Recently Announced Live Shows

Harlem (recently signed to Matador) Play Spaceland on February 20th

Echo
Mondays in February: Useless Keys
1/16/10: A.A. Bondy (now at Ticketweb)
1/17/10: The Yummy Fur (now)
1/21/10: Music Go Music (now)
1/30/10: Bowerbirds (now)
2/16/10: Magic Kids / Pearl Harbour (now)
3/12/10: The Cave Singers / The Dutchess and the Duke / The Moondoggies (now)
3/24/10: Cymbals Eat Guitars / Bear in Heaven MP3: Bag of Bags (now)
Echoplex
2/11/10: Eydea & Abilities featuring Dosh (now at Ticketweb)
3/11/10: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (now)
3/19/10: High Places (now)
4/22/10: Japandroids (now)
5/7/10: King Sunny Ade (now)

Spaceland
Mondays in February: Princeton
2/19/10: Ancestors / Black Math Horseman (now at Ticketweb)
2/20/10: Harlem (now) MP3: Friendly Ghost
2/27/10: Scout Niblett (now)
3/5/10 – 3/6/10: The Clientele / The Wooden Birds (now) MP3: I Wonder Who We Are
3/9/10: Laura Veirs / Old Believers / Cataldo (now)
3/12/10: Quasi (now) MP3: Repulsion
3/16/10: Efterklang (now)

Troubadour
2/11/10: The Thermals MP3: Now We Can See / Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (now)
2/20/10: Brendan Benson (TBD)
3/3/10: El Perro Del Mar / Taken By Trees (now)
3/27/10: Ted Leo (TBD)
5/25/10: Nada Surf (TBD)

Bootleg
1/17/10: Castanets (now at In Ticketing)
1/23/10: Mindy Smith (now)
2/2/10: Nervous Wreckords (now)
2/12/10: Chicago Underground Duo / Pit Er Pat (now)
3/10/10: Delta Spirit (now)

Silverlake Lounge
Mondays in February: Gamble House

El Rey Theatre
1/22/10: Lalah Hathaway (on sale now)
2/12/10: Christian Death (now)
3/20/10 – 3/21/10: Gomez (Saturday at 10 AM)
3/26/10: Copland (now)

Club Nokia
2/27/10: Goodie Mob (presale now, password = STILLSTANDING; Friday at 10 AM)
4/10/10: Mint Condition (now)
4/9/10: Owl City / Lights / Paper Route (presale now, password = SNEAKY; Friday at 10 AM)

Fox Theatre Pomona
4/7/10: Owl City / Lights / Paper Route (presale now, password = SNEAKY; Friday at 10 AM)
4/14/10: Vampire Weekend (presale now, password = CONTRA; Friday at 10 AM)

Largo
1/12/10: Beth Orton (call club)

3/23/10: Acid Mothers Temple (now)
3/24/10: Garotas Suecas (now)
4/13/10: Retribution Gospel Choir

Glass House Pomona
2/25/10: The Soundtrack of Our Lives (now)

Best Albums of the Decade: #40 - #31

Here's part two of my best albums of the decade. For #50 - #41 click HERE....

40) Belle & Sebastian: The Life Pursuit (released in 2006 on Matador) – Not as important to me as their early music, but the record has a looser vibe that makes it fun to listen to. We’re still waiting for the proper follow-up.

Another Sunny Day - Belle & Se...

39) The Avalanches: Since I Left You (released in 2000 on XL) – Infinitely more interesting than Girl Talk. According to their Wikipedia page it contains 3,500 samples. Still no follow-up, but supposedly their working on clearing samples.

Frontier Psychiatrist - The Av...

38) TV on the Radio: Dear Science (2008 on Interscope) – One of those rare bands that gets better with each release (so hopefully their hiatus does go on indefinitely). Like most bands with multiple songwriters there can be a little inconsistency at times.

Halfway Home - TV On The Radio

37) Peter Bjorn and John: Writer’s Block (2006 on Wichita) – I feel like a lot of folks still dismiss these guys as a one hit wonder. But this record’s solid all the way through (and the one before it, Falling Out, might even be a little better).

Amsterdam - Peter Bjorn and Jo...

36) Everest: Ghost Notes (2008 on Vapor) – These guys toured with Neil Young and Wilco and still didn’t get a whole lot of attention for this record. While most bloggers were scouring the internet to find musicians who just learned to play guitar last week and record straight to ghetto blaster, I was listening to this.

Into Your Soft Heart - Everest...

35) Aloha: Some Echoes (2006 on Polyvinyl) – Indie prog? I’m not really sure why I got so into it, but I probably listened to this record more than their moms and girlfriends.

If I Lie Down - Aloha

34) David Vandervelde: The Moonstation House Band (2007 on Secretly Canadian) – Another artist where I feel like I’m his biggest fan. There are some definite Bolan/T. Rex-isms but that’s fine and dandy with me.

Jacket - David Vandervelde

33) Spoon: Girls Can Tell (2001 on Merge) – It was great living in Austin when Spoon was at its peak. Britt Daniel seems to hate LA so much, they never seem to put on an interesting show here, but I saw some good ones in Austin. Possibly the most consistent band of the decade.

Anything You Want - Spoon

32) The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic (2001 on Mint) – With so many mediocre bands out there why don’t more singers/songwriters put their egos aside and join together? They were my go to band of the decade for uplifting music.

The Slow Descent Into Alcoholi...

31) The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002 on Warner Bros.) – This was the beginning of the end of one of my favorite bands. The best songs have been licensed in so much crap, it’s hard to hear them objectively anymore. Hopefully they find their way again.

Fight Test - The Flaming Lips

Besnard Lakes MP3: Albatross

One of my most eagerly anticipated new releases is: The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night (out March 9th on Jagjaguwar). They put on a phenomenal show at the Troubadour while touring for their last record; unfortunately only about 20 people saw it. Face melting.

Here's an appetizer from their new record, courtesy of Jagjaguwar:
MP3: Albatross

Best Albums of the Decade: #50 - #41

Now that you're all completely sick of these lists, here's the bottom ten in my top 50....



50) Radiohead: Kid A (2000 on Capitol) – After seeing this at the top both Pitchfork and Rolling Stone’s best of the decade I went back and re-listened to it. Being a fan of melodic guitar rock, I only enjoy listening to four of these songs. They were still a great live band around this time though.

Idioteque - Radiohead

49) Interpol: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002 on Matador) – I haven’t listened to this in about six years, but it holds up a lot better than I was expecting. It’s still a little uneven, but an intense listen overall.

PDA - Interpol

48) Elliott Smith: From a Basement on the Hill (2004 on Anti) – Like all posthumous records, this one was mired in controversy after his family brought in Rob Schnapf and Joanna Bolme to finish it even though they weren’t involved in the recording. Smith’s most inconsistent work but plenty of gems.

Pretty (Ugly Before) - Elliott...

47) Soundtrack of Our Lives: Behind the Music (2002 on Republic) – This is timeless psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll done extremely well (and holds up better than some of the stuff on this list). After being a little too weird and proggy before, the band hit its peak on this record. They got the entire audience at the Troubadour down on the ground, which is an impressive feat in LA.

Infra Riot - The Soundtrack Of...

46) The Postal Service: Give Up (2003 on Sub Pop) – Almost seven years after its release, and you still can’t turn on your TV for five minutes without hearing one of these songs. After Ben Gibbard moved to LA (Jimmy Tamborello has always lived here), I’m sure Sub Pop’s Jonathan Poneman was hoping he’d finally get his follow-up, but the world’s still waiting (and sadly, settling for Owl City instead).

The District Sleeps Alone Toni...

45) Fugazi: The Argument (2001 on Dischord) – In all honestly, this is the least listened to of anything on this list. I still prefer their early stuff, but it’s still Fugazi. Imagine the money they could make if they went off hiatus and did the festival circuit. I mean you know, they could donate it to charity or whatever…

44) Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago (2008 on Jagjaguwar) – I’m a sucker for a really well done strummy, sensitive guy album. This might be the best one since Iron & Wine came on the scene.

The Wolves (Act I and II) - Bo...

43) Fruit Bats: Spelled in Bones (2005 on Sub Pop) – This record came around at the perfect time for me; it was the summer of 2005 and a few months into a great new relationship.

The Wind That Blew My Heart Aw...

42) Broken Social Scene: You Forgot It In People (2003 on Arts & Crafts) – The band that launched Feist, Metric, Jason Collett, et al. I saw one of their first US shows at the Silverlake Lounge. I remember ordering the original pressing directly from Canada before it got released here.

Cause = Time - Broken Social S...

41) The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely (2008 on WB/Third Man) – The appearance of this record on the list is a statement of just how hard (or rare?) it is for a band to make a straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll record these days. From top to bottom, this is just a fun record to listen to.

Salute Your Solution - The Rac...

Live Music Options: 1/4/10 - 1/10/10

Sonic Youth Play the Wiltern on Saturday

Lots of January residencies begin this week (not a lot of touring bands in town)....

Monday 1/4/10
[Pick of the Night] The French Semester / Letting Up Despite Great Faults / The Spires / The Health Club @ The Echo (Free) – The French Semester are doing the free Monday night residency in January. Get there to see LUDGF.
[Recommended] Year Long Disaster / Open Hand / Totimoshi @ Spaceland (Free) – Year Long Disaster is doing the Monday night residency. The band features Daniel Davies (son of Dave Davies from the Kinks). Totimoshi’s about to go on a big European tour with Mastodon.
That Noise / The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra @ Viper Room ($10)
David Scott Stone / Ariana Delawari / Lucky Dragons @ Echo Curio
The Northstar Session / Joshua Norton / Get Back Loretta @ Bootleg (Free)
The Steelwells / The Color Turning / The Living Suns / Yeah Brother @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Batwings Catwings / The Girl with Violent Arms / Chuff Chuff @ Pehrspace

Tuesday 1/5/10
[Pick of the Night] Whispering Pines / Old Toy Trains / Space Waves @ Spaceland ($5)
Olin and the Moon / Marnie Herald @ The Echo (Free) – Olin and the Moon are doing a Free Tuesday night residency this month.
The Webb Sisters / Joey Ryan / Carrick Moore Garety @ Hotel Café ($15)
Happy Dwarf / The Sundowners / The New Room @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Woodsman / Young Prisms / Bipolar Bear / Pearl Harbour @ L’Keg
Quebb / Jeffertiti’s Nile / Insects vs. Robots / The Mayfly Dance @ Troubadour ($10)
Margaret Cho @ Largo Little Room ($25)
Captain Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss @ Redwood Bar
Former Ghosts / Railcars / Mother McKenzie / Professor Calculus / Philip Seymour Hoffman @ The Smell ($5)
Odd Modern / Funeral Party / Casxio / Hot Streets @ Viper Room ($10)

Wednesday 1/6/10
[Pick of the Night] Club NME: Wet and Reckless / Butterfly Child / Tigers Can Bite You / Rhone Occupation @ Spaceland ($7) – Wet & Reckless is the new band featuring Jessica Gelt from the Movies.
[Recommended] Spaceland on Ice: Twilight Sleep / Kissing Cousins @ Pershing Square (Free) – Show starts at 7:00 PM
Pearl Harbour / Young Prisms / Woodsman / Allah Las @ The Smell ($5)
[Recommended] Best Coast / Brilliant Colors / Dunes @ Synchronicity
Brazzaville / David J / Salt Petal @ The Echo ($8)
Royal Crown Revue @ the Mint ($20)
Fair To Midland @ Troubadour ($15)
Chris Pureka / Bleu / Mike Viola @ Hotel Café
Scion House Party: Distance @ The Roxy (Free w/RSVP to Scion)
Joe Sib’s California Calling w/ Jesse Malin @ Largo ($20)
Low End Theory Club @ Airliner ($10)
Crash Kings / Darlings of the Day / vOLUMe @ Viper Room ($10)

Thursday 1/7/10
[Pick of the Night] The Stevenson Ranch Davidians / The Quarter After / Miranda Lee Richards / Kathleen Balloon with Crooked Cowboy @ Spaceland ($5) – Good local lineup.
[Recommended] The Happy Hollows / George Glass / One Trick Pony / Dirt Dress @ The Mint ($10 adv / $15 dos) – The cover’s a little steep after seeing them so many times in November for free…
Rumspringa / Mississippi Man / Links / The Silent Comedy @ The Echo ($8)
Jay Nash @ Hotel Café
Sara Watkins @ Largo ($25)
Nerfbau / Take Up Serpents @ Synchronicity
Aushua / Chasing Kings / Cat Party @ 3 of Clubs
Where’s the Band?: Dustin Kensrue / Matt Pryor / Chris Conley / Anthony Raneri @ Troubadour ($19)
Yours Til Death / Garland @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Living Things / The Tender Box / White Arrows @ Viper Room ($10)
Lady Dottie / Jake Labotz @ Redwood Bar
Sun Araw / James Ferraro / Sean McCann / The Urxed / Garden State @ the Smell ($5)
Nar / Protect Me / Railcars / F’N A @ L’Keg

Friday 1/8/10
[Pick of the Night] First Fridays: Atlas Sound / Tune-Yards @ Natural History Museum ($9) – Early show starts at 5:30 PM. I’m not a Bradford Cox freak, but the last Atlas Sound record was pretty good.
[Recommended] Sonic Youth / Sic Alps @ Fox Theater in Pomona ($32) – Also on Saturday at the Wiltern.
[Recommended] The Soft Hands / The Happy Hollows / Gangi / Useless Keys @ Viper Room ($10 adv / $15 dos)
FEAR @ House of Blues Sunset ($22.50)
Death Sentence: Panda! / PILES / Kit / Dunes @ the Smell ($5)
Blame Sally / Whiskey Chimp / Dave Gleason @ The Mint ($15)
Andy Clockwise / Austin Hartley Leonard / Brother Sal @ Hotel Café – Andy Clockwise is doing a Friday night residency this month.
Golden Animals / Allah Las / Kinch / Jeffertiti’s Nile @ Spaceland ($7)
Sarah Silverman / Ed Helms @ Largo ($25)
Queen Victoria / 60 Watt Kid / State Champion / Giving Up @ Synchronicity
Chris Murray Combo @ Troubadour ($12)
Believe it or Not I Care / No Enemy @ L’Keg
Kenny Edwards / Ernest Troost @ McCabe’s ($15)
Art Fein Presents the 24th Annual Elvis Birthday Bash @ Echoplex ($20)
Sweaters / Hot Sauce Mentor @ The Echo ($5)

Saturday 1/9/10
[Pick of the Week] Sonic Youth / Sic Alps @ The Wiltern ($30) – The last Sonic Youth record was really good.
Al Kooper @ McCabe’s ($26.50) – Legend
Timonium @ Pehrspace
Rufus Wainwright @ Terrace Theatre in Long Beach ($50)
Lady Sinatra / The Ringers / The Vacation / Perfect Machines @ Viper Room ($10)
Lower Heaven / Drew Andrews / My Pet Saddle / Eagle Winged Palace @ Redwood Bar ($8)
Stevie B / Lisa Lisa / Cover Girls / C&C Music Factory @ Nokia Theatre ($38 - $88) – Borat’s favorite band, C&C Music Factory
Ninja Academy / WITT / Totally Serious / Solar Wimp @ the Smell ($5)
60 Watt Kid / Glasser @ Spaceland ($7)
Tom Rush @ Largo ($30)
Visa @ Troubadour ($15)
Creepshow One Year Anniversary @ Hotel Café
Cowboy Mouth @ House of Blues Sunset ($20)
Tan Dollar / Italic Indians / Weed Diamond / Moon Pearl @ Echo Curio

Sunday 1/10/10
[Pick of the Night] The Lymbyc System / Helios / The One AM Radio @ Bootleg ($12)
Al Kooper @ McCabe’s ($26.50)
Part Time Punks: Love Grenades @ the Echo ($5)
Zola Jesus / Pocahaunted / Sissy Spacek @ the Smell ($5)
Mia Maestro @ Hotel Café
Ari Shine / Trainwreck / Kidneys / Schwarzenator @ Viper Room ($10)
The Terrapin / The Hectors / Seasons / Divisadero @ Spaceland ($5)
My Dads / Pussy Cow / National Sunday Law @ Echo Curio