Friday, June 29, 2007
Goodbye first half of 2007. We truly will miss you...
Apparently, this coming month is a special time for us so the networks have asked to treat it like July sweeps. We really don't know what that means but look for a ton of posts as we celebrate being old and recollect on a decade of obscurity.
Residencies this month are going to be fun. Eskimohunter should never be playing free shows. Ever. They're too good. And neither should the bands they're playing with and yet, lucky us. The Rentals, Patrick Park, Light FM, Lion of Panjshir, The Mormons, 5 O'Clock Somewhere, The Last Town Chorus, Who Rides the Tiger, Maxeen, and Joe Firstman will all be vying for weekly supremacy so we hope you've cleared your schedules... Hammer Museum's "Also I Like to Rock" series are Thursdays in July with the likes of Sea Wolf, The Pity Party, Great Northern, Foreign Born, Castledoor, Midnight Movies, and Fields... CD release shows include Rooney, Sara Bareilles, Meiko, Pastilla, and The Hereafter... Other events of interest include the annual Lotus Festival, Summer Sessions, Felt Club, and hopefully LA Scavenger Hunt II (unless it gets canceled again).
Eskimohunter - "Surfing at 32°" (MP3)
The Rentals - "Friends of P" (MP3)
The Last Town Chorus - "It's Not Over" (MP3)
Pastilla - "A Marte"
Friday, June 22, 2007
Really quickly... because we know everyone's in a rush to get into Friday traffic so that they can hurry home to prepare for a night, a day, a weekend of our great city of Los Angeles...
Just got back from Sea Level after perusing the last of their selection. While you still have until Monday to get in there and buy up all the records you've already illegally downloaded, today is Athena's Sonic Roots last day and the only day we had to pay our respects to a fine local-centric establishment. In any case, we hope at least one of our three readers will be at tonight's going away party at Safari Sam's with Division Day and The Switch. And at the very least, those who have never purchased a physical album in their lives and understand vinyl records as only artifacts of an ancient world should at least visit the shop one last time before it gets turned into a 99¢ store or something... If you told us 20 years ago that there would be a time in the 21st Century when The Police, Prince, Skinny Puppy, Steve Winwood, The Ethiopians, Aimee Mann, Too $hort, The "New" Cars, Biz Markie, and the one and only Enuff Z'Nuff will all be playing in town right when "Transformers: The Movie" would be opening we would have told you 'wicked awesome'. Well, wicked awesome has arrived... Carina Round does a free in-store at Amoeba tonight. She's been living it up in the California sun for about a year now. Let's all go say hi and buy her new record Slow Motion Addict (that took way too long to be released) to ensure that she never goes back to the Motherland... June residencies come to an end this week. Can't say how much we've enjoyed seeing The Deadly Syndrome, Health, Thailand, and Castledoor. Absolutely superb... Greg Proops is hosting another chat show at Largo tonight with special guests John C. Reilly, Drew Carey, and Aimee Mann performing... And B.R.M.C. is shooting a music video for "Berlin" at Little Radio tomorrow and need extras. Check their MySpace for details.
Division Day - "Lights Out" (MP3)
Carina Round - "Come to You" (MP3)
B.R.M.C. - "Berlin" (MP3)
Enuff Z'Nuff - "New Thing"
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Chapter Four: To the Shore
For the final chapter of this month's presentations we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Eastside and head out West to the coast. Thankfully, Kevin's amazing PYPU Tuesdays at The Prospector was gracious enough to allow us to take part. We've been raving about his monthlies turned bi-weeklies for a bit so we're excited to now be apart of one of the coolest things happenings in the LBC.
Three bands from Oregon or originally from Oregon will be playing on this night. We couldn't be more delighted to see our old friends The Parson Red Heads (originally from Eugene), our old acquaintances The Fast Computers and some new friends Blue Skies for Black Hearts. So to all all of our -3 readers in the South Bay, let's welcome our good neighbors from the north.
June 26, 2007
Los Angeles Loves...
THE PARSON RED HEADS
THE FAST COMPUTERS
BLUE SKIES FOR BLACK HEARTS
The Prospector
2400 E. 7th Street
Long Beach, CA 90804 | Map
21+ / $3 / 10pm
The Parson Red Heads - "Punctual As Usual" (MP3)
The Fast Computers - "Sweden Hasn't Changed" (MP3)
Blue Skies for Black Hearts - "Here Comes The Rain" (MP3)
Friday, June 15, 2007
So it's beginning to feel a lot like summer. Once again, that blanket of searing desert air returns to kiss us on our forehead for a few months and there is nothing we can do but seek shelter in the cool comfort of Los Angeles rock clubs...
Upsilon Acrux celebrates the release of their stunning new album Galapagos Momentum at the Smell tonight as well as debuting yet another new lineup of band members who thankfully flunked out of verse-chorus-verse school... Lavender Diamond has their first headliner show at the Troubadour tomorrow with Winter Flowers and Anders and Woods. Also tomorrow, Ms. Holly Palmer celebrates the release of her new album Songs for Tuesday at the Hotel Cafe. Yeah, we're still obsessed with that record... On Sunday, it's dance night where you have your choice of the big battle royale with Le Disko vs. IHEARTCOMIX at Spider or the best lineup of the week with Totally Radd!!, Captain Ahab, Anavan, and Juiceboxxx at the Smell. So club kids with emo bangs or indie kids getting banged, either way you're f-... Our old friends Eleni Mandell and Ferraby Lionheart perform at the Hotel Cafe on 6/20. Aren't they too big for this club yet?
Oh yeah, if you couldn't make it to Tuesday's spectacle, it was one of our favorite shows we've ever done. Yes, we were able to do six bands before 12:30am. Yes, The Mormons' infamous mobile unit did crash our show (which technically makes seven bands before 1am). Yes, Cobra Lilies is actually The Monolators in the form of an Appalachian folk duo. And yes you should be hating yourself if you weren't there. Photos from that show along with last night's romp at the Silverlake Lounge are where we usually put them. We're helping out with one more show this month and then we're through kissing our own ass. At least for June.
Upsilon Acrux - "Touched By God (Inappropiately)" (MP3)
Lavender Diamond - "Open Your Heart" (MP3)
Totally Radd!! - "Master of Diagrams" (MP3)
Lavender Diamond - "Open Your Heart"
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
We're not presenting this show but that doesn't mean we can't love it. This lineup is so good we're actually jealous that the Fold booked it. As you know, Castledoor, Amy Cooper, The Monolators, and Ema and the Ghosts are four of our favorites. We're talking "Top 8" kind of favorites. Also, all the bands are connected in one way or another to The Monolators who everyone seems to love these days including the one-and-only Ms. Ashley who wrote up a sweet post about them recently.
Other notes about the show: Ema and the Ghosts played our little thing last night and made everyone fall in love with her (again) so we expect nothing less on this occassion as we impatiently wait for a record of some sort. This show marks The Monolators' official show as a trio with Sir Andy Bollas on bass. They also finally have some brand new t-shirts for sale which we will be first in line for (they're awesome). Amy Cooper launches her first U.S. tour with this performance, which also serves as the semi-official CD release show for her fantastic new EP Mirrors. And for Castledoor's second show of their second residency at the Silverlake Lounge they're not only treating us to new songs from their highly-anticipated forthcoming EP but again pulling out a different cover every week. Last week it was Arcade Fire's "Wake Up", which pretty much blew everyone away. So we wonder what else they have up their sleeve.
You should go to this.
June 14, 2007
The Fold Presents:
CASTLEDOOR
AMY COOPER
THE MONOLATORS
EMA AND THE GHOSTS
Silverlake Lounge
2906 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
21+ / $7 / 8pm
The Monolators - "14 Degrees" (MP3)
Amy Cooper - "Tonight We Fly" (MP3)
Castledoor - "Burn the Maps" (MP3)
Ema and the Ghosts
Friday, June 08, 2007
First of all, we'd like to thank the bands and the attendees of this past week's shows. Mr. T's Bowl with Amy Cooper, Kissing Cousins, The Henry Clay People, and The Monolators was pretty amazing. There was much love in the room so we have a feeling those bands will meet again sometime soon. And The Scene with Anavan, The Mormons, The Shark That Ate My Friend, and Bloody Robots was epic. Thank you, thank you. A few photos have been posted here and this fine young lass posted a better write-up than we ever could. Now, onward...
Was there any bigger news this week than Arthur Magazine returning to publication in July? Perhaps that was topped only by the subsequent return of Arthur Nights in October... Checked out the last Locale Tuesdays show at Star Shoes this past week and we're so sad to see it end. If you never went, every Tuesday for the last eight months Rickles and Nalepa showcased some of the finest electronic, ambient, dub, hip hop to laptop wunderkinds that we know of including Tycho, Tom Burbank, Glitch Mob, Test Shot Starfish, Aloe Black, and so many others. We were truly inspired both musically and visually with the nights they produced and still think we were getting away with murder by not paying a door cover of some sort. In any case, chances are they'll be setting up at another location since Star Shoes has been bought out -- which in itself is a bit sad given all the great shows we've seen there... In other news, Amnion is looking for singing musicians so all you multi-octave screamers hit them up on their MySpace. And we highly recommend you leave your shitty band to do so because we can pretty much guarantee being all over this band like prison guards on Hilton...
For shows, let's discuss what Peanut Butter Wolf is doing this week. In one of the more brilliant city tours we've ever seen, the Wolf will be spinning seven styles at seven different clubs in seven straight nights. This in itself isn't much to awe over when guys like Aoki and Chan DJ 30 different states in a week, except for the fact that PBW is the real deal not just a song selector like 99% of the kids these days are, meaning he'll be spinning vinyl not playlist scrolling. If you're not in L.A. this week, be sure to check out Stones Throw for podcasts of the mixes.
PEANUT BUTER WOLF VS. L.A. TOUR
6/10 - Crane's (80s early house)
6/11 - Carbon (80s rare soul)
6/12 - Cinespace (90s hipster)
6/13 - The Echo (70s dub/reggae)
6/14 - Little Temple (80s hip-hop)
6/15 - Grand Star (70s Afro-Latin disco)
6/16 - Star Shoes (60s deep funk)
The Airborne Toxic Event, The Happy Hollows, and Radars to the Sky are playing a big show at the Troubadour on Saturday. Generally, we shy away from big shows like this but when it comes to these bands we'll pretty much do whatever they ask. Plus, they ask so nicely... On the eastside Saturday, an equally fine lineup of 8-bit, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Bedroom Walls, Seasons, and Crooked Cowboy do damage at Mr. T's Bowl. Elsewhere, Captain Ahab leads a formidable roster of dancer-friendly friendly-dancer mic rockers with Big Digits, Bon Voyage, and Smooth Grooves. Or head on over to Dave's Warehouse for the Penny-Ante Book #2 Release Party with Ariel Pink, Morris Tepper, Qui, Spindrift, and RTX. To top things off, Wax Tailor makes his headliner debut over at the Echo. Yeah, and that's just some of the shows on Saturday. If none of that interests you, hit up the calendars.
Peanut Butter Wolf & Planet Asia - "In Your Area" (MP3)
Wax Tailor - "Que Sera" (MP3)
Big Digits - "Why Did You Reject My Steve Perry Fan Fiction?" (MP3)
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Chapter Three: The Heart of the Order
On any busy night in Los Angeles, a lineup like this one might be overlooked. And if you were to do so, it would be a tragedy.
The beginnings of this presentation date back circa 2006 upon the arrival of Lenka to America via Australia. Her debut as a solo artist to Los Angeles was considered pretty momentous for anyone who had heard Decoder Ring's 2005 album Somersault or have a fascination with the Australian/New Zealand music scene or was recently given a copy of the 2005 horror movie "Lost Things" -- like we were. So six months in the making we happily present to you, Lenka... Shortly after, we then became obsessed with a one Jeremy Jay who many consider moments away from idol status. We found this to be absurd until we heard Dreamland, which put us into such a state that certain unmentionable, blasphemous things were done to its paper doll cutout packaging that has now rendered it completely un-eBayable... Thirdly, Ms. Correatown. She may have tired of us by now but the feeling is not and will never be mutual. Not while she teases us with bits of her upcoming third album, guest appearances with Petracovich last week at Spaceland, and hearing her lovely croon grace Eleni Mandell's Miracle of Five... You might be able to guess by her clever name that Ema and the Ghosts is just one girl. One girl that will seduce you with her coquettish balladry faster than you can say Lolita-esque. This girl is a star and she doesn't even know it yet. Those of course make the brightest stars... After we wiped away the tears and the hair on the back of our neck laid to rest, we nervously contacted Tenlons Fort after one of his recent shows then prepared for rejection but instead received a warm reception. This nomadic singer-songwriter, whose album The Golden Handshake was clearly (to us) one of the best of 2006, settles in Los Angeles from time to time and so we are deeply honored that this next time will be our time... This show also marks the debut of The Cobra Lilies. You might recognize them when they appear on stage but you may not recognize the sounds that will emanate from their banjo/autoharp magistery.
June 12, 2007
Los Angeles Loves...
LENKA
JEREMY JAY
CORREATOWN
EMA AND THE GHOSTS
TENLONS FORT
THE COBRA LILIES
Mr T's Bowl
5621 1/2 Figueroa Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90041 | Map
21+ / FREE / 8pm sharp
Jeremy Jay - "The Stone Lantern" (MP3) Limited time download
Correatown - "The Songcatcher" (MP3) Limited time download
Ema and the Ghosts - "Folsom Prison Blues" (MP3) Limited time download
Tenlons Fort - "Golden Handshake" (MP3) Limited time download
Lenka - "We Will Not Grow Old"
Monday, June 04, 2007
Chapter Two: Electric Boogaloo
For Chapter Two of the month's festivities we wanted to dance like we've never danced before and that meant getting the few bands that could get our ancient asses to do that. Anavan, The Mormons, The Shark That Ate My Friend, and Bloody Robots are absolutely four of the best bands we've seen in Los Angeles in the last few years so you can probably guess how ecstatic we are to have them playing together. If you haven't seen these bands you should know that Anavan wear hockey helmets, The Mormons wear bicycle helmets, TSTAMF can be likened to Helmut Lang if Helmut Lang deconstructed DFA and Zelda instead of clingy T's and seersucker suits, and Bloody Robots are like Helmet minus Hamilton, Mengede, and Aftertaste. With that said, you know this show is going to be a riot.
Wear a helmet.
Note: A few prints of the show poster will be available at the show for free (and/or a hug). Please bring a few bucks to buy band merch, to tip the great bartenders at The Scene, or to challenge our high score on Galaga. The last of the limited edition of 10 la-underground buttons will be hidden around the club. If you are fortunate enough to find one, you get a free makeout session in the photo booth courtesy of the bouncers at The Scene. All b-boys and b-girls refrain from doing windmills, planches, and darkhammers near the pool table while the 2007 WPC Billiards Tournament is going on. The show is an LA Weekly pick of the week so that means it's officially no longer 'underground' to be there. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause to your street cred.
Los Angeles Loves...
ANAVAN
THE MORMONS
THE SHARK THAT ATE MY FRIEND
BLOODY ROBOTS
The Scene
806 E. Colorado St.
Glendale, CA 91201 | Map
21+ / $5 / 9pm
Anavan - "Eel Air Camera" (MP3)
The Mormons - "Half-Polyster Protection" (MP3)
The Shark That Ate My Friend - "Peaceful Kingdoms" (MP3)
Bloody Robots - "50 Percent Chance of Blood Reign" (MP3)
Friday, June 01, 2007
We took a little break recently in order to prepare for the grandeur of the month of June, which has some of the best shows, residencies, and events we've seen scheduled all year. Begin excitement now for...
Gigantic residencies with Health, The One AM Radio, The Deadly Syndrome, Castledoor, Jesca Hoop, Burning Brides, Thailand, Teaneck, Phantom Planet, and Abe Lincoln Story... Big events such as the Los Angeles Film Festival, Los Feliz Street Fair, Culver Artwalk 2007, Penny-Ante Book 2 release party, Pixelodeon 2007, Night Vision at MOCA, Playboy Jazz Festival, LA Scavenger Hunt II, Art Dorks, Indie 103.1's "Check One Two" Third Anniversary, the return of Grand Performances at California Plaza and Summer Camp at Little Radio, and the going away party for Sea Level Records at Safari Sam's (6/22)... Big shows with Let's Go Sailing, Bedroom Walls, and Whispertown 2000 (6/7); The Airborne Toxic Event, The Happy Hollows, and Radars to the Sky (6/9); Lavender Diamond, Winter Flowers, and Anders & Woods (6/16); Eagle and Talon (6/25); Monsters Are Waiting, Mellowdrone, Gliss, Meho Plaza, and David Lovering (6/28)... CD release shows for Upsilon Acrux, Carina Round, The Front, AM, Moderates, Scissors for Lefty, and Chris and Thomas... And, oh yeah, we're doing some shows this month too.
Also, of note: Club Underground moves from Tempest to The Echo beginning 6/22... And if you haven't heard that Chan's Ponytail has moved from Tuesdays at Safari Sam's to the much more party-friendly Saturday at the Echoplex, you need to get on more email blasts.
The One AM Radio - "In The Time We've Got" (MP3)
The Deadly Syndrome - "Eucalyptus" (MP3)
Thailand - "Ocean of Fire" (MP3)
Jesca Hoop - "Big Fish"
