Friday, February 20, 2009
Great week. Are we allowed to say we're exhausted? No? Darn.
Caught wind of Henry Rollins leaving Indie 103 for KCRW, which might incite headlines of "Morning Becomes Mnemonic" for the next few weeks -- not so much to recall the once student-run college radio's glory days of playing punk rock, but more for Rollins' bit roll in the dumb slash brilliant film Johnny Mnemonic. Knowing KCRW for awhile and admittedly working there in the 90's, it's had a stigma over the years as kind of the beacon for industry hipsterdom. You know, the station that square-rimmed black-clad PR-types turn on at 9am to see who their next client will be. Or the station food and wine elitists tune into on Saturday mornings to hear what the hot new patisserie in Brentwood is all about. And ok so we admit doing the latter, but dammit Evan Kleiman talking about porcini mushrooms for an hour can be pretty damn sexy. The point is, even though Rollins worked with the station in the 80's, one might not think today's prim and proper KCRW audience would be the target demographic for the punk hero behind such classic lyrics as "I smash fists into my face. I feel it. This is good." We don't even remember the last time KCRW played a Black Flag song. On the other hand, if any station in the universe needs a kick in the music programming arse, it's KCRW. Animal Collective and Bon Iver have become synonymous to KCRW as Foo Fighters and Green Day is to KROQ. And there's nothing wrong with that but the mere thought of XBXRX (or whatever new African throat singing punk rock troupe Rollins finds on his journeys) reaching the ears of every Pottery Barn-lovin' Banana Republic-wearin' Westsider just makes us happy. Rollins' show debuts 3/7 every Saturday an the 6-8pm slot.
Ok, so lots to get to this weekend. First, tune into The Movies on "Demolisten" tonight, which apparently has taken nearly a decade to get them on the show. Film geeks will probably be at Royce Hall for Werner Herzog. While electroclash geeks will probably be at Avalon for the Fischerspooner DJ set. And noise punk geeks will probably be at The Smell for Thurston Moore. That leaves local music geeks like us having to settle for The One AM Radio, One Trick Pony, and others at Temp Spaces. Sara Lov and others at Home. Les Blanks, Amateurs, The Voyeurs, and others at Old Towne Pub. Correatown, Red Maids, and The Gift Machine and Echo Curio. Donovan Frankenreiter and Gary Jules at the Roxy. Kill Kill Kill, The Franks, and others at pehrspace. Monster at Young Art. JB at g'net. And you must not forget the closing night for "Nostalgia's No Good" at L'KEG (pictured above on opening night with Jim Smith on the decks) featuring performances by Pizza! and PROTECTME.
Saturday, one of our favorites The Cauterized celebrates the release of their new record Reborn in Blood at the Knitting Factory. Joshua Radin, Meiko, and others at the Music Box. Indie 103 support show at The Scene with Go West Young Man. Bobb Bruno EP release show at Beta Level. Daedelus, Free the Robots, and others at Out of Asia. Pop Levi, Acid Girls and others at Echoplex. Justin Riner, Ema and the Ghosts, and others at the AlterKnit. Rats, Devin Sarno, and LA Fog at Echo Curio. Gowns, Vaudeville, and others at pehrspace. Deep Sea Diver, Crankcase, and others at The Prospector. And The Fall Trees EP release with Secret Alphabet at On the Rox.
Sunday, kids show at The Echo with The Broken West and Whispertown 2000. Everest does an afternoon show down at Fingerprints. "A Suite for Ma Dukes" at the Luckman. Arthur Russell Tribute with Hecuba and Julia Holter at PTP. VOICEsVOICEs tour kickoff fundraiser at The Smell. The Pity Party battle at Echoplex. The Long Lost record release recital at Panorama. Alex & Sam at Home. The Kids of Widney High, The Mormons, and others at The Scene. Spirit Vine, Eagle Winged Palace, and Rocking Horse People at Echo Curio. And Haim and others at the Hotel Cafe.
Everest - "Into Your Soft Heart" (MP3)
The Whispertown 2000 - "Restless" (MP3)
The Broken West - "Perfect Games" (MP3)
Full calendar listing here.
