Live Music Options: 1/4/10 - 1/10/10

Sonic Youth Play the Wiltern on Saturday

Lots of January residencies begin this week (not a lot of touring bands in town)....

Monday 1/4/10
[Pick of the Night] The French Semester / Letting Up Despite Great Faults / The Spires / The Health Club @ The Echo (Free) – The French Semester are doing the free Monday night residency in January. Get there to see LUDGF.
[Recommended] Year Long Disaster / Open Hand / Totimoshi @ Spaceland (Free) – Year Long Disaster is doing the Monday night residency. The band features Daniel Davies (son of Dave Davies from the Kinks). Totimoshi’s about to go on a big European tour with Mastodon.
That Noise / The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra @ Viper Room ($10)
David Scott Stone / Ariana Delawari / Lucky Dragons @ Echo Curio
The Northstar Session / Joshua Norton / Get Back Loretta @ Bootleg (Free)
The Steelwells / The Color Turning / The Living Suns / Yeah Brother @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Batwings Catwings / The Girl with Violent Arms / Chuff Chuff @ Pehrspace

Tuesday 1/5/10
[Pick of the Night] Whispering Pines / Old Toy Trains / Space Waves @ Spaceland ($5)
Olin and the Moon / Marnie Herald @ The Echo (Free) – Olin and the Moon are doing a Free Tuesday night residency this month.
The Webb Sisters / Joey Ryan / Carrick Moore Garety @ Hotel Café ($15)
Happy Dwarf / The Sundowners / The New Room @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Woodsman / Young Prisms / Bipolar Bear / Pearl Harbour @ L’Keg
Quebb / Jeffertiti’s Nile / Insects vs. Robots / The Mayfly Dance @ Troubadour ($10)
Margaret Cho @ Largo Little Room ($25)
Captain Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss @ Redwood Bar
Former Ghosts / Railcars / Mother McKenzie / Professor Calculus / Philip Seymour Hoffman @ The Smell ($5)
Odd Modern / Funeral Party / Casxio / Hot Streets @ Viper Room ($10)

Wednesday 1/6/10
[Pick of the Night] Club NME: Wet and Reckless / Butterfly Child / Tigers Can Bite You / Rhone Occupation @ Spaceland ($7) – Wet & Reckless is the new band featuring Jessica Gelt from the Movies.
[Recommended] Spaceland on Ice: Twilight Sleep / Kissing Cousins @ Pershing Square (Free) – Show starts at 7:00 PM
Pearl Harbour / Young Prisms / Woodsman / Allah Las @ The Smell ($5)
[Recommended] Best Coast / Brilliant Colors / Dunes @ Synchronicity
Brazzaville / David J / Salt Petal @ The Echo ($8)
Royal Crown Revue @ the Mint ($20)
Fair To Midland @ Troubadour ($15)
Chris Pureka / Bleu / Mike Viola @ Hotel Café
Scion House Party: Distance @ The Roxy (Free w/RSVP to Scion)
Joe Sib’s California Calling w/ Jesse Malin @ Largo ($20)
Low End Theory Club @ Airliner ($10)
Crash Kings / Darlings of the Day / vOLUMe @ Viper Room ($10)

Thursday 1/7/10
[Pick of the Night] The Stevenson Ranch Davidians / The Quarter After / Miranda Lee Richards / Kathleen Balloon with Crooked Cowboy @ Spaceland ($5) – Good local lineup.
[Recommended] The Happy Hollows / George Glass / One Trick Pony / Dirt Dress @ The Mint ($10 adv / $15 dos) – The cover’s a little steep after seeing them so many times in November for free…
Rumspringa / Mississippi Man / Links / The Silent Comedy @ The Echo ($8)
Jay Nash @ Hotel Café
Sara Watkins @ Largo ($25)
Nerfbau / Take Up Serpents @ Synchronicity
Aushua / Chasing Kings / Cat Party @ 3 of Clubs
Where’s the Band?: Dustin Kensrue / Matt Pryor / Chris Conley / Anthony Raneri @ Troubadour ($19)
Yours Til Death / Garland @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Living Things / The Tender Box / White Arrows @ Viper Room ($10)
Lady Dottie / Jake Labotz @ Redwood Bar
Sun Araw / James Ferraro / Sean McCann / The Urxed / Garden State @ the Smell ($5)
Nar / Protect Me / Railcars / F’N A @ L’Keg

Friday 1/8/10
[Pick of the Night] First Fridays: Atlas Sound / Tune-Yards @ Natural History Museum ($9) – Early show starts at 5:30 PM. I’m not a Bradford Cox freak, but the last Atlas Sound record was pretty good.
[Recommended] Sonic Youth / Sic Alps @ Fox Theater in Pomona ($32) – Also on Saturday at the Wiltern.
[Recommended] The Soft Hands / The Happy Hollows / Gangi / Useless Keys @ Viper Room ($10 adv / $15 dos)
FEAR @ House of Blues Sunset ($22.50)
Death Sentence: Panda! / PILES / Kit / Dunes @ the Smell ($5)
Blame Sally / Whiskey Chimp / Dave Gleason @ The Mint ($15)
Andy Clockwise / Austin Hartley Leonard / Brother Sal @ Hotel Café – Andy Clockwise is doing a Friday night residency this month.
Golden Animals / Allah Las / Kinch / Jeffertiti’s Nile @ Spaceland ($7)
Sarah Silverman / Ed Helms @ Largo ($25)
Queen Victoria / 60 Watt Kid / State Champion / Giving Up @ Synchronicity
Chris Murray Combo @ Troubadour ($12)
Believe it or Not I Care / No Enemy @ L’Keg
Kenny Edwards / Ernest Troost @ McCabe’s ($15)
Art Fein Presents the 24th Annual Elvis Birthday Bash @ Echoplex ($20)
Sweaters / Hot Sauce Mentor @ The Echo ($5)

Saturday 1/9/10
[Pick of the Week] Sonic Youth / Sic Alps @ The Wiltern ($30) – The last Sonic Youth record was really good.
Al Kooper @ McCabe’s ($26.50) – Legend
Timonium @ Pehrspace
Rufus Wainwright @ Terrace Theatre in Long Beach ($50)
Lady Sinatra / The Ringers / The Vacation / Perfect Machines @ Viper Room ($10)
Lower Heaven / Drew Andrews / My Pet Saddle / Eagle Winged Palace @ Redwood Bar ($8)
Stevie B / Lisa Lisa / Cover Girls / C&C Music Factory @ Nokia Theatre ($38 - $88) – Borat’s favorite band, C&C Music Factory
Ninja Academy / WITT / Totally Serious / Solar Wimp @ the Smell ($5)
60 Watt Kid / Glasser @ Spaceland ($7)
Tom Rush @ Largo ($30)
Visa @ Troubadour ($15)
Creepshow One Year Anniversary @ Hotel Café
Cowboy Mouth @ House of Blues Sunset ($20)
Tan Dollar / Italic Indians / Weed Diamond / Moon Pearl @ Echo Curio

Sunday 1/10/10
[Pick of the Night] The Lymbyc System / Helios / The One AM Radio @ Bootleg ($12)
Al Kooper @ McCabe’s ($26.50)
Part Time Punks: Love Grenades @ the Echo ($5)
Zola Jesus / Pocahaunted / Sissy Spacek @ the Smell ($5)
Mia Maestro @ Hotel Café
Ari Shine / Trainwreck / Kidneys / Schwarzenator @ Viper Room ($10)
The Terrapin / The Hectors / Seasons / Divisadero @ Spaceland ($5)
My Dads / Pussy Cow / National Sunday Law @ Echo Curio

Live Music Options: 12/28/09 - 1/3/10

With the exception of New Year's Eve, not too much going on this week. I also recommend checking out the 88 tonight for free....

Monday 12/28/09

[Pick of the Night] Mere Mortals / The 88 / Vesuviasonic / Shield @ Spaceland (Free) - I always forget how good the 88 is until I see them. Great chance to see them for free at a tiny club. This is the last night of the Mere Mortals residency.

[Recommended] The Blind Boy Paxton & Frank Fairfield Show @ Redwood Bar

Boogie Nazis / Mikki and the Mauses / Moment Trigger @ Women of Crenshaw

Seamonsters / Venus Illuminato / The Muddy Reds @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)

Reel Big Fish @ House of Blues Anaheim

Steel Panther @ House of Blues Sunset

Blessure Grave / Mr. Objects @ Pehrspace

The Pricks / Electrolightz @ The Roxy ($10)

Tuesday 12/29/09

Shirley Rolls / The Dharma Bums / The Choke / Death House Chaplain @ Spaceland ($5)

Anthony Green @ the Roxy ($15)

KC & the Sunshine Band @ House of Blues Anaheim

Splintercake / Whitman / Foot Ox / The Albuquerque Boys Choir / Nicole Kidman @ Echo Curio

Bring Em Young Guns / EZ Tiger @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)

Sylvia Browne / Montel Williams @ Gibson Amphitheatre

Stab City / Sean Wheeler / Zander Schloss @ Redwood Bar

Wednesday 12/30/09

Low End Theory: 6Blocc / Tokimonsta / Mr. Fantastic @ Airliner ($10)

Club NME: Miniature Tigers / All Wrong and the Plans Change / A B and the Sea @ Spaceland ($8) - Miniature Tigers have a bit of a Fountains of Wayne vibe going on.

Mika Miko / Le Joshua / Prs Hltn, Mthrfckrs / Mr. Wright & the El Salvadorians @ The Smell ($10) - Mika Miko is playing its last three shows ever. Mr. Wright & the El Salvadorians features members of No Age and Mika Miko.

The Coals / Isaac Simons / Torches in Trees / City Museum @ Silverlake Lounge ($5)

Unwritten Law / Taintstick / Beardo @ the Roxy ($20)

Quebb / Douglas Lee / The Mayfly Dance @ Echo Curio

Spaceland on Ice: The Growlers @ Pershing Square (Free) - Show starts at 7:00 PM

Reverend Horton Heat @ House of Blues Anaheim

KC & the Sunshine Band @ House of Blues Sunset

Thursday 12/31/09

[Pick of the Week] The Henry Clay People / Le Switch / The Monolators / Aushua @ Spaceland ($12) - Great value and fairly low key for New Year's Eve. Two of my favorite local bands and two other quality local bands.

[Recommended] Dengue Fever / Pollyn @ The Mint ($25 adv / $40 dos)

[Recommended] Avi Buffalo / Dusty Rhodes and the River Band @ East Village Arts District in Long Beach (Free)

Erykah Badu @ House of Blues Sunset ($100) - Pretty expensive.

Mika Miko / Staring Problem / Ima Fucking Gymnast / Digits @ The Smell ($10) - Staring Problem features members of No Age.

The Zeros / The Dogs / Barrio Tiger @ Redwood Bar - Classic punk rock.

The Growlers / My Pet Saddle @ the Echo ($12)

Audacity / Blue Jungle / Thee Makeout Party / Pear / AM / Pipsqueak / White Night @ L'Keg ($10) - All day party starting at 3:00 PM

John Digweed / David Guetta @ LA Sports Coliseum ($60 - $150)

Royal Crown Revue @ The Fox Theatre in Pomona ($35)

Bootie LA @ Echoplex ($10 before 10 PM / $20 after)

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($60 - $175) - Early show at 7 PM and late show at 10:30 PM

Chromeo / Peanut Butter Wolf / VEGA / Gaslamp Killer @ Club Nokia ($45 - $60)

Hard NYE: Boys Noize / A-Trak / Destructo / DJ Mehdi @ Hollywood Palladium ($60 - $250)

Flogging Molly / The Aggrolites @ The Wiltern ($40 - $115)

Mike Posner @ the Roxy ($30)

Reverend Horton Heat @ House of Blues Anaheim

The Head Cat / Rhino Bucket / The Binges @ Viper Room ($35 - $50)

Friday 1/1/10

[Pick of the Night] Mika Miko / Hello Astronaut Goodbye Television / My Little Red Toe / Silver Daggers @ The Smell (Sold Out) - Mika Miko's last show ever.

Squirrel Nut Zippers / Steve Soto and the Twisted Hearts @ El Rey ($23)

Mystery Lights / Seasons / The Ignorant / Asa Random / Andy Clockwise @ Echo Curio

Sweet & Tender Hooligans @ House of Blues Sunset

Ducati All Stars @ the Roxy ($34) - Featuring Steve Jones, Jason Bonham, Mark McGrath, Donovan Leitch and others

The Dogs / The Zeros @ Redwood Bar

Flogging Molly / The Aggrolites @ House of Blues Anaheim

Dirty Penny / Lukas Rossi @ Viper Room ($10)

Saturday 1/2/10

Star Parts / One Trick Pony / Clouds @ Echo Curio

Nekromantics / Mad Marge & the Stonecutters @ House of Blues Sunset

High Castle / Kit / Knight Rider / Protect Me @ The Smell ($5)

Black Robot / The Royal Highness @ Viper Room ($10)

Sunday 1/3/10

Silver Pines / Pure Ecstasy / Angela Correa @ Echo Curio

Part Time Punks @ the Echo ($5)

Top 10 Records of 2009

Once again, the big trends in music for the year were completely lost on me. Usually I can easily identify a top album of the year, but this year I struggled.

So here's my top 10 list:

1) Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Phoenix crossed over into the mainstream with the most undeniably catchy record of the year. Three of the best singles of the year ("Lisztomania," "1901," and "Lasso") on one album.

Lisztomania - Phoenix

2) The Minor Canon: Emptiness Is Form – If you’re a fan of emotional, lyrically direct songs, this will be right up your alley. The record hits an early peak during “If Wishes Were Horses” when the furious guitar merges with screaming horns and a growing urgency in singer Paul Larson’s voice. Later in the record, the ferocity has faded away. In "Not There" Larson has given up hope on his lost love, but the pain's clearly not going away any time soon. The most overlooked record of the year.

If Wishes Were Horses - The Mi...

3) Frankel: Anonymity Is the New Fame – Michael Orendy’s latest features another batch of great songs. So many publicists lazily slap the Elliott Smith tag onto promo stickers, but “Ticket Machine” actually earns a comparison. With its breathy, double-tracked vocals and complex arrangement, Orendy has a deep respect for Smith’s songcraft. While Orendy draws some sonic inspiration from Smith, his lyrics are less direct and his song meanings more opaque. If you’re into literate pop songs, Frankel’s the real deal.

Ticket Machine - Frankel

4) Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears: Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! – For me, the biggest musical trend of the year was vintage soul music. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears were a perfect gateway to the past. As I dove headfirst into the Stax catalog, tracks like "Sugarfoot" and "Big Booty Woman" sounded classic.

Sugarfoot - Black Joe Lewis & ...

5) Rodriguez: Coming From Reality – Kudos to Light in the Attic for digging up another lost classic from Sixto Rodriguez. Originally released in 1971, Coming From Reality is another slightly dangerous, completely anti-establishment record. This time around big string arrangements in songs like "Sandrevan Lullaby-Lifestyles" augment the disappointment conveyed in Rodriguez's lyrics. Powerful stuff.

To Whom It May Concern - Rodri...

6) Girls: Album – It sounds like some lost, late 1970s demos from Elvis Costello and that's perfectly cool with me.

Summertime - Girls

7) Dinosaur Jr.: Farm – I could listen to J. Mascis play guitar all day.

I Want You To Know - Dinosaur ...

8) Phosphorescent: To Willie – A tribute album on my top 10 list? The record came out early in the year and I never got sick of it. Matthew Houck's relaxed vocal style suits Willie Nelson's songs very well. Seeing them having so much fun while performing these songs at SXSW helped.

Walkin' - Phosphorescent

9) Polvo: In Prism – Great to see one of my favorite bands from college back in top form. All the noise bands that hide behind shitty production and lack of skill at your instruments, please pay attention.

Right the Relation - Polvo

10) The xx: xx - I first got into this because it was inoffensive background music that didn't distract me while I was working. But it slowly seeped into my consciousness. Make out music for art school kids.

Basic Space - The xx

Ten more records I was digging on:

Neil Young: Archives - Impressive box set, but the price hurt it a bit.

Death: For the Whole World To See - Great collection of proto-punk from the early 1970s.

BLK JKS: After Robots - Hard to completely wrap your head around what these South Africans are doing, but I keep returning to it.

Silversun Pickups: Swoon - Good kids and so well produced.

Brendan Benson: My Old, Familiar Friend - Great pop songwriter.

Division Day: Visitation - A huge leap forward for the band.

Andrew Bird: Noble Beast - A tad precious, but I just can't deny his talent.

Jason Lytle: Yours Truly, the Commuter - Not unlike Grandaddy, and that's what I wanted from a Lytle solo record.

Sonic Youth: The Eternal - In the middle of their third decade of music making and still putting out great stuff.

Future of the Left: Travels with Myself and Another - Intense post-hardcore. They've got musical chops.

Live Music Options: 12/21/09 - 12/27/09

Helen Stellar Play Spaceland Monday Night

It's Christmas week so a lot of the clubs are already closed down. Enjoy your holidays everyone. I plan on posting some best of lists in the coming weeks....

Monday 12/21/09
Tivo Alert: Silversun Pickups on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien – 11:35 PM on NBC
[Pick of the Week] Mere Mortals / Helen Stellar / Healamonster & Tarsier / Silverphial @ Spaceland (Free) – Great chance to see Helan Stellar and Healamonster & Tarsier for free on the Mere Mortals residency.
[Recommended] The Blind Boy Paxton & Frank Fairfield Show @ Redwood Bar – Old timey music.
[Recommended] Largo Comedy All Stars @ Largo ($25) – Benefit for St. Judes Christmas Charity
Black Cobra / It’s Casual / Groamville / Harassor / Chingalera @ Viper Room ($12) – Heavy bands from the Southern Lord label.
Moonrats / VoiceVoices / Sister Crayon / Corridor @ The Echo (Free) – The Manimal Vinyl residency continues
Links / Parade of Lights / Samuel Stewart / Red Tide @ Silverlake Lounge (Free) – Links are doing the Monday night residency this month.
Lady Gaga @ Nokia Theatre (Sold Out)
Kristen Toedtman / Brendan Hines / Brandon Mayer & Hidden Powers / Sally Jaye @ Bootleg ($10)
Robin Thicke @ Club Nokia ($45 - $75)
David Scott Stone @ Echo Curio
Steel Panther @ House of Blues Sunset
Nicole Kidman / Kevin Greenspon / Snowsuit / No Babies @ Pehrspace
Miso / Maile Misajon / Jill and Haven / Shevy Smith @ Hotel Café

Tuesday 12/22/09
[Pick of the Night] Bilal / Exile & DJ Day featuring Blu / Milosh / Om’Mas Keith / Shafiq Husayn / Daedelus / J. Rocc / Kutmah @ Echoplex ($15) – Great linup. Plug Research party.
[Recommended] Local Natives / Voxhaul Broadcast / Chief @ The Echo ($10) – Bring a canned good and get a gift from the band. Local Natives recently signed to Frenchkiss Records (who are on a total hot streak lately).
Leopold and His Fiction / Magic Mirror / Ojos Rojos @ Spaceland ($8)
Kid Cudi @ Club Nokia ($25 - $35) – Got lots of exposure through Kanye West
Sweet Honey in the Rock @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($25 - $72)
Jim Turner Presents: HoneyHoney / Nicole Atkins @ Largo ($10)
Lady Gaga @ Nokia Theatre (Sold Out)
Stab City / Sean Wheeler / Zander Schloss @ Redwood Bar
Metal Rouge / Sleepwalkers Local / Headlight / Lowlight Situations @ Echo Curio
Killbirds / Kid Theodore @ Silverlake Lounge ($8)
Mark Ballas / Sydney Wayser / Ryan Blakely Smith @ Hotel Cafe

Wednesday 12/23/09
Tenacious D @ Largo ($50) – Benefit for Pablove
Kid Cudi / Chip the Ripper @ Club Nokia ($25 - $35)
Spaceland on Ice: Swords of Fatima / New Rome Quartet @ Pershing Square (Free) – Starts at 7:00 PM
Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ($29 - $83)
Lady Gaga @ Nokia Theatre (Sold Out)
Low End Theory Club @ Airliner ($10)
Clowns and Fetuses / Grex @ Echo Curio

Thursday 12/24/09

Friday 12/25/09
Merry Christmas

Saturday 12/26/09
Wampire / Asss / Neon Navajo @ Echo Curio
Salt-N-Pepa @ Club Nokia ($40 - $50)
Hepcat @ House of Blues Sunset ($21.50)
Stephen Pearcy @ the Roxy ($20)

Sunday 12/27/09
[Pick of the Day] Brunch Americana: Miguel Garcia & the Vaquetones / Sarah Gayle Meech / Dale Peterson / West of Texas @ Redwood Bar – I hear Sarah Meech is moving to Nashville, so this might be the last time you see her in a while.
The Outskirts / Las Sangronas Y El Cabron / Toy Attica / Angustia / The Potential Lunatics @ The Smell ($5)
Part Time Punks @ The Echo ($5) – Smiths/Morrissey night

Recently Announced LA Area Shows

She & Him Will Play El Rey in March

Staples Center
4/6/10: Alicia Keys (presale Friday at 10 AM, password = EMPIRE; on sale 12/20 at Noon)

Fred Kavli Theatre
3/29/10: Chicago (Friday at Noon)
8/5/10: The Golden Boys (Friday at Noon)

Club Nokia
2/26/10: Moe (presale Thurs at 10 AM, password = STICKS; Friday at 10 AM)

El Rey
3/3/10: Midlake (presale Thurs at 10 AM, password = DENTON; Friday at 10 AM)
3/8/10: Alesana (Saturday at 10 AM)
3/25/10: She & Him (presale Friday at 10 AM, password = VOLUMETWO; Saturday at 10 AM)

Gibson Amphitheatre
2/23/10: Mariah Carey (Saturday at 1:00 PM)

House of Blues Sunset
12/31/09: Erykah Badu (now)

Largo
2/6/09 – 2/7/09: They Might Be Giants (call club)

Echo
2/26/10: The Strange Boys / Chain and the Gang (TBA)

Echoplex
1/15/10: GZA (now at Ticketweb)

Spaceland
Mondays in January: Year Long Disaster
3/24/10: Garotas Suecas (now at Ticketweb)
4/13/10: Retribution Gospel Choir (now)