Monday, August 31, 2009
We'd like to send out a huge thanks to all those came out on Saturday for the We All Fell Dead record release. It's a little big record that we are very proud to be putting out for all these great artist slash friends. We already have plans of putting out another record very soon so stay tuned for that.
We feel for you if this is back to school week. The summer just went by way too fast, right? Yeah, well, put away those syllabi for a few more days as we say farewell to the summer with some of the biggest shows of the season...
Monday residencies end with some big lineups tonight. Shows have been way too crowded for us to stay very long at any of them but you definitely should get out to see these
bands when you can. Also, Holloys at The Mandrake. The Littlest Viking and others at The Airliner. Whitman, Best Band Ever, and others at Birthday Sex (best new venue of the month)... Tuesday, Gary Jules, Northstar Session and others at the Hotel Cafe. Mika Miko, Davila 666, and others at The Echo. And The 88 begin their Tuesday residency at Spaceland... Wednesday, Division Day does Club NME with Bad Veins and LoveLikeFire. Holly Conlan, Buddy, and others open for Ian Ball a the Hotel Cafe. Peanut Butter Wolf at LET. Romak and the Space Pirates, Strip Mall Seizures, and others at The Smell. And Nine Inch Nails, Mew, and Queen Kwong at the Palladium... Thursday, Colin Hay celebrates the release of his new record American Sunshine at g'net. Lily & the Ladies and others at The Echo. He's My Brother, She's My Sister, Crooked Cowboy, Spirit Vine, and others at Spaceland. Tim Easton and The Faraway Places at Redwood. Kissing Cousins, Cinder Cone, The Terrapin, and others at Silver Factory Studios. Patti Smith plays the Twilight Series at the Santa Monica Pier. Nine Inch Nails and Mew at the Music Box. Juliette Lewis and Cat Power open for The Pretenders at the Greek. And Xu Xu Fang and The Meeting Places open for The Boxing Lesson at The Prospector.
Full calendar listing here.
Also, we've been asked to help with The Happy Hollows record release show on Friday. If you're not at this show you'll be sorry. We promise. More later.
Pictured above is Lately Blu Blu of Blue Jungle throwing out hearts to the fans on Friday at L'KEG. Yeah, it was pretty awesome.
Friday, August 28, 2009
People who live in the Valley are used to this kind of heat and smoke-filled sky. We used to call it the Warm Blanket, but have since opted for The Smother since it's like being smothered... by a warm blanket. AKA it's hot. But you know, that's what we sign up for living in Los Angeles, which this week alone saw not-so-secret shows by M.I.A., Wolfmother, and The Dead Weather, plus Billy Corgan plays Open (a book store in Long Beach the size of a kitchen cabinet) tonight. But these are just the little things that make living in Los Angeles glamorous to tourists. What we're more interested in are...
Tonight, the wonderful and amazing Dirt Dress performs on "Demolisten." Ariel Pink opens for Gang Gang Dance at the Troubadour. Jim Bianco and others at the Hotel Cafe. Slang Chickens opens for Ted Leo & the Pharmacists at The Echo. Hecuba, Lucky Dragons, Beast Cop, and others at The Smell. The Warlocks, Gliss, and others at Spaceland. Blue Jungle, UV Lights, Okie Dokie and others at L'KEG. Falsetto Teeth, Video, and Rats at pehrspace. Tom Freund, Jess Klein and others at McCabe's. Golden State, The Ruse at the Viper Room. Tenacious mother effing D at g'net.
Saturday, we're presenting a show at Silver Factory Studios. Come by later if you've got plans for early shows. Like Lucky Dragons opens for Akron/Family at the El Rey. Katy Perry and The Bird and the Bee at the Palladium. Rocco Deluca & the Burden at Saint Rocke. Princeton celebrates the release of their 7" single at pehrspace with Fol Chen and special guests. The Warlocks, Useless Keys, and Black Apples at Spaceland. Thee Makeout Party, Davila 666, and others at Alex's Bar. Shurman, Tony Gilkyson, and others at Redwood. Patton Oswalt laughs it up at g'net. And don't forget the opening reception for Mew's "Mewsuem: A Sonic Experience" at Zune.
Sunday, Davila 666 and Moses Campbell do a breakfast show (although technically it should be brunch) opening for Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. Kissing Cousins celebrates the release of their beyond wonderful record Pillar of Salt at Origami around 7pm (FREE). Moving Units opens for The Faint at Club Nokia. The Mars Volta at the Palladium. And The Parson Red Heads, Francisco the Man, and others at Alex's Bar.
Last note about the show on Saturday: Make sure you RSVP to any of the bands or us if you're thinking about coming. First 10 people get a gift bag thingie containing the new record. What? Did we just way we're doing gift bags? Yeah... and also there's a dress code of nothing but cummerbunds, ladies get in free before 4am - Tuesday, bottle service for douchebags who still think bottle service is not douchebaggy, and Cobrasnake will be snapping party pix. That's a joke. And a horrible one. The gift bag thingie is not a joke though. In fact, we've strategically placed this at the bottom of this post to hide that we're doing this gimmicky promotional stunt. But, actually, since the first ten people will probably be the bands and us, this is actually win-win. Sweet.
Picture above is from Audrey Napoleon's new weekly at the Dragonfly last Monday. If there is any band that could get us to a club we were once banned from some 11 years ago, it's Odd Modern, even though we were perfectly aware that we are seeing them tomorrow. That wooden wall/bar thing at the back of the room is still there. We once cried tears of joy watching Rilo Kiley, The Mash Notes, and Phantom Planet there. Anyway, we were also scouting that new electro girl-girl duo The Next Door Neighbors who we also caught a bit of last weekend in Long Beach. Not bad. Watch out for them.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Monolators are releasing a new 12" single entitled "We All Fell Dead" featuring a cover by boxViolet and remixes by Odd Modern, The Sweet Hurt, and Boy Without Orange, scheduled for a release on September 1st on, um, Los Angeles Loves Records.
Sorry, we had to do it.
This record started sometime in 2006 when we threw around the idea of getting “We Fell Dead” remixed simply because the bassline riff was begging for it (and also because we think the song is kind of an underground cult classic). Shortly after, multi-tracks were semi-secretly sent around the scene to those who loved (or at least extremely liked) The Monolators and to artists we thought might do something unique. We added the extra incentive that we would release any submissions on vinyl. Odd Modern, The Sweet Hurt, and Boy Without Orange came back with remixes within a few weeks and boxViolet recorded a cover of the song in a few days.
Fast forward to 2009 and we finally got our act together to put this sucker out and we're celebrating its release on Saturday. We honestly never really had any intention of doing the "record label" thing. But what we enjoy most about taking part in the Los Angeles music scene is bringing artists together who might have never found each other otherwise. So if we have to release a remix record on 180g limited edition vinyl for a few of our most beloved bands just to get them to hold hands, then it's the sacrifice we have to make.
The record will be available exclusively on iTunes on 9/1 and on vinyl/download cards anywhere they allow us to put it on their shelves (perhaps Origami Vinyl, Vacation Vinyl, and Amoeba Music). You can preview tracks here, including the unreleased remix by The Shark That Ate My Friend.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to recent vandalism, Silver Factory Studios is now a private gated venue. You MUST RSVP to attend this show or you will not be allowed entrance. Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause (we hate guestlists too). Message any of the bands or us to get on the list. It's only $5.
IMPORTANT SIDENOTE: Anyone caught vandalizing during this show will be shot on sight.
IMPORTANT SIDENOTE TO SIDENOTE: Silver Factory Studios is an afterhours venue. The trick is to wake up early Saturday morning. Take a long nap Saturday afternoon. Go to all the early shows you want to Saturday evening. Then come by around 10pm and hang all night at one of the best new venues in L.A.
Hope to see you there.
August 29, 2009
la-underground in association with Los Angeles Loves Records presents:
We All Fell Dead 12" record release
featuring performances by...
THE MONOLATORS
BOXVIOLET
ODD MODERN
DJ BOY WITHOUT ORANGE
Silver Factory Studios
915 Mateo Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021 | Map
21+ / 10pm / $5 guestlist RSVP only
Odd Modern - "We Fell Dead (Vanina's Fancy Remix)" (MP3)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Hope everyone had a festival-filled weekend. If you did, this week might serve as a continuation of all the great music you should have heard, as there are entirely too many bands to see as the summer winds down...
Tonight, as Monday residency residencies come to an end... Dengue Fever plays a in-store at Fingerpints. Carla Werner, Homesick Elephant, Elizaveta, and others at the Hotel Cafe. Paige Stark opens for Mariee Sioux, Graham Forest, and others at Echo Curio. Odd Modern, The Next Door Neighbors, The Sweet Kill, and others at Dragonfly. And Mary Lynn Rajskub and Tig Notaro do funny at g'net... Tuesday, The Lovemakers residency at the Silverlake Lounge comes to a close. Fred Armisen hosts a star-filled show at g'net. John Vanderslice does an in-store at Origami. Everybody at Ding-a-Ling. The Shys, Army Navy, Eastern Conference Champions, and others at the Troubadour. Paparazzi and Joaquin open for Teenage Bad Girl at Arena. Marilyn Manson at the Fox Pomona. Lee Scratch Perry at the Key Club. And Green Day and Franz Ferdinand at the Forum... Wednesday, Michel Gondry does an in-store at Amoeba. Dawes finishes up their Echo residency. Maxim Ludwig, Right the Stars, and others at the Hotel Cafe. Blank Blue opens for Deerhunter and Extra Golden at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock. Rainbow^Arabia opens for Music Go Music at The Bordello. Quetzal at the Conga Room. Chris Isaak and Susan Tedeschi at the Greek... Thursday, listen up for Gliss on "Morning Becomes Eclectic." Devendra Banhart at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Pete Yorn and Zee Avi at the Music Box. The Watkins Family Hour at g'net. U-N-I and '87 Stick Up Kids at the Roxy. Jail Weddings opens for The Dirt Bombs at the Echo. Victim Vision, Dirt Dress, and Future Ghost at the Silverlake Lounge. And Woods and Best Coast at Echo Curio.
Also, a little reminder that we're presenting a show on Saturday (8/29) at Silver Factory Studios with The Monolators, boxViolet, Odd Modern, and DJ Boy Without Orange. Email any of the bands (or us) to get on the $5 discount list. Thanks.
Complete calendar listing here.
Friday, August 21, 2009
First of all, congrats to Correatown on the success of her great record release show last Tuesday at The Echo. We've known this lady for a little while now and we will say without hesitation that that was the best show we've ever seen her do. Even without the special guest appearances by The Broken West, Leslie Stevens of Leslie & the Badgers, The Damselles, and Joanie Mendenhall (who were all terrific). Somewhere around the second chorus of "Green Cotton Dress" (a song she once debuted in front of a crowd of us and the Molly Malone's bartender), we realized we were witnessing the greatness of an artist fully realized. And we're excited about the possibilities. Be sure to get the record either digitally or on vinyl (we're pretty sure it's at Origami now). And we should mention that Killsonic, Marvelous Toy, and The Breakups were the perfect supporting cast for the evening. Thanks to all for coming out.
Ok, this is the weekend of all weekends. If any one of you (two people reading this), are reluctant to go out this weekend because "(sigh) there's nothing to do" or "(yawn) I'm sleepy" or "(ouch) my feet hurt" then you shouldn't be living in Los Angeles. Seriously, move to somewhere they make a living of sleeping through a weekend full of great events like this one. Because this is the end of the summer, back-to-school sale, mother of all weekends...
Tonight (deep breath), listen up to "Demolisten" for performances by Guidance Counselor and Paleface. Then head out to Busker Fest down in the beautiful East Village Arts District of Long Beach with Cold War Kids, Free Moral Agents, Avi Buffalo, So Many Wizards, and many others (free). Or check out Amar Fest as it kicks off two nights at the legendary Firehouse Old 23 with performances by Aztlan Underground, Naima Earth, Ars Poetria, and many others (also Saturday). Mike Watt and the Secondmen, The Mormons, Bastidas, and others at The Blvd. Jail Weddings celebrates the release of their new EP "Inconvenient Dreams" at American Legion with Blue Jungle, Horse Thieves, and others. Obedient Waves celebrates the release of their new record at Fern's. Japanese Motors opens up for The Sonics at Echoplex. The 88 do an in-store at the Apple Store at the Grove. Chantal Kreviazuk, Janet Robin, Shane Alexander, and others at the Hotel Cafe. Benji Hughes and B.R.A.M. do a pre-Sunset Junction show at Spaceland. Captain Ahab, tik///tik, and others at The Smell. Elaine Layabout's Hella Hipster Hoedown IV with Tijuana Panthers, Ema and the Ghosts, Paleface, and Silver Darling at pehrspace. Jon Brion at g'net. The Zeros, The Hangmen and others at Alex's Bar. Babyland, The Prids and others at Silver Factory Studios. Shotgun Showdown, The Cartographers, and others at Echo Curio. And Hockey come home for a show at The Echo with The French Semester.
Yeah, and we're not even mentioning touring shows like Diana Krall, Arrested Development, ZZ Top, Los Campesinos!, and Steely Dan who are all in town tonight...
Saturday, Sunset Junction should have everybody's attention but don't forget the pre/post/conjunction Junction parties happening all over the immediate area of Silver Lake and Echo Park. Cold War Kids play USC's McCarthy Quad. Eagle and Talon celebrates the release of their new record at Echo Curio with very special guests. Seasons, Odd Modern, and Manhattan Murder Mystery all celebrate record releases at pehrspace. Benji Hughes and The Belle Brigade at Spaceland. Ceci Bastida opens for Babasonicos at the House of Blues Anaheim. Terra Naomi, Jay Nash & Tony Lucca, and others at the Hotel Cafe. familyblankets at Buffalo Exchange. Nite Jewel, Monster, and Universe at YAG. Dios, Juanita and the Rabbit, and others at Alex's Bar. Former Ghosts, Casey and Brian and others at The Smell. Tiger Tank Euphoria opens for The Next Door Neighbors at Open. Kid Infinity, Mega Wand, and others at L'KEG. Malbec and others at The Roxy. The Cult at Club Nokia. Avaland celebrates 5 years at the Avalon with Steve Bug and others. The Aquabats open for Everclear at Golden Bear Theatre at Magic Mountain. Epicenter 2009 over in Pomona. And Harvey Danger says farewell at g'net.
The amazing thing is that we're probably forgetting a few shows.
Sunday, Summercamp returns with Fol Chen and Kenan Bell. Peanut Butter Wolf at Amoeba. Kill Kill Kill and others do an early show at pehrspace. Restavrant, Paul Chesne Band, and Sea of Air at El Cid. Venus Infers opens for Plushgun at the Knitting Factory. C.R.A.F.T. Club, The Monthlies, Go West Young Man, and others at The Garter. And Vans Warped Tour at the Home Depot Center.
We hope you get enough rest for this one.
The Sonics - "Psycho" (MP3)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Correatown is celebrating the release of their new record Burn. Spark. Fade. on Tuesday.
Gosh, that's a nice thing to finally write.
The band has been itching to get this record out for a little while now so you know this show is a long time coming. The album is already out digitally (iTunes, Amazon, etc.) but you'll now be able to pick up the newly pressed vinyl with handmade sleeve artwork on this night. It's a work of art so be sure to get it. Also, for this special occasion, Ms. Correa has invited IsGoodMusic and us to help with the show along with fellow friends of the scene The Breakups, Marvelous Toy, and Killsonic with Kevin Bronson on the wheels of steel. Do people still use the phrase "wheels of steel" with laptop DJing? No matter, K-Bronze will be rocking the hits all night long. We also hear there will be quite a few surprise guests joining Correatown for this night that you won't want to miss.
Hope to see you there...
August 18, 2009
IsGoodMusic.com and we present...
CORREATOWN record release
THE BREAKUPS
MARVELOUS TOY
KILLSONIC
DJ Kevin Bronson (Buzzbands.la)
The Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026 | Map
18 / $5 / 8:30pm
Correatown - "Green Cotton Dress" (MP3)
The Breakups - "After the Fact" (MP3)
Marvelous Toy - "The City Is A Washing Machine" (MP3)
Thanks to everyone for coming out last night at the Bootleg and to all the bands for playing, especially Foxtails Brigade (pictured above) for asking us to tag along. Be sure to pick up Foxtails Brigade's new 7" "Chat With Sivan" available here. It's a fine teaser for their debut record The Bread and the Bait due later this year. And don't forget to pick up new records released this year by all the bands.
The calm before the storm, it's pre-Sunset Junction week so...
Do try to make it out to the August residencies if you can, especially if you like good music and crowded clubs. Elsewhere, Lindsay Ray, Annie Bethancourt, and others at the Hotel Cafe. Cartographers, boxViolet, and Lovers at Echo Curio. Joel Eckels, Joey Ryan and others at Room 5. And Flaming Lips at the Greek... Tuesday, we're presenting a show at The Echo. Please come. If not, The Lovemakers continue their residency at the Silverlake Lounge. The Minor Canon and others at Spaceland. And Lucinda Williams opens for Elvis Costello at the Greek... Wednesday, Great Northern plays Pershing Square. Carla Werner at King's Road. Dawes residency at the The Echo. Audacity and Christmas Island at Origami. Lex Land, Matt Hires and others at the Hotel Cafe. Kenan Bell, U-N-I, and Fitz & the Tantrums at the Troubadour. The Grizzly Owls and others at Room 5... Thursday, Hockey does a session at "Morning Becomes Eclectic." Carney, Caitlin Crosby and others at the Roxy. Lenka at the Gap at the Grove. Quentin Tarantino does an in-store at Amoeba. Evan Way and Big Search opens for J. Tillman at The Echo.
Full calendar listing here.
Happy birthdays over the weekend to Ema and the Ghosts. Also, Frank Lee Drennen of Dead Rock West and Electric Earl both celebrated birthdays yesterday for a fun-filled afternoon show at Grand Ole Echo. Happy birthdays this week to Gilby Clarke, Missy Higgins, and Demi Lovato.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Lots to do this weekend...
Tonight, tune into "Demolisten" for performances by Poet Named Revolver, Tenlons Fort, and Laz D. Later, The Henry Clay People host their "Rock and Roll Summer Circus" at the Echoplex with Fol Chen, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, Marvelous Toy and many other kickball veterans. Babyland, BARR, This Song Is A Mess But So Am I, and others at The Smell. The Mormons celebrate 11 years of Mormon-dom at Juanita's. Crooked Cowboy, Amanda Jo Williams and others at the Unknown Theater. El Ten Eleven, Intricate Machines and others at the Bootleg. HoneyHoney, Janet Robin, and others at the Hotel Cafe. VOICEsVOICEs opens for The Octopus Project at the Troubadour. Grey Delisle comes out of studio hibernation to play a rare show at the Redwood. Jon Brion at g'net. Rachael Cantu, The Rhone Occupation, Star Parts, and others at pehrspace. Shiloe, The New Room, and others at Boardner's. Signals and PROTECTME open for Shellshag and Screaming Females at Spaceland. Okie Dokie, Gestapo Khazi and others at L'KEG. And The Moon Upstairs, Octave Cat, and others at Silver Factory Studios.
Saturday, Jake Newton celebrates the release of his new record at the Hotel Cafe. The Motels at Pershing Square. Quantic, J Rocc, Nu-Mark, and others at Echoplex. The Muffs, The Dollyrots, and others at Alex's Bar. Le Switch, The World Record, Flashing Red Lights and others at Spaceland. Spirit Vine, Featherbeard, Ruthann Friedman, Layer, and dozens of others at HM157. Okie Dokie, Culture Kids, and others at The Hickey Underworld. Familiar Trees, OTO, and Leftover Cuties at OCCC. And don't forget to listen to Agent Ribbons, Foxtails Brigade, and Judgement Day on KXLU's "Neuz Pollution."
Sunday, we're presenting a great lineup at the Bootleg Theater. Hope to see you, otherwise head out to g'net for a very special evening with Neil Finn, KT Tunstall, Bic Runga, Lisa Germano, and other surprise guests. Also, earlier in the day, Little Radio brings back Summercamp with Living Things, Har Mar Superstar, and Restavrant. Los Lobos at the Greek. The Monolators and others at Spaceland. Nite Jewel and Silk Flowers at PTP. J Rocc does an in-store at Amoeba. Andy Clockwise, Spirit Vine, and others at Cinespace. Dead Rock West and others do Grand Ole Echo. And new buzz band Depeche Mode showcases at the Hollywood Bowl.
Also, everyone should wish a warm happy birthday to Ema and the Ghosts on Saturday.
Complete calendar listing here.
Grey DeLisle - "Bohemian Rhapsody" (MP3)
Ruthann Friedman - "All I Know" (MP3)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
This is our first show at the Bootleg, a mammoth wood-paneled gem of a space located in Historic Filipinotown. Once a bra factory in the 30's, the venue formerly known as The Evidence Room has become more of a performance space for experimental theater, music, dance, and art. A few years ago, we walked into a veritable carnival of performance artists with fire breathers, contortionists, and naked people running all around the place. In recent months, however, The Fold has taken over the front room and made it into one of the best sounding mid-size venues in town. With all this said, it is with great honor that we co-present Sunday's show with Agent Ribbons, Foxtails Brigade, Judgement Day, and One Trick Pony.
We were asked by Foxtails Brigade to help with the night, probably due to our incessant hounding over the years to do a show. Laura Weinbach was doing the solo singer-songwriter thing in Los Angeles for years before recruiting violinist Sivan Sadeh to form Foxtails Brigade then abruptly moving to San Francisco last summer. They just released their debut recording "Chat With Sivan" on Third Culture Records and are in town to celebrate its release... Agent Ribbons was just in town last week performing at The Smell with friends Sister Crayon and then before that opening for Camera Obscura at the Music Box (and dozens and dozens of times before that) so you probably already know of these enchanting ladies. The duo recently became a trio and are set to release their second 7" and first on Madrid-based indie Acuarela Records entitled "Your Love Is the Smallest Doll." We're hoping they have it available for this show because "Bird in the Mirror" is all kinds of wonderful... Judgement Day is the duo of Anton and Lewis Patzner who with Jon Bush on drums have become the violin/cello duet equivalent of Shrapnel Records for today's indie rock listener. For kids born in the 90's, that basically means they shred (minus the hairspray). But, seriously, Tony MacAlpine/Vinnie Moore fans are going to love this. Check out the video below and see if you can resist not coming early to see them... That just leaves us with the lone local band on the lineup, our beloved One Trick Pony. The band continues to surprise us with how relatively quiet they've been this year with their new record. I mean, if we released as good an album as Full of Life we'd be leaping naked from the peak of Iron Mountain into the streams of Buck Canyon shouting to the heavens how awesome we were. Either that or a press release, can't decide.
If you know any of these bands, you know you're in for the best baroque pop night of the year. If you don't know any of them, then it's time to introduce yourselves to four of the best new violin-toting bands around.
Listen for Agent Ribbons, Foxtails Brigade, and Judgement Day on KXLU 88.9FM's Neuz Pollution on 8/15.
August 16, 2009
KXLU and la-underground present...
AGENT RIBBONS
FOXTAILS BRIGADE record release
JUDGEMENT DAY
ONE TRICK PONY
The Fold at the Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90057 | Map
$8 / 8pm / 21+
Advance tickets available here.
Agent Ribbons - "Chelsea, Let's Go Join the Circus" (MP3)
Judgement Day - "Out of the Abyss" (MP3)
One Trick Pony - "Full of Life" (MP3)
Congrats to The Voyeurs on their well-orchestrated video release show on Tuesday at The Echo with Kissing Cousins, boxviolet, and Polygram. You can check out The Voyeurs new video "Things People Say" here. boxViolet's video isn't up anywhere yet but you can check out behind the scenes photos here. Kissing Cousins didn't have a video but they did put the beatdown on the midnight slot like a woman scorn. That was about as fierce as any band with a flutist wearing a kimono could be and by that we mean they were magnificent. The band recently released their debut record Pillar of Salt, which is now available at Velvet Blue Music on limited edition vinyl and CD. Get them both.
Well, it's the second Thursday of August, which of course means Art Walk. The last few months of Art Walk have been a revelation, as thousands of people have been experiencing the goodness (and potential greatness) of our little downtown while discovering some of L.A.s' finest artists. We've said before that maybe five (definitely ten) years, downtown was a wasteland as soon it became dark. It's amazing what happens when you add a few more cafes, restaurants, and streetlights to make everyone feel safe. It probably won't be too long until downtown becomes too fancy for us all so let's savor the its innocence (and street parking) while we can. Oh how we wish Al's Bar was still around to keep downtown humble. Be sure to hit up Edgar Varela, 5 Star Bar, Landing Party, and all the others for all the After Walk fiestas.
In other news: Kicking off the Under the Radar series, the goddess that is Sam Phillips will be joined by The Section Quartet for a very special intimate performance at the Edye Second Space inside the new, gorgeous Santa Monica Performing Arts Center's Broad Stage complex. Tickets are $22, available here. Rumors are that she'll be performing new songs from a new album she'll announce in September. Her new song "What It All Means" was recently featured in the latest issue of The Believer Magazine. Other future Under the Radar performers include Rajeev Taranath (10/3) and Daedelus (4/10)... Fol Chen's The Longer U Wait remix record is available for free here... Tuesday Silverlake Lounge residents, The Lovemakers' lead single "See What I Want To See" is now available on iTunes. Check out footage of them rehearsing the song below and go see them every Tuesday this month at the SLL... Olin & the Moon have some free goodies for you... If you're looking for a gig in August, hit up The Scene for some last-minute available slots that just opened up... Electro-radical duo Knight Rider has changed their name to Computer Club. Update your ID3 tags.
Monday, August 10, 2009
The big news over the weekend was the shutdown of HARD festival at the Forum on Saturday. Don't know what exactly happened, but friends say that it didn't appear that the venue was at capacity as reports of the closure suggested. In any case, we would have recommended going to Discotheque anyway on Friday, which was equally a sweaty mess for the kids (at the recession-buster price of $10 or free if you got there early). SebastiAn is our favorite DJ of the Ed Banger crew, producing some fantastic tracks recently not to mention completely blowing the roof off joints his last couple of appearances in town. You could have also gone to Bardot last night for other surprise appearances from HARD DJs.
Tonight, Monday residencies have some company with Petracovich's record release show at the Hotel Cafe with Angela Correa, Alex & Sam, and others. Restavrant, Spirit Vine, Hocus Pocus, and Dirt Dress at Echoplex. Will Hoge at the Mint. And Amanda Blank does an in-store at Amoeba... Black Francis and Mere Mortals do a couple nights at The Mint beginning Tuesday. The Lovemakers continue their residency at the Silverlake Lounge. The Section Quartet at g'net. The Voyeurs, Kissing Cousins, boxViolet, and Polygraph all premiere new videos at The Echo. The Press Fire!, Halloween Swim Team, and others at Silver Factory Studios. And The Littlest Viking, Lautrec, and Beware of Safety at Echo Curio... Wednesday, Olin & the Moon does Pershing Square. The Parson Red Heads, Avi Buffalo, and others at the Knitting Factory. Wait.Think.Fast. and Ceci Bastida at La Cita. Sara Bareilles, Glen Phillips, Maria Taylor, Lex Land, and others do a Kelly Buchanan benefit at the Troubadour. Alisa Moreno, Aya Larkin, and others at Dakota. Bullion, Lexicon, and Eskmo at Low End Theory. Dawes continues their residency at The Echo. Sky Parade and others at Spaceland. Sarah Silverman at g'net. And Ovideo, Tasso, French Miami, and The Downer Party at the Silverlake Lounge... Thursday, there's big Pablove benefit show at the Bootleg with Great Northern, Obi Best, Xu Xu Fang and others. Burning Brides, Jonneine Zapata, Sabrosa Purr and others at The Echo. Meiko at Pershing Square. Red Cortez, Go West Young Man, Radars to the Sky and others at Edgar Varela. The Parson Red Heads, Rademacher, and Roadside Graves at The Prospector. The Underground Railroad to Candyland, Screaming Females, Shell Shag, and others at Babe's. Vincent Gallor & Sean Lennon hold hands at g'net. And Tleilaxu Music Machine and friends at The Smell.
Complete calendar listing here.
Friday, August 07, 2009
That, by all accounts, was a fantastic show last night at Silver Factory Studios. Thanks to Robotanists for asking us to be apart of it and to Summer Darling, Vanaprasta, and SFS for joining in on the festivities. The bands were all superb so if you didn't see them last night you really need to catch them whenever you can. Our next show is 8/16 the Bootleg Theater with Agent Ribbons, Foxtails Brigade, Judgement Day, and One Trick Pony. We must be the luckiest idiots on earth to be apart of such great lineups this month. We're also back at Silver Factory Studios on 8/29 for a very special record release show for The Monolators, boxviolet, Odd Modern, The Sweet Hurt, and BW/OO. More on that later...
Well, it's Friday and looking at the calendar of events for this weekend, there are two things that we can pretty much guarantee come Monday: We're probably going to be exhausted from all the shows we're going to and G.I. Joe is going to effing suck.
Tonight, turn your dial to "Demolisten" for the smooth sounds of The Wild Bunch. Later, you might want to get to the Redwood pretty early for the legends that are The Zeros and Mike Watt & His Secondmen. Tiff Jimber celebrates the release of her new record at the Hotel Cafe. Love Grenades opens for Elefant at the Music Box. West Indian Girl opens for Los Amigos Invisibles at the House of Blues. Repeater, Veil Veil Vanish, and Mother/Father (on tour from Nashville) at Boardner's. Suki Ewers and Patria Jacobs at Taix. Jon Brion at g'net. The Polyamorous Affair at the Avalon. The Underground Railroad to Candyland, Stab City, and others at Sis's Bar. And Busy P. and SebastiAn headline the second night the new weekly Discotheque.
On Saturday, if you feel a burst of light and energy coming from the mid-city area of Los Angeles, that's because when Nels Cline and Jon Brion join forces it's the astronomic equivalent of two stars colliding. If you've never seen these two do these epic shows together, you're in for a masterclass of improvisational brilliance.
Elsewhere, the Venice Beach Music Festival featuring Ninja Academy, Looner, The Hard Goodbye and others takes place at Windward Plaza. HARD does their summer festival at The Forum while Rock the Bells takes over the San Manuel Amphitheater. Warpaint and Moonrats debut new videos at Under the Bridge. Seasons, The Karabal Nightlife, Downtown/Union, Barrio Tiger, and others at American Legion. The Lady Tigra and Adam 12 at Silver Factory Studios. Chris and Thomas at Pershing Square. Avi Buffalo and others play a rooftop party at National City Tower Lofts. Best Coast, Pearl Harbour, and others at L'KEG. Vaudeville plays their last show ever at a loft in Long Beach (417 Alamitos Ave., FREE). And Freak City grand opening at Lipstick.
Sunday, Manimal Vinyl presents Warpaint, Caroline Weeks, Corridor, and Universe at Spaceland. Factory Records night at The Echo for PTP.
Full calendar listing here.
Happy birthdays this past week Joanie Mendenhall (The Exfriends), Jonah Ray, and Amy Kuney. Happy birthdays this weekend to Pilar Diaz, Tiffany Anders, and Lindsay Mancha of The Karabal Nightlife who are celebrating with a show at the American Legion on Saturday.
Suki Ewers - "Time After Time" (MP3)
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Tomrorow, we're back again at Silver Factory Studios, the late night basement warehouse venue we all love. On this evening, ROBOTANISTS have invited friends Summer Darling and Vanaprasta for your listening pleasure and we're just riding shotgun. Summer Darling will
If you plan on coming out, be sure to send an email to get on the $5 discount list for the show!
Note: VOICEsVOICEs is no longer playing.
August 6, 2009
Los Angeles Loves...
SUMMER DARLING
ROBOTANISTS
VANAPRASTA
Silver Factory Studios
915 Mateo St.
Los Angeles, CA 90021 | Map
21+ / 10pm / $8
Email for $5 list!
Summer Darling - "Math Is Everywhere" (MP3)
Robotanists - "Close Down The Woods" (MP3)
Vanaprasta - "Buddhist" (MP3)
Tonight, Wait.Think.Fast. begins their two-week residency at Mucho Wednesdays at La Cita. The last time the band played this night, there was a few hundred people that got stuck outside trying to get in for Mucho's 2-Year Anniversary show. Luckily, we got there early so we could rock out to all the banda disco mashups that were being played. Furthermore, Mucho Wednesdays, is one of the best weeklies to hit up whenever you're undecided on what to do on hump day. Oh, and if you haven't seen WTF in awhile, they're last few shows have been unbelievable (although our crappy video below won't do them justice).
Elsewhere tonight, Luke Top and My Pet Saddle do Pershing. Dawes begin their residency at The Echo. Free Moral Agents and Thavius Beck at Low End Theory. Abe Vigoda and others at The Smell. The Capshuns, Shiloe, Queen Kwong, and Bixby Knolls at Spaceland. Bobby Long and Maxim Ludwig begin their tenure at the Hotel Cafe.
Tomorrow, we're presenting a show at Silver Factory Studios with Summer Darling, Robotanists, and Vanaprasta (VOICEsVOICEs is no longer playing). You could also see Charlie Haden's Quartet West at g'net. John Doe, The Sadies, and Jill Sobule at the Echoplex. Greg Laswell at the Troubadour. Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women and others at the Santa Monica Pier. Spindrift celebrates the release of their new record The Legend of Gods Gun at Spacland. Best Coast and others at Sync. Moses Campbell and others at L'KEG.
Pictured above is Gun Outfit playing Women on Monday. They're one of the bands all the kids in Olympia are talking about. Stereogum did a write-up. Pretty good stuff.
Monday, August 03, 2009
August residencies this month include: Local Natives, Lower Heaven, Dawes (The Echo and Detroit Bar), The Yelling, The Lovemakers, Wait.Think.Fast., The Growlers, Jon Brion, Janet Robin, Terra Naomi, Maxim Ludwig, The Hereafter, Bobby Long, Michelle Featherstone...
Record release shows: Spindrift, Correatown, Jail Weddings, The Gaslamp Killer, The Monolators, Foxtails Brigade, The Widow Babies, Jake Newton, Princeton, Seasons, Tiff Jimber, Chantelle Barry, Petracovich, Trevor Hall, Common Rotation vs. The Dustbowl Cavaliers, Gilli Moon, The Voyeurs video release show (featuring Kissing Cousins, boxViolet, and Polygraph all premiering their new videos). And Eagle and Talon host a very unique CD release cover night on 8/22 at Echo Curio...
Festivals/big events: Sunset Junction, International Pop Overthrow, "Rock and Roll Summer Circus" HARD Summer, Rock the Bells, Love Festival, Elaine Layabout's Hella Hipster Hoedown IV...
And we're helping with a few shows this month...
8/6 - VOICEsVOICEs, Robotanists, Summer Darling, Vanaprasta @ Silver Factory Studios
8/16 - Agent Ribbons, Foxtails Brigade record release, Judgement Day, One Trick Pony @ the Bootleg Theater
8/18 - Correatown record release, The Breakups, Marvelous Toy, Killsonic @ The Echo
8/29 - The Monolators record release, boxViolet, Odd Modern, DJ Boy Without Orange @ Silver Factory Studios
Pictured above is Alex's Bar on Friday. Long Beach fo' life.
