Monday, March 16, 2009
Fun weekend shows began with a few art openings on Friday at Synchronicity and Thinkspace. "Within Heaven's Earshot: Religious Album Covers" features a collection of over 300 religious album artwork that you probably wish you had thought of collecting. We love the Dan Betzer and Louie Tell the Bible Classics Vol. III that's used for the exhibit flyer but our favorite was The Cross and the Switchblade merely for the fact that we actually remember seeing this film back in Catholic school and the very sight of that cover (pictured above) was like a lightning bolt struck through our non-church going soul. Who else but Don Bolles would think of collecting such a huge amount of these records (most of them in Good to Very Good condition, for all you audiophiles)? The exhibit (which also features original artwork from the lovely Nora Keys, Basil Wolverton, and others) is an absolute must for music/art freaks. It goes until 4/12, appropriately for Easter Sunday.
Also Friday, we stopped by "Exposure" for Meiko, which apparently was her first-ever show in Silver Lake. It might have been also her first cafe-sized audience in about 2 years as an intimate room of photography lovers were given a very special performance by the Hotel Cafe star. She played a new song that Meiko hardcorps should be hearing on some Alex Patsavas-supervised drama soon... Later Friday, we made it out to Ben's birthday show at pehrspace with The Mae Shi, Manhattan Murder Mystery, and The Besties. Lots of love in the room that night for the blogger king and we're glad we could get there in time for The Shi to break out their woobie. Happy birthday, Ben.
Saturday and Sunday we were on lockdown at two great shows. Silver Factory Studios on Saturday had a solid lineup of Light FM, Divisadero, Siggy, and the debut of Firs while on Sunday the Hotel Cafe hosted The Damnwells record release, the Come Gather Round Us record release, Alela Diane, and Lex Land. Like we said, two great shows. CGT reported that Kim Haden would be leaving Light FM soon, which we think is a huge loss to the band and to every synth-loving heterosexual male in the world (let's face it, she's cute), so we felt we shouldn't miss her last few shows. Seriously, that girl can flat out play keys. And congrats to The Damnwells and Come Gather Round Us on the release of their new records. The Damnwells entire record One Last Century is available as a free download on their site and Come Gather Round Us (which features ex-local gal gone North, Catherine Feeny) has their 2-disc Remember Where You Are available at shows. And, needless to say, both Alela Diane and Lex Land made us tear up at least a dozen times although we can't count higher twelve so...
So another week in March but not just another week. It's the pre-SXSW week so things get a little more hectic...
Monday residencies have got some stiff competition tonight with Great Northern, O+S, and others at the Silverlake Lounge. Hecuba and Nosaj Thing open for Larytta at Echoplex. Brian Jonestown Massacre opens for Primal Scream at Club Nokia. Mika Miko, Clipd Beaks, Mega Wand, Lovvers, and others at The Smell. Lucky Dragons opens for Meg Baird at Echo Curio. Jennifer Gail and others at the Hotel Cafe. Gaby Moreno, Sally Jaye, Kyler England, and Joe Eckels at Room 5. And Travisaurus, Milk, Subwolf, Who Is Chuy Vega? and others for Room 342 at The Airliner. Also, listen up for Sweaters on GTFU... On Tuesday, We Are the World and Destructo open for Kap Bambino at Viper. Funeral Party opens for ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead at Echoplex. Chris & Thomas, Josh Kelley and others at the Hotel Cafe. The Lovemakers at Spaceland. Vast Atlantic, Lex Land and others for Tank! Tuesdays at The Airliner. And Kid Cudi at Cinespace Tuesdays... Wednesday, Is Good presents Nightfur's Illusions record release at the Silverlake Lounge with Joe Fielder on decks/laptop. Dave Grohl and David Cross are Greg Proops special guests at g'net. Idyllists, Castaneda ,and Lemonwilde at Boardner's. And The Happy Problem with San Diego's Hotel St. George at Spaceland... Dave Rawlings Machine and Gillian Welch at g'net on Thursday. Also, Nick Jago at Spaceland. Penelope Fortier, Jim Hanft, Melineh Kurdian, and others at the Hotel Cafe. Eugene & the 1914 at The Prospector. Realicide, Soft Fangs, Icy Lytes, and others at Echo Curio. And Sara and Sean Watkins at g'net's Little Room.
Full listings here.
Happy belated birthday to Dina Waxman of Space Mtn who are currently recording new music as we speak but you can see her playing bass in the new band Firs which got its debut last Saturday at Silver Factory Studios. Celebrating a birthday this week is (the most famous two-first name club owner in the Silver Lake scene that isn't Scott Sterling) Mitchell Frank.
