LA Live Music Options: 12/29/08 - 1/4/09

Monday 12/29/08
[Recommended] The Movies / Everest / Love Lies Sleeping / Roses Kings Castle (Adam from Babyshambles) @ Spaceland (Free) – I made it to three Movies shows in a row, which is pretty impressive for me. I seem to be out of town a lot when Everest plays.
Manimal Vinyl Residency: Rio En Medio / The Lickets / Amanda Jo Williams / Black Hole Oscillators @ The Echo (Free)
The Color Turning / Francisco the Man / Yellow Red Sparks / Secret 6 @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Robin Thicke @ Club Nokia ($45 - $75)
Guns ‘n Broses Soloing Over Alanis Morrissette Dommm Italic Indian / White Leopards @ Pehrspace
Jake Labotz @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Lil’ Wayne / Keyshia Cole / T-Pain / Gym Class Heroes / Keri Hilson @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($56- $180)

Tuesday 12/30/08
[Recommended] Finally Punk / Bobb Bruno / P R O T E C T M E @ The Smell ($5) – If you haven’t seen Bobb Bruno yet, it’s a good time.
Dawes / Richie James Follin / Roses Kings Castles (Adam from Babyshambles) @ the Echoplex (Free before 10:30)
Akon / Shontelle @ Club Nokia ($40 - $65)
The Marshall Tucker Band @ House of Blues Sunset ($24.50)
The Evangenitals / The Beeters / Box Violet / Hello from Reno @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Godric / Adam Pasion @ Silverlake Lounge
Gipsy Kings @ Conga Room ($100 - $180)

Wednesday 12/31/08
[Recommended] The Hentry Clay People / The Happy Hollows / The Pity Party @ Spaceland ($10) – New Year’s Eve is total amateur night when it comes to going out. You won’t catch me paying $100 cover to go hang out at the Viper Room. Instead, you can see LA’s best party/bar band, the Henry Clay People for $8 (if you email them). This will be the last show for two of the members, so you can expect a raucous good time. They’ll be ending the show with lots of covers.
Low End Theory: Themselves / Free Moral Agents / Blank Blue / Samiyam / Ras G / Thavius Beck @ Airliner

Little Radio-Bank Run: Ariel Pink / Crystal Antlers / Kutmah / Port O'Brien / Restavrant / J-Logic / Hit & Run / The Natives @ The Bank [401 Main St.] - $20 for general admin or $40 for VIP entrance. 
Giant Maximus: Moby DJ set / Benny Benassi / Dirty South / Paul Oakenfold / Mark Farina / Marques Wyatt / Mickey Avalon / Dirt Nasty @ 8th and Figueroa ($75) – Get all E’ed up and act like it’s the nineties.
Pink Martini ($65 - $195) – There’s an early show at 7:00 and a late show at 10:30
Stone Temple Pilots @ Club Nokia ($79 - $129)
Snoop Dogg @ House of Blues Sunset ($115) – I enjoy Snoop, but I will not be attending a New Year’s Eve show at the House of Blues.
LA Riots / Mattie Safer / Congorock / Dances with White Girls / Them Jeans @ Viper Room ($100 includes open bar)
Not Not Fun Records / Crops and Rawbers @ Echo Curio (Free)
Gears / Paging Beto / Controllers / Beat Killers / Shoot It Up @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Cubenesis @ The Mint ($20) – Tribute to the Grateful Dead
Halloween Swim Team @ Vermont [1515 S. Vermont Ave]
The Wailers @ the Roxy ($75)
Pepe Aguilar @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($65 - $125)
Infected Mushroom @ Hollywood Palladium ($45)
Wayne Hancock / Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys / Bob Wayne @ Safari Sam’s at the Regent ($20 - $40)
Gipsy Kings @ Conga Room ($150 - $225)

Thursday 1/1/09
Shooter Jennings / Earl Greyhound / Ghost Gamblers @ El Cid (Free) – Probably a really good place to nurse your hangover and drink Bloody Mary’s.

Friday 1/2/09
[Recommended] Seasons / The Monolators / The Mormons / Spider Problem / Megalosaurus @ American Legion Hall in Highland Park [227 N. Avenue 55]
[Recommended] George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic / The Greyboy Allstars @ Club Nokia ($25 - $75)
blackblack / C-Drip / Koalacaust / Apple Orange / Insects Vs. Robots @ the Smell ($5)
The Slackers / The Impalers / Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss @ El Rey ($17)
Wolfgate / Entraller / Souless / Tazumal / Gravespawn @ Relax Bar
Pussycat Dolls Lounge @ Viper Room ($25)

Saturday 1/3/09
Babyland / Big Boy / The Kris Special / Walk @ Spaceland ($8)
Reel Big Fish @ House of Blues Sunset ($20)
Pyroklasm / Excelsior / Invocation War / Internal Conjuration / Taking Over / Exhaust @ Relax Bar
Pussycat Dolls Lounge @ Viper Room ($25)

Sunday 1/4/09
Part Time Punks: The Bridez @ The Echo ($5)
Wounded Lion / Bodies Of Water / Jubilee Singers / Tommy Santee Klaws @ the Smell ($5)
Deadbeats / Tense / Secret Society of the Sonic Six @ Echo Curio
Nanna Larsen @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Matt Dwyer's Top 10 List (Sinking Radio

Matt Dwyer's a comedian, actor and writer. You can hear him co-hosting Sinking Radio every Friday from Noon to 2:00 PM on Little Radio. Here's his top 10 list for 2008.

starting from one to ten:

mount eerie - lost wisdom (southern) – the microphones featuring julie doiron and fred squire

the broken west - now or heaven (merge) – MP3: Auctioneer

dr dog – fate (park the van) – MP3: The Ark

mae shi – HLLLYH (team shi)

Radar Bros. Auditorium (merge) – MP3: Warm Rising Sun

Le Switch - and now (autumn tone) – MP3: Pristine

Les Blanks - shoot the horse (self-released) – MP3: Ages Old

MGMT - oracular spectacular (Columbia records)

Thao and the get down stay down - we brave bee stings & all (kill rock stars) – MP3: Bag of Hammers

Talkdemonic: eyes at half mast (arena rock) – MP3: Duality of Deathening

Todd Clifford's Best of 2008 (Sinking Radio)

You might remember Todd from Sea Level Records. These days, he co-hosts Sinking Radio on Little Radio every Friday from Noon to 2:00 PM PST. Todd also spends a great deal of his time tour managing and slinging merch for touring bands. He's also one of the resident DJs at Club NME every Wednesday at Spaceland.

Todd's best of 2008:

albums:
Radar Bros. 'Auditorium' (Merge) – MP3: Warm Rising Sun
The Movies 'Based on a True Story' (self released)
The Hold Steady 'Stay Positive' (Vagrant)
Neon Neon 'Stainless Style' (Lex)
TV on the Radio 'Dear Science' (Interscope)
She & Him 'Vol. 1' (Merge) – MP3: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
Mae Shi 'HLLYH' (Team Shi)
Brian Eno / David Byrne 'Everything That Happens Will Happen Today' (Todomundo)
Everest 'Ghost Notes' (Vapor)
Magnetic Fields 'Distortion' (Nonesuch)

songs:
Bun B "Swang on Them" (Rap a Lot)
Henry Clay People MP3: “Something in the Water" (Autumn Tone)
Herman Dune "Lovers are Waterproof" (Everloving)
Le Switch "Big 'Ol Tree" (Autumn Tone)
No Age MP3: "Teen Creeps" (Sub Pop)
The Notwist "Good Lies" (Domino)
Portishead "Machine Gun" (London)
Radar Bros. MP3: "Slack Motherfucker" (self released)
The Silver State "Under the Rug" (Young American)
T.I. "Whatever You Like" (Atlantic)

So close…
Eef Barzelay MP3: Lose Big
School of Seven Bells MP3: Connjur
Coldplay
Stephen Malkmus
Future of the Left MP3: A Dead Enemy Always Smells Good
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Raconteurs
David Vandervelde

Sinking with Sylvia's Top 10 of 2008

Sylvia co-hosts Sinking with Sylvia from Noon to 2:00 PM every Friday on Little Radio. This is her top 10 list for 2008:

10. Neon Neon: Stainless Style - Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals fame teamed up with Boom Bip and decided to make this amazing concept record based on the life of John Delorean. huh? Still this record has great songs and is amusing all at the same time. You really cannot go wrong with this record and it also features a rad line-up of musicians including Har Mar Superstar, Spank Rock, Yo Majesty and Mr. Josh Klinghoffer to name a few.

9. MGMT: Oracular Spectacular - This is definitely one of my surprise faves of the year. Who knew?

8. Throw Me The Statue: Moonbeams - I have truly enjoyed this record for most of this year. Melodic, at times sweet and just all around pleasant in every sense of the word. A must own of 2008.
MP3: Lolita

7. Wye Oak: If Children - I have heard these Merge darlings compared to some pretty interesting bands and I admit that every time I listen to this record I get different influences like Yo La Tengo or Catpower but the truth is this.I expect bands to get better and change/progress with the times and I stand firmly that if the Breeders were a good band they would have put out an album exactly like this.
MP3: I Don't Feel Young

6. Le Switch: And Now...Le Switch - I know I know, I am good friends with these kids and should probably not be allowed to have these guys here but that is how good they are. The LA music scene has a lot to be proud of this year and Le Switch is a large part of this pride. I like any band that can be influenced by the likes of Jon Brion and Emmitt Rhodes and Le Switch captures (not copies) it so well. If you are outside of LA get this record and keep an eye out for them live, you will not be disappointed.
MP3: Give Me Something

5. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Real Emotional Trash - Malkmus puts out a record and it will always make my list.
MP3: Baltimore

4. The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely - I have really surprised myself this year with some of my listening habits and this one kinda tops the list. I am not a Jack White fan and I find Brendan Benson to be a bit uhm...well Brendan Benson. ha. Put the two together and apparently I am a believer. The first 6 songs on this record are the some of the best songs you will probably hear for the next few years. If they had taken off those last songs, this would have been my number one record of the year. Better luck next time. Still great job!

3. David Vandervelde: Waiting For the Sunrise - In my top 5 two years in a row! The truth is I haven't fully appreciated this record yet, I need another 2 or 3 months of listening to completely absorb this one. He gets many comparisons to T.Rex because of his last record but I am gonna have to stick with Neil Young. Yep, he is that good.
MP3: I Will Be Fine

2. Everest: Ghost Notes - I looked it up and apparently I had Everest on my bands to watch out for in 2008. This is what I said "Dear Everest, If your full length is anywhere near as good as your ep I promise you will be at the top of my 2008 list next year. good luck."Well here we are at the end of 2008 and here is Everest at number 2 of my top 10 which is at the the top. Good job guys, way to deliver. "Ghost Notes" is such a beautiful and sincere record. From the minute it starts until the last note I am in love. I can listen again immediately and I honestly feel that "Into Your Soft Heart" is the best single released all year. You guys helped contribute to the greatness of the LA music scene this year and I have such confidence that you will give me many more records to love in the upcoming years. Until then thank you for Ghost Notes.

1. The Movies: Based On A True Story - LA's music scene gets no love. And quite frankly neither do The Movies. They are at times difficult to love, difficult to understand and a bit streaky. Having said that they are without question the BEST band in Los Angeles.Based On A True Story can be easily confused as a simple pop record with some funny songs. wrong. Tim's lyrics are at times pretty dark and sad. Is this the best break-up record produced in some time? Perhaps Tim is an evil genius. All I can say that this record works in every possible way. I am so excited to have local bands on the top of my list this year. Especially The Movies. Thanks for the awesome record guys.

Honorable Mentions:
Dr. Dog Fate
Henry Clay People For Cheap or For Free
The Radar Bros. Auditorium
The Broken West Now or Heaven?
Secret Machines The Secret Machines

Bands in 2009 you must check out if you haven't already:
Warpaint
Kenan Bell
Les Blanks
Spider Problem
The World Record
Amnion or anything Aaron Embry does.

Happy New Year.

Live Music Options: 12/22/08 - 12/28/08

Monday 12/22/08
[Recommended] The Movies / Voxhaul Broadcast / The Damselles / Adeline & the Philistines @ Spaceland (Free) – Last week was packed and the Movies put on another great show.
Anavan / Kyle H. Mabson / Team Andrew / The Munchers / Ilo Mar @ Pehrspace
Manimal Vinyl Residency: The Polyamorous Affair / Vaginals / Halloween Swim Team (Free)
The Count Basie Orchestra: A Swingin’ Christmas @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($28 - $82)
The Color Turning / Regime Noir / The Capshuns @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Jake Labotz @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Tuesday 12/23/08
[Recommended] Mike Stinson / Dave Gleason @ Redwood Bar & Grill – For the country music fans.
Soweto Gospel Choir @ Walt Disney Concert Hall (Call for availability)
Club Flotsam / Seeing Thingz / Out of Town @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Papa / Romany Rye / Mike Moonves / Ed Masuga @ Silverlake Lounge ($7) Camp Freddy @ the Roxy ($20)

Wednesday 12/24/08
Christmas Eve

Thursday 12/25/08
Good for the Jews comedy show @ the Echoplex ($20)

Friday 12/26/08
Princeton / Bodies of Water (Meredith and David acoustic) / No Little Kindness @ Spaceland ($8)
Railcars / Nephews / Knight Rider / Felt Drawings @ The Smell ($5)
Ratt / The Donnas @ House of Blues Sunset ($27.50)
Tommy Santee Klaws @ Echo Curio
Security Productions / Scrapmetal / Xaster / Wreaking Havoc @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Pussycat Dolls Lounge @ Viper Room ($25)

Saturday 12/27/08
Hungry Beat Dance Party @ Pehrspace – C86, indie pop dance night.
Portraits Of Past / Dangers / Drowning With Our Anchors / Glaciers @ The Smell ($5)
B.B. King / Chris Pierce @ Club Nokia ($60 - $75)
Bassnectar @ El Rey ($16)
Strung Out / Supersuckers @ House of Blues Sunset ($20)
Horse Head / Wonder Wheel / Warm Climate @ Echo Curio
Rosemary’s Billygoat / Million Kids / Swords of Fatima / Manhattan Murder Mystery @ Mr. T’s Bowl
The Basement Block Stars @ Echoplex ($10)
Mike Watt & the Secondmen @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Pussycat Dolls Lounge @ Viper Room ($25)

Sunday 12/28/08
Part Time Punks: Loto Ball Show / Fancy Space People / The Sixteens @ The Echo ($5)
B.B. King / Chris Pierce @ Club Nokia ($60 - $75)
Neil Hamburger / The Juggolos / Abe Lincoln Story @ Spaceland ($8)