Live Music Options: 5/2/11 - 5/8/11

I'm Looking Forward to Charles Bradley on Wednesday

A ridiculous number of really good shows this week. Be a good music fan and get out there.



Monday 5/2/11

[Pick of the Night] Battles / Holloys @ Echoplex ($17) - The kings of proggy, indie rock are back to claim their throne. 

[Recommended] He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister / Soko / Cowboy & Indian / The Rag Dolls (Burlesque) / DJ Ana Calderon @ The Satellite (Free) - He's My Brother, She's My Sister is doing the Monday night residency this mont at the Satellite. 

Xavier Rudd / honeyhoney @ El Rey ($25)

White Arrows / Lesands / Vanaprasta @ Bootleg (Free) – Seems like only eight months ago that White Arrows did a residency at Spaceland.

Taylor Locke & the Roughs / Keith from The 88 / Fidlar / Joe Firstman @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Taylor Locke's doing the Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge. Locke is Rooney’s guitarist. I've heard good things about Fidlar.  

Chen Santa Maria / This Invitation / I Love You / NOW @ Pehrspace

Ceci Bastida / Leftover Cuties @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP) - Bastida will be at the Hollywood Bowl later this summer. 

Tuesday 5/3/11

[Pick of the Night] Leon Russell / Booker T. Jones @ El Rey ($30) - Two guys that played on a lot of the greatest records of all time. I've seen them both solo and it's worth supporting your legends. 

[Recommended] Alberta Cross / Blue Blood / Stone Darling / Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven @ The Satellite ($10) - Alberta Cross is doing a Tuesday night residency this month at the Satellite. Blue Blood's a new local band (I've seen both of their shows) that's got a Tom Petty/Whiskeytown (without Caitlin) vibe. 

[Recommended] Bootsy Collins @ Grammy Museum (Sold Out) - Funk legend.
Beach Fossils / Craft Spells / Sea Lions @ The Echo ($12) – Brooklyn. Beach in the name. I think you get the drift. They’re on the Captured Tracks label along with Craft Spells. Some catchy tunes. 

Lovers / Matu / The Dead Ships / Brkn Rbtz @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Dredg @ The Roxy ($20)

Raekwon @ Detroit Bar ($20) - Wu Tang forever. 

The Lonely Wild / Judson / Zenda Marie / The Jasper Dickson Revue @ The Central (Free) - The Lonely Wild's doing a free Tuesday night residency at The Central. So if you're in Santa Monica, check them out. I caught them last month at LaBrie's. 

Wednesday 5/4/11

[Pick of the Week] Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band @ The Echo ($14) - Great story and great album. Bradley's 62 and put out his debut album this year. He's got a gruff voice with a lot of personality. If you're a soul fan, check him out. 

[Recommended] Cass McCombs / Frank Fairfield / Residual Echoes @ Troubadour ($12) - Talented (mellow) singer songwriter. 

[Recommended] The Donkeys / Social Studies / The Damn Sons @ Bootleg ($10) - The Donkeys are on the Dead Oceans label. They're canyon rock influenced, but pull a Pavement riff or two into the mix. 

The Pipettes / Family of the Year / Hot as Sun @ The Satellite ($14) - The Pipettes members have changed (but they're still cute) and their sound has shifted more to a disco pop vibe. 

Chris Cornell / William Elliott Whitmore @ John Anson Ford (Sold Out) - Soundgarden lead singer. 

Rhett Miller / Robert Francis @ The Autry Museum ($17 - $22) - The Old 97's front man is still putting out solo records. 

John Waters @ Largo ($35) - The gross out director. 

James Blunt / Christina Perri @ The Wiltern - I heard his saccharine song today at the Americana. 

The Red River / Radiation City / Toy Bombs @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

The Raveonettes / Tamaryn @ The Glass House ($15) - Good band, two shows later in the week at the Troubadour. 

Bostich + Fussible @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM

Low End Theory: AMP Live / IMI / Dials @ Airliner ($10)

Dredg @ The Roxy ($20)

Curren$y @ Detroit Bar ($18)

Thursday 5/5/11

[Pick of the Night] Apex Manor / The Fling / The New Division @ The Echo (Free w/ RSVP) - Apex Manor's the local band that was The Broken West. Their debut came out earlier this year on Merge Records. Sophisticated pop fans take note. 

[Recommended] The Corin Tucker Band / Crazy Band / The Pity Party @ The Satellite ($15) - Sleater-Kinney fractured into Wild Flag and The Corin Tucker Band. 

[Recommended] Calexico with Mariachi Luz De Luna / Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta @ Echoplex ($20) - Celebrate Cinco de Mayo 

[Recommended] Cloudland Canyon / Jonas Reinhardt / War Drum @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) - They move into some psych rock terrain on this one. 

[Recommended] The Raveonettes / Tamaryn @ Troubadour ($23) - I've never followed The Raveonettes super closely, but always enjoy them when I hear it. 

[Recommended] J. Mascis / Black Heart Procession @ Detroit Bar ($15) - I caught Mascis at SXSW and thought it was great.
[Recommended] Prince @ The Forum ($25 - $200)

Chris Cornell / William Elliott Whitmore @ John Anson Ford (Sold Out) - Soundgarden lead singer. 

Atmosphere / Blueprint / Grieves w/ Budo @ Fox Theater Pomona (Sold Out) - Rhymesayers

Grant Lee Buffalo @ Largo ($30)

Timur and the Dime Museum / Dorian Wood @ Bootleg ($10)

Johnny Clegg @ House of Blues Sunset ($25)

Vex Ruffin / Master Blazter / Sun Araw / Matthewdavid @ The Smell ($5)

Bloody Death Skull / Fatty Dearest / The Avant-Garde Volkpenis @ Echo Country Outpost ($5)

Friday 5/6/11

[Pick of the Night] J. Mascis / Black Heart Procession / Rachel Fannan @ The Echo ($20) - I caught J. Mascis doing the solo (semi) acoustic thing at SXSW and loved it. He's just got so much soul when he plays. 

[Recommended] The Raveonettes / Tamaryn @ Sold Out ($23) – Night two at the Troub.

[Recommended] Mike Stinson / Tony Gilkyson @ Bootleg ($12) – I saw Stinson a lot when he still lived here.
[Recommended] Prince @ The Forum ($25 - $200)

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons / Tristen / The Apache Relay @ The Satellite ($10) - What you'd get if you combined Bob Dylan, Gordan Gano & Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers. 

Junip / Acrylics @ El Rey ($20) - Jose Gonzalez. 

The Corin Tucker Band / Crazy Band @ The Glass House ($12) - If you missed the show on Thursday at the Satellite. 

Moving Units / Crystal Stilts @ Natural History Museum - Seems like an odd pairing to me. 

Dirty Vegas / The Hundred in the Hands / White Apple Tree / Polaris at Noon @ Echoplex ($12) – Dirty Vegas are also playing the free Monday night show next week at Bardot.

MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert: Jane’s Addiction / Chester Bennington / Paramore / Ozomati / Dave Gahan  @ Club Nokia ($125 - $250)

Grant Lee Buffalo @ Largo (Sold Out) 

Ricky Martin @ Nokia Theatre ($46 - $620)

Ke$ha @ Hollywood Palladium 

NAR / Black Elephant / RAAATS! @ The Smell ($5)  

Chuck Dukowski Sextet / The Kris Special / Sanglorians / Stellaluna @ Pehrspace

The Diet Thrills Foreman / Some Days / Deadly Finns / Los Cometas @ Five Stars Bar ($5)

Saturday 5/7/11

[Pick of the Night] Fleet Foxes / The Cave Singers @ Hollywood Palladium ($48) - I've always liked Fleet Foxes more than logic tells me I should. The new record sounds good to me too. 

[Recommended] The Songs of Patsy Cline: The Living Sisters (Inara George, Becky Stark, Eleni Mandell and Alex Lilly) @ Walt Disney Concert Hall – With special guests Zooey Deschanel, John Doe, Shirley Manson, John C. Reilly and Charlie Wadhams.

[Recommended] Portugal. The Man / Telekinesis / Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ House of Blues Anaheim ($29)
[Recommended] Prince @ The Forum ($25 - $200)

[Recommended] Lucha Lounge Mexican Wresting Show: 400 Blows / Street Buddy / Friend Slash Lover @ 1993 Blake Ave ($10)
Zola Jesus / Naked on the Vague / Hive Mind @ The Satellite ($14) – Hipster (and critic) approved. NME called her last album a dark masterpiece. 

The 88 / Taylor Locke & the Roughs @ The Echo ($20) – Early show at 5:00 PM. Good pop music. I've seen them a lot over the years. 

Avi Buffalo @ The Getty (Free) – Early show at 6:00 PM

Wavefest: Roberta Flack / KEM / Macy Gray / Sheila E. @ Greek Theatre ($30 - $130)

The Submarines / Pepper Rabbit / White Sea @ Troubadour ($14) - I saw them at the Eagle Rock Music Fest last year for the first time in a while. Enjoyable pop music. 

Richard Thompson / Alistair Anderson @ McCabe’s (Sold Out)

Ceu / Francisca Valenzuela @ El Rey

Diddy-Dirty Money / Lloyd / TYGA @ Club Nokia

The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo (Sold Out)

Ricky Martin @ Nokia Theatre ($46 - $620)

King Devil @ Bootleg ($8)

Foot Village / BITCHES / The Tleilaxu Music Machine / Batwings Catwings @ The Smell ($5)

Ghostland Observatory @ The Glass House ($25)

Underground Railroad to Candyland / Old Lumps / Simon Lebron / Peter Pants @ Pehrspace

Eddie and the Hot Rods @ Redwood Bar

Junip @ Detroit Bar ($18)

Sunday 5/8/11

[Pick of the Night] Ancestors / Tweak Bird / War Widow @ Bootleg ($8) – Heavier rock. I've seen Tweak Bird a couple of time and enjoy them. 

Ghostland Observatory @ Club Nokia ($25 - $30)

Grand Ole Echo: Tony Gilkyson @ The Echo (Free) – Early show at 5:00 PM. Gilkyson is a fantastic guitar player. 

The Meteors / Hentchmen / Kat Killers / A.Y. / Slash-O-Matic @ Echoplex ($25) – Psychobilly fans?

45 Grave / Death Party @ The Echo ($8)

Yanni @ Nokia Theatre ($80 - $150)

Ceci Bastida @ Amoeba (Free) – 5:00 PM show

Eddie and the Hot Rods @ Redwood Bar

Dirty Vegas @ Detroit Bar ($8)

Recent Concert Announcements

Leon Russell's Playing a Rare LA Show

Hollywood Palladium

5/12/11: The Cars (Friday at 10 AM)

The Music Box

5/3/11: TV on the Radio / Glasser (Saturday at 10 AM)

5/28/11: Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub / Rocco DeLuca (Saturday at 10 AM)

Gibson Amphitheatre

6/17/11: Luis Miguel (Friday at 1 PM)

7/28/11: A Perfect Circle (Friday at 10 AM)

The Wiltern

9/17/11: Tears for Fears (Saturday at 10 AM)

El Rey

4/20/11: Ms. Lauryn Hill performing Bob Marley covers (Friday at 10 AM)

5/3/11: Leon Russell (Thursday at 10 AM)

5/24/11: Vivian Green / Eric Roberson (Saturday at 10 AM)

7/8/11: Foster the People (today at Noon)

8/12/11: Eels (now)

Club Nokia

4/13/11: The Presets / Nosaj Thing (now)

11/5/11: Jim Gaffigan (Friday at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre LA Live

6/20/11: Kid Cudi / Chip tha Ripper (Friday at 10 AM)

Fox Theater Pomona

5/17/11: Ms. Lauryn Hill with the Hot 8 Brass Band (Saturday at 10 AM)

Troubadour [Ticketfly]

7/10/11: David Bazan (now)

7/26/11: Indigo Girls (now)

8/7/11: Torche / Big Business / Thrones (Friday 1 PM)

9/24/11: D-Generation / Prima Donna / Biters (now)

The Satellite [Ticketfly]

Tuesdays in May: Alberta Cross (now)

The Echo [Ticketweb]

6/8/11: Diego Garcia (now)

6/10/11 – 6/11/11: Dax Riggs (now)

6/16/11: Meat Puppets (now)

6/17/11: The Wooden Birds (now)

6/29/11: Alela Diane (now)

Echoplex [Ticketweb]

5/2/11: Battles (moved from The Echo – now)

5/17/11: Drop the Lime / Boscoe Delrey (now)

Bootleg Theater [Ticketfly]

5/21/11: Rival Schools (now)

5/27/11: Joan as Police Woman (now)

6/4/11: The Bird and the Bee (now)

6/11/11: Timber Timbre / Marissa Nadler (now)

Detroit Bar [Ticketweb]

6/4/11: Peter Bjorn and John (now)

Silver Lake Jubilee

5/21/11 – 5/22/11: Geotic / Ima Robot / We Are the World / Ceci Bastida / Summer Darling / The Black Apples / Jail Weddings / Slang Chickens / Dante vs. Zombies / Restavrant / Twilight Sleep / Races  and many others (now)

Live Music Options: 11/1/10 - 11/7/10

Le Switch Celebrate Their Record Release on Thursday at Spaceland (photo credit: Brian Looby)

Damn fine week for live music...

Monday 11/1/10

[Pick of the Night] Deerhunter / High Places / Casino vs. Japan @ Music Box ($20) – The new Deerhunter record’s a leading contender for album of the year from all your favorite blogger/writers. It shows a lot of artistic growth.  

[Recommended] Black Apples / John Carpenter / Whispering Pines / Johnny O’Donnell (Free) – Black Apples are doing the Monday night residency this month at the Echo. If you haven’t seen John Carpenter yet, I highly recommend you check him out.

[Recommended] Dirt Dress / Traps PS / Tijuana Panthers / Rare Grooves @ Spaceland (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. Three of these bands are part of the DIY, Papermade collective.

The Apples In Stereo / Fol Chen @ Echoplex ($15) – OG Elephant 6 band channel ELO on their latest album.

Chasing Kings / Pacific Hurt / Eyes Lips Eyes / Judson and Mary @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Chasing Kings is doing the Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge this month.

DJ Shadow / Pigeon John @ House of Blues Anaheim ($40) – Beat heads.

Laura Veirs / Leslie & the Badgers / Led to Sea @ Troubadour ($14)

Paul Gilbert @ House of Blues Sunset ($22.50)

Aloe Blacc @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM

It’s A School Night: Very Special Guest / Dan Layus @ Bardot (Free w/ RSVP)

Tuesday 11/2/10

[Pick of the Night] White Denim / Devon Williams @ Spaceland ($14) – Schizo, jarring, classic rock inspired Austinites who are known for their energetic live shows.

Stew and the Negro Problem / Candypants @ Echoplex ($23 or $28 for seated) – Bronson previewed this show for the LA Weekly. Check it out here. I haven’t seen them for over a decade.

Two Door Cinema Club / Funeral Party / Generationals @ The Music Box ($20) – Catchy Electropop/Indie rock from Bangor and Donaghadee, Northern Ireland

The Californian / Alpine Decline / Death To Anders @ LaBrie’s in Glendale (Free)

Marcus Very Ordinary / Daniel Ahearn @ the Echo

Ingrid Michaelson / The Guggenheim Grotto @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

The Lonely Wild / The Honey Trees / Wild Feathers / Auditorium @ Bootleg ($8)

Lewis Black in conversation with Craig Ferguson @ El Rey ($25 - $95)

Elsinore / Count Fleet / Coyol @ Silverlake ($8)

The League Live @ Largo (Sold Out) – The FX show about Fantasy Football

Kaki King / Northstar Session / Yellow Red Sparks @ Hotel Café
The Suzan @ Cinespace (RSVP)

The Sleeping / Tides of Man / pmtoday / Just Like Vinyl / Happy Body Slow Brain @ The Glass House ($12)

The Livingston’s / Symbol Six / White Flag Down @ Redwood

Gov’t Mule @ House of Blues Anaheim ($34)

Kristian Hoffman @ M Bar ($5)

The Wayne Horvitz Gravitas Quartet @ Redcat

Wednesday 11/3/10

[Pick of the Night] Elton John & Leon Russell @ Hollywood Palladium (Sold Out) – The two legends celebrate the release of their new T Bone Burnet produced album. I’ve never been that into Elton John, but I’m a huge Leon Russell fan.

[Recommended] Ornette Coleman @ Royce Hall ($43 - $83) – Free jazz pioneer.

Marnie Stern @ the Echo ($10) – A bit experimental and noisy. I’ve always enjoyed Zach Hill’s drumming.

Glasser / Teen Inc. @ Troubdaour ($12) – Her first album on True Panther Sounds is getting good reviews.

Gary Numan / Motor @ El Rey ($35) – Playing his classic album, Pleasure Principle from start to finish.

Voxhaul Broadcast / Eastern Conference Champions / Strange Vine @ Spaceland ($10)

Paul Weller @ The Wiltern ($46 - $56)

Snoop Dogg / Mike Epps @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($35 - $92)

Actress / Co. Fee / Tully @ Airliner ($10)

Ingrid Michaelson / The Guggenheim Grotto @ The Music Box (Sold Out)

Papercranes / Jenny O / Matt Hopper @ Bordello ($8)

Stephen Brower & The Silent Majority / Overcasters @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Kelli Scarr / 8MM @ Hotel Café

Eddie Nichols @ Redwood

Donavon Frankenreiter @ The Roxy ($25)

Natacha Atlas @ The Conga Room

Thursday 11/4/10

[Pick of the Night] Le Switch / Mississippi Man / Shirley Rolls / Big Whup @ Spaceland ($7) – This is the record release party for Le Switch’s second long player, The Rest of Me Is Space. I volunteered to write some of the press materials for the record, so I definitely recommend it.

[Recommended] Physical Forms / Figurine / Contemporary Casuals / XBXRX @ The Smell ($5) – Interesting night of music at the Smell. Physical Forms is ex-Mae Shi, Figurine features Jimmy Tamborello and Contemporary Casuals features Boom Bip and Josh Klinghoffer.

[Recommended] Freddie Gibbs @ Key Club ($15) – Very talented rapper. I saw him at Spaceland recently.

Loch & Key / Francisco the Man / Gardens and Villa / Parents @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Gary Numan / Battle Circus @ El Rey ($35) – Playing Pleasure Principle from start to finish.

Ghostland Observatory / DJ Jack @ Club Nokia ($28) – Hipsters really turned on these guys.

Walter Meego / Dominant Legs / White Apple Tree @ The Echo ($10) – Chicago transplants.  

Reel Big Fish / Goldfinger @ House of Blues Sunset ($23)

Enter Shikari / Haste the Day / Sleeping With Sirens / Lights Go Blue @ Troubadour ($15) – English post-hardcore band

Godsmack / 5FDP / Drowning Pool @ Nokia Theatre ($30 - $50)

Drake @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($57 - $83) – Former child actor turned #1 artist.

Emily Wells / Henry Wolfe @ Largo ($20)

Hawksley Workman / Alex Dezen @ Hotel Café

Nellie McKay / Shane Alexander / Persia White @ The Roxy ($15)

Ruben Albarran of Café Tacuba @ Detroit Bar ($20)

Colour Revolt / Dahga Bloom @ Origami (Free) – 6:00 PM

Circa Survive @ House of Blues Anaheim ($26)

Honeychild @ Space 1520 (Free) – 7:00 PM start

Friday 11/5/10

[Pick of the Week] Dr. Dog / Here We Go Magic / Good Old War @ The Wiltern ($35) – Great albums and a lot of fun to see live.

[Recommended] Trans Am / Nice Nice / Jonas Reinhardt @ Spaceland ($14) – I’ve always enjoyed their robot rock.

[Recommended] Mavis Staples / Billy Bragg @ Royce Hall ($33 - $58) – Both of these artists have benefit from affiliations with Wilco.

Cold War Kids @ The Glass House ($20) – Does anybody else think the new Black Keys sounds a little like the Cold War Kids?  

Small Black / Class Actress / Young Prisms @ The Echo ($10) – Indie hipsters

Yelle / Hawnay Troof @ Echoplex ($17) – French electro-pop

Les Blanks / Goldenboy @ Casey’s Irish Pub (Free) – I always enjoy seeing Les Blanks.

Colour Revolt / The Pity Party @ Bootleg ($12)

No Joy / La Sera / Devon Williams / Dunes @ The Smell ($5)

Helmet / Intronaut @ Key Club ($18)

Johnny Flynn / Cheyenne Marie Mize / Brother Sal @ Hotel Café

Cheryl Wheeler / Jill Sobule @ McCabe’s (Sold Out)

Bayside / Senses Fail / Title Fight / Balance and Composure @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – For the swishy hair crowd

Alan Jackson / Chris Young @ Nokia Theatre ($50 - $80)

Great Big Sea @ House of Blues ($25)

Djavan @ Club Nokia ($40 - $85) – Brazilian singer-songwriter

Ryuichi Sakamoto @ El Rey (Sold Out)

Gov’t Mule @ The Music Box ($30)

Paula Cole @ Largo ($40)

Shooter Jennings @ House of Blues Anaheim ($25)

Dokken @ Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana

Saturday 11/6/10

[Pick of the Night] Kisses / Obi Best @ Spaceland ($8) – Kisses is Jesse Kivel from Princeton’s side project. They’ve benefited from some good buzz for their singles.

Florence and the Machine / Hanni El Khatib / Grouplove @ The Wiltern ($30 - $35) – Her voice draws comparisons to Kate Bush, they sell a ton of records and are critically acclaimed (especially in the UK).

Kevin Greenspon / Tujunga / Nicole Kidman / Coup Pigeons @ The Smell ($5)

Mike Gordon @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Co-founder of Phish

The Heavy / Wallpaper @ El Rey ($18)

The Monolators / The Tleilax Music Machine / BoxViolet / Hot TV @ Pehrspace ($5)

Too $hort @ Key Club ($35)

Senses Fail / Bayside @ House of Blues Anaheim ($24)

Johnny Flynn / Cheyenne Marie Mize / Johnnyswim @ Hotel Café

Circa Survive / dredg / Codeseven / Animals As Leaders @ Avalon ($25)

Tim & Eric Awesome Tour, Great Job! / Pusswhip Banggang / Neil Hamburger @ Club Nokia ($25 - $35)

The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo ($25) – Staged production of old-time radio featuring Chris Hardwick, Janet Varney, Romany Malco, Busy Phillips and Maria Thayer

Laurence Juber @ McCabe’s ($20)

Young the Giant / Vanaprasta / The Smiles @ The Roxy ($12)

No Joy / La Sera / Lower Dens @ Origami (Free) – 7:00 PM

Nitzer Ebb @ Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana

Sunday 11/7/10

[Pick of the Night] Bear in Heaven / Lower Dens / Sun Airway @ Troubadour ($15) – Critically acclaimed Brooklyn band.

[Recommended] The Dodos / The Deadly Syndrome @ Detroit Bar ($12) – Pretty good reason to drive down to Costa Mesa on a Sunday night.  

PVT @ Spaceland ($8) – Aussie/Londoners on Warp Records.

Massive Attack / Thievery Corporation / Red Cortez / Saint Motel / Voxhaul Broadcast @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($72 - $90)

Frontier Records 30^th Anniversary: Adolescents / The Middle Class / Rikk Agnew / Flyboys / The Pontiac Brothers @ Echoplex ($15) – Stars at 4:00 PM

Florence and the Machine / Hanni El Khatib / Grouplove @ The Wiltern ($30 - $35)

Ledisi @ El Rey ($32)

Artichoke / Cave Country / Ragnar @ Hotel Café

Confide @ The Glass House ($12)

Richard Shindell / Krista Detor @ McCabe’s ($22.50)

Sweater Girls / Sourpatch @ Origami (Free) – 7:00 PM

Night Horse / Lecherous Gaze / Nails @ Alex’s Bar in Long Beach (Free)

Recent Concert Announcements

Caribou Play the Music Box

The Music Box
10/1/10: Neon Indian / Prefuse 73 / Miniature Tigers (now)
10/8/10: Caribou / Emeralds (now)
11/1/10: Deerhunter / Casino vs. Japan (now)
11/3/10: Ingrid Michaelson (presale Friday, password = EVERYBODY; Saturday at 10 AM)
11/18/10: Joshua Radin / Good Old War (presale Friday, password = JOSHUA; Saturday at 10 AM)

Bootleg
8/25/10: Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses (now)
9/29/10: Violent Soho (now)
10/15/10: Mike Doughty (now)
10/22/10: Jail Weddings (now)

El Rey Theatre
10/1/10: The Sword / Karma to Burn / Mount Carmel (presale now, password = WARP; Friday at 10 AM)
10/10/10: The Weepies (Saturday at 10 AM)
10/24/10: Triptykon (now)
11/24/10: Black Mountain / The Black Angels (Friday at 10 AM)

Club Nokia
9/23/10: All For the Hall - Taylor Swift / Emmylou Harris / Kris Kristofferson (presale now, password = HALL; Friday at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre
9/18/10: KDay’s Fresh Fest – Ice Cube / DJ Quik / Tha Dogg Pound / Warren G (presale Friday, password = WESTCOAST; Saturday at 10 AM)

The Orpheum
9/28/10: Sara Bareilles / Greg Laswell / Javier Dunn (presale Thursday at 10 AM, password = KING; on sale Friday at 10 AM)

10/1/10 – 10/2/10: Yoko Ono – We Are Plastic Ono Band (Saturday at 9 AM)

Hollywood Palladium
8/6/10: Elton John & Leon Russell (Friday at 10 AM)
10/8/10: Kaskade (Thursday at 10 AM)

Gibson Amphitheatre
10/14/10: Alejandra Guzman (Friday at 1 PM)
10/27/10: Gorillaz (presale Thursday at 10 AM, password = RHINESTONEKROQ and/or flute; Friday at 10 AM)

The Wiltern
10/30/10: Trailer Park Boys (Friday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Bowl

10/15/10: LCD Soundsystem / Hot Chip / Sleigh Bells (presale now, password = LCD; on sale Friday at 10 AM)

Avalon
10/15/10: Motion City Soundtrack / Say Anything / Saves the Day (Friday at Noon)
11/6/10: Circa Survive / Dredg / Codeseven (Friday at 10 AM)

Troubadour
10/20/10: Envy (Friday at 1:00 PM)
11/4/10: Enter Shikari (Friday at 1:00 PM)
11/5/10: Senses Fail / Bayside (Thursday at Noon)

McCabe’s
11/19/10: Curt Smith (now)

Largo
8/31/10: David Spade & Friends (now)
9/27/10 – 9/28/10: Bettye LaVette with pianist Brian O’Rourke (now)
10/4/10: First Aid Kit / Ferraby Lionheart (now)

Recently Announced Live Shows

Vampire Weekend Are Coming To Town in November

Largo
10/22/09: Ben Gibbard & Jay Farrar (call club)

The Fonda
11/8/09: Imogen Heap (Saturday at 10 AM)

El Rey
11/27/09: Rooney / Tally Hall (Saturday at 10 AM)

Club Nokia
12/4/09: The Cranberries (Friday at 10 AM)
1/27/10: The Pee Wee Herman Show (now)

Orpheum Theatre
12/16/09: Zero 7 (Saturday at 10 AM)

Empire Polo Club
4/24/10: Stagecoach Festival - Keith Urban / Sugarland / Billy Currington / Phil Vassar / Merle Haggard / Ray Price / Bobby Bare Jr. / Doyle Lawson (on sale 10/16/09)
4/25/10: Stagecoach Festival - Toby Keith / Brooks & Dunn / Gary Allan / Jamey Johnson / The Oak Ridge Boys / Little Jimmy Dickens / Bill Anderson / Avett Brothers / Chuck Mead / Mary Gauthier (on sale 10/16/09)

The Wiltern
11/20/09: Raphael Saadiq (Saturday at 10 AM)
12/9/09: Dierks Bentley (Saturday at 10 AM)

The Legendary Park Plaza
10/31/09: KCRW's Masquerade - DJ Shadow / Sea Wolf / Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros / Little Dragon (now through KCRW)

The Art Theater in Long Beach
11/2/09: Vampire Weekend (on sale Friday at Noon)

Pappy & Harriet's
11/5/09: Vampire Weekend (Friday at Noon on Ticketweb)
11/8/09: Leon Russell (now at Ticketweb)

Lomita VFW Hall in the South Bay
11/14/09: Vampire Weekend (Friday at Noon at Ticketweb)

Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock
10/16/09: Dan Deacon / Nuclear Power Pants (now at Ticketweb)
10/17/09: Horse the Band / Iwrestledabearonce (now at Ticketweb)
10/29/09: The Night Marchers / Nighthorse (now at Ticketweb)
12/4/09: Cold Cave / Former Ghosts (now at Ticketweb)

Sinking Radio - Leon Russell's "This Masquerade"

Here's a quick reminder to tune in to Sinking Radio on Little Radio today from Noon to 2:00 PM PST. Todd's out on the road again (with the Radar Bros. this time), so it'll just be Sylvia and Matt.

Each week on the show, they feature an official You Set the Scene pick. My pick for this week's show is Leon Russell's "This Masquerade." Russell's a fascinating guy (I presume) who has done it all musically. As a session/touring guy, he's played with everybody (Willie Nelson, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Gram Parsons, Ike & Tina, Marvin Gaye, Steve Winwood, The Byrds, The Stones, The Burritos, just to name a few) and has enjoyed a very successful career as a solo performer and songwriter.

Russell's been releasing solo records since the late 1960's. "This Masquerade" comes from his 1972 record, Carney (which also features "Tight Rope" - probably the first Russell track I remember hearing). "This Masquerade" was written by Russell and became the first song to ever hit #1 on the jazz, pop and R&B charts. Of course it wasn't Russell's version, but George Benson's cover (Benson's version also won the Grammy for record of the year in 1976). Incidentally, the Carpenters also did a pretty good version of it. It's just a great, dark breakup tune.

If you've got a turntable, you can usually find a copy of Carney in (or near) the dollar bin at Amoeba or Record Surplus. It's well worth picking up. Big ups to Le Switch, who are one of the only contemporary bands I've seen cite Russell as an influence.

Russell still actively tours. He seems to avoid playing shows in the LA city limits, but you can catch him on the outskirts of town.....

Leon Russell's Website