Ticket Giveaway: Gram Parsons - Fallen Angel

What: Win two free tickets to a screening of Gram Parsons - Fallen Angel
When: Wednesday June 7th @ 7:00 PM
Where: Laemmle's Sunset 5
How: The first person to email me (dukeufo at hotmail.com) with Gram's birth name wins the tickets to the screening

Gram Parsons is often credited as the father of country-rock. That may not be entirely true, but he was certainly there from the beginning. His work in The International Submarine Band, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and his solo stuff has influenced bands like the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, My Morning Jacket, Dwight Yoakam, Mike Stinson, etc.

I'd read Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons before seeing this, and I still found this documentary extremely compelling. The filmmaker speaks with a lot of the key figures in Gram's life: Keith Richards, Emmylou Harris, Chris Hillman, Pamela Des Barres, Bernie Leadon, Phil Kaufman, etc. This film isn't the one-sided work of an adoring fan - we see what a complex man Gram was. From his tough family life, to his burgeoning career, to his relationship with Keith Richards, to his death. It's all fascinating stuff. Unfortunatley there's not a lot of actual footage of Gram on film in existence, but this documentary captures pieces of it. Fans will love hearing Pamela talk about early Burritos shows and Manuel talk about working with Gram on his famous Nudie suit. And there's a lot of footage of Keith speaking adoringly. It might make you feel like taking a road trip to Joshua Tree.

If you can't make it out to the Sunset 5 on Wednesday, you can still catch the documentary on DVD starting on June 20th.

Recommended music: The Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo, The Flying Burrito Brothers' Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe, Gram Parsons' G.P. and Grievous Angel

Sunset Junction Lineup

This year's Sunset Junction is scheduled for August 26-27. Band announcements are slowing trickling out. Usually I can only handle one day surrounded by such a high concentration of freaks, so this year I'll probably go on Saturday. Sunday's a more "adult" lineup and has a pretty strong country presence. Which ever day you go, I recommend smuggling in lots of hard liquor and wearing sunscreen.

Saturday (so far):
Monsters are Waiting, The Little Ones (who are also doing the Monday night Spaceland residency in August), Great Northern, Arthur Adams, The eels, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Isaac Hayes, etc.

Sunday (so far):
Restaurant, I See Hawks In LA, The Cousin Lovers, Mike Stinson, Candye Kane, Dave Alvin, Hank Williams III, The Cramps, etc.

Keep your eye on the lineup HERE

Weekend Live Music Options

Kool Keith plays the Knitting Factory on Sunday

Friday 6/2/06
Mike Stinson / Flash Express / Stax of Women @ El Cid ($7) – As regular readers know, Mike Stinson’s my favorite local country-rocker. He’s a big Gram Parsons fan and it shows in his music. His guitarist, Tony Gilkyson (X, Lone Justice) is so much fun to watch. He plays effortlessly. If you like Jon Spencer, then check out Flash Express. Stax of Women is a talented cover band (Josh Schwartz, Jason Moore, etc.) that keeps changing their name.

Infinity @ Spaceland ($10) – They’re a female-fronted Journey tribute band and they’re supposed to be incredibly entertaining. Click on the link to their Myspace page and check out the set list. Who doesn’t like Journey?

Hank Williams III / The Murder Junkies @ the Roxy (Sold Out) – I’ve always respected him, but I’m just now getting around to listening to his new record. He’s reverential to good country like his Grandpa, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Cash and the Louvin Brothers. Fear not if you didn’t get tickets, he’s also appearing at the Fonda on 6/6/06 (with Glen Danzig?). The Murder Junkies were GG Allin’s last touring band. If you don’t know anything about GG, check out Todd Phillips’ (Old School, Road Trip) frightening documentary, Hated. We showed that in college and it almost resulted in a riot. The band Cocknoose got on stage and pissed on the movie screen and then somebody pulled the fire alarm in the student union and the fire department showed up. I almost got asked to resign from my volunteer job (which was bringing movies to campus). The administrators tried to get me to sign some document taking blame for it all and I didn’t even pick the movie. It was my friend Shannon. Good times.

Howlin Rain / CB Brand @ the Echo ($8 adv / $10 dos) – Do you like the Greatful Dead? So does Howlin Rain. The band features Ethan Miller of Comets on Fire and John Moloney of Sunburned Hand of the Man. The influential record store Other Music absolutely loves it. Download “Roll on the Rusted Days”

People Under the Stairs @ Troubadour ($15) – Local underground hip-hop. You can listen to a bunch of their live sets on their website.

Saturday 6/3/06
The Boy Least Likely To @ the Roxy ($12) – Yes these Brits are a little fey, but they’re also incredibly entertaining. I saw them recently at Spaceland and they exceeded all expectations - way better than you’d think. It was one of the better times I’ve had at a show this year. They’re playful pop, but tour with a full live band. Don’t believe me? Pitchfork gave their debut album an 8.5/10. Follow this link and watch the VIDEO. Download “Rock Upon a Porch With You” They’re also appearing at Fingerprints Records in Long Beach at 2:00 PM.

Danielson @ Spaceland ($10) – Speaking of Pitchfork, the founder of Pitchfork recently gave the Danielson album a 9.1/10. The music’s interesting, but a little too manic for me. I still think they’re way better than Fiery Furnaces. They’re part of the indie Christian community along with Sufjan Stevens. Download “Daughters Will Tune You”

Pretty Girls Make Graves / Giant Drag @ the El Rey ($16) – I still haven’t seen Giant Drag.

Arctic Monkeys / We Are Scientists @ the Wiltern (Sold Out) – I had a pretty good time when I saw Arctic Monkeys at Spaceland in January. They’re not bad. At the time I may have said that they’re like what would happen if four guys from your high school soccer band listened to the Clash’s first album and then started a band. I still wasn’t compelled to purchase the record. I don’t get the critics who cite the brilliance of the lyrics.

Ice Cube @ House of Blues (Sold Out) – “The Nigga Ya Love to Hate” says “Get Off My Dick and Tell Yo Bitch to Come Here”

Liars @ the Troubadour ($12) – And Pitchfork gave their recent record a 9.0/10. The All Music Guide says they play a noise-rock/prog rock fusion.

Sunday 6/4/06
Let’s Go Sailing / Birdmonster / Run Run Run @ Little Radio (Free) 1:00PM-7:00PM – Who can turn down a free barbeque with cheap liquor? Let’s Go Sailing’s show at the Troubadour was my pick on Tuesday, but unfortunately I didn’t make it down. That kid at You Ain’t No Picasso has written about them before (if that means anything to you). The Rock Insider (another local LA blog) wrote a really enthusiastic blog about them this week and she frequently praises Birdmonster too.
Let’s Go Sailing’s “All I Want”
Birdmonster’s “Resurrection Song”

Kool Keith / Tash (Alkaholiks) @ the Knitting Factory ($12 adv / $15 dos) – You know him from Ultramagnetic MCs, Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, Black Elvis, Analog Brothers, etc. Kool Keith is probably apeshit bananas but I still like him. He’s one of the funniest guys in rap. My favorite record is Sex Style. By the way, there’s another Dr. Octagon album coming out on July 27th.

DJ Alan McGee @ the Echo (Free) – The Part Time Punks bring back Creation Records magnate, Alan McGee to DJ.

Mickey Avalon

The folks at Dim Mak have been nice enough to post a video of Mickey Avalon performing at that Long Beach festival they curated. You also get to see Mickey kiss Steve Aoki and dance with the Cobrasnake. This pretty much speaks for itself. The Cobrasnake does spend an alarming amount of time on his knees in front of Mickey's crotch.

http://www.dimmak.com/events/index.php

Sasquatch

MSN is hosting some fairly high quality video footage from last weekend's Sasquatch festival. Check out the following You Set the Scene approved bands HERE:

Iron & Wine
Roque Wave (somebody let the lead singer know that he wears too much jewelry)
Band of Horses (that guy is tattoo addicted)

The Jamie Lidell footage perplexes me. I don't get him at all. I know Beck loves him and Pitchfork loves him. I put him in same class as Matisyahu. Is that wrong?