Friday, May 02, 2008
May is our favorite month of the year. More on that later, let's get to this weekend first.
Jon Brion has his final show at Largo Fairfax tonight. Whatever your thoughts about Largo moving, seeing Brion in this small, cave-like pub is one of the best things you could possibly do in your life. But seeing him perform is one thing, playing with him is another (which we did once and never again), and then interviewing him in 1999 made the man, in our mind, a legend. Special guests were a nice cherry on top for many of his nights. Fiona Apple, Beck, Beth Orton, Eleni Mandell, and others played with Jon on one glorious evening in 1999. Later that year for Brion's birthday show Elliott Smith, Tenacious D, Brad Mehldau, Neil Finn, Grant Lee Phillips, Colin Hay, Ethan Johns, Glenn Phillips, Tim Keegan, and others showed up. Some other memories of the club we've had over the years include Andy Prieboy's beyond-brilliant "White Trash Wins the Lotto" nights (before moving them to The Roxy), Dido's Los Angeles debut (five people in the room), Sixpence None the Richer's "Quiet on the Set" showcase, Becky Stark's "early years", and that amazing night for Tom Brosseau's debut album a few years ago. Given the great lineups they've had, it was never a surprise when the house lights came on at the end of the night to see that you were sitting next to Prince (checking out Wendy & Lisa of course), Gwen Stefani, or on one strange night... Marilyn Manson (!?). One of the first bands to ever have a residency at Largo besides maybe Tenacious D (who weren't really considered a "band" at that point) was a band called Starbelly in like 95 or something. That band went on to become Dead Rock West (who by the way was one of the first bands to have a residency at Tangier and Hotel Cafe). Ok, enough with all the reminiscing. Largo is still alive. It's just in a big, fancy theatre now. Tickets are on sale now for its first shows at the Coronet Theatre. All the familiar names are scheduled to perform. Call (310) 855-0350 or check out the site for details. And if you're wanting to get into tonight's show, bring a book and have a backup plan for something else to do. Like maybe...
Our show at Mr. T's Bowl. Or John Doe at McCabe's. Timonium, Fast Dragon, French Miami and ebu gogo at pehrspace. Akron/Family and The Dodos at Natural History Museum. Or head back out to Indio for this year's Stagecoach Festival featuring Eagles, John Fogerty, Shelby Lynne, Dwight Yoakam, George Jones, The Judds (reunited for one night only!), and many others... On Saturday, The Warlocks go small at The Smell. Nortec Collective at The Echo. Oliver Future, Voxhaul Broadcast, Astra Heights, and others at the Swinghouse. The Transmissions, Avi Buffalo, and Exitmusic play pehrspace. Joanie Mendenhall plays her first L.A. solo show in awhile at Crane's. And get your DnB/Dub on as Bassrush takes over Lot 613 with Dieselboy headlining... Sunday, BARR, Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound, and others at The Smell. Two Sheds and Princeton at Spaceland. And our old buddy Mike Stinson leads the way for a Grand Ole Echo afternoon show.
Jon Brion - "Ruin My Day" (MP3)
The Transmissions - "Stalling Signs" (MP3)
Mike Stinson - "Last Fool At The Bar" (MP3)
