Live Music Options: 8/23/10 - 8/29/10

Anybody make it out the Sunset Junction this weekend? I skipped it again. Some hot shows at the Bootleg this week....

Monday 8/23/10
[Pick of the Night] Blind Boy Paxton / Frank Fairfield @ Redwood Bar – Frank Fairfield’s heading to Europe for a month, so this is your last chance to see him for a while.
[Recommended] Twilight Sleep / Helen Stellar / By Sunlight / Robotanists @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Good lineup.
[Recommended] White Arrows / Heavy Young Heathens / Gamble House / The Outline @ Spaceland (Free) – White Arrows’ residency continues. Gamble House has gotten a good amount of buzz with their Grizzly Bear-vibe.
Fol Chen / Crocodiles / Woom / Jessica 6 @ The Echo (Free) – Fol Chen is doing the Monday night residency this month and the gimmicks continue. Metal band Viscera will perform the music of Fol Chen tonight.
Slang Chickens / Papa @ Downtown Independent Theater – Playing after the screening of The Scenestars
JP Jones, Chrissie Hynde & the Fairground Boys @ Grammy Museum (Sold Out)
MNDR / Maximum Balloon DJ set @ Bardot - Maximum Balloon features Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio
Dave Mathews Band / Raphael Saadiq @ Hollywood Bowl ($60 - $90) – Get there early for Rapahel Saadiq, he’s got a great voice.
Andy Clockwise @ Hotel Café – 6:00 PM showcase
Stellaluna / Blood Beach / White Fang / Sexhair @ Pehrspace
Asss / Bestial Mouth / Tik Tik / White Leopards @ Echo Curio

Tuesday 8/24/10
[Pick of the Night] GZA / Freddie Gibbs / Kendrick Lamar / Toks / Abcnt @ Echoplex ($18) – I saw Freddie Gibbs at Spaceland a while back and he’s the real deal.
[Recommended] Henry Wolfe / Charlie Wadhams / Sunday Soundtracks @ The Echo ($5) – Singer-songwritery
Tanya Morgan / TiRon / Afro Classic / Ahmad @ Spaceland ($12) – Hip-hop group from Brooklyn that got some good reviews for their last record
Wilding / Chromium Heart / Cactus Pricks / Modern Time Machines @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) – Wilding is the new name for Tigers Can Bite You
Chris Isaak / Marc Broussard @ Greek Theatre ($62 - $125)
Captain Ahab / The Pukes @ Downtown Independent Theater – Playing after the screening of The Scenestars
Fitz & the Tantrums @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM
Big D (Little Richard Tribute) / Thee White Dogs @ Bootleg ($8)
Eyes Lips Eyes / Kid Theodor @ El Cid
Thriving Ivory / Ryan Star / Entice @ Troubadour ($15)
Bonossus and the Gnomefly / Palm Reader / Tarisyphus / Lingonberries @ The Smell ($5)
Chelsea Boys / Buffalo Moon / Tan Dollar / The Cosmonauts @ Echo Curio
The Neighborhood Bullies / The Stains @ Redwood Bar
Monte Montgomery @ The Mint ($16)
John Mayer @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater ($50 - $95)

Wednesday 8/25/10
[Pick of the Week] Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses / The Americans @ Boogleg Theater ($20) – I saw Bingham put on a great show a few years back at Stagecoach. He’s also the guy who wrote a lot of the music in Crazy Heart.
[Recommended] Jason Falkner / The Spires @ Spaceland ($12) – I’ve followed his work throughout the years with The Three O’Clock, Jellyfish, Eric Matthews, Brendan Benson, Beck, as well as his solo stuff.
[Recommended] Jimmy Webb @ Largo ($30) – The legendary songwriter.
[Recommended] Los Lobos @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM
The Hold Steady / Jaill @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa
Low End Theory: Tokimonsta / 6Blocc / Yuk @ Airliner ($10)
Henry Wolfe @ The Standard Hollywood
Norah Jones / Corinne Bailey Rae @ Greek Theatre ($46 - $78)
Big Search @ Downtown Independent Theater – Playing after the screening of The Scenestars
Filligar / Red Arrow Messenger / All Wrong and the Plans Change @ Troubadour ($12)
The Muddy Reds / Matt Ellis / National Park Service / Walter Spence @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
City of Progress / Wholes / Random Patterns @ Echo Curio
Sarah Blackwood @ Redwood Bar
The White Buffalo @ The Mint ($15)
Upsilon Acrux / Blood Beach / Narwhal @ Show Cave

Thursday 8/26/10
[Pick of the Night] Black Mountain / Lower Heaven @ Bootleg ($16) – Great chance to see Black Mountain in a small venue before they come back in November to El Rey. Heavy psych rock.
The Hold Steady / Jaill @ The Glass House ($20)
Radars to the Sky / Death To Anders / Smokers in Love @ Spaceland ($7)
Juliette Commagere / Papercranes / Luke Rathborne / Estelle Raskina @ Echo ($7)
Beatlesfest / Led Zepagain @ Santa Monica Pier (Free) – Abbey Road plays an acoustic set of Beatles’ tunes.
The Franks / Lord Huron @ Downtown Independent Theater – Playing after the screening of The Scenestars
Relax to Paris / The Ivy Walls / Fight From Above / The Broken Column @ Troubadour ($10)
Vaud & the Villians / Lil Gizzelle / RT n’ the 44’s @ Echoplex ($12)
Incan Abraham / The Lonely Wild / The Shade @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Josh Tatum @ Hotel Café
Learning Music / Gals / Forget Me Nauts @ Echo Curio
Spirit Animal @ Redwood Bar
Filter @ The Roxy ($27)
White Buffalo @ Detroit Bar ($10)
Lynyrd Skynyrd @ Gibson Amphitheatre

Friday 8/27/10
[Pick of the Night] The Little Ones / Downtown Union / Kissing Tigers @ The Echo ($5) – It’s been a while since the Little Ones have played. I’m still a big fan of their debut EP. [Recommended] Jon Brion and Friends @ Largo ($25)
[Recommended] Pete Molinari / Patrick Park / Mark Huff @ Redwood Bar – A seven night run for Pete Molinari. He’s a British singer-songwriter who does well over there.
Mark Olson / Ivan & Alyosha @ McCabe’s ($15) – Founding member of the Jayhawks
Boris / Red Sparowes / Helms Alee @ El Rey ($20) – Good lineup of heavy rock.
The Fling / Deep Sea Diver / Sam Outlaw / Archeology @ Spaceland ($7) – The Fling’s record release party. Deep Sea Diver is Jessica Dobson’s band (she recently played with Beck).
Gamble House / Walter Meego / Mystery Claws @ Pehrpsace – If you missed the free Gamble House show at Spaceland on Monday
John Williams and the Music of the Movies @ Hollywood Bowl ($165 - $166)
Stoic Ideal @ Troubadour ($12)
Shannon Curtis / JT Spangler / Aaron Beaumont @ Bootleg ($10)
Cyndi Lauper / Allen Toussaint / David Rhodes @ Greek Theatre ($41 - $83) – It would be cool to see Allen Toussaint.
Asia @ Club Nokia ($16 - $45)
Denim Family Band @ Hotel Café
Dave Phillips / R. Jencks / Mike Shiflet / Damion Romero / Moment Trigger @ The Smell ($5)
The Juliana Theory @ The Glass House ($25)
Neverever / Deadly Finns / Some Days @ 3 of Clubs
The Shants / Evan Roberts / Dead Flowers / Ricky Stein @ Echo Curio
Delta Rose / Warner Drive / Run Devil Run @ Viper Room ($15)
Unwritten Law / Nico Vega @ The Key Club ($20)

Saturday 8/28/10
[Pick of the Night] Jaill / Woah Hunx / Audacity @ 6th Street Warehouse – Jaill’s new album just came out on Sub Pop.
[Recommended] Jon Brion and Nels Cline @ Largo ($25)
The Antlers @ Getty Museum – DJ Frosty will be there spinning. From 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Oneida / Jonas Reinhardt / The Lights @ Spaceland ($10) – Well respected Brooklyn-ites on the Jagjaguwar label.
Matthew Sweet / John Wicks @ McCabe’s ($22.50) – Good power pop lineup.
Sunset Strip Music Festival: The Smashing Pumpkins / Slash / Kid Cudi / Common / Semi Precious Weapons / Steel Panther @ Sunset Strip ($58 - $113)
Boris / Red Sparowes / Helms Alee @ the Glass House ($16)
Cap’N Jazz / Abe Vigoda / The Black Apples @ Echoplex ($20) – Reunion show for the influential emo band.
Pete Molinari / Eleni Mandell / Mark Huff / The Driftwood Singers @ Redwood Bar – Night two of his seven night residency.
Cobra Lillies / Evangina @ Pehrspace
John Williams and the Music of the Movies @ Hollywood Bowl ($165 - $166)
Funkfest: Morris Day / Bar-Kays / Lakeside / Slave / Klymaxx @ Greek Theatre ($36 - $93)
The Juliana Theory @ El Rey ($27) – Indie-emo-pop
Something Corporate @ Club Nokia ($39)
Lit Crawl II @ the Echo (Free) – 6:00 PM
Satellite / David Poe @ Hotel Café
Pete Swanson / Rene Hell / Heller Keller @ The Smell ($5)
Cinder Cone / Swore / Towards Distant Suns/ Snore Tape @ Echo Curio
Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic @ The Mint ($15)
Joan Sebastian @ Gibson Amphitheatre

Sunday 8/29/10
[Pick of the Night] Pete Molinari / Mark Huff / Triple Chicken Foot @ Redwood Bar
The Chemical Brothers / Chromeo / Yacht @ Hollywood Bowl ($17 - $141)
Ron Emory (of T.S.O.L.) @ Spaceland ($12)
West Indian Girl / The Branches @ Hotel Café
Batwings Catwings / Dadfag @ The Echo ($5)
Goo Goo Dolls / Switchfoot / Green River Ordinance @ Greek Theatre ($46 - $78) – No offense to the band (I’ve actually saw them once back in the mid-90’s) but who are the people who pay $80 to see the Goo Goo Dolls in the year 2010?
Magic Johnson @ The Smell ($5)
Pete Swanson / Rene Hell / John Wiese / Robedoor / Infinite Body @ Echo Curio

Recent Concert Announcements

Are you following me on Twitter? I already plugged the Arcade Fire shows there late last week...

Shrine Auditorium
10/7/10 – 10/8/10: Arcade Fire (presale Thursday at 10 AM, password = KROQSUBURBS; Friday at 10 AM)

Culture Collide Festival (Spaceland, The Echo, Echoplex, 826LA, The Standard, Taix)
10/7/10 - 10/10-10: Black Lips / Klaxons / Tokyo Police Club / Phantogram / The Bronx / Montonix / Casiokids / Land of Talk / The Boxer Rebellion / The Besnard Lakes / Sea Wolf / Voxhaul Broadcast and others (Now at Ticketweb)


Hollywood Palladium
11/19/10: Black Label Society / Children of Bodom / Clutch (Friday at 10 AM)

The Wiltern
9/25/10: X Japan (Now)
10/22/10: Minus the Bear / Tim Kasher / AM (Friday at 10 AM)
10/24/10: Sufjan Stevens (Now)
10/26/10: Never Shout Never / The Maine (Saturday at 10 AM)
11/26/10: Pretty Lights (Friday at 10 AM)

Nokia Theatre
9/24/10: Gladys Night / The O’Jays (now)
10/2/10: The Australian Pink Floyd Show (now)

The Music Box
10/29/10: Kate Nash (Saturday at 10 AM)
11/26/10: Bonobo / Tokimonsta (now)
11/30/10: Grinderman (presale Thursday at 10 AM, password = HEATHEN; Friday at 10 AM)

El Rey Theatre
10/4/10: Tired Pony (presale Friday at 10 AM, password = HORSE; Saturday at 10 AM)
10/12/10: Punch Brothers / Chris Thile (Saturday at 10 AM)
10/25/10: UNKLE (Friday at 10 AM)
11/14/10: Marc Cohn (Saturday at 10 AM)
11/26/10: Dawes / The Moondoggies / The Romany Rye (now)

Fox Theater Pomona
9/28/10: Jimmy Eat World / We Were Promised Jetpacks (Friday at 10 AM)

Troubadour
9/28/10: Guster (Saturday at 1:00 PM)
10/6/10: Futureheads (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
10/7/10: Lissie (Friday at 1:00 PM)
11/26/10: The Queers / The Riptides (Saturday at 1:00 PM)

Spaceland
9/16/10: Radio Moscow / Night Horse (now at Ticketweb)
9/17/10: The Parson Red Heads / Le Switch (now)
9/25/10: Speed Buggy (now)
10/15/10: David Bazan / Wye Oak (now)

The Echo
8/27/10: The Little Ones (now at Ticketweb)
9/2/10: Marijuana Death Squad / Har Mar Superstar / The Holloys / Woah Hunx (now)
9/17/10: Men (now)
10/19/10: Scout Niblett (now)

Silverlake Lounge
Mondays in October: Wet & Reckless

Walt Disney Concert Hall
10/20/10: Ravi Shankar (create series now, or box office opens on Sunday)
10/27/10: Neil Sedaka (see above)
11/10/10: Buika / Lila Downs (see above)
12/8/10: Natalie Cole (see above)
2/15/11: Wynton Marsalis (see above)
3/5/11: Herbie Hancock (see above)

Echoplex
9/25/10: Waved Out – Dungen / The Entrance Band / John Grant / The Fresh & Onlys / Shannon and the Clams / John Carpenter / Christmas Island / So Many Wizards / Summer Darling / Young Prisms (now at Ticketweb)
10/5/10: Talvin Singh (now)
10/22/10: Owen Pallett / Little Scream (now)
11/2/10: Stew & the Negro Problem (now)
11/11/10: The Soft Pack / Kurt Vile (now)
11/12/10: Pains of Being Pure at Heart / Weekend (now)

Detroit Bar
10/3/10: The Soft Pack (now)
10/7/10: The Like (now)
10/9/10: Land of Talk / The Besnard Lakes (now)

New Music Releases: 10/7/08

Last week was an absolute monster of new releases. I'm still trying to get through them. But here's my update (a week late).

Noteworthy Albums Released on 10/7/08:

Records I’ve Heard:
Catfish Haven: Devastator (Secretly Canadian) – These guys (from Chicago actually) play soulful, rough around the edges rock ‘n’ roll that’s a close cousin to LA’s High Society. It’s a good party record and I imagine they’re a great band to see in a bar.
MP3: Set in Stone
MP3: Devastator

Deerhoof: Offend Maggie (Kill Rock Stars) – I like the music, but as soon as lead singer Satomi Matsuzaki starts singing, I lose all interest. It’s getting really good reviews though, so I’m sure fans will dig it. At the Echoplex on 11/14/08
MP3: Offend Maggie

Department of Eagles: In Ear Park (4AD) – This was Daniel Rossen’s band before he joined Grizzly Bear. The album’s four years in the works and features heavy contributions from Chris Taylor and Chris Bear of Grizzly Bear. It’s an ambitious, interesting record that should be right up my alley (just like Grizzly Bear for that matter), but I just don’t connect with it. It reminds me of Van Dyke Park’s Song Cycle (which I also appreciate without connecting with).
MP3: No One Does It Like You Do

El Guincho: Alegranza (XL Recordings/Beggars) – Hailed as Spain’s answer to Panda Bear, El Guincho has gotten mad praise from blogs like Gorilla vs. Bear. It’s got that tribal sound that’s au courant. It reminds me a little bit of the Avalanches too. I find the songs maddeningly repetitive, but it’s worth a listen. At the Echo on 11/20/08

Fucked Up: Chemistry of Common Life (Matador) – Pissed off hardcore that’s all about confronting the listener.
MP3: Twice Born
MP3: No Epiphany

Jay Reatard: Matador Singles ‘08 (Matador) – A collection of all the 7” singles he’s released throughout the year on Matador. Reatard’s a little bit of a chameleon in terms of musical style. He’s usually lumped into the punk category, but the album goes from having a 1950s rock ‘n’ roll vibe all the way to a 1980s Australian sound. And when I saw him live, it bordered on punk-metal. There are enough good songs here to make it an interesting listen. RECOMMENDED
MP3: See-Saw
MP3: Always Wanting More

Lambchop: OH ohio (Merge) – Lambchop’s another band where I like the music, but have a hard time getting over the lead singer’s voice. But if you like well constructed, chamber pop style songs (like I tend to), you should give it a listen.
MP3: National Talk Like a Pirate Day

Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s: Animal! (Epic)
Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s: Not Animal (Epic) – After signing to a major, the band got into a pissing contest over this record. Animal! is the record the band wants you to hear. You can only get it on vinyl right now. Not Animal is the record the label wants you to hear. It’s available on CD as well. I haven’t had a chance to spend much time with either one yet but I’ll let you know when I do.

The Rosebuds: Life Like (Merge) – I honestly wasn’t too familiar with the Rosebuds before this release, so I’m happy the label sent it to me. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a sucker for indie rock with mostly upbeat music and totally dark lyrics. At the Echo on 11/25/08; RECOMMENDED
MP3: Life Like

Marnie Stern: This Is It & I Am It & You Are It & So Is That & He Is It & It Is It & That Is That (Kill Rock Stars) – Stern’s once again joined by Hella’s crazy ass drummer, Zach Hill. When you listen to this, it makes you feel like your head’s going to explode. Normally I don’t go for this sort of noise, but I always find Hill’s drumming compelling. Recommended for fans of the more extreme, experimental side of indie rock. At El Rey on 11/15/08
MP3: Transformer

Local Releases:
Crystal Antlers: EP (Touch & Go) – Pitchfork awarded their debut EP the coveted, “Best New Music” tag, which helped them sell over 3,000 copies direct to their fans via Myspace. Touch & Go signed them and is now re-releasing the EP. It’s got garage, psych and hardcore elements. It’s a promising set of songs.
MP3: A Thousand Eyes

The Little Ones: Morning Tide (Chop Shop) – The Little Ones debut EP was at the top of my list of local releases in 2006. Two years later, and now signed to music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas’ label, the guys finally release their debut full length. There’s nothing quite as catchy as “Lovers Who Uncover” but there are plenty of really catchy songs that should please indie pop fans. “Morning Tide,” which starts out with a Belle & Sebastian vibe, is one of the highlights. Give it a few listens and the songs will creep into your skin. At the Echo on 11/14/08
MP3: Morning Tide

Other Noteworthy Records:
Damon Aaron
Annuals – MP3: Confessor – At the Fonda on 11/16/08
Antony & the Johnsons EP – At the Walt Disney Concert Hall on 10/14/08
Castanets – At McCabe’s on 11/15/08
Crooked Fingers – MP3: Phony Revolutions – At the Troubadour on 11/12/08
Devin the Dude
Bob Dylan – bootleg volume 8
Justin Townes Earle
Earthless live
Ezra Furman & the Harpoons
Gregory & the Hawk
Robin Guthrie soundtrack
Her Space Holiday – MP3: Sleepy Tigers
Jolie Holland
Hot Lava
Japanese Motors – At the Roxy on 10/30/08
King Tuff
Julian Koster – indie rock Christmas album; MP3: Jingle Bells
Land of Talk
The Legendary Pink Dots – At the Knitting Factory on 11/13/08
Juana Molina
Daniel Martin Moore – MP3: Stray Age
New Radiant Storm King
Oasis – at the Staples on 12/4/08
The Pretenders – CD version
Rig 1
The Spinto Band - MP3: Summer Grof – At the Echoplex on 11/3/08
The Streets
These Are Powers – MP3: Cockles
These Arms Are Snakes
Women – At the Echo on 11/12/08
MP3: Black Rice
MP3: Group Transport Hall
Wu-Tang Clan
Rachel Yamagata
Yo Majesty