Radar Brothers: The Illustrated Garden

This year's already shaping up to be much better than last. I've already enjoyed a bunch of new releases ( Surfer Blood, The Soft Pack, Beach House, Spoon, Aloha and Broken Bells to name a few). And the rest of the year looks promising too (I'm already digging the new Dr. Dog). But the record I've listened to the most so far is the Radar Brothers new album, The Illustrated Garden (due March 23rd).

As longtime readers know, the Radar Brothers have been my favorite LA band for over a decade. After hearing the new one (and loving it) I agreed to help them out with some of the press materials, so you'll probably see me paraphrased in some of the press for the album.

A few weeks back I caught the new live lineup recording a session for the Aquarium Drunkard's radio show and then last night I saw them at a small space in Highland Park. It's probably my favorite live lineup so far. Jim Putnam's joined by Be Hussey (bass), Stevie Treichel (ex-Movies on drums), Brian Cleary (ex-Movies on keys) and Dan Iead (ex-Broken West on guitar).

For those heading to SXSW, you can catch them Thursday in the day at Home Slice Pizza or later that night at the official Merge showcase at the Cedar Street Courtyard. For those in LA, their record release party is Friday March 26th at Spaceland.

Stream the new album HERE

Buy tickets to the record release show HERE

Pre-order from Insound HERE

Recently Announced Live Shows

Levon Helm Is Coming to the Greek



Greek Theatre (must subscribe to Premiere Marquee Club to get tickets for now)
5/29/10: War / Tower of Power / Average White Band
6/12/10: The Stylistics / Chi-Lites / Ray Goodman & Brown)
7/9/10: Yes / Peter Frampton
7/10/10: Chris Botti
7/11/10: Steve Miller Band / Los Lobos
7/23/10: Jackson Browne
7/24/10: Go-Go’s
7/30/10: Serj Tankian with orchestra
7/31/10: Pat Benetar / REO Speedwagon
8/7/10: Ringo Starr
8/14/10: Los Lonely Boys
8/15/10: Levon Helm / Jenny Lewis
8/18/10: Rodrigo y Gabriela
8/21/10: Al Green / Stephanie Mills
8/24/10: Chris Isaak
8/25/10: Norah Jones
8/27/10: Cyndi Lauper
8/28/10: Morris Day / Bar-Kays / Lakeside / Slave / Klymaxx
9/8/10: David Gray / Ray LaMontagne
9/10/10: Sheryl Crow
9/24/10: Willie Nelson
9/25/10: Bank of Horses
10/2/10 – 10/3/10: Dane Cook


The Fonda
4/23/10: Hole (Saturday at 10 AM)
4/30/10: Murder City Devils (Saturday at 10 AM)
5/12/10 – 5/13/10: Ben Folds and a Piano (presale now, password = NORMAL; Saturday at 10 AM)

El Rey
5/11/10: Kate Nash (Saturday at 10 AM)
5/15/10: Carney (presale now, password = CHASEME; Saturday at 10 AM)
5/19/10: Caribou (now)

Club Nokia
5/13/10: Drake (presale now, password = BEST; Friday at 10 AM)

Bootleg
4/27/10: Javelin / Maus Haus (now at in ticketing)
5/5/10: Eluvium / Bell Gardens (now at in ticketing)
5/19/10: Horse Feathers / Dawn Landes (now at in ticketing)

Silverlake Lounge
5/6/10: A Weather (now at in ticketing)

Troubadour
4/8/10: Depswa (Thursday at 7:30 PM)
5/4/10: Greg Laswell (Friday at 1:00 PM)
6/5/10: Isis (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
6/12/10: Tortoise (now)

Verizon Wireless
6/16/10: Sting (Monday at 10 AM)

Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario
5/22/10: Eagles (Monday at 10 AM)

Gibson Amphitheatre
5/20/10 – 5/22/10: Glee Live in Concert (Saturday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Palladium
4/2/10: Ferry Corsten (now)
4/21/10: Sublime with Rome (now)

Live Music Options: 3/8/10 - 3/14/10

The Fresh & Onlys Play Spaceland on Saturday

All in all there are a few solid options each night this week including many pre-SXSW shows as bands from Australia and the West Coast head towards Texas. I didn't get out a lot last week but did catch The Wooden Birds (really pretty stuff) and the Clientele (they've improved so much since their first US tour).

Monday March 8, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Moonrats / Aska / Adanowsky / Soko @ Spaceland (Free) – The Moonrats’ residency kicks off with a solid lineup all night long.
[Recommended] The Delta Mirror / Alexandra Hope / Sister Crayon / Corridor @ The Echo (Free) – Pitchfork recently gave the Delta Mirror an 8 out of 10 for their track “He Was Worse Than the Needle He Gave You.”
David Bazan / Headlights / Kissing Cousins @ Alex’s Bar ($12)
Year Long Disaster / National Dust / Bigbang / Normandie / Chasing Kings @ Troubadour (Free) – Year Long Disaster did the Monday night residency at Spaceland in January.
Seaspin / Wild Yaks / Repeater / The Romany Rye @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Seaspin are doing the Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge.
Alesana / A Skylit Drive @ El Rey ($18)
Doug Benson @ Largo ($20)
Thee Vicars / Night Beats / Cobalt Cranes / Wailin’ Yeahs / Strangers Family Band @ Redwood Bar ($8)

Tuesday March 9, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Laura Veirs / Old Believers / Cataldo @ Spaceland ($12) – Talented folky, singer-songwriter.
[Recommended] The Big Pink / A Place To Bury Strangers / Active Child @ El Rey ($20) – For the shoegazers.
[Recommended] Twin Tigers / Skybombers / Useless Keys / Apes of Wrath @ the Echo ($5) – Twin Tigers are out of Athens, GA.
Red Tide / Superhumanoids / Random Patterns / His Orchestra @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Manchester Orchestra / The Features / Biffy Clyro / O’Brother @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
The Neurotics / The Crazy Squeeze @ Redwood
Planets / Totally Serious / LA Fog / Secondary @ The Smell ($5)

Wednesday March 10, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Delta Spirit / We Barbarians / Johnny Corndawg @ Bootleg ($10) – Solid rock’n’roll band.
[Recommended] Club NME: Olin and the Moon / Correatown / Finn Riggins / Jared Mees and the Grown Children @ Spaceland ($7) – Solid lineup.
Abe Vigoda / Lovvers / The Black Apples @ The Echo ($10) – Spazzy, local Smell rockers.
Little Boots / Dragonette / Class Actress @ El Rey ($20) – Hipster pop.
The Temper Trap / Darker My Love @ The Fonda ($21) – Anthemic Aussies.
Agent Ribbons / Wet & Reckless / Kissing Cousins @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Joe Sib’s California Calling / Audra Mae @ Largo ($20)
Travis x A-Trak @ The Roxy ($20)
Low End Theory Club: Free Moral Agents / The Prime @ Airliner ($10)
Dub Club: Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus / All Star Sabar Orchestra / Claudius Linton @ Echoplex ($12)
Manchester Orchestra / The Features / Biffy Clyro / O’Brother @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Brent Amaker & the Rodeo / Kimble County Killers / Rev. Deadeye @ Redwood
Brian McKnight @ The Key Club ($20)
Twin Tigers/ The Soft Hands @ Alex’s Bar ($5)

Thursday March 11, 2010
[Pick of the Night] The Cave Singers / The Dutchess and the Duke / The Moondoggies @ The Echo ($12) – I’m really curious to see The Moondoggies. Their debut was way overlooked.
[Recommended] Slow Club @ Spaceland ($10) – Buzzed about duo from Sheffield. Some nice building dynamics in their songwriting.
[Recommended] Dawes / Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons / Jason Boesel @ Troubadour ($12) – Local Americana rockers.
[Recommended] The Watson Twins @ Largo ($25)
Miles Kurosky (ex-Beulah) @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00 PM show
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / The Whigs @ Echoplex ($25)
The New Mastersounds / Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue @ El Rey ($22)
Marjorie Fair / Cue the Moon / It’s Gonna Crash @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Kevin Earnest / Alex Kemp @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Mark Mulholland / James Finch Jr. @ Redwood
So Cow / Battlehooch / Christmas Island / Judgement Day @ The Smell ($5)
Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders @ Viper Room ($15)
Peg Leg Love / Spider Problem / Nasa Space Universe / Narwhal Party @ L’Keg
On Blast / Jail Weddings @ Alex’s Bar ($5)

Friday March 12, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Quasi / Explode Into Colors / The French Semester @ Spaceland ($14) – Back when they backed up Elliott Smith, I saw Quasi a lot. I haven’t heard the new record, but I’ve always admired Sam Coomes’ songwriting.
[Recommended] The Happy Hollows / The Veils @ Troubadour ($15) – One of the many LA bands headed off to SXSW next week.
[Recommended] Janeane Garofalo @ Largo ($25)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / The Whigs @ Echoplex ($25) – I like seeing the Whigs live.
Holly Miranda @ Bootleg ($10) – She’s getting some good buzz at the moment.
Little Boots / Dragonette / Class Actress @ the Glass House ($15)
Adolescents / Youth Brigade @ El Rey ($19)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club@ Amoeba (Free) – 6:00 PM show
Zak Brown Band @ Gibson Amphitheatre ($26 - $36)
Carrie Newcomer @ McCabe’s ($17.50)
Sleepy Sun / Slang Chickens @ The Echo ($10)
Pack AD / Symbol Six @ Redwood
60 Watt / Queen Victoria / White Leopards / Andrew Felix @ L’Keg
Anna Oxygen / Broken Water / Happy Prescriptions / Dunes @ The Smell ($5)
Agent Orange / The Gears / Viva Hate / Werewolf @ Alex’s Bar ($10)

Saturday March 13, 2010
[Pick of the Night] The Fresh & Onlys / Wounded Lion / Surf City / Pivot @ Spaceland ($10) – Seems like anything on the Woodsist label gets a ton of buzz these days (though San Francisco’s Fresh & Onlys are a good psycho-pop band). Surf City’s a strong band out of New Zealand.
[Recommended] Choir of Young Believers / Great Northern @ Bootleg ($8) – Buzzed about Danish band. It was David Fricke’s pick in Rolling Stone magazine back in July.
[Recommended] Quasi @ Detroit Bar ($10) – If you miss them Friday at Spaceland.
You Say Party We Say Die / White Arrows @ Echoplex ($14) – New wavey band from Vancouver.
Matthew Good / Automatic Loveletter @ Troubadour ($23) – Veteran Vancouver band.
Vinicio Capossela / Sara Lov @ El Rey ($25)
Tig has friends @ Largo ($25)
Lucy Kaplansky @ McCabe’s ($20)
A Sunny Day in Glasgow / Pollyn @ the Mint ($12) – A Sunny Day in Glasgow’s a pretty good dream pop/shoegazey band.
Chop Tops / Los Duggans @ Redwood
Death Sentence: PANDA! / Auto Da Fe / The Urxed @ The Smell ($5)
The English Beat @ the Roxy ($22)
E-40 @ The Key Club ($25)
Tim Barry of Anvil / Possessed By Paul James / Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss @ Alex’s Bar ($10)

Sunday March 14, 2010
[Pick of the Week] Broken Bells @ Troubadour (Sold Out) – Probably the last shot at seeing Danger Mouse and James Mercer in a tiny venue. The record’s a good listen.
[Recommended] Kid Rockers: The Watson Twins @ The Echoplex ($9) – You need to kidnap a child to get into this one. The other band is TBD...
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Thousand Dozen Gloves @ Echoplex ($25)
The Aussie BBQ: The Chevelles / City Riots / Crayon Fields / Dappled Cities / Goons of Doom / Children Collide / Paul Dempsey / Oh Mercy / Washington / Cassette Kids / Sherlock’s Daughter / Pets with Pets / Henry Wagons @ The Echo ($15) – Show starts at Noon
Beaches / Love of Diagrams / Sun Araw @ The Smell ($5)
Real Vocal String Quartet @ Bootleg ($15)
Blessure Grave / Twin Crystals / Random Cuts @ The Echo ($5)
Gwendolyn & the Good Time Gang @ McCabe’s ($10) – Early show at 11 AM
Sabertooth Tiger / Memory / Tremellow @ Spaceland ($5)
Pill Wonder / 60 Watt Kid / Queen Victoria @ Synchronicity

Recently Announced Live Shows

Hole Is Coming to the Fonda

The Fonda
4/22/10: Hole (presale Friday at 10 AM, password = KROQHOLE; Saturday at 10 AM)
5/21/10: OK Go (Friday at 10 AM)
6/4/10: Mumford & Sons (Friday at 10 AM)
6/6/10: Sage Francis / Free Moral Agents (Friday at 10 AM)

Troubadour
4/6/10: Paper Tongues (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
4/13/10: Serena Ryder (Friday at 1:00 PM)
4/29/10: Jamie Lidell (now)
5/6/10: Green River Ordinance (Thursday at 1:00 PM)
5/7/10: Chapterhouse (Friday at 1:00 PM)
5/27/10: Plants & Animals (3/11/10 at 1:00 PM)
6/9/10: The Good Life (Friday at 1:00 PM)

The Wiltern
4/15/10: Lady Antebellum (Saturday at 10 AM)
5/18/10 – 5/19/10: Massive Attack / Martina Topley Bird (Friday at 10 AM)

Hollywood Palladium
4/20/10: Sublime with Rome (Friday at 4:20 PM)

Walt Disney Concert Hall
10/20/10: Ravi Shankar (subscriptions start 3/30/10)
10/27/10: Neil Sedaka
11/10/10: Buika / Lila Downs
12/8/10: Natalie Cole
3/5/11: Herbie Hancock

Hollywood Bowl
6/15/10: Sting (Monday at 10 AM)

McCabe’s
3/14/10: The Swell Season
4/9/10: Terry Reid
4/23/10: Glen Phillips

Largo
3/16/10: The Swell Season

Spaceland
5/22/10: Clem Snide / Heligoats (now at Ticketweb)

El Rey
4/12/10: Butch Walker and the Black Widows (Saturday at 10 AM)

Bootleg
3/23/10: Titus Andronicas / Let’s Wrestle (now at in ticketing)
4/2/10: Moon Kana (now at in ticketing)
4/16/10: Franz Nicolay (now at in ticketing)
4/24/10: Black Prairie (now at in ticketing)

Live Music Options: 3/1/10 - 3/7/10

The Clientele Play Spaceland on Friday and Saturday

Last week featured a lot more buzz bands than this week. I made it out to see Free Energy (they were ok, I thought the Blondes were a helluva lot better when they were still around), Gamble House (lots of potential, Grizzly Bear-esque, sound at the Silverlake Lounge not too complementary) and Bear Hands (totally won over the crowd (and me), if you like dance rock like Hot Hot Heat and Franz Ferdinand you should check them out).

Monday March 1, 2010
[Pick of the Night] The Delta Mirror / Napela / Healamonster and Tarsier / Full Frontal @ The Echo (Free) – Pitchfork recently gave the Delta Mirror an 8 out of 10 for their track “He Was Worse Than the Needle He Gave You.” Pretty, pretty depressing.
Seaspin / Ultra Violent Lights / Corridor / Yours Til Death @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
White Arrows / Spirit Animal / Superhumanoids / The Fling / The Damn Sons @ Spaceland (Free) – Moonrats are the Monday night residency band this month, but that will start next week for some reason.

Ethan Bortnick @ El Rey ($22)
Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk / Cup O Noodles @ Pehrspace
Thousand Dozen Gloves / The Dirty Mac / Sean Y Zander / Ari Hest @ Hotel Café

Tuesday March 2, 2010
[Pick of the Night] The Magnetic Fields / Mark Eitzel @ Wilshire Ebell Theatre (Sold Out)
[Recommended] The Hounds Below / Miranda Lee Richards / Rachel Dean and War Children @ Spaceland ($12) – The Hounds Below features Jason Stollsteimer from the Von Bondies. I liked that first Von Bondies record.
[Recommended] Backyard Tire Fire / Old Californio / Wheelhouse @ The Mint ($13) – Wheelhouse is Brian Whelan’s (The Broken West) new band.
Nice Nice / We Break Cameras / Bullied By Strings @ The Echo ($10)
Signals / Juiceboxxx / I.E. / Protect Me @ The Smell ($5)
Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ Troubadour ($15)
Rachel Cantu / Vivek Shraya / Gold Motel / Michael Runion / Family of the Year @ Bootleg ($10)
George Thorogood @ House of Blues Sunset ($33)
Sing Orpheus / Cinderalla Motel @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Powersolo / Stab City @ Redwood Bar
Lucy Woodward @ Hotel Café

Wednesday March 3, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Midlake / Matthew and the Arrogant Sea @ El Rey ($18) – Some critics seem disappointed they didn’t make another Fleetwood Mac record, but I like the British folk influences of the new one.
[Recommended] El Perro Del Mar / Taken By Trees @ Troubadour ($15) – Swedes.
Club NME: The Capshuns / The Bixby Knolls / Vanaprasta @ Spaceland ($5) – Record release party for the Capsuns.
The Pity Party @ The Mountain Bar
Tenlons Fort / Manhattan Murder Mystery / Will Courtney / Downtown Union @ Synchronicity
Shrinebuilder / Storm of Light @ The Echo ($18) – Shrinebulder is Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Dale Crover (Melvins), Al Cisneros (Om) and Scott Weinrich.
Low End Theory Club: Take / Mono Poly / Jonwayne @ Airliner ($10)
Yellow Alex / Bullet & Snowfox / Baron Von Luxxury / The Half Hearted @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Thursday March 4, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Phantogram / Love Grenades @ Bordello ($12) – Trip-hop duo from New York.
[Recommended] Living Suns / Harlem / Audacity / Tomorrow’s Tulips @ Detroit Bar ($8) – Good lineup if you find yourself in Costa Mesa.
The Pharmacy / Pteroacdudes @ L’Keg – Pretty good indie band.
Rumspringa / Twin Tigers / The Beaters @ 3 of Clubs (Free)
Mike Doughty / Christina Courtin @ Troubadour ($25) – Ex-Soul Coughing
Leslie and the Lys / Christopher the Conquered / The Monolators @ Echoplex ($13)
Shrinebuilder / Storm of Light @ The Echo ($18) – Shrinebulder is Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Dale Crover (Melvins), Al Cisneros (Om) and Scott Weinrich.
Galactic featuring Cyril Neville @ El Rey ($25) – Jazz-funk from New Orleans
Tommie Sunshine / Louisahhh!! / Steven Bloodbath / Audrey Napoleon / Short Circuit @ Spaceland ($12)
The Appleseed Cast perform Love Level Owl 1 & 2 @ The Glass House ($12)
Jim Bianco / Honeyhoney @ Hotel Café
Rain Phoenix / Luke Rathborne / Anthony Langdon / Angela McClusky / Camila Grey / Norm Block / Kirk Hellie @ Bootleg ($15) – Benefit for Haiti
Hypnogaja / Babel @ Silverlake Lounge ($10)

Friday March 5, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Deer Tick / Everest @ Natural History Museum ($15) – Starts at 5:30 PM; Excited about Everest’s new record – it’s due on April 20th.
[Recommended] The Clientele / The Wooden Birds / Spain @ Spaceland ($14) – The Clientele write some great (sad) pop songs. The Wooden Birds is Andrew Kenny from American Analog Set.
[Recommended] Mike Watt & the Missingmen / Lite / The Mormons @ Bootleg ($12)
Rocky Votolato / Adam H. Stephens @ Troubadour ($15) – Barsuk veteran.
Limbeck / The Absolute @ The Mint ($13) – Limbeck’s actually a pretty good band. They’ve never gotten any traction in the indie community, but check them out.
The Bird and the Bee / Juliette Commagere @ El Rey ($20) – I’ve been getting pretty into Inara George’s dad’s music lately. She’s not so bad herself.
Shadow Shadow Shade @ The Echo ($8) – The band formerly known as the Afternoons.
The Cool Kids @ The Key Club ($18)
Old Californio / Richard March / Evangenitals @ Redwood Bar
Glassell Park 3 / Dalmacio von Diamond & the Enochian Keys / Woman / Fim / The Pocket Rockets @ The Smell ($5)
The Appleseed Cast perform Love Level Owl 1 & 2 / Dreamend @ Echoplex ($15)
Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ The Glass House ($16)
The Thrilling Adventure Hour @ Largo ($25)
Bell X1 / Truth & Salvage Co. @ Hotel Café
Hollabacks / Lisa D’Amato / The Idyllists / Elephant Wave / Cassidy Haley @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Heroes + Heroines / Moses Campbell / Big Whup / So Many Wizards @ Synchronicity
Black Apples / Socorro / S. Pineda / Voice on Tape @ Pehrspace
Dirty Heads @ The Roxy ($10)
The Three Romanticists @ The Wiltern ($30 - $90)

Saturday March 6, 2010
[Pick of the Week] The Clientele / The Wooden Birds / Devon Williams @ Spaceland ($14) - The Clientele write some great (sad) pop songs. The Wooden Birds is Andrew Kenny from American Analog Set.
MP3: I Wonder Who We Are
Blind Boys of Alabama / Allen Toussaint @ Royce Hall ($25 - $66) – I would be curious to see Allen Toussaint.
Jarod Gorbel / Orenda Fink @ Bootleg ($12)
Meho Plaza / SISU / No Paws (No Lions) / Back to the Future the Ride @ The Smell ($5)
826LA Benefit: The Submarines / Summer Darling @ Echoplex ($15) – Runs from Noon until 7:00 PM – Call club for verification – only Summer Darling has the show listed on their web site.
Visa @ Troubadour ($15)
All Star Gospel Review @ Hotel Café
Cowan / Suzi Star @ Synchronicity
Heather Woodbury / Missincinatti / Moses Campbell / Voice on Tape @ Echo Curio
Boyz II Men @ Club Nokia ($20 - $50)
Joe Henry @ Largo ($25)
Woman / Dante vs. Zombies @ L’Keg
Duane Peters w/ Sean & Zander / Last Round Down @ Redwood Bar
Ellis Paul @ McCabe’s ($17.50)
Light Asylum / Tearist / Sister Crayon / The Nocturnes / Black Church @ Pehrspace
Black Dahlia Murder @ the Roxy ($13.50)
Killswitch Engage @ The Wiltern ($30)

Sunday March 7, 2010
[Pick of the Night] Audacity / Fim @ Spaceland ($5) – Fullerton punk kids.
Earthworm Ensemble @ the Echo ($8) – Early show at 2:00 PM
L’Orchidee D’Hawaii / Bella Novela / Manicorn / George Glass @ Echo Curio
Part Time Punks: the Cure nite @ The Echo ($5)
The Morgansterns / Voxhaul Broadcast @ Viper Room ($12)