Coachella on April 15^th.  

Death: Spiritual Mental Physical (Drag City) – Death is a proto-punk band from mid-1970’s Detroit. This is a collection of demos from 1974-1976. It’s getting mixed reviews, but if you still haven’t heard their record, For the Whole World To See, I strongly recommend it. Live at the Echoplex on February 26^th.

Deerhoof: Deerhoof Vs. Evil (Polyvinyl) – Experimental. Live at the Echoplex on January 29^th.

Destroyer: Kaputt (Merge) – He’s such a unique lyricist. Not for everybody, but the critics love it. At the Troubadour on March 22^nd.

Fujiya & Miyagi: Ventriloquizzing (Yep Roc) –Pitchfork summarizes them thusly, “Krautrock-inflected dance pop.” At the Echo on March 20^th.

Gang of Four: Content (Yep Roc) – Legends. At the Music Box on February 21^st.

The Get Up Kids: There Are Rules (Quality Hill) – I can appreciate some nice Midwestern guys.

[Local] Grouplove: Grouplove (Atlantic) – Local kids. Caught them a few months back at the Bootleg.

Wanda Jackson: The Party Ain’t Over (Nonesuch) – Jack White produced the rockabilly legends new record.

Monotonix: Not Yet (Drag City) – Israeli garage rockers.

John Vanderslice: White Wilderness (Dead Oceans) – Considered one of the nicest guys in indie rock.

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: 1/17/11 - 1/23/11

No Joy Play the Satellite on Wednesday

I caught the Melvins set this Friday. Intense. Well worth checking out if you can get a ticket for one of these Fridays. Lots of promising shows this week. Seems like the winter lull is finally over...

Monday 1/17/11

[Pick of the Night] The Fling / The Belle Brigade / Francisco the Man / Obi Best @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] (Free) – The Fling and the Belle Brigade continue their Monday night residency.  

Great Northern / The Pierces @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP) – Another strong lineup.

Grouplove / Chief @ Bootleg (Free) – Buzzy bands.

Screaming Females / La Sera / Lovely Bad Things / Audacity @ Echoplex ($10) – Well respected, female fronted New Jersey punk band.

Cannoneers of the New Command / Sing the Body Electric / Wet and Reckless / The Lucky Lonely @ The Echo (Free) – Cannoners of the New Command continue their Monday night residency.

Kinch / Mouse Kills Tiger / Sleep Maps / The Mighty Regis @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Kinch continues their Monday night residency.

The Tleilaxu Music Machine / Melted Cassettes / Shane Shane / Son Cats / BYODeath @ Pehrspace ($5)

Phil Alvin @ Redwood

Tuesday 1/18/11

[Pick of the Night] Tobacco / Royal Bangs @ Echoplex ($10) – Black Moth Super Rainbow side project.

[Recommended] Fiend Without a Face  (featuring Brent and Brann from Mastodon) / West End Motel (featuring Brent from Mastodon) / Taylor Locke and Roughs / Bleu @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] $10)

Olin & the Moon / Wire in the Walls / Family of the Year @ The Echo (Free if over 21, $7otherwise) – Olin & the Moon continue their Tuesday night residency.  

The Monolators / Useless Keys @ LaBrie’s (Free) – The Monolators continue their Tuesday night residency.

Auditorium / College Kids @ Bootleg ($8)

Tape Deck Mountain / Evan Voytas / Hands @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

The Pierces @ Hotel Café

Jay Brannan @ The Roxy ($15)

Wednesday 1/19/11

[Pick of the Night] No Joy / Dunes @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($10) – Two Mexican Summer bands with local ties. Pitchfork gave No Joy a solid 7.7 rating this week.

[Recommended] Low End Theory: Blank Blue / Jonwayne @ Airliner ($10)

[Recommended] Willie Nelson / Lukas Nelson @ House of Blues Anaheim ($76) – His live show’s kind of hit or miss these days, but he’s still a legend.

Rumspringa / Incan Abraham / Line and Circle @ Bootleg ($8)

Jeans Wilder / Holy Spirits / Mutual Benefit / Steffaloo @ Lot 1

The Kris Special / Walk / Sanglorians @ Silverlake Lounge ($7) 

Foster the People / Lesands / Hot As Sun @ The Echo (Free)

Dashboard Confessional / Chris Conley / Lady Danville / John Lefter @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

Zion Train @ Echoplex ($10)

Anna Nalick @ Hotel Café

Thursday 1/20/11

[Pick of the Night] Young Prisms / Melted Toys / Twilight Sleep @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($10) – A couple of bands with some good buzz from the northern part of our state.

Abe Vigoda / Lord Huron wtih Calder Quartet / Gamble House @ The Autry ($10) – Early show at 7:00 PM; A few LA bands with critical acclaim

C-Horse / Cobalt Cranes / Woolen @ Lot 1 ($5)

Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss / Simon Stokes / Bob Forrest @ Bootleg ($5)

Night Horse / The Binges / Chief Nowhere @ The Echo ($7)

Burial at Sea / Escalator Hill / Little Owl @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Dashboard Confessional / Chris Conley / Lady Danville / John Lefter @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

Satellite / The Wellspring @ Hotel Café

Occult Blood / Ivens / Sissy Spacek @ The Smell ($5)

Space Waves / The Cotillionaires / Traps PS @ 3 Clubs (Free)

The Silver Chords / VonVeederVeld / Lantvrn / Spirit Vine @ Redwood

Nikka Costa / Pop Levi @ The Roxy ($25)

Styx @ House of Blues Anaheim

Old 97’s / Langhorne Slim @ Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana

Friday 1/21/11

[Pick of the Night] Brad Mehldau’s Highway Rider with Chamber Orchestra @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($84 - $118) –The jazz pianist’s latest was produced by Jon Brion.

[Recommended] Melvins @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] (Sold Out) – Details on this week’s show: Lite (Buzz & Dale only); Melvins set (current line-up performing normal set) and Bullhead in its entirety

[Recommended] Peter Wolf Crier / Retribution Gospel Choir @ Echoplex ($12) – Minneapolis indie folk on the Jagjaguwar label (produced by Dave Fridmann).

Old 97’s / Langhorne Slim @ The Music Box ($26) – I have seen the Old 97’s a lot.

Meiko / Tom Freund @ Hotel Café

Dashboard Confessional / Chris Conley / Lady Danville / John Lefter @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

Jonathan Coulton with Paul and Storm @ Largo (Sold Out)

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony @ House of Blues Sunset ($33)

Physical Forms / Skull Tape / Turrks / Bleak End at Bernie’s @ The Smell ($5)

Silverstein / Pierce the Veil @ The Glass House ($17)

Tom Paxton @ McCabe’s ($25)

Taxi / Lost Marauders @ 3 Clubs (Free)

Chief Nowhere / VonVeederVeld / Magic Mirror / Ojo Rojos @ Redwood

George Glass @ Origami Vinyl (Free) – 7:00 PM

The Wailers @ House of Blues Anaheim

Saturday 1/22/11

[Pick of the Night] Ty Segall / Tijuana Panthers / Okee Dokee / things @ Alex’s Bar ($8) – If you can’t wait to see Ty Segall on the 27^th at the Echoplex. I saw Ty Segall recently at  Spaceland.

Tobacco / Royal Bangs @ Detroit Bar ($14) – If you missed them on Tuesday at the Echoplex.

Guster / Good Old War @ The Music Box ($30)

Hellooodbye / Gold Motel / You Me & Everyone We Know / Now, Now Every Children @ Troubadour ($15)

Suzanne Vega @ Largo ($40)

Tyler Hilton @ Hotel Café

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony @ House of Blues Sunset ($33)

Defiance, Ohio / Kimya Dawson / Moses Campbell / Peter Pants @ The Smell ($5)

Tom Paxton @ McCabe’s ($25)

DJ Quik @ The Key Club ($30)

Peg Leg Love @ Origami (Free) – 7:00 PM

RX Bandits @ House of Blues Anaheim

Sunday 1/23/11

[Pick of the Night] Wanda Jackson and the Third Man house band featuring Jack White on guitar / Haunted George @ El Rey (Sold Out) - I saw Wanda Jackson years ago at SXSW and she's a spitfire. She was a contemporary (and friend) of Elvis.

[Recommended] Weekend / Catwalk @ The Echo ($10) – Good stuff on Slumberland.

Native / Fake Problems @ The Echo ($10) – Early show at 5:00 PM; post-hardcore kids from Indiana

Ghost of A Saber Tooth Tiger (Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl) / Laura Gibson @ Troubadour ($18)

Last American Buffalo / Square on Square / Cory Chisel @ The Satellite [f/k/a Spaceland] ($5)

LA Music Video Festival: Voxhaul Broadcast / Black Apples / Lemon Sun @ Echoplex ($10)

Defiance, Ohio / Kimya Dawson / Moses Campbell / The Dining Dead @ The Smell ($5)

Ellis Paul @ McCabe’s ($17.50)

Dirty Candy / Interstellar / Hastings 3000 @ Redwood

Calibash @ Staples Center ($21 - $120)



Recent Concert Announcements

El Rey

1/23/11: Wanda Jackson with the Third Man house band featuring Jack White on guitar (Friday at 10 AM)

1/28/11: Danial Lanois’ Black Dub (Saturday at 10 AM)

3/3/11: Emilie Autumn (Saturday at 10 AM)

The Satellite (f/ka/ Club Spaceland)

Mondays in February: Red Cortez (Free)

1/7/11: Melvins set (current line-up performing songs from Colossus of Destiny); Lysol and Eggnog records in their entirety [now at Ticketweb]

1/14/11: Melvins 1983 (Buzz, Dale and Mike Dillard); Melvins set (current line-up performing normal set) and Houdini in its entirety [now at Ticketweb]

1/18/11: Fiend Without a Face / West End Motel / Bleu / Taylor Locke (now at Ticketfly)

1/21/11: Melvins Lite (Buzz & Dale only); Melvins set (current line-up performing normal set) and Bullhead in its entirety [now at Ticketweb]

 1/28/11: Melvins set (current line-up performing normal set) and Stoner Witch in its entirety [now at Ticketweb]

2/19/11: Admiral Radley (now at Ticketfly)

The Viper Room [Ticketweb]

12/31/10: Lucinda Williams / Jackshit (now)

The Echo [Ticketweb]

12/31/10: Nite Jewel / Kenan Bell (now)

2/11/11: Smith Westerns (now)

3/24/11: Wye Oak / Callers (now)

4/6/11: Akron/Family (now)

Echoplex [Ticketweb]

1/13/11: Captain Beefheart Symposium (now)  

1/17/11: Screaming Females / La Sera (now)

The Roxy

12/22/10: Odd Future (now)

1/28/11: Free Energy (now)

2/9/11: Friendly Fires (now)

Troubadour [Ticketfly]

2/18/11 – 2/21/11: Cake (Thursday at 1:00 PM)

2/25/11: Max Bemis (Thursday at Noon)

Staples Center

2/23/11: Linkin Park / The Prodigy (Saturday at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre LA Live

2/9/11: Sarah McLachlan (Friday at 10 AM)

2/25/11: Lucero (Friday at 10 AM) 

5/8/11: Yanni (Friday at 10 AM)

5/15/11: Moody Blues (Friday at 10 AM)

Club Nokia

4/12/11: All Time Low / Yellowcard (Friday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Palladium

4/6/11: A Day To Remember (Friday at 10 AM)

5/27/11: My Chemical Romance (Friday at 10 AM)

Gibson Amphitheatre

2/3/11: Luis Miguel (now)

2/19/11: Enrique Iglesias (Friday at 10 AM)

The Wiltern

2/25/11: Pendulum (Friday at 10 AM)