Friday, June 19, 2009

Sinking Radio: Link Wray's "Fire and Brimstone"


This is my weekly reminder to tune into Sinking Radio Friday from Noon to 2:00 PM on LittleRadio.com. Tomorrow is the show's two year anniversary. Expect guest appearances galore...

Each week, the show features an "official" You Set the Scene pick of the week. My pick for tomorrow's show is Link Wray's "Fire and Brimstone." The reason I picked this song at this time is pretty stupid...I just finished watching Jack White's new band, The Dead Weather on the Late Show. And although White plays drums in the new band, his guitar playing frequently makes me think of Link Wray.

Wray revolutionized electric guitar playing in the late 1950's. Believe it or not, the self-titled album that features "Fire and Brimstone" came out in 1971, when Wray was already in his forties. It's just a completely timeless, ripping blues song.

Hipster fashion victims take note, that Indian look Wray's sporting on the cover of the record isn't some pose. He actually was a Shawnee Indian.

Oddly, this record doesn't seem to be available on iTunes (but is available on Amazon). However, I recommend you pick it up on vinyl if/when you see it. You will not regret it.....

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Recently Announced Live Shows


UPDATED: UPDATES ARE IN THIS PURPLE-ISH FONT

Staples
9/23/09: Britney Spears / Ciara (on sale now)

The Echoplex
7/16/09: The Very Best (on sale now)
7/25/09: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks (on sale now)
7/31/09: Deerhoof (on sale now)

El Rey
11/14/09: Pinback (on sale Saturday)

Club Nokia
8/4/09: The Ting Tings (on sale now)
8/29/09: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic (on sale Friday)
9/10/09: MUTEMATH (on sale 7/3/09)
10/16/09: KMFDM (on sale Friday)
10/18/09: Butthole Surfers (on sale Friday)

McCabe’s
7/26/09: Mekons (on sale now)

The Echo
7/27/09: Mekons (on sale now)
9/22/09: Pink Mountaintops (on sale now)

Hollywood Bowl
9/16/09: The Killers (on sale TBD)

Fox Theatre in Pomona
9/17/09: The Airborne Toxic Event / The Henry Clay People (presale now, password = WHITENOISE; on sale Saturday)

Nokia Theatre
10/16/09: Jamie Foxx (AmEx presale starts Saturday; public on sale 6/26)

Greek Theatre
8/12/09: Jackson Browne (on sale Saturday)
9/9/09 – 9/10/09: Dave Mathews Band (on sale Friday)
9/12/09: Flogging Molly (presale now, password = IRISH; on sale Saturday)

Troubadour
8/26/09: Dungen / Woods / Kurt Vile (on sale Friday)

Spaceland
8/28/09 - 8/29/09: The Warlocks (on sale now)

Hollywood Palladium
8/19/09: Atmosphere (on sale Friday)

Gibson Amphitheatre
8/13/09: Lil’ Wayne w/ Young Jeezy / Soulja Boy / Drake / Jeremih (CitiCards presale now; on sale Saturday)

The Fonda
10/9/09: Dark Star Orchestra (on sale now)

Verizon Wireless
9/18/09: Blink-182 / Fall Out Boy / The All American Rejects / Chester French (Citi Card presale now; KROQ presale password = KROQ182; on sale Saturday)

House of Blues Sunset
8/15/09: Method Man, Redman, Ghostface (on sale now)

House of Blues Anaheim
8/27/09: Devendra Banhart (presale now, password = DREAM; on sale Saturday)

Monday, June 15, 2009

Live Music Options: 6/15/09 - 6/21/09


Monday 6/15/09
[Pick of the Night] The Lassie Foundation / Amusement Parks on Fire / Magic Mirror / The Broken Remotes @ The Echoplex (Free) – This is a celebration for the anniversary of Bronson’s Buzz Bands blog.
[Recommended] Charlie Wadhams / Joseph Childress / Mia Maestro and Aaron Robinson @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Recommended for Wadhams, I’m not familiar with the other artists.
[Recommended] Castledoor / Deep Sea Diver / Gumshoe / Agent Ribbons @ Spaceland (Free) – Castledoor has been packing in the crowd. Deep Sea Diver is heading out on the road for a bunch of dates with Conor Oberst. The band features Jessica Dobson who plays in Beck’s band and who showed up in a couple of responses to my recent contest question “who is your rock star crush?”
Oliver Future / Gliss / Alexandra Hope / Dear or the Doe @ the Echo (Free) – Oliver Future continues their residency.
A Camp / Gentleman Reg / Cat Fur @ Troubadour ($17) – Featuring Nina Persson of the Cardigans
Von Bondies / Bloodcat Love @ Viper Room ($15)
Aures / Exotic Boulders / Ezra Buchla / Znayu @ Echo Curio
Jake Labotz / Ladyfingers @ Redwood
Marshall Crenshaw @ Grammy Museum ($15) - Discussing his music and performing a few acoustic numbers.

Tuesday 6/16/09
[Pick of the Night] Art Brut / Miike Snow / Golden Years @ Spaceland ($15) – The first night of four for Art Brut. KCRW is all over Miike Snow right now.
Bat for Lashes / Hecuba @ El Rey (Sold Out)
LANDy / The French Semester / Spleen @ the Echo ($5) – LANDy is Adam Goldberg’s band.
Osc & Ano / Brack Clowns / Stellarphone / The Frimps / Bastidas / Wrong Way Driver @ Airliner
Headlight / Capillary Action / 60 Watt Kid @ Echo Curio
The Section Quartet w/ Sam Phillips, Grant Lee Phillips @ Largo ($25)
Mississippi Man / Zach Lupetin & the Dustbowl Revival / Leftover Cuties @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Matisyahu / K’naan / Dub Trio @ The Wiltern
By Sunlight / Bright Light Fever / The Voyeurs @ The Prospector in Long Beach

Wednesday 6/17/09
[Pick of the Night] The Dead Weather @ The Roxy (Sold Out) – The Dead Weather is the new band featuring Allison Mosshart of the Kills with Jack White on drums. Doors at 7:00 PM for this show. 
[Recommended] Illa J / Memory9 / Jayceeoh @ Airliner ($10)
[Recommended] Art Brut / Nico Stai / Tall Hands @ Spaceland ($15) – Night two of Art Brut.
[Recommended] Viva Voce / Cut Off Your Hands @ The Echo ($12)
[Recommended] Spindrift / The Moon Upstairs @ Redwood
The Entrance Band / Sleepy Sun / Dios (Malos) / Slang Chickens @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts ($10)
Captain Ahab / Electrocute / Baad / Hawnay Troof / Michael Vidal @ The Smell ($5)
Scion House Party: Zomby / Joker and MC Nomad / 12th Planet @ the Roxy (Free w/RSVP) - Doors at 10:30 for this show. 
Matador / Chingalera / Yidhra / Dead Ponies / Mortimer Young @ The Blue Monkey
Robotanists / The Lynx Technique / The Rhone Occupation @ Echo Curio
Zap Mama / Jeremy Sole @ El Rey ($30)
Sarah Silverman @ Largo ($25)
Michael Berg / David J / Damien Youth @ Bootleg Theater ($8)
Delete Scenes / So Many Wizards / Constant Collection @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Butterfly Boucher @ Hotel Café
Finch / Halifax @ Troubadour ($15)
Willy Porter and Raining Jane @ Grammy Museum (Free)
The Airborne Toxic Event / Iglu & Harley @ Avalon ($40 - $150) - Buy here
Busdriver @ Amoeba (Free) - 7:00 PM show

Thursday 6/18/09
[Pick of the Night] Busdriver / Nocando / Blank Blue @ Knitting Factory ($12) – I tend to prefer rappers with unusual flows. Check out this week’s LA Weekly for Jeff Weiss’ cover story on Busdriver.
[Recommended] Art Brut / Rumspinga / Voxhaul Broadcast @ Spaceland ($15)
Chairlift / Luke Top / The Frequency @ The Echo ($10) – Chairlift benefited from licensing a song to Apple. They’re part of the same Brooklyn scene that brought you MGMT and Yeasayer.
White Rabbits / The Subjects @ Troubadour ($14) – White Rabbits are signed to Phil Costello’s TBD Records (home of Radiohead).
Dwight Yoakam @ Grammy Museum ($45) - Interview followed by a few acoustic songs.
Gossip Tree / The Lost Patrol / Beat Killers / cheeahsaurus @ The Smell ($5)
Keyshia Cole @ Nokia Theatre
Warpaint @ Amoeba (Free) - 7:00 PM show

Friday 6/19/09
[Pick of the Night] Grizzly Bear / Here We Go Magic @ The Wiltern (Sold Out)
[Recommended] Jay Reatard / Thee Makeout Party / Digital Leather @ Alex’s Bar in
Long Beach ($10)
[Recommended] Bobb Bruno @ L’Keg Gallery
The Queers / The Mansfields / The Hot Toddies / The Atom Age @ Knitting Factory ($15)
Art Brut / The Blood Arm @ The Echo ($15) – Night four moves to the Echo.
Mere Mortals / Lower Heaven / Chief Nowhere / Black Kites @ Spaceland ($8)
Todd Rundgren / Paul Freeman / Rusty Anderson @ Club Nokia ($33 - $40)
Ben Kweller / Local Natives / The Jones Street Station @ El Rey ($19)
Jon Brion @ Largo ($25)
Thieves Like Us / Nightwaves / Esser @ The Echoplex ($10 w/RSVP)
Volts / Shayne Keator / Gossip Tree / Goldiggers @ The Smell ($5)
Opening Night @ The Hollywood Bowl ($17 - $103) – Roger Daltrey, Trisha Yearwood perform and Josh Groban is an inductee.
Ninja Academy / Blastoids / David Liebe / Hart and Adam / Papagan / Unsexxy @ Pehrspace
Lovelikefire / Spleen United / All Wrong and the Plans Change @ Bootleg Theater ($8)
Emily Wells / Andy Clockwise / Olin and the Moon / The Grizzly Owls @ Hotel Café – Andy Clockwise is doing the Spaceland residency next month.

Saturday 6/20/09
[Pick of the Week] Wilco / Jonathan Wilson @ Fox Theater in Pomona (Sold Out) - They’ll be playing three shows at the Wiltern next week. I had tickets to this, but now I have to miss it…
[Recommended] Shellac / Arcwelder @ Echoplex ($15) – Steve Albini
[Recommended] Grizzly Bear / Here We Go Magic @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – I’d much rather see them at the Troubadour than the Wiltern.
[Recommended] PJ Harvey & John Parish @ The Wiltern ($40 - $50)
[Recommended] Seasons / Blue Jungle / I Make This Sound / The Shade / Robotanists @ Mr. T’s Bowl - Good local lineup.
Chairlift / DJ Frosty @ Getty Center Courtyard (Free) – 7:00 PM
[Recommended] Bolero @ Bootleg Theater ($8)
The Queers / The Mansfields / The Hot Toddies @ Alex’s Bar in Long Beach ($15)
Nouvelle Vague @ The Fonda ($25)
Mike Watt / Thee Headliners / Ladyfingers @ Redwood Bar
DJ Quik @ House of Blues ($25)
Halloween Jack / Sabrosa Purr @ Spaceland ($10)
Tom Brosseau / Mike Stinson @ McCabe’s ($12.50)
Mariachi USA Festival @ The Hollywood Bowl ($1 - $150)
El Inganni / Foot Foot / Malcolm Sosa / Soap @ Pehrspace
Jen & Abby / Julie Doiron @ Hotel Café
Oren Lavie / Gary Jules @ The Mint ($15)
Our Brother the Native / Religious Girls / Voice on Tape / Foot Village @ The Smell ($5)
Amusement Parks on Fire / United Spleen @ the Prospector in Long Beach
Dinosaur Jr. @ the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($25) – They’ll be at the Troubadour next week.

Sunday 6/21/09
[Pick of the Night] Femi Kuti and the Positive Force / Santigold / Raphael Saadiq @ The Hollywood Bowl ($10 - $98) – The first good show at the Bowl.
[Recommended] Shellac / Arcwelder @ Echoplex ($15) - Albini
[Recommended] Make Music Pasadena: Juana Molina / Quetzal / Mirah / Red Molly / Whispertown 2000 @ Old Town Pasadena (Free)
The Grand Ole Echo: Steve Casper / Dave Gleason / Nicole Gordon @ The Echo (Free) – 5:00 PM
[Recommended] The Circle Jerks @ The Keyclub ($18)
Venus Infers / Feelings Mutual @ Spaceland (Free)
Amy Correia @ Hotel Café
Chairlift @ Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa ($12)
Part Time Punks @ the Echo ($5)
Captain Ahab / Starfu*ker / Atole / Halloween Swim Team @ the Smell ($5)

Friday, June 12, 2009

The Dead Weather Announce Club Show


See The Dead Weather next Wednesday, June 17th at the Roxy. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at Noon. The band's in town to make a television appearance. If you miss this, you can get tickets for the Wiltern on August 25th or the Glass House on August 27th.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Sinking Radio: Frankel's "Ticket Machine"


This is my weekly reminder to tune in to Sinking Radio this Friday from Noon to 2:00 PM on LittleRadio.com. Each week, the hosts play an official You Set the Scene pick. My pick for this week's show is Frankel's "Ticket Machine."

If you've seen Earlimart in the past year or so, there's a good chance you've seen Michael Orendy playing bass with them. It shouldn't be news to longtime readers of the blog that Orendy records solo stuff under the name Frankel. A few of you might even remember that Frankel's last record, Lullaby for the Passerby, was number four on my list of best local releases of 2007. (Looking back on it, that list holds up surprisingly well, but that's another story.) 

When I heard Orendy had a new record on the way, it immediately went on my list of most anticipated records for 2009. According to the Frankel Myspace page, Anonymity Is the New Fame will finally be available June 23rd on the Aquarium Drunkard's Autumn Tone Records. 

Frankel's first record drew comparisons to Harry Nilsson and Lennon/McCartney, while I compared it to Richard Swift and Andrew Bird. Those influences are muted this time around. The new songs are a little less bouncy pop and a little more fuzzy folk.  

I'm not one of those guys that throws around Elliott Smith comparisons (or "Elliot Smith" as most people still spell it - sorry, it's an anal retentive pet peeve), but the first two tracks on Anonymity Is the New Fame, brought Smith to mind in a very positive way. Subject wise, the lyrics are nothing like Smith's. It's more a case of how the vocals, piano and acoustic guitar are recorded on a few of the songs. 

When you listen, forget my Elliott Smith comparisons. As he proved on Lullaby for the Passerby, Orendy's a very talented songwriter/artist in his own right. It never comes off as emulation, just influence. 

This record will, once again, most likely end up very high on my list of best of 2009.....

Visit Surfing on Steam for a download of another track from the album.