Beachwood Sparks' "Make It Together"

Sperkse, Rademaker, Scher, Gunst (clockwise from top left)

Here’s my weekly reminder to point your web browser to Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) tomorrow from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PST on Little Radio. Tomorrow their guests will be Airborne Toxic Event.

Each week I pick one song to play on the show and then I eventually write about it here. On 11/22 they were on vacation. On 11/29 my pick was Kelley Stoltz’s “Your Reverie” from his forthcoming Sub Pop album, Circular Sounds (out next Tuesday). Since I haven’t heard the album yet, I’m going to skip writing about it. On 12/6/07, Sinking did an all 7” show. My pick that week was the Beachwood Sparks’ “Make It Together,” which was the B-side to “Desert Skies” (still available from Bomp!).

The Beachwood Sparks got their start in the LA scene around 1997 which was about the time I moved to LA for the first time. When I first saw them, they were a six piece consisting of: Brent Rademaker, Chris Gunst, “Farmer” Dave Scher, Aaron Sperske, Pete Kinne (RIP) and Josh Schwartz. I wrote a bit about the history of these guys back in December 2006. Basically they knew each other from KXLU and the bands Further and Strictly Ballroom. In the early days, Schwartz and Gunst would trade off lead vocal duties. The band was inspired by Gram Parsons/country rock, jangly/Byrds, power-poppy/Big Star and shoegazey/British bands. Schwartz’s songs leaned towards the more upbeat, toe tapping end of that spectrum. The band played around town quite a bit, but only released two singles while Schwartz was in the band. “Make It Together” is one of two Schwartz songs that made it to wax during that era (the other being “Midsummer Daydream” on Sub Pop). Both songs are well worth tracking down.

Situations get fucked up and Schwartz left the band before their eponymous debut full length came out on Sub Pop in 2000. The Beachwood Sparks released two full lengths (both are worth tracking down) and an EP that was a bit of a sonic departure and had guest contributions, before calling it quits. These days, several of the members are still active in music. Gunst moved up north and started a band called Mystic Chords of Memory. Sperske plays around town with the Lilys. “Farmer” Dave has been touring with Interpol and plays with Jenny Lewis. Schwartz has a new band called Bolero and recently toured with Dewey Cox.

Just announced: see Josh Schwartz play an acoustic set at 9:00 PM at Spaceland on Friday night.

Beachwood Sparks on Myspace

Download "Confusion Is Nothing New"

Nosayer

The 10 Worst Things about Seeing Yeasayer at the Echoplex on 1/26/08 [Please note, all quotes are paraphrased. I believe I'm fairly representing the essence of what he said, but I didn't have a notebook with me.]

1) It was raining really hard and I had to park far away because there was something going on at the church next door. Then I got soaked running from my car to the venue.

2) Once Yeasayer started there was a rush of people who pushed their way to the front, presumably trying to avoid the bad sound and lack of sightlines under the massive overhang.

3) The BO of the guy who eventually decided to settle in next to me.

4) The lead singer commenting after the first song, “You’re a bunch of shoegazing motherfuckers.”

5) The lead singer asking, “Are there any actors here? You’re all just here to be seen aren’t you. How about agents. Are there any agents here?”

6) The lead singer once again noting the lack of movement in the crowd, “I guess it’s early. They made us come on at 8:00 [it was 9:30]. It’s 11:00 in New York. I bet people are dancing in New York. Maybe by the time MGMT comes on you guys will have had enough drinks and you’ll move. What was with that line outside. 300 people in line to see the show. This club needs to work that shit out.”

7) The lead singer saying, “You have a lot of dreamcatchers out here. You know, out in Topanga. We don’t have that kind of thing where I’m from.”

8) The lead singer reflecting, “A lot people think we’re hippies. But we’re not.”

9) The lead singer throwing something into the crowd and hitting a girl. I didn’t see what he threw because I was walking from one side of the club to the other because I didn’t want to stand next to the hippies who were smoking a joint next to me. “Oh, I’m sorry, I meant to hit the guy next to you. Find me after the show and I’ll give you $20.” (A few people booed) “You can throw stuff at me if you want.” (A few people obliged.)

10) In addition to the lead singer being completely unlikable as a person, the live performance wasn’t compelling. There’s nothing worse than spending your cash and your Saturday night getting insulted by an out-of-towner spewing puerile insults about your city (after all, that’s what our friends from San Francisco are for). Touring the world in a popular band with 700 people at your show and a line around the block after putting out only one record just a few short months ago must be really awful. People at your shows should jump up and down and happily get down on their knees and suck your dick if you ask them to. It doesn’t matter if you’re not putting much into the performance and you’re moping around the stage singing along to backing tracks. Don’t these asshole kids know that you're a vital artist?

The whole night made me feel a little sad that I put their record in my top 20 of 2007. Now when I listen to the songs, all I can think about is a grouchy guy sitting around a computer in a cramped studio apartment in Brooklyn alternately laboring over Pro Tools and trying to line up interviews on Pitchfork. How Rock ‘n’ Roll. What would Steve Albini say?

LA Live Music Options 1/28/08 - 2/3/08

Radar Bros. Play the Echo Tonight

The Radar Bros. and the Dengue Fever record release shows are the highlight of the week for me....

Monday 1/28/08
[Recommended] Radar Bros. / Brian Aubert / Everest / Adeline @ the Echo (Free for over 21 / $5 for 18+) – I don’t know how you pass this one up. This is the record release party for the Radar Bros. excellent new album, Auditorium (see my review HERE). It also might be the last time you ever see the original band play together. Senon’s leaving to focus on his other band, Dengue Fever. Brian Aubert from the Silversun Pickups is doing a solo set. Everest is one of my favorite new local bands. Adeline’s band features Stevie and Brian from the Movies, Aaron from Le Switch and Jim from the Radar Bros.
[Recommended] The Parson Red Heads / The Idaho Falls / The Monolators @ Spaceland (Free) – Last night of the Parson Red Heads residency.
We Barbarians / Canon Blue / In Waves @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Fred Armisen / Petra Haden @ Troubadour ($17)
Bloodcat Love / Sons and Lovers @ Viper Room (Free with RSVP)
The Hectors / The Transmissions @ La Cita (Free)
Sarah Silverman @ Largo

Tuesday 1/29/08
Drug Rug / Amnion @ Spaceland ($8)
Shelby Lynne @ Amoeba (Free) – 7:00PM
Envy on the Coast @ Knitting Factory ($12)
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals / Brandi Shearer @ Troubadour ($12)
Upsilon Acrux / Polar Goldie Cats @ the Smell ($5)
Jill Sobule / Tom Brosseau @ Largo

Wednesday 1/30/08
[Recommended] Peter Moren @ Hotel Café ($15) – Early show at 8:00 PM. This is Peter from Peter Bjorn & John doing solo material. If you’re just hoping to see him do “Young Folks” you should probably stay at home. He’s got some songs up on his Myspace page including a pretty good cover of Gene Clark’s “Spanish Guitar.”
[Recommended] Buddy @ Hotel Café ($10) – This show’s at 10:30PM. And there’s a show in between at 9:30.
[Recommended] Hairbrain Night: Tweakbird / The Icarus Line @ La Cita (Free) – Heavy rock..
Ryan Adams @ UCLA Royce Hall (Sold Out) – I’ve seen Adams once and it was terrible. He seems to have grown up a bit since then, and the more recent clips from TV seem pretty good.
Mr. Lif & the Perceptionists @ Knitting Factory ($14) – Hip-hop.
Von Iva / Jessie Evans @ Silverlake Lounge ($10)
The Chapin Sisters / Kind Hearts & Coronets @ Bordello ($10)
The Mars Volta @ UCI Bren Events Center ($40) – Really good live band.
Nico Vega @ Troubadour ($10)
The Section Quartet @ the Echo ($8)
David Garza @ Largo

Low End Theory Club: Crystal Antlers @ Airliner
Club NME: Castaneda / Roman Numerals / Asher @ Spaceland – Roman Numerals is almost like a Kansas City supergroup featuring members of Season to Risk, Shiner and Get Up Kids. They sound like their doing the Joy Division/She Wants Revenge thing in this band.

Thursday 1/31/08
[Recommended] Dengue Fever @ Echoplex ($13) – This is the record release party for the new Dengue Fever album, Venus on Earth (out last week). I’ve been following them for about six years and they just keep getting better. They started out a little bit of a novelty (although a very good one) doing a lot of Cambodian psych covers, but have since brought in all kinds of influences, written original songs and become a very unique band. They’re great fun to see live.
[Recommended] Airborne Toxic Event / Castledoor / The Deadly Syndrome @ Spaceland ($8) – RSVP to airbornersvp@gmail.com to get on the list. Solid lineup and the last night of the ATE residency.
[Recommended] Entrance / Langhorne Slim / Crystal Antlers @ Knitting Factory ($6) – If you miss Entrance tonight, you can see them the rest of the month on Thursdays at Silverlake Lounge.
5 O’Clock Somewhere / Bollweevil @ the Scene – Good country lineup.
Ryan Adams @ UCLA Royce Hall ($35-40)
Castanets @ Koo’s Art Center in Long Beach
Mark Olson / Mary Gauthier @ Troubadour ($20) – Mark Olson formerly of the Jayhawks.
The Watkins Family Hour @ Largo
Hell Ya Night: Schwayze / Hazelden @ the Echo ($5)
Jessie Evans / Lily Marlene @ Bordello ($10)

Friday 2/1/08
[Recommended] Autolux / HEALTH @ El Rey ($17) – Autolux is going on four years between records. I saw them open for Blonde Redhead at the Wiltern last year and they were quite good. They're on the Coachella bill this year. HEALTH has a reputation for being a great live band.
[Hype Alert] First Fridays: A-Trak / Kid Sister @ Natural History Museum ($9)
Bodies of Water / Castanets @ the Echo ($8) – This is Bodies of Water’s first local show in a bit. They’re heading out on the road next month with Sons and Daughters. Download Castanets’ “This Is the Early Game”
Matt Costa / Delta Spirit @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Vast / Eastern Conference Champions @ Knitting Factory ($20)
Blood (Japan) @ Knitting Factory ($20)
Princeton @ El Cid ($10)
Jonathan Wilson @ Hotel Café
Shiloe / Repeater @ the Scene
The Monolators / The Health Club @ Mr. T’s Bowl
Boyz II Men @ Crash Mansion ($35)

Saturday 2/2/08
[Recommended] The Deadly Syndrome @ the Scene – They put out one of the best local releases of last year and are always a lot of fun to see live.
[Recommended] Mere Mortals / Xu Xu Fang / Black Kites @ Spaceland ($8)
Matt Costa @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
The Bravery / Switches @ Crash Mansion ($25)

Sunday 2/3/08 (Super Bowl Sunday)
Squaregirls Night: Murder Mystery / The Tartans / Maria @ the Scene – This is a new monthly night at the Scene promoted by the Squaregirls.
Part Time Punks: Nu-Tra @ the Echo ($5)

Eels Prize Package Giveaway (Greatest Hits, autographed 7" and Rarities Collection)

I've got an Eels prize package to giveaway. The package consists of: Meet the Eels - Essential Eels Vol. 1 (a new 24 track greatest hits collection with a bonus DVD with 12 videos); Eels Useless Trinkets - B-sides, soundtracks, rarities and unreleased (a new two disc, 50 track collection with a live DVD of the Eels performance at Lollapalooza in 2006); an autographed limited edition 7" of "Climbing to the Moon (Jon Brion Remix)."

To win this package, send me an email (dukeufo at hotmail) and tell me what your favorite Eels song is and why you like it. The deadline is Wednesday, 1/30/08 at 5:00PM.

More information and a full track listing can be found HERE. These new collections are out on Dreamworks/Geffen and in stores now.

Recently Announced Live Shows

Recently Announced Shows:

The Kooks @ the Echo on 2/8/08 (on sale now)
Common @ House of Blues on 2/12/08 (on sale this Saturday)
Cat Power @ the Wiltern on 2/29/08 (on sale Saturday at 10:00AM)
MSTRKRFT / Z-Trip / LA Riots @ the Fonda on 2/29/08 (on sale Saturday at 10:00AM)
Grizzly Bear and the Los Angeles Philharmonic @ Walt Disney Concert Hall on 3/1/08 (on sale 2/2/08)
Brother Ali @ Troubadour on 3/13/08 (on sale 2/1/08)
Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip @ the Roxy on 3/17/08 (on sale now)
Kinky / Money Mark @ the Fonda on 3/18/08 (on sale Saturday at 10:00 AM)
Xiu Xiu @ the Echo on 4/11/08 (on sale now)
Stars of the Lid @ the Echo on 4/14/08 (on sale now)
Ghostland Observatory @ the Fond on 4/18/08 (on sale Saturday at 10:00 AM)
Coachella @ Empire Polo Fields in Indio on 4/25/08 – 4/27/08 (on sale now)
Tim and Eric’s Awesome Tour @ the Echoplex on 5/5/08 (on sale Saturday at Noon)
King Khan and the Shrines @ the Echo on 7/10/08 (on sale now)