Weekend Live Music Picks

A little something for everybody this weekend.

Friday 2/10/06
The Autumn Defense @ Tangier [$10] - The Autumn Defense is John Stirratt (bass player in Wilco) and Pat Sansone's band. I saw them at Largo a few years ago. They mostly play mellow folk-pop. Jeff Tweedy plays San Francisco on Thursday and San Diego on Saturday. Any chance he'll drop by on his only day off?

Bob Mould @ Troubadour [$15] - I've seen Mould play some amazing shows (particularly when he was with Sugar). I also saw him play one really boring show (acoustic at the El Rey). If you're lucky he'll play stuff from Husker Du, Sugar and his solo career.

Dalek @ Knitting Factory [$20] - Well respected experimental underground hip hop.

Ariel Pink @ the Echo [$8] - Freaky lo-fi hippie.

Saturday 2/11/06
Early Dolphin @ Sea Level Records 4:00 PM [FREE] - Local psych-pop band. It's free.
Download "Go Where You Want to Go"

Stars / The Elected @ Avalon [$20] - At times the music sounds too much like the Postal Service, but I liked the Stars' most recent album (and I honestly don't like that many female fronted rock bands). Too bad it's so expensive and I hate the Avalon.

Mason Jennings / Chad VanGaalen @ Troubadour [SOLD OUT] - Mason Jennings is a singer-songwriter who recently got signed to Isaac Brock's (Modest Mouse) label. The thing with singer-songwriters is you have to like their voice. Apparently other people do, because he sold out the Troubador. Chad VanGaalen is a singer-songwriter signed to Sub Pop. The thing about singer-songwriters is you have to like their voice [I'll stop now].
Download Chad VanGaalen's "Clinically Dead"

Sunday 2/12/06
Jeff Tweedy / Glenn Kotche @ The Fonda [SOLD OUT] - I'll be at the Monday night show with Nels Cline opening.

Mike Stinson @ Molly Malone's [$5] - LA's best local country artist.

The Clean Prophets @ Boardner's [$5] - Relatively new local band with a growing fanbase.

Army Navy @ the Echo 5:00PM [FREE for 21+] - Army Navy's music has been all over those teen shows that people in their thirties watch. They're working on a new album with Steve McDonald of Redd Kross.

Magic Bullets @ the Echo 10:00PM [FREE] - San Francisco band that loves the Clean, C86 bands, the Clientele and the Wedding Present.

Eleni Mandell @ Tangier [$10] - She continues her Sunday night residency for the NPR crowd.

New Releases 2/7/06

Finally a few things I can get excited about.....that's the Ladies up above.

Recommended:
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit (Matador) - Check the archives for last week's review. Pitchfork gave it an 8.5. There's also a deluxe edition with a DVD with six songs recorded at the BBC. Catch them live at the Wiltern on 3/18 or 3/19.
Download "Another Sunny Day"
The Ladies They Mean Us (Temporary Residence Ltd.) - The Ladies are Rob Crow (lead singer/guitarist of Pinback) and Zach Hill (drummer of Hella). Some have said it's the best of both worlds (indie rock colliding with noise-rock). I'm a big Pinback fan and I like it, but you have to be open to noise rock or you probably won't like it. Limited edition colored vinyl edition available only from the label website. Live at Spaceland on 3/8/06.
Download "Empathy On a Stick"
Kelley Stoltz Below the Branches (Sub Pop) - Check the archives for my review two weeks ago. Nice melancholy pop. Catch him live at the Echo on 2/18/06.
Download "The Sun Comes Through"

Things I Haven't Heard:
Jason Collett Idols of Exile (Arts & Crafts) - He's part of the Broken Social Scene/Arts & Crafts family and most of them guest on this record. His first album was pleasant but I never get the urge to listen to it so I'm apprehensive. You can stream it from his website. He really rips off the Stones' "Wild Horses" on "We All Lose One Another." Did he give them credit?
Mastodon Call of the Mastodon(Relapse) - For metal fans only. This is an issue of the first time they ever went into the studio.
Beth Orton Comfort of Strangers (Astralwerks) - I've got a lot of respect for her, but I've never really listened to her. She's playing live at the Avalon on 3/24.
VA To: Elliott From: Portland (Expunged) - A few big names covering Elliott Smith (Decembrists, Helio Sequence, Eric Matthews, Thermals). Also features Sean Croghan doing an unreleased track, "High Times."

Other Noteworthy Releases:
Aceyalone Magnificent City (produced by RJD2) (Project Blowed/Decon) - LA rapper teams up with producer RJD2.
Magnet The Tourniquet (Filter) - Domestic release of Norwegian singer Even Johansen's second album. It's anthemic, atmospheric pop music produced by Jason Faulkner that would fit well on KCRW. He's appearing live at the Troubadour on 3/7/06 and 3/14/06 at Hotel Cafe.
Minus 5 Minus 5 (w/members of R.E.M., Wilco, the Decemberists, John Wesley Harding and more) (Yep Roc) - Seventh album from Young Fresh Fellow Scott McCaughey. Playing live at the Key Club on 2/25/06.
Download "Twilight Distillery"
Oceansize Everyone Into Position (Beggars Banquet) - Domestic release of British band.
Prefuse 73 Security Screenings (guests Four Tet and members of TV on the Radio) (Warp) - Pitchfork gave it a 6.9 and liked the guest tracks the best.
Swearing at Motorists Last Night Becomes This Morning (Secretly Canadian) - Playing live at the Avalon on 2/21/06. I honestly just don't know anything about them.
Telepathe Farewell Forest EP (The Social Registry) - ?
KT Tunstall Eye to Telescope (Virgin) - KCRW music

Reissues:
Caribou (formerly Manitoba) Start Breaking My Heart and Up in Flames (Domino) - I'm guessing they just reissued these as Caribou instead of Manitoba.
Ray Davies The Storyteller (ICE #227) (EMI/Koch) - Apparently this went out of print. I have the original release and I saw him twice on the tour. He's my favorite songwriter of all time, so of course I think it's worth picking up if you have the relevant Kinks albums (Village Green, Arthur, Muswell Hillbillies, Face to Face, etc.)...
Gastr del Sol Harp Factory on Lake Street (Table of the Elements) - Reissue of 1994 album featuring members of Tortoise, Sea And Cake, Shellac, Dazzling Killmen, Brise Glace, and The Vandermark 5.

Live Music Options

I only made it out once last week, to see Tom Heinl at Spaceland. He played about 30 minutes and he was funny but has no business headlining a rock club. There were about seven people there on a Wednesday night. He'd be better as an opening act for an alt comedian like David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Eugen Mirman or something like that. How 'bout that Super Bowl? The refs were so bad.

Monday 2/6/06
Future Pigeon / Maktwain @ Silverlake Lounge [FREE] - LA's most popular dub band is back after splitting the free residency with their alterego Wiskey Biscuit last month at the Echo. They've got a 7" coming out on Record Collection on 2/28/06 and a full-length to follow in March. Maktwain is a local post-rock instrumental keyboard guitar band.
Download Maktwain's "Studies in Road Travel"

The Willowz / The Little Ones @ Spaceland [FREE] - What do I know about The Willowz? They're young, garage rock-inspired and hail from behind the Orange curtain. They record for Sympathy for the Record Industry. Placed #46 on Rolling Stone's list of top 50 albums last year. Michel Gondry is a fan and directed one of their videos. Keith Morris guested on their record. They're playing for free at Spaceland every Monday night in February. If you're only going to see them once wait until next week when Wolfmother supports. The Little Ones are a local indie pop band.
Download The Little Ones' "Lovers Who Uncover"

Listing Ship @ the Echo [FREE] - They've got a violin, viola, vibraphone and acoustic bass. Members have toured with the Eels and Arthur Lee and they've opened for Low. Kind of a melancholy indie folk sound. The LA Weekly thinks you should check it out.
Download the Listing Ship's "Ichabod Crane"

Tuesday 2/7/06
Becky @ Spaceland [?] -Becky are a local band that Keanu Reeves used to be in. I think a lot of girls check out the band hoping Keanu will be there. They're playing Spaceland every Tuesday in February. I'm not endorsing them, I just thought you should know....

Wednesday 2/8/06
Chief Corn Foot's Corn Chowder Comedy Hour @ Sea Level Records 8:30PM [FREE] - Joe Rogan, Morgan Murphy, Eddie Pepitone, Josh Fadem. With free beer too!

Mae Shi @ Troubadour [$8] - In your face abrasive rock'n'roll. For fans of 400 Blows and other noise rock.
Download Mae Shi's "Born For a Short Time"

The Living Blue / Light FM @ Spaceland [?] - The Living Blue sounds like a generic alt band. They're on Minty Fresh and they've been championed by Alternative Press. Light FM is a Chicago band that gets compared to Grandaddy & the Cars.

The Brokedown @ Silverlake Lounge [$7] - They're a local indie pop band that Harp Magazine compared to Matthew Sweet, Coldplay, the Church, Fountains of Wayne and Old 97s.
Download The Brokedown's "Down in the Valley"

Foreign Born @ 3 of Clubs (1123 Vine St., Hollywood) - Atmospheric music that's currently getting the blogosphere's attention. They're playing every Wednesday at the 3 of Clubs in February. They're also playing for free on Thursday at the Echo.
Download Foreign Born's "We Had Pleasure"

Thursday 2/9/06
Sabrosa Purr / Jeff Hanson @ Spaceland [?] - Sabrosa Purr is playing every Thursday in February. They've got an angsty guitar sound. Jeff Hanson is a singer-songwriter with one of the highest falsettos you'll ever hear (at least from a man). He sounds a lot like an affected Elliott Smith (doubletracked vocals and acoustic guitar) and he's even on Kill Rock Stars.
Download Jeff Hanson's "Hiding Behind the Moon"
Download Jeff Hanson's "Just Like Me"

Weekend Live Music Picks

A great chance to see some of the biggest local bands this weekend. That's Silversun Pickups not looking at the camera in the photo.

Friday 2/3/06
Dead Meadow / Silversun Pickups / The Clean Prophets @ Troubadour [$12] - Dead Meadow's a neo-pyschedelic band with the occasional Sabbath riff. They're on Matador Records. Silversun Pickups are one of the most popular local bands. Angst-ridden lyrics and crunchy guitar sounds. They're on Dangerbird Records and currently finishing up their full lengh record. The Clean Prophets are another local band who just finished their record and are starting to get some good buzz (including an LA Times notice this week). There's a little bit of Echo & the Bunnymen & Chamelons in their sound.
Download Dead Meadow's "At Her Open Door"
Download The Clean Prophets' "Tambourine Crown"

Sea Wolf/ The Good Listeners @ El Cid [$5] - Sea Wolf is part of the Ship Collective of local artists (along with two other bands playing this weekend: Silversun Pickups andIrving). They're more of a melancholy indie band. The Good Listeners are a local band that recently popped onto my radar but I still haven't seen them.

The 88 @ Spaceland [Advance tickets sold out so get there early] - Local band. I've reviewed their album and written about them before. They're starting to get more national exposure. The All Music Guide throws around the Knack, Squeeze and Jellyfish in describing their sound.

Saturday 2/4/06
The Charlatans UK / Mellowdrone @ Little Radio Warehouse (1218 Long Beach Ave./LA, CA) [$12]- Tickets for this show go on sale at Sea Level Records on Saturday at noon. Support your local record store while you're there (RIP Aron's and Rhino Westwood). It's the Charlatans first show in a long time and they're filming a video. Hard to believe their first album came out in 1990. I really liked "The Only One I Know."

Of Montreal / Irving @ Ex_Plex [Sold Out] - Of Montreal was never my favorite member of the Elephant 6 collective but they're one of the only survivors and seem to just keep getting bigger. Irving's a local indie pop band with a new album coming out on Eenie Meenie on April 4th.
Download Irving's "I Can't Fall in Love"
Download Of Montreal's cover of the Shins' "Know Your Onion"

Sunday 2/5/06
Eleni Mandell @ Tangier [$10] - For the KCRW people. She's a local artist with a smooth adult sound. She'll be doing it every Sunday night in February.

Album Review: Kelley Stoltz

Artist: Kelley Stoltz
Album: Below the Branches
Release Date: February 7, 2006
Label: Sub Pop
Previous Releases: The Past Was Faster, Antique Glow, The Sun Comes Through EP
Home: San Francisco
Local live appearances: The Echo 2/18/06 @ 7:00PM w/ the Drones [$8]

You've got to be in the right mood for this one but it's definitely interesting enough to recommend. Listen to the two free downloads. They're two of the standout tracks so if you don't like them you probably won't like the rest of the album. It's skewed pop music with a 70's feel (some psych and folk elements). Almost every song is about relationships and uses a lot of nature imagery in the lyrics. I don't have copies of the lyrics, so excuse me if I misquote. 13 mostly melancholy songs in under 40 minutes.

1. Wave Goodbye - "Find a thing that makes you happy" and move on. Good piano driven song with some boogie to it.
2. Little Lords - A slower melancholy acoustic guitar driven track. "When will the sunshine pass this way again?"
3. Ever Thought of Coming Back - Jesus Christ if you ever thought of coming back now is the time. Upbeat with high harmonies and a solid bass line.
4. Words - Slow melancholy song with nice production. "To love you is the highest high."
5. Mystery - Very slow song. "I'm free for you now."
6. Summer's Easy Feeling - Another slow one. "I just touch my heart and find you there."
7. Memory Collector - Another more upbeat piano song. Nice childhood memories. Standout track (Sub Pop wisely chose it as a free download).
8. Birdies Singing - Another strong track. Birds chirping in the background, la-las and a lighter vibe.
9. The Rabbit Hugged the Hound - Sounds a little like an upbeat Smog song. You've gotta get out there and take some chances to really live/love.
10. The Sun Comes Through - Another standout track. The sun comes through the window and it's alright. Watch out for that fake fadeout towards the end because there's 90 seconds left.
11. Winter Girl - Mid-tempo. Is that a snowflake or a tear on your cheek?
12. Prank Calls - Prank calls coming from "some old lover who ain't getting none." Our love's cheaper than the price of gasoline. Piano driven.
13. No World like the World - "Sometimes your life seems too long." A downer to end the record.