Live Music Options: 5/30/11 - 6/5/11

Buffalo Springfield Again

The weekend gets pretty crazy...

Monday 5/30/11

[Pick of the Night] Vaud and the Villains / The Silver Lake Chorus / Paulie Pesh @ The Satellite (Free) – The Silver Lake Chorus should be good fun. They sing all the indie hits.

Maniac / Y Luv / Hello Vegas @ Bootleg (Free)

Taylor Locke & the Roughs / The Remainers / Carter Hulsey @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)

The Bixby Knolls / Cannoneers / Wake Up Lucid / The Icarus Line @ The Echo (Free)

Emma Richardson / High Highs / Sarbetch Tucek @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP)

Tuesday 5/31/11

[Pick of the Night] Stereo Total / Giant Drag / Batwings Catwings @ Echoplex ($12) - Fun band.

[Recommended] Hands / Oberhofer / Masxs @ The Satellite ($10) – Hands are classic soul inspired and feature “dueling keyboards” – a Hohner Clavinet and a Hammond (as well as bass guitar and drums). Pitchfork had some nice things to say about Oberhofer here.  

Eternal Summers / The Beets / Seapony @ The Echo ($10) – Eternal Summers have toured with Best Coast and the Dum Dum Girls and sound a little like the Raincoats.

Lykke Li / Grimes @ The Wiltern (Sold Out)

The Lonely Wild / State to State / Marvelous Toy / Tizoc Estrada @ The Central (Free)

The Parlotones / The Daylights / Transfer @ Troubadour ($12)

Bruce Cockburn with Band / Jenny Scheinman @ El Rey ($35)

An Evening with Demetri Martin hosted by Jeff Garlin to Benefit the West Memphis 3 @ Largo ($15)

Ballerina Black / Secret Empire / Hell & Lula @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Andy Grammer @ Grammy Museum ($10)

Eternal Summers @ Origami (Free) – 5:00 PM

Wednesday 6/1/11

[Pick of the Night] Gruff Rhys / Y Niwl / DJ Andy Votel @ The Echo ($15) – For the Super Furry Animals fans.

The Wombats / Wild Party / Pop Noir @ Troubadour ($15)

Architecture in Helsinki / Hooray for Earth @ The Music Box ($22.50)

Low End Theory: Kode9 @ Airliner ($10)
Seasons / Pony Village / Modern Time Machines / The Terrapin @ The Satellite (Free)

XXX Nite with Oriana Small aka Ashley Blue and Friends @ Largo ($20)

Earth, Wind & Fire 40^th Anniversary Tour @ Nokia Theater LA Live ($50 - $130)

AK and Her Kalashnikovs / The Shpil / Plotz! / Shoestring Trio @ Bootleg ($10)

Parade of Lights / Daylight Trade @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Flavor Flav @ Grammy Museum ($20)

Usher / Akon / Tinie Tempah @ Staples Center ($30 - $125)

The Eels / Juggler Josh Horton / The Watson Twins @ Galaxy Concert Theatre ($20)

Thursday 6/2/11

[Pick of the Night] The Undertones / Sweater Girls / Exploding Flowers @ Echoplex ($15) “Teenage Kicks” all through the night.

[Recommended] Avi Zahner-Isenberg / Farspeaker / Owens Valley Dynamite / Monte Mar @ The Satellite ($8) – Avi will play music from Avi Buffalo, Phantom Trannies and Burned Barely Sexual. Owens Valley Dynamite is a new band featuring Byron Reynolds, Jeremy Levy and Jim Bowers.

Arctic Monkeys / The Vaccines @ Fox Theater Pomona (Sold Out)

Woodsman / Tape Deck Mountain / White Hinterland / Kissing Cousins @ The Echo ($10) – Woodsman get a lot of comparisons to Animal Collective.

Army Navy / The Wind / The Damn Sons / Dede @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Givers / Family of the Year / Caddywhompus @ Bootleg ($12)

Manchester Orchestra / Sleeper Agent / Twilight Sleep @ The Music Box ($20)

Friday 6/3/11

[Pick of the Night] John Grant / Heidi Spencer / Sara Lov @ Largo ($25) – John Grant’s record popped up on a lot of top 10 lists. It’s a good, haunting, emotional, singer-songwriter record.

[Recommended] The Antlers / Little Scream @ El Rey ($20) – Pitchfork gave the new Antlers record best of new music and the All Music Guide said it was like a glossy, adult contemporary version of Deerhunter. I haven’t listened to it yet. The last one was just too depressing for me. Little Scream gets universal acclaim.

[Recommended] Archers of Loaf / The Globes @ Troubadour ($25) – Archers of Loaf reunion. Should please their fans. I heard they were good at Sasquatch.

Grouplove / Walk the Moon / Alex Walker @ The Satellite ($10) – Grouplove is a local band that’s beloved by the NME (and plenty of local folks too). I still haven’t heard much of their stuff.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. / Ema / Young Prisms @ The Echo ($12) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. have gotten some good buzz lately. Melodic indie rock.

Gayngs / Dirty Beaches @ Natural History Museum – Both of these bands have a passionate fanbase. The Gayngs record was a little too weird for me.

Arctic Monkeys / The Vaccines @ Hollywood Palladium ($43) - I have seen both of these bands.

Bootsy Collins @ Club Nokia ($21 - $50)

The 88 / Barcelona / Jenny O @ Hotel Café

X / Devil’s Brigade @ House of Blues Anaheim ($42)

Future Dancing / The Lonely Wild / Handshakes / Sea of Cortez @ Bootleg ($10)

Star Wars in Concert @ Hollywood Bowl ($19 - $167)

Forts / Religious Girls / Tigerbitch / Combat! @ The Smell ($5)

Flogging Molly / The Drowning Men @ Fox Theater Pomona (Sold Out)

California Guitar Trio @ McCabe’s ($20)

Saturday 6/4/11

[Pick of the Week] Buffalo Springfield @ The Wiltern (Sold Out) – I was too cheap to buy tickets, but I really wish I was going.

[Recommended] Amor De Dias / Damon and Naomi / Bell Gardens @ The Satellite ($14) – Amor De Dias is Alasdair MacLean from the Clientele and Lupe Nunez-Fernandez of Pipas. If you like the Clientele, I think you’ll dig it.

[Recommended] Archers of Loaf / The Globes @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Night two.

[Recommended] The Antlers / Little Scream @ Glass House ($15) – If you don’t want to deal with the museum earliness.

The Bird and the Bee @ Bootleg ($35 - $1,000)

Peter Bjorn and John @ Detroit Bar (Sold Out) - I still like their 2nd and 3rd records.

KROQ Weenie Roast: Linkin Park / Rise Against / The Strokes / Bad Religion / Cage the Elephant / A Day To Remember / Face to Face / Neon Trees / The Airborne Toxic Event / Lykke Li / Foster the People / Young the Giant @ Verizon Wireless (Sold Out)

X / Devil’s Brigade @ House of Blues Anaheim ($42)

Star Wars in Concert @ Hollywood Bowl ($19 - $167)

REO Speedwagon / Rick Springfield / Art Alexakis @ Greek Theatre ($35 - $65)

Blackfield / Jordan Rudess @ El Rey ($25)

The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo ($25)

Alek Fin @ Bootleg ($10)

Jungle Fever / The Lumps / Deadly Finns @ The Smell ($5)

Sunday 6/5/11

[Pick of the Night] Buffalo Springfield @ The Wiltern (Sold Out) – Night two.

[Recommended] 14 Iced Bears / Phil Wilson / Aberdeen @ The Echo ($12) – Two Sarah Records bands and Phil Wilson of the June Brides.

Stornoway / Sea of Bees @ Troubadour ($13)

Arman Hovhannissyan @ Greek Theatre ($41 - $142)

Mike Viola / Haroula Rose / Daniel Ahearn and the Jones @ The Satellite ($8)

Grand Ole Echo @ The Echo (Free) – Country show at 5:00 PM

TJ Miller Makes Mayhem @ Largo ($20)

Youth of Today @ The Glass House ($15)

Neil Innes @ McCabe’s ($24.50)

Live Music Options: 11/15/10 - 11/21/10

Blonde Redhead Play Three Area Shows



Pretty good week for live music, Tuesday and Friday are particularly packed...

Monday 11/15/10

[Pick of the Night] Dirt Dress / Audacity / Cosmonauts / Tomorrow’s Tulips @ Spaceland / Satellite (Free) – Dirt Dress are doing the Monday night residency at Spaceland in November. Their music has a sort of lo-fi, early Velvet Underground vibe.

[Recommended] Blonde Redhead / Olof Arnalds @ the Glass House ($25) – I’m not crazy about their new record, but a huge fan of the band.

[Recommended] Black Apples / LA Font / Oh Darling / So Many Wizards (Free) – Black Apples are doing the Monday night residency this month at the Echo.

Chasing Kings / The Colourist / Surfwitch / Sea of Cortez @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Chasing Kings is doing the Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge this month.

It’s A School Night: Spoek Mathambo / Rainbow Arabia / Zuzuka @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP)

Fred Schneider DJ Set @ Amoeba (Free) – 6:00 PM

Jeff Buckley Tribute to Benefit the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music @ Largo ($25)

The Rocket Summer: Bryce Avary, His Instruments, Your Voices / He Is We @ Troubadour

Captain Ahab / Laco$te / Oscillator / I.E. @ Pehrspace

Phil Alvin @ Redwood

El Ten Eleven @ Origami (Free)

Tuesday 11/16/10

[Pick of the Night] Blonde Redhead / Olof Arnalds @ The Music Box ($25) – They’ve always put on a great live show. 

[Recommended] The Thermals / White Fang @ El Rey ($18) – The Thermals put on a good live show.

[Recommended] Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin / The Lonely Forest @ Spaceland / Satellite ($10) – Chris Walla from Death Cab For Cutie produced their latest album – out on Polyvinyl 

[Recommended] Oh No Oh My / Pomegranates / Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits @ Bootleg ($10) – Forgot about these Autinites. Good indie pop.

Greg Dulli / Carina Round @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Any Afghan Whigs fans?

TV Torso / Kiev / The Wild Complete @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) – TV Torso is guy from Sound Team

Legendary Pink Dots / We Are the World / Black Rainbow @ Echoplex ($20) – 30 years in to their career

GWAR @ House of Blues Sunset ($25)

Har Mar Superstar @ Viper Room ($15)

Freelance Whales / Miniature Tigers @ Detroit Bar ($12) – Also at the Troubadour on Thursday

Wednesday 11/17/10

[Pick of the Night] Bear Hands / Rumspringa / Residual Echoes @ Spaceland / Satellite ($10) – I really enjoyed seeing Bear Hands the last time they played Spaceland. Upbeat, fun, catchy tunes. 

[Recommended] Papercranes / Sister Crayon / Rocket / Frankel @ Bordello ($8) – Papercranes features Rain Phoenix. Frankel features Michael Orendy (one of my favorite local musicians). Frankel goes on early (at 8:30)

[Recommended] Blonde Redhead / Olof Arnalds @ The Music Box ($25) – Night two at the Music Box

The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Sean Lennon and Charlotte Muhl) @ Largo

Robyn / Maluca / Natalia Kills @ Club Nokia (Sold Out) 

Low End Theory: Eligh / Truckasaurus / Shigeto @ Airliner ($10) – Heard the fire department shut them down last week, so get there early to ensure entry.

Fitz and the Tantrums / AWOLNATION / Belle Brigade @ El Rey ($19)

Natasha Bedingfield @ Troubadour ($20) – UK pop star

Dub Club @ Echoplex ($5) – The Ethiopian cancelled. 

Ferraby Lionheart / Henry Wolfe / Nightfur @ Bootleg ($8)

Mark Mallman / Put Your Shoes On / Mark Macminn @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Kate Miller Heidke @ Hotel Café

Daniel Francis Doyle / Big Whup / Rare Grooves / Fantastica Bastidas! @ The Smell ($5)

The Street & Babe Show / Astra Heights / Amando Jo Williams @ Redwood

Tyler Hilton @ the Roxy

Thursday 11/18/10

[Pick of the Night] John Carpenter / Toby Burke / George Byrne @ Three Clubs (Free) – I’ll say it again, if you haven’t seen John Carpenter yet…

Olin and the Moon / Wires in the Wall / Two Cow Garage @ Spaceland / Satellite ($8)

Freelance Whales / Miniature Tigers @ Troubadour ($15) – Indie pop

Reggie Watts @ Largo ($20)

Joshua Radin / Good Old War / Kelley James @ The Music Box ($25)

Jack’s Mannequin / Something Corporate @ El Rey (Sold Out)

Katherine Jenkins @ The Wiltern ($52 - $62)

Tygers of Wrath / Wake Up Lucid / Buyers Remorse @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Dustin Wong / Avocado Happy Hour / Holy Ghost Party @ The Smell ($5)

Hey Monday @ The Glass House ($15)

Willy Porter @ The Mint ($20)

Legendary Pink Dots @ Detroit Bar ($18)

Usher / Trey Songz / Miguel @ Staples Center ($30 - $125)

Kitten / Pepper Rabbit @ Origami (Free)

Pepper Rabbit / Hands / Square on Square / The Silent Comedy @ The Echo ($8)

Lifehouse @ Gibson Amphitheatre

Friday 11/19/10

[Pick of the Night] Wild Flag / Grass Widow / Eux Autres @ Spaceland / Satellite ($12) – Wild Flag is Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss. Sleater-Kinney and Helium fans take note.

[Recommended] Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)

[Recommended] Shadow Shadow Shade @ The Echo ($8)

[Recommended] Tunng / April Smith and the Great Picture Show / The Good Listeners @ Bootleg Theater ($10)

[Recommended] Avi Buffalo / Wildbunch / Lord Huron @ Echoplex ($15)

Hey Monday / The Cartel / The Ready Set / This Century / We Are the In Crowd @ El Rey

Tift Merritt @ Troubadour ($20)  

Black Label Society / Children of Bodom / Clutch @ Hollywood Palladium ($52)

TRMRS @ Pehrspace  

Angel Taylor / Chris Pierce @ Hotel Café

Manic Hispanic / Welt / Punk Is Dead @ Alex’s Bar in Long Beach ($10)

Cosmonauts / Black Elephant / Devon Williams / Dahga Bloom @ The Smell ($5)

People Under the Stairs @ The Glass House ($15)

Curt Smith @ McCabe’s ($20)

Screening: Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)? @ Grammy Museum (Free)

Yukon Blonde / Eulogies @ The Mint ($13)

Whitman / Ezra Buchla @ Origami

QBert @ Amoeba (Free) – 5:00 PM

Dustin Wong @ Vacation (Free)

Richard Thompson featuring Harry Shearer, Judith Owen @ Royce Hall ($28 - $53) – Performing his Cabaret of Souls

CANCELLED Kelis / Hercules and Love Affair DJ Set @ Club Nokia ($35) - THIS WAS CANCELLED

Saturday 11/20/10

[Pick of the Night] Bob Mould / Nico Stai @ Bootleg ($22) – I’ve liked Mould through all his incarnations – Husker Du, Sugar, solo…

[Recommended] Daedelus / The Gaslamp Killer / Free the Robots / Samiyama / Teebs @ House of Blues Sunset ($20)

[Recommended] White Sea / Hello Dragon / Wet and Reckless / Wait.Think.Fast @ Spaceland / Satellite ($8) – Buzz Bands show. White Sea is the female voice from M83's Saturdays = Youth record. A couple of late additions round out the bill.

Clinic / The Fresh & Onlys / The Loons @ Troubadour ($20) - I've seen Clinic a couple of times and it came off so gimmicky. Loved the early records though.

Moving Units / LESANDS / Lexicon Don @ The Glass House ($20)

The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo ($25)

Aziz Ansari @ Orpheum ($25 - $45)

Lukas Nelson / Old Californio / MK and the Gentleman / The Reflectacles @ Viper Room ($15)

AWOL One / Acid Reign / Ecid / Noah 23 / Miche @ Pehrspace

Harvest Beer Festival: Vaud and the Villians / Shannon and the Clams / Last Round Down / The Blasting Company @ Echoplex ($30 includes unlimited craft beer pours) – Noon to 7:00 PM

Demetri Martin @ The Wiltern ($52)

David Guetta @ Palladium ($70)

Lelia Broussard @ Hotel Café

Danzig @ Grove of Anaheim ($38.50)

Pizza! / Alak / Mountshout / Voice On Tape / Chelsea Wolfe @ The Smell ($5)

Moving Units / Lesands / Lexicon Don @ The Glass House ($20)

Judith Owen @ McCabe’s ($15)

Vaud and the Villains @ The Mint ($12)

Whitman / Ezra Buchla @ Origami (Free)

Sunday 11/21/10

[Pick of the Night] Wild Flag / Grass Widow / Catwalk @ Aladdin’s Jr 2 in Pomona ($10) – If you can’t get into the show on Friday night.

The Satin Peaches / Werewolves / Stab City @ Spaceland / Satellite ($8)

Eisley / Ives the Band / Christie Dupree @ El Rey ($20)

Bouncing Souls / Off With Their Heads / Johnny Madcap and the Distractions / Heartsounds @ Troubadour ($22)

Dar Williams @ Hotel Café

Kenny G @ Grove of Anaheim

Richard Ramirez Beatdown / Lightnin Woodcock / Fantastica Bastidas / Sassafras @ The Redwood

Zs / Arrington de Dionyso / Moe! Staiano / Rats / Hiking @ The Smell ($5)

John Wesley Harding / Matt the Electrician @ McCabe’s ($17.50)

RRIICCEE @ Detroit Bar ($15) – Vincent Gallo



Recent Concert Announcements

Wild Flag Come to Spaceland (attn: Sleater-Kinney, Helium fans)

Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock

9/29/10: Deakin / Fennesz / Prince Rama / Sun Araw (now at Ticketweb)

Spaceland
Mondays in November: Dirt Dress
10/21/10: Big Dicks / The Pukes (now at Ticketweb)
11/17/10: Bear Hands (now)
11/19/10: Wild Flag (now) [new band featuring: Mary Timony, Carrie Brownstein, Janet Weiss, Rebecca Cole]

Bootleg Theater
10/16/10: Kenan Bell / Hesta Prynn (now at in ticketing)
10/23/10: Elf Power (now at in ticketing)

Honda Center
3/11/11: Lady Gaga (Friday at 10 AM)

Gibson Amphitheatre
10/24/10: Heads of State – Bobby Brown / Ralph Tresvant / Johnny Gill (Friday at 1:00 PM)

Avalon
11/8/10 – 11/10/10: A Perfect Circle (Friday at 10 AM)

The Wiltern
12/2/10: John Butler Trio (Friday at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre
11/5/10: Alan Jackson / Chris Young / The Band Perry (Friday at 10 AM)
12/9/10 – 12/10/10: Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes (now)

Club Nokia
11/13/10: Pepper / Fishbone / Chali 2na / Pour Habit (Friday at 10 AM)

Fox Theater Pomona
11/27/10: Dimmu Borgir / Enslaved / Blood Red Throne / Dawn of Ashes (Friday at 10 AM)

The Music Box
10/21/10 – 10/22/10: Wiz Khalifa / Yelawolf / DJ Bonics (Saturday at 10 AM)

El Rey Theatre
11/7/10: Ledisi (Saturday at 10 AM)
11/21/10: Eisley (Saturday at 10 AM)
12/4/10: The Rescues (Saturday at 10 AM)
2/23/11: Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Saturday at 10 AM)

Troubadour
12/9/10: Bedouin Soundclash (Friday at 1:00 PM)

Largo
11/5/10: Paula Cole (now, call club)
11/11/10: Erin McKoewn’s Distillation Tour (now)
11/18/10: Reggie Watts (now)

Glass House
11/14/10: Stars / Delays (Saturday at Noon)

The Roxy
11/12/10: Ghostface Killah (now) 

LA Live Music Options: 4/19/10 - 4/25/10

Walking Sleep Have the Monday Night Residency at the Echo

Last week was a damn good week. Pavement played for two hours at the Fox Theater in Pomona last Thursday night. The show started off a little slow, but eventually the band displayed more energy than I'd ever seen them exert. Malkmus looked like he was actually enjoying himself. And Bob, he's the secret weapon. It was probably the only shot you had to see them play such a long set, so go ahead and kick yourself now for missing it. Then on Saturday night I saw Timonium and the Radar Brothers at Echo Curio. I really enjoyed both bands. I've seen the Radar Brothers three times with the new lineup and it seems to get better each time...

Monday 4/19/10
[Pick of the Week] Walking Sleep / The Parson Red Heads / Franklin For Short / Repeater @ The Echo (Free) – Walking Sleep is the band formerly known as Flying Tourbillon Orchestra. The Parson Red Heads promise to play mostly new songs.
[Recommended] Helen Stellar / Twilight Sleep / The Meeting Places / Secret Alphabet @ Spaceland (Free) – Helen Stellar is doing the Monday night residency.
So Many Wizards / Pizza! / Roundabout / Cobra Lilies @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – So Many Wizards is doing the Monday night residency.
Pat Metheny The Orchestrion Tour @ Walt Disney Concert Hall
XBXRX / Narwhalz / Longmont / Potion Castle / Neon Navajo / Jamaica Man @ Pehrspace
Kottonmouth Kings @ The Roxy
Zoe / Lemon Sun @ The Glass House ($30)

Tuesday 4/20/10
[Pick of the Night] Bear Hands / Holloys / Random Patterns @ The Echo ($8) – I recently caught Bear Hands at Spaceland and it was a very fun show. Sorta Hot Hot Heat, dancey rock type of music.
[Recommended] The Bronx / Violent Soho / Mariachi El Bronx / Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss @ El Rey ($22) – Good heavy band.
Earth / Wolves in the Throne Room / Lori Goldsten @ Echoplex ($12) – Versatile veterans.
Mr. Gnome / Cue the Moon @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders / Dios @ Troubadour ($15) – Foo Fighters drummer
Eagles @ Hollywood Bowl (a helluva lot)
The Kissaway Trail / Phillip Roebuck @ Spaceland ($8)
Sublime / Rome @ Hollywood Palladium
Casey Neill / Amanda Jo Williams / Shakey Graves @ Bootleg
The White Sundays/ Taylor Locke & the Roughs @ Viper Room ($15)
Ratt @ Key Club ($30)
Ozomatli @ Amoeba (Free) – 6:00 PM

Wednesday 4/21/10
[Pick of the Night] Megafaun / Breathe Owl Breathe / Hi Ho Silver Oh @ The Echo ($10) – The guys in Megafuan used to be in a band with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.
Joseph Arthur and Friends @ Bootleg ($15) – His early stuff was pretty good, haven’t checked in with him for a bit…
Bitch / Angie Evans @ Spaceland ($10) – Not the old LA band.
Foxy Shazam / Young Veins / Bad Rabbits @ Troubadour ($14)
Michael Rose / Eljai @ Echoplex ($15)
Sublime / Rome @ Hollywood Palladium
A Fine Frenzy @ Largo ($20)
HT Heartache / Thousand Dozen Gloves / Nick Jago / Roughed Up Folk @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Low End Theory Club: Nocando / Dumbfounded / Mary Anne Hobbs @ Airliner ($10)
Him @ House of Blues Anaheim
Semi Precious Weapons / Nico Vega @ The Roxy
Johnny Gill @ Key Club ($20)

Thursday 4/22/10
[Pick of the Night] Le Switch / The Mallard / Los Baby Fools @ Bootleg ($8) – Le Switch recently released a single from their forthcoming full lengh (due out later this summer). It will also be available on a split 7” with Les Blanks. Los Baby Fools is Ryan Wilson’s (Division Day) side project. The Mallard is Greer’s (Rademacher) new band.
[Recommended] Japandroids / Nobunny / All Leather @ The Echoplex ($14) – I caught Japandroids at Spaceland recently. Fun noise.
[Recommended] Awesome Color / Dunes / Hair Police @ Spaceland ($10) – Another good noisey show. They’re on Thurston Moore’s label.
Princeton / Active Child / Pocahaunted @ Troubadour ($12) – Active Child are putting out some music on Filter.
The Bronx / Violent Soho / Mariachi El Bronx / Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss @ House of Blues Anaheim
Hole / Little Fish @ The Music Box (Sold Out)
Blondes / Lucky Dragons / VoicesVoices @ Synchronicity – Some decent buzz going around for Blondes.
HoneyHoney @ Hotel Café
Shelby Lynne / Findlay Browne @ The Roxy ($25)
We Barbarians / Correatown / All Wrong and the Plans Change / The Cooling Time @ The Echo ($7)
Trampled By Turtles / Old Californio / The Black Tongued Bells @ The Mint ($10)
War Tapes / Sing Orpheus / Normandie @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Bonobo / Yppah @ El Rey ($20)
Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour @ Royce Hall ($26 - $50)
Grouper / John Wiese / Infinite Body / Ilyas Ahmed @ The Smell ($5)
Voice on Tape / Chelsea Wolfe / Motorcycle Maus / Felt Drawings @ Pehrspace

Friday 4/23/10
[Pick of the Night] Jon Brion and Friends @ Largo ($25)
[Recommended] Les Blanks / Rademacher @ Casey’s Downtown (Free) – Low key downtown action.
Everybody Was in the French Resistance..Now / Ezra Furman and the Harpoons @ The Echo ($8) – Eddie from Art Brut.
Glasser / The Samps @ Bootleg ($10)
GZA the Genius @ Detroit Bar ($20)
Hole / Little Fish @ The Music Box ($35)
High On Fire / Priestess / Black Cobra / Bison B.C. @ El Rey ($20) – High on Fire’s heading to Europe with Metallica.
Norah Jones / Sasha Dobson @ The Orpheum (Sold Out)
Tyrone Wells / Jayme Dee / Kathryn Ostenberg @ Troubadour ($15)
The Fuxedos / The Art of Bleeding / Oso / The Blasting Company @ Spaceland ($10)
Him @ The Wiltern ($35)
Glen Phillips @ McCabe’s ($23)
+Dog+ / Actuary / Bavab Bavab @ Synchronicity
Bleu & Mike Viola @ Hotel Café
Battlehooch / Slang Chickens / Ryan Harrison and the Orphans @ Echo Curio
Johnny Thunders Memorial @ Redwood Bar

Saturday 4/24/10
[Recommended] Shearwater / Wye Oak / Hospital Ships @ Spaceland ($12) – I’m a big Wye Oak fan. Shearwater’s another big indie band.
[Recommended] Conan O’Brien @ Gibson (Sold Out) – I’m sure you’ve heard about the move to TBS.
[Recommended] Stagecoach: Keith Urban / Sugarland / Billy Currington / Merle Haggard / Bobby Bare @ Empire Polo Field in Indio ($80 - $800) – Not the greatest lineup, but Merle Haggard is worth the drive.
Black Prairie / The Living Sisters / Paige, Dora, Live and Lindsay @ Bootleg ($14)
High On Fire@ Detroit Bar ($14)
Aaron Dilloway / The Haters / Pedestrian Deposit / Monsturo / Chambers @ The Smell
US Air Guitar Championships @ Troubadour ($20)
The Spires / The French Semester / Divisadero / The Lunch Club @ Pehrspace
Josh Rouse @ Largo ($25)
The Super Bees / The Black Tibetans / The Living Sickness @ Redwood Bar
Marcy Playground @ Key Club ($20)

Sunday 4/25/10
[Pick of the Day] Kidrockers: Warpaint / His Orchestra @ The Echo ($12) – Early show at 1:00 PM; You need a kid. The bands don’t play for long which is always good for my childlike attention span.
[Recommended] Conan O’Brien @ Gibson (Sold Out)
[Recommended] The Monolators / Allah Las / Ancient Crux / Sean Bones @ Spaceland ($5)
Javelin / Maus Haus / 60 Watt Kid @ Bootleg ($10) – Brooklyn band on the Thrill Jockey label.
Blank Dogs / Cosmetics @ The Echo ($8)
Keith Emerson and Greg Lake @ The Orpheum ($38 - $75)
Wirepony / The 1921A @ The Echo (Free) – Early show at 5:00 PM
Nate Lapointe Band / Jamieson Trotter / Jeff Jenson Band @ Bootleg ($20)
Stagecoach: Toby Keith / Brooks & Dunn / Jason Aldean / Oak Ridge Boys / The Avett Brothers / Doyle Lawson / Truth & Slavage Co. @ Empire Polo Field in Indio ($80 - $800)
Josh Rouse @ Largo ($25)
Jason Castro / Michael Castro / Camera Can’t Lie @ Troubadour ($15) – He was the dreadlocked kid on American Idol season seven.
The Bloody Beetroots @ Palladium
Christian Scott @ Amoeba (Free) – 5:00 PM

Recent Concert Announcements

Bonnie "Prince" Billy & the Cairo Gang Come to McCabe's

McCabe’s
5/8/10 – 5/9/10: Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang (now from club)
5/16/10: The Parson Red Heads / Freddy & Francine / Will Courtenay (now)
5/22/10: The Chapin Sisters / I See Hawks in LA (now)
7/10/10: Mary Gauthier (now)
7/31/10: Kinky Friedman (now)

The Wiltern
5/13/10: Jakob Dylan and Three Legs featuring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan (now)
5/20/10: Massive Attack / Martina Topley Bird (Friday at 10 AM)
7/31/10: Wolf Parade / Moools (Friday at 10 AM)

Verizon Wireless
10/12/10: Jack Johnson / G. Love & Special Sauce / Zee Avi (Saturday at 10 AM)

Gibson Amphitheatre
5/1/10: Benyamin (Friday at 10 AM)
5/2/10: Magneto (Friday at 1 PM)
6/26/10: Backstreet Boys (Friday at 1 PM)
9/24/10: Tony Bennett (Monday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Palladium
5/14/10: Hombres G / Enanitos Verdes (Friday at 1 PM)
5/29/10: Angels and Airwaves / Say Anything (Friday at 10 AM)
6/5/10: El Gran Combo (Friday at 1 PM)

Club Nokia
6/10/10: Rescue Me Comedy Tour – Denis Leary (Friday at 10 AM)
6/11/10: Basia (Friday at 10 AM)
8/20/10: Crowded House (Friday at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre
6/17/10: Video Games Live (Friday at 10 AM)

The Fonda
6/17/10: GBH (Saturday at 10 AM)

Spaceland
5/2/10: Solid Gold (now at Ticketweb)
5/8/10: Freddie Gibbs (now at Ticketweb)

The Echo
4/20/10: Bear Hands / The Holloys (now at Ticketweb)
4/23/10: Everybody Was In the French Resistance..Now (now)
4/27/10: Juliette Lewis / Tahiti Boy / The Palm Tree Family (now)
5/2/10: Title Tracks (now)
5/4/10: Juliette Lewis / Kitten (now)
5/14/10: Turin Brakes (now)
5/28/10: Frog Eyes / Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band (now)
6/3/10: Born Ruffians / Young Rival (now)
6/6/10: Subhumans / Cross Stiched Eyes / A Heads / Rayos X (now)
6/27/10: Fuxa / LSD & the Search for God / / Suki Ewers (now)

Echoplex
5/9/10: Les Savy Fav (now)

Oak Canyon Ranch
7/3/10: Hootenanny – Nick 13 from Tiger Army / Old 97’s / Shooter Jennings / Devil Doll and others (Friday at 10 AM)

Troubadour
6/17/10: Matt Pond PA / Wintersleep (Saturday at 1 PM)

Mayan Theatre
5/20/10: Minus the Bear / Everest / Young the Giant (now)

Glass House
5/21/10: Minus the Bear / Everest / Young the Giant (now)

Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa
5/29/10: Dengue Fever (now at Ticketweb)
6/3/10: Neon Indian (now at Ticketweb)
7/1/10: Pinback present the Rob & Zach show (now)

Live Music Options: 2/22/10 - 2/28/10

Bear Hands: Filthy Brooklyn Hipsters or Next Big Thing? Find Out Thursday or Friday

Last week was a good week for me with Le Switch on Monday at Spaceland and Avi Buffalo, Lou Barlow and Imaad Wasif on Thursday at Spaceland. This week looks promising too...

If you're one of those people that has to see the bands before they get on the festival circuit, may I point you towards: Free Energy, Dan Black, Bear Hands, The Strange Boys, Memory Tapes and Dirty Projectors (guess the latter has already made it).

Monday February 22, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Useless Keys / Free Energy / Repeater / Box Violet @ The Echo (Free) – The last night of Useless Keys’ residency. Free Energy is signed to DFA and they’re heading out on the road with Foreign Born (and also playing Spaceland on Tuesday).
[Recommended] Princeton / Castledoor / LANME @ Spaceland (Free) – The last night of Princeton’s Monday night residency. Castledoor posted on their Twitter that this would be the last show of the band as we know it.
Gamble House / Regrets and Brunettes / Fort Wife / Tommy Santee Klaws / Italian Japanese @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – The last night of Gamble House’s Monday night residency.
Red Arrow Messenger / Damn Sons / United By Sound @ Bootleg (Free) – Red Arrow Messenger concludes its Monday night residency.
Steel Panther @ House of Blues Sunset ($13)
Nicole Kidman / Ellie Fortune / Mason Lindahl / Subtle Selves @ Pehrspace

Tuesday February 23, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Dinosaur Jr. @ Troubadour (Free w/ RSVP) – Can’t beat a free Dinosaur Jr. show.
[Recommended] Ferraby Lionheart / Leslie and the Badgers / Charlie Wadhams / All Spots to Black @ Bootleg (Free) – Solid lineup for free.
[Recommended] Free Energy / Mystery Lights / The Blank Tapes / Early Dolphin @ Spaceland ($7) - Free Energy is signed to DFA and they’re heading out on the road with Foreign Born (and also at the Echo on Monday).
[Recommended] Glacier Hiking / Haim / Kitten / Go West Young Man @ The Echo ($5 w/ RSVP to buzzbands(at)gmail(dot)com)
Dan Black @ Cinespace – Also at Spaceland on Wednesday night. Hip-hop loving artist from Paris (by way of London). His new single in the US features Kid Cudi.
Charlie Sexton @ Largo ($25)
Mariah Carey @ Gibson Amphitheatre
The Icarus Line / Broken Mirrors / Werewolf @ Alex’s Bar ($10)
Blessed Deep / Puppies and Kittens / Garbaj Kaetz @ Echo Curio
Roll the Tanks / Bill Clark Star Vehicle / Oh the Spanish Moss / Torches in Trees @ Silverlake Lounge ($7)
Butch Walker @ Hotel Café

Wednesday February 24, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Club NME: Dan Black @ Spaceland ($1.06) - Hip-hop loving artist from Paris (by way of London). His new single in the US features Kid Cudi. What the hell’s “wonky pop?” This isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but it’s kind of a slow night around town.
[Recommended] Visqueen @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM Show
[Recommended] Visqueen / Steve Soto and the Twisted Hearts @ Alex’s Bar ($6)
Mystery Lights / Manhattan Murder Mystery / Hi Ho Silver Oh / The Shade / The Layabouts @ Echo Curio
Oliver Future / Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound / Queen Kwong @ The Echo ($7)
Low End Theory Club: Fulgeance / Deru @ Airliner ($10)
Mariah Carey @ Gibson Amphitheatre
Sarah Burton / Faye Blais / Rob Laufer @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Nicole Simone / Penelope Fortier / Sonus Quartet @ Bootleg ($10)
Raul Malo / Kelly Dalton / Goldspot @ Hotel Café
The Rescues / Lucy Schwartz @ Troubadour ($12)

Thursday February 25, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Visqueen / Bear Hands / Adam Bones @ Spaceland ($8) – I am very curious to see Bear Hands. Visqueen is fun too.
[Recommended] The Henry Clay People / Le Switch / Olin and the Moon @ The Prospector – If you find yourself in Long Beach, two of my favorite local bands.
[Recommended] The Soundtrack of Our Lives / Nico Vega / ONCE @ The Glass House ($15)
[Recommended] Andrew Lynch / The Section Quartet / Downtown Union / Eagle & Talon @ The Echo ($5)
Cheap Trick @ House of Blues Sunset ($58) – A little too rich for my blood.
60 Watt Kid / Dietra Krushev @ Alex’s Bar ($5)
Cheese on Bread / Diamonds Under Fire @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Ellie Fortune / Mason Lindhahl / Featherbeard @ Echo Curio
Meshell Ndegeocello: Ventriloquism (covers) @ Largo ($30)
Spring Summer / Audra Mae / Senator and the New Republic @ Bootleg ($8)
Dan Wilson / Jim Bianco @ Hotel Café
Icarus Line / Dante vs. Zombies / Broken Mirrors @ The Roxy ($12)
Pancho and Sancho @ Troubadour ($12)

Friday February 26, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Eric D. Johnson / Breathe Owl Breathe / Leslie and the Badgers / Shakey Graves @ Bootleg Theater ($13) – That’s Eric Johnson of the Fruit Bats. The first time I saw James Mercer and Danger Mouse hanging out together was at a Fruit Bats’ show.
[Recommended] The Strange Boys / Chain and the Gang / Neverever @ The Echo ($10) – Good lineup. Check out Aquarium Drunkard for a chance to win tickets.
[Recommended] Memory Tapes @ Spaceland ($10) – They got best new music from Pitchfork late last year and ranked #23 on the end of year list of best of 2009. Indie electronic dance pop rock haze (paraphrasing All Music).
[Recommended] The Soundtrack of Our Lives / Nico Vega / ONCE @ El Rey ($21)
[Recommended] We Were Promised Jetpacks / The Lonely Forest / Bear Hands @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
[Recommended] Timonium / Silian Rail / Summer Darling / Powerdove @ Pehrspace
The Damselles / HoneyHoney / Common Rotation @ Casey’s Pub
Bonebrake Syncopators @ Alex’s Bar
The Haters / Sissy Spacek / Gerrit Wittmer and Paul Knowles / AMK @ The Smell ($5)
Truth & Salvage Co. @ Hotel Café
The Downtown Train / Tricky Sizzler / Ralpheene / Spring Queen @ Echo Curio
Moe. @ Club Nokia ($25 - $35)
The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo ($25)
Al Di Meola @ House of Blues Sunset ($28)
Very Be Careful @ The Mint ($12)
Ozomatli @ House of Blues Anaheim
Alberta Ballet – Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and the Drum @ Royce Hall ($18 - $75)

Saturday February 27, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Four Tet / Nathan Fake / Active Child @ Echoplex ($17) – The new Four Tet record is getting great reviews. Active Child’s continuing to get strong buzz too.
[Recommended] Money Mark & Emily Wells @ The Getty (Sold Out) – Sounds like a potentially cool collaboration.
[Recommended] Mike Watt & His Missingmen / Abby Travis @ Redwood Bar
Dirty Projectors / Alarm Will Sound @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($40 - $70) – “Alarm Will Sound plays with Dirty Projectors in a new live version of David Longstreth's The Getty Address at Disney Hall.” Dirty Projectors put out one of the best reviewed albums of last year, but I didn’t really dig it.
Scout Niblett / Dirt Dress @ Spaceland ($10) – Her new record’s getting some great reviews.
Zee Avi / AM @ Troubadour ($12)
Bipolar Bear / Residual Echoes / Neverever @ The Smell ($5)
Goodie Mob @ Club Nokia ($28 - $35)
Help Haiti Live: LeAnn Rimes / Billy Ray Cyrus / Amy Grant / Rebecca St. James @ The Wiltern ($35 - $75)
Pangea / God Equals Genocide @ Echo Curio
Phranc @ McCabe’s (Sold Out)
Bei Bei @ Amoeba (Free) – 5:00 PM
Manhattan Murder Mystery / Blue Jungle / Las Quince Letras @ Pehrspace
Astra Heights / The Romany Rye / Lemon Sun / Jeffertitti’s Nile @ Bootleg ($10)
Ozomatli @ House of Blues Anaheim

Sunday February 28, 2010
Angelique Kidjo @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($45 - $100)
The Macaroons / StoryTimeFunLand @ The Echo ($8) – Family show at Noon
Neil Hamburger @ Spaceland ($8)
Black Apples / Blood Bath / The Like @ Alex’s Bar ($5)
Scream / Holloys @ The Echo ($12) – Scream’s original lineup; early show at 6:00 PM
Justin Roberts @ Largo ($18) – Early show at 2:00 PM
Josh Turner / Peter Brandon @ Club Nokia ($35 - $45)
Ethan Bortnick @ El Rey ($22)
Azatlan Underground / Subsistenzia / Guerilla Queens / In Lak Ech @ The Smell ($5)
Tenlons Fort / Elephant Micah / Miniature Soap / Ben and Bruno @ Pehrspace
Jeff Turmes / Dead Rock West @ McCabe’s ($10)

Recently Announced Live Shows

Bear Hands Are Playing the Troubadour on 2/26/10

Walt Disney Concert Hall
3/28/10: AIR (presale now, password = ASTRALWERKS; on sale Saturday at 10 AM)

El Rey
2/26/10: The Soundtrack of Our Lives / Nico Vega (Tuesday at 10 AM)
4/6/10: RJD2 / Busdriver / Happy Chichester (Saturday at 10 AM)
4/29/10: Rogue Wave (Saturday at 10 AM)

The Fonda
2/9/10: Nouvelle Vague (presale Friday at 10AM, password = MASTER; Saturday at 10 AM)

Orpheum Theatre
4/23/10: Norah Jones (Sunday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Bowl
4/16/10, 4/17/10 and 4/20/10: Eagles (on sale 12/14 at 10 AM)
5/14/10 – 5/15/10: Carole King & James Taylor (now)

Largo
2/9/10: Loudon Wainwright III (call club)
2/11/10, 2/18/10, 2/25/10: Meshell Ndegecello (call club)
2/27/10: Patton Oswalt (call club)

Spaceland
1/15/10: Night Horse / Normandie (now at Ticketweb)
1/16/10: Hockey (now)
1/20/10: Har Mar Superstar (now)
1/22/10: Movits (now)
2/3/10: NOMO (now)
2/6/10: Scott H. Biram / The Dirt Daubers (now)
3/9/10: Laura Veirs (now)
3/12/10: Quasi (now)
3/16/10: Efterklang (now)

Troubadour
1/20/10: Daniel Merriweather (Saturday)
1/27/10: Airborne Toxic Event (now)
2/1/10: Do Make Say Think (Friday)
2/3/10: Prefuse 73 (now)
2/5/10: Rhett Miller (now)
2/9/10: Mumford & Sons (now)
2/10/10: Wild Beasts (now)
2/11/10: The Thermals / Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (now)
2/26/10: We Were Promised Jetpacks / The Lonely Forest / Bear Hands (now)
3/3/10: Anna Ternheim / El Perro Del Mar (now)
3/4/10: Mike Doughty (now)
3/13/10: Matthew Good / Automatic Loveletter (Friday)

Echo
1/14/10: Julia Nunes (now at Ticketweb)
1/17/10: The Yummy Fur (now)
1/27/10: Rev Peyton’s Big Damn Band featuring the Donkeys (now)
1/30/10: Bowerbirds (now)
2/11/10: Justin Townes Earle (now)
3/24/10: Cymbals Eat Guitars / Bear in Heaven (today at 11:00 AM)

The Echoplex
3/14/10: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Saturday at 10 AM)
3/19/10: High Places (now)
5/7/10: King Sunny Ade (now)

Honda Center
2/27/10: Bon Jovi / Dashboard Confessional (presale Friday at 10 AM, password = NICEDAY; Monday at 10 AM)

Staples Center
3/29/10: The Black Eyed Peas / LMFAO (Saturday at Noon)
4/6/10: Alicia Keys (AmEx presale starts Monday at 10 AM; on sale 12/20 at Noon)

Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa
1/20/10: The Black Lips / Japanese Motors (now)
1/25/10: Girls (now)
2/5/10: Vivian Girls / Best Coast (now)

Hotel Café
1/5/10 & 1/18/10: The Webb Sisters (Friday at 10 AM)

Club Nokia
2/28/10: Josh Turner (presale now, password = FIRECRACKER; on sale Friday at 10 AM)