Thursday, October 14, 2004
There are very few bands that could get me to a westside club that I'm not particular fond of, but The Sweet Hurt is one of them. I've written about them before so there is no need to overdo it. But let's just say we should all keep a collective ear out for the young lady in the band. She has the potential to steal away all those fans that think Jenny Lewis is so 5 seconds ago.
The Sweet Hurt - "Driving" (MP3)
The Sweet Hurt - "Driving" (MP3)
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Martha, Martha, Martha. Many people argue with me about this, but I've always considered her the most engaging of the two famous siblings. While what's-his-name does boast a formidable Tin Pan Alley croon, sister Martha's breathy lilt recalls the epic folk of Fairport Convention, which to me holds more weight. She sang "BMFA," which made me happy; she also sang "Factory," which made me want to be her boyfriend... Also, Marjorie Fair and Summer Darling kicked major sassafras with their respective takes on epic pedal board rock. Juicy.
Meanwhile, I once again attended the Tuesday Tangier festivities this week to see Amy Cooper and Gregory Page team up with Tom Brosseau, Gus Black, and Angela Correa. Recommendation to bands: Don't book shows against Gregory Page, you will lose... that is unless your last name is Gundmundsdottir. Then please give me your hand in marriage... In any case, I'll reconfirm that Cooper is a superstar in the making. She played solo this time, which enabled us to get a better listen of that clear, rich voice we love. She sold out of her demo CD so we couldn't take her home with us, but she'll be back opening for Hem on the 28th at the Hotel Cafe.
Photos removed for bandwidth. Contact me if you'd like copies or go to http://la-underground.textamerica.com/.
Meanwhile, I once again attended the Tuesday Tangier festivities this week to see Amy Cooper and Gregory Page team up with Tom Brosseau, Gus Black, and Angela Correa. Recommendation to bands: Don't book shows against Gregory Page, you will lose... that is unless your last name is Gundmundsdottir. Then please give me your hand in marriage... In any case, I'll reconfirm that Cooper is a superstar in the making. She played solo this time, which enabled us to get a better listen of that clear, rich voice we love. She sold out of her demo CD so we couldn't take her home with us, but she'll be back opening for Hem on the 28th at the Hotel Cafe.
Photos removed for bandwidth. Contact me if you'd like copies or go to http://la-underground.textamerica.com/.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Sure, there were many options last Tuesday... Bloc Party... Future Pigeon... Snow Patrol... Cattle Decapitation (I'm quite positive I'm a bigger CatDecap fan than most)... Cake... Joss Stone... and that phat lineup at the Key Club, but as many of you know there are a few artists that take precedence over everybody, and Gregory Page is one of them. I'll try to refrain from soliloquizing about his music (again), but I do deeply respect his work quite a lot. If that weren't enough, Tom Brosseau, Angela Correa, and Gus Black rounded off the week's lineup, the first of Tom's month-long residency at Tangier. The trio of Page, Brosseau, and Correa is a revelation unto itself. Every song seemed to resonate like a kiss on the forehead, gentle and sweet... I won't get into a lengthy review although the show was easily one of the best of the year (despite being burdened with time constraints.) I only suggest that you try to make it to one of the others.
Happy Birthday, Angela
Photos removed for bandwidth. Contact me if you'd like copies or go to http://la-underground.textamerica.com/.
Happy Birthday, Angela
Photos removed for bandwidth. Contact me if you'd like copies or go to http://la-underground.textamerica.com/.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Word travels fast with this thing called technology. One minute you're a little known post-punk new wave band from London, then all of a sudden you're doing a highly anticipated promo tour in the U.S. with enough hype to get them on the November ballot. In support of their new self-titled EP, Bloc Party landed on Spaceland's showcase spot last Monday to one of the club's bigger crowds in recent years... I liked them. If I was in the dancing mood, I probably would have bobbed up and down a little more yet I was content in merely bouncing a bit to hit tracks like "Banquet" and "Staying Fat." Okereke is a star and he knows it, grinning with glee from all the love he received from the crowd, most notably from a posse of Asian girl groupies standing stage front. I did manage to maneuver my cheap ass camera around to get a few photos even though there had to be at least 100 flashes going off every other second in front of me. Anyway, their debut full-length, Silent Arm, comes out early next year with a proposed return to the U.S. in March. That gives fans five full months to start the backlash. Begin now.
Monday, October 04, 2004
LABlogs.com asked the questions. And like the little bitches we are, we answered:
1. What's the best venue in Los Angeles for live music, and why?
We probably won't be comp'd at any of the other joints after this, but let's face it, Largo is pretty damn amazing. Who can forget the one night when Brion was joined by Beck, Beth Orton, and Fiona Apple? On any given night, one can be offered entertainment from the big cats (Aimee Mann, Neil Finn, Grant Lee Phillips, Michael Penn, Sam Phillips, Rickie Lee Jones, Gillian Welch, Brad Mehldau) to the newcomers (Ditty Bops, Tom Brosseau, The Section) and you'll always be completely satisfied. What separates this club from any other venue in the world is that the shows that happen at Largo can only happen at Largo. Nothing can beat the pin-drop atmosphere, Flannagan's inside jokes, and of course the raison d'etre Jon Brion.
2. What's the worst?
I used to think Club Lush on Wilshire was pretty horrible but I don't think it's around anymore. Before that, the Roxy bugged me to no end, only because Tommy Gunn was manager there. Actually, I have no idea if he's still there but that guy was a real a$$hole. Seriously -- but you can probably guess that with a name like Tommy Gunn. Also, of course, Circus was blacklisted by us after they did what they did to Giant, which meant never promoting Spundae events. Basically, a club is considered okay if they treat their customers right. Viper Room was notorious for not doing that but we thought it was forgivable for awhile since Park was such a great booker. Now that she's gone and they booted Metal Skool (formerly Camaro) to the Roxy we very rarely hit that part of Sunset.
3. Where do you go most often to catch a gig, and how often?
Spaceland. Frank and Tefft are good people. The sound system isn't too great but man have they booked some great bands over the years.
4. What L.A. band, DJ or performer would you walk over burning hot coals to hear?
I'd do it for several bands. 400 Blows, Maimou, Autolux... but The Haden Triplets are the best damn group in Los Angeles. Believe it.
5. What's that playing on your MP3 player/car stereo, home audio system or tiny computer speakers right now?
Autolux's new CD Future Perfect, which comes out 10/28. This is the best rock band in LA. Very true.
6. Who's the most overrated musical act in Los Angeles?
Where do we start? Orgy was never good. 30 Seconds To Mars is horrible. So are most bands with actors in it like Jonny Was and Fred Alba. If Interpol were from Altadena they'd be on this list too. But they're not. Darn.
7. Who's the most brilliant?
Despite Jon Brion being the pop genius of our time, The Haden Triplets are perfection. They have a song called "Warm Breath on a Mirror" that makes me weep. Go to any of their shows and you'll see a crowd of weeping children. It happens every time.
8. Who are the three greatest Los Angeles bands/DJs/musicians of the past 50 years - and why?
The Germs, Jon Brion, N.W.A. These artists created something unique and built a foundation for greater things to come. They are three of the major points in LA's music history.
1. What's the best venue in Los Angeles for live music, and why?
We probably won't be comp'd at any of the other joints after this, but let's face it, Largo is pretty damn amazing. Who can forget the one night when Brion was joined by Beck, Beth Orton, and Fiona Apple? On any given night, one can be offered entertainment from the big cats (Aimee Mann, Neil Finn, Grant Lee Phillips, Michael Penn, Sam Phillips, Rickie Lee Jones, Gillian Welch, Brad Mehldau) to the newcomers (Ditty Bops, Tom Brosseau, The Section) and you'll always be completely satisfied. What separates this club from any other venue in the world is that the shows that happen at Largo can only happen at Largo. Nothing can beat the pin-drop atmosphere, Flannagan's inside jokes, and of course the raison d'etre Jon Brion.
2. What's the worst?
I used to think Club Lush on Wilshire was pretty horrible but I don't think it's around anymore. Before that, the Roxy bugged me to no end, only because Tommy Gunn was manager there. Actually, I have no idea if he's still there but that guy was a real a$$hole. Seriously -- but you can probably guess that with a name like Tommy Gunn. Also, of course, Circus was blacklisted by us after they did what they did to Giant, which meant never promoting Spundae events. Basically, a club is considered okay if they treat their customers right. Viper Room was notorious for not doing that but we thought it was forgivable for awhile since Park was such a great booker. Now that she's gone and they booted Metal Skool (formerly Camaro) to the Roxy we very rarely hit that part of Sunset.
3. Where do you go most often to catch a gig, and how often?
Spaceland. Frank and Tefft are good people. The sound system isn't too great but man have they booked some great bands over the years.
4. What L.A. band, DJ or performer would you walk over burning hot coals to hear?
I'd do it for several bands. 400 Blows, Maimou, Autolux... but The Haden Triplets are the best damn group in Los Angeles. Believe it.
5. What's that playing on your MP3 player/car stereo, home audio system or tiny computer speakers right now?
Autolux's new CD Future Perfect, which comes out 10/28. This is the best rock band in LA. Very true.
6. Who's the most overrated musical act in Los Angeles?
Where do we start? Orgy was never good. 30 Seconds To Mars is horrible. So are most bands with actors in it like Jonny Was and Fred Alba. If Interpol were from Altadena they'd be on this list too. But they're not. Darn.
7. Who's the most brilliant?
Despite Jon Brion being the pop genius of our time, The Haden Triplets are perfection. They have a song called "Warm Breath on a Mirror" that makes me weep. Go to any of their shows and you'll see a crowd of weeping children. It happens every time.
8. Who are the three greatest Los Angeles bands/DJs/musicians of the past 50 years - and why?
The Germs, Jon Brion, N.W.A. These artists created something unique and built a foundation for greater things to come. They are three of the major points in LA's music history.
