Thursday, December 31, 2009
Time to wipe the slate clean with a new year, a new decade, and a new resolution you probably won't keep. Our new year's resolution is the same as last year's and the previous ten years before that, which is to go to as many shows as humanly possible. And what a way to start that resolution than to try and stop by the three thousand shows happening tonight. In order to do this we know we'll have to dodge the hundreds of drunk drivers that will inevitably be making a mess of things around town. And really we'd really like to not have to actually Canseco your asses into jail so please be safe tonight and take the Metro if you're a lightweight slash alcohol abuser. Take heed of this and any other helpful warnings and we all just might survive the night to see 2010. This has been a public service announcement from your friends the underground because we luh you.
Together As One 2010 with David Guetta, John Digweed, and others @ the Los Angeles Sports Arena $50/$150
Chromeo, Peanut Butter Wolf, The Gaslamp Killer @ Club Nokia
Hard NYE 2009 with Boys Noize, A-Trak, DJ Mehdi, Destructo @ the Hollywood Palladium $50/$150
Mika Miko, Staring Problem, Ima Fucking Gymnist, DiGiTS @ The Smell $10
Devon Williams, Thee Makeout Party!, Blue Jungle, AM, Audacity, Pipsqueek!, Schatzi & Hazeltine, Pear, Angry Christians, White Night, Buzzer, Apache @ L'KEG $10
400 Blows, Captain Ahab, Sonic Death Rabbit, Baseck @ Mountain Bar FREE with RSVP/$10
The Henry Clay People, Aushua, Le Switch, The Monolators @ Spaceland $12
Shiny Toy Guns @ L.A. Center Studios $75-$125
Good Hard Times: NYE 2010 Art & Music Festival with 8-Bit, Holy Grail, Aaron Castle, Dirty Dave, and others @ Loft 265 $10/$15/$25
La Santa Cecilia, Buyepongo @ the Rhythm Lounge
The Zeros @ Redwood Bar & Grill
Dengue Fever, Pollyn @ The Mint $25/$40
Rodney on the Roq's "Crazy 80s Party" @ the Ricardo Montalban Theatre $50
Dance Right New Years Eve Masquerade Ball 2010 with Fool's Gold, Asa Ransom, Prince Language and others @ The Standard Hotel $25-$200
Auld Lang Sci-Fi: An Intergalactic New Years @ Synchronicity Space FREE
Flogging Molly @ the Wiltern
The Pharcyde, Grandmaster Flash, EC Twins, Mei Lwun @ the Roosevelt Hotel $60
Very Be Careful @ Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Erykah Badu @ the House of Blues
The Head Cat, Rhino Bucket, The Binges @ The Viper Room
The Growlers, My Pet Saddle @ The Echo $10
Jane Monheit @ Catalina Bar & Grill
The Roaring 20s New Year's 2010 with Mictho Pelo @ Chaya Brasserie
Sara Gazarek, Kathleen Grace, Sara Leib @ Cafe Metropol $100
Epic NYE 2010 @ The Vanguard $40-$2000
Lunar 2010 @ TBD
NYE 2010 with LA Ghost, Kutmah, and others @ The Grand Star $5 before 11pm/$10 after
GIANT Hotel 2010 with Above & Beyond, Christopher Lawrence, Cosmic Gate @ The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites $65/$165
Richard Vission @ The Kress
Afro Funke New Years Eve 2009 @ Zanzibar
Avalon NYE 2010 Countdown with Steve Lawler @ the Avalon $60
Alice in Wonderland 2010 @ Harry Houdini Estate
New Year's Eve 2010: A Space Oddity @ Area 33
Gridlock New Year's Eve 2010 @ Paramount Pictures $15-$3500
Sublevel Space Explorer 8 Year Anniversar with Doc Martin, Steve Loria, Tony Powell, Sublevel @ 2112 S. Olive St.
Haute Cirque NYE 2010 @ h wood
Pictured above are PRS HLTN, MTHRFCKRS!! last night at The Smell opening for night one of Mika Miko's going away shows. PHMF remains to be the best bathing suit wearing electro-ghetto-crunk duo ever to break up on the night of the debut record release and it was oh so good to see them back together again. Oh, and Miko Miko and Le Joshua effing killed.
Monday, December 28, 2009
While probably no one is reading blogs during this vacation lull period, it's a good chance to sneak in one of these Monday update things for a rather eventful pre-New Year week ahead of us...
Tonight, Monday residencies end a huge year for weeklies in L.A. Elsewhere, Carnage Mondays at pehrspace close out the year with Blessure Grave, Kid Infinity, Myonic record release, Swagger Dagger, and others. Mikki & the Mauses, Moment Trigger, and others at Women. Seamonsters and others at the Silverlake Lounge. And Death Hymn No. 9 and others down at the Continental... Tuesday, Shirley Rolls, Death House Chaplain, and others at Spaceland. Splintercake, Foot Ox, Whitman, and others at Echo Curio. Pase Rock and Dam Funk at Cinespace. Kurupt at Cohiba. EZ Tiger and others at the Silverlake Lounge. And our old friend Jane Monheit is back in town for a few days at Catalina Bar & Grill... Wednesday, Mika Miko begins the first of three epic nights at The Smell to say goodbye to say a final goodbye to a scene that loves them. At Spaceland, Miniature Tigers, All Wrong and the Plans Change. And Radio Freq, Idyllists, and others at Boardner's.
We'll be back later this week for the ten thousand shows that are going on for New Year's.
Happy Birthdays this week to Evan Way (The Parson Red Heads) and Nicholas Ceglio (Death to Anders). And, of course, on this date Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys passed away at the age of 39.
Pictured above is Asa Ransom at Homework a few days back. They're playing twice this week. There's only so many times we can lay out breadcrumbs for you.
Monday, December 21, 2009
No words can explain how grateful we are to everyone involved with yesterday's little holiday show at pehrspace. Spring Summer, NOPAL, Familiar Trees, and Michael Wysong were simply wonderful. Those of you who weren't there missed out on one of our favorite shows we have ever done. Special thanks to pehrspace for allowing us to come in on a Sunday afternoon and thanks to everyone who out on a Sunday afternoon. We couldn't have asked for a better way to finish off the year. We love you...
We have a nice short week ahead of us. Everyone have a good, safe holiday. Hug your family and friends for us.
Tonight, Monday residencies are a safe bet. Elsewhere, 60-Watt Kid, Avi Buffalo, and others at DiPiazza's. Nicole Kidman, Kevin Greenspon, Snowsuit, and No Babies at pehrspace. David Scott Stone, Moment Trigger, and Jeremy Drake at Echo Curio. Magick Orchids and others at Tribal. Dan Bern and others at Dakota. And later watch Silversun Pickups on the Tonight Show... Tuesday, Local Natives, Voxhaul Broadcast, and Chief at The Echo. HoneyHoney and Nicole Atkins at g'net. Plug Research 2010 party at Echoplex. Mississippi Man, Plague Vendor and others at The Prospector. The Killbirds and others at the Silverlake Lounge. Magic Mirror and Ojos Rojos open for Leopold and His Fiction at Spaceland. And Odd Modern and others at Dakota... Wednesday, Tenacious D at g'net. And The Swords of Fatima at Pershing... On Christmas Day, The Rapture does a DJ set with Villains and Blake Miller.
Happy birthdays this week to Anna Bulbrook (The Airborne Toxic Event), Esthero, Wendy Wang (The Sweet Hurt), Alison Sudol (A Fine Frenzy), and Doyle Bramhall...
Friday, December 18, 2009
By all accounts, this is going to be one heckuva weekend with many of the scene's best bands coming out for one last hurrah of 2009. If none of these shows interest you then you probably write for Pitchfork. Brooklyn is about 2400 miles east of us.
Listen up for Moses Campbell on Demolisten tonight. Later, Alan Cumming's limited run of "I Bought A Blue Car Today" ends at the Geffen Playhouse tonight. El Vez hosts his annual Christmas show at the Troubadour. Ho-Ho-Hotel holiday show at the Hotel Cafe. Jon Brion's final regular weekly at g'net. Foreign Born, Best Coast, and El Sportivo and The Blues at Spaceland. Red Cortez, The Growlers, Rademacher, The VLA, and members of The Airborne Toxic Event, The Henry Clay People, Dios Malos, Dusty Rhodes and The River Band all joining together at EVFA to benefit Artists in Aid (the show will also be broadcast live online). KARP Documentary benefit with David Scott Stone, Imaad Wasif, and others at The Smell. Funeral Party, AM, My Pet Saddle, and Gossip Tree at pehrspace. Orgone at The Mint. Signals, Tremellow, Snowsuit, and No Babies at Tribal. Robotanists, Jason Heath and The Greedy Souls, and others at Mr. T's. The Aquabats at the Music Box. Ozomatli has a couple of nights at the House of Blues. Camp Freddy at the Roxy. And Control celebrates their one-year anniversary with Armand Van Helden at the Avalon.
Saturday, holiday shows galore with The Deadly Syndrome hosts their 3rd Annual Xmas Sweater Festival at the El Rey with 400 Blows, Castledoor, Eskimohunter, The Pity Party, and Signals. Annual "Christmas with Bessie" night at Edgar Varela Fine Arts with members of Bodies of Water, Obi Best, The Monolators, Dorian Wood, Ema and the Ghosts, Cat Hair Ensemble, Cobra Lilies, and many others. L.A. Record X-Mas Party with The Soft Pack, Abe Vigoda, Leslie and The Badgers with DJs Daedelus, Nobody, Kutmah, Daddy Kev, and others at Bedrock Studios. The Voyeurs, Avi Buffalo, and Jolene's Leftover at The Comic Bug. L.A. Ladies Choir at Space 15 Twenty. The Monolators holiday party in-store at Origami. X and Calexico at The Wiltern. Ice Cream Man's Annual Xmas Party at The Prospector with Avi Buffalo, Repeater, and more. Elaine Layabout's Ho-Ho-Hoedown at pehrspace with Tenlons Fort, Cave Country, Elaine & The Layabouts, and The Mystery Lights. Spain celebrates the release of their new 7" at Spaceland with B.R.A.M. and Mad Gregs. El Ten Eleven return from tour with a show at the Bootleg. And Jail Weddings, Gestapo Khazi, Dalmacio von Diamond & The Enochian Keys, Rare Grooves at The Smell. And Synchronicity Space celebrates their one year anniversary with a Beautiful/Decay book release party.
Sunday, we're presenting an afternoon show at pehrspace (4:30pm) with some wonderful bands so you still have time to go to Mike Watt's 52nd birthday party at The Prospector. 60-Watt Kid, Cobalt Cranes, Moses Campbell, and The Arms at Spaceland. Savage Republic's last show with Spirit Photography and The Beaters at The Echo. D.R.I. at the House of Blues. The Grabs, Garbaj Kaetz, Jealousy, and Dionysius at Sync. And Plum Union, Son of the Velvet Rat, and Olentangy John at Echo Curio.
Complete calendar listing here.
Happy Birthdays to Sir Mike Watt, Matt Eckel (Jack Wilson, Jr.), Marla Sokoloff, Christina Aguilera, and our old friends Alyssa Milano and Jake Gyllenhaal (both of which don't go out to nearly as many shows as they once did).
And to avoid unnecessary mails regarding this post's title, it's from El Vez's version of "Jingle Bell Rock" (video below) and it's referencing the substance we once saw Lindsay Lohan sniffing in the men's bathroom at Cinespace. Happy Holidays!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
We weren't expecting to present anymore shows this year but this one was too difficult to pass up. We've been wanting to do a show with these four bands for a little while now and the only way we were able to get all of them was through the sad-but-effective art of begging. Spring Summer, aka Jennifer Furches, just put out one of our favorite records of the year with her self-titled/self-released new album (available here). It was produced by Patrick Park who will joining her on this very special show along with Matt Mayhall (Lenka, Patrick Park), Charlene Huang (Leslie and The Badgers, One Trick Pony), April Guthrie (Sea Wolf, Sara Lov), and Kevin Houlihan (The Meadows, Patrick Park). NOPAL is the very new ambient en español project from the goddess that is Lili De La Mora (The Year Zero, Sidecar). She'll also be breaking out some old Sidecar, Year Zero, and solo material from way back when, which we're very anxious to hear again. Familiar Trees are one of maybe five bands we've been straight-up stalking for the last few years. Ken Negrete provides the heartbreaking piano keystrokes to Fabiola Sanchez's unbelievably fragile vocals and what you get is some of the most haunting music we have ever heard. Finally, opening up the evening is Michael Wysong who with Lili De La Mora make up the wonderful indie folk duo I Read Her Journal. He doesn't play out very much so it would be wise for you to get to pehrspace early-early to see him.
That's right, this show starts at 4:30pm so you still have a night all to yourselves. We'll be having complimentary food and drink since thanks to the lovely folks at pehrspace we've been given the ok to make this a little holiday soire of sorts. We want to reiterate (in case your hesitant to see bands you've never heard of) that these are some of our most favorite artists of the last few years and we really hope you can make it out for the show.
December 20, 2009
Los Angeles Loves...
SPRING SUMMER
NOPAL
FAMILIAR TREES
MICHAEL WYSONG
pehrspace
325 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026 | Map
All Ages / $5 / 4:30pm
Facebook Event
Spring Summer - "I Don't Want You to Stay" (MP3)
NOPAL - "El Perro Matahambres" (Live demo) (MP3)
Familiar Trees - "Sunspot" (MP3)
Monday, December 14, 2009
What lovely and enchanting evenings we all had at Largo over the weekend. We had been waiting awhile (ok, 11 years) for Jon Brion's birthday to land on one of his residency Fridays again and it finally came. If you were there in 1998 we don't have to tell you how amazing that night was but we can still say it remains to be our favorite show of all-time. He was a bit under the weather on this night but still sounded like the mad genius we all know him to be. For the late night set, he was joined by Nels Cline, Fiona Apple, and Benmont Tench for a wonderful set of classic standards and free-for-all jamming. Sunday, we were back at g'net for Aimee Mann's annual Christmas variety show. This year's announced special guests are Michael Penn, Ben Gibbard, and Zooey Deschanel. Some of the unannounced guests include Nellie McKay, Rich Sommer ("Mad Men"), Weird Al Yanokovic, Patton Oswalt, Creed Bratton ("The Office"), and of course co-host Paul F. Tompkins. It's been awhile since we've actually sat down to see a whole Aimee Mann show. She started doing opening slots for Jon Brion's Fridays before getting popular enough to headline her own nights. It's still a bit strange to see her joke around and have fun on stage these days since back then she didn't say much of anything except quietly sing a few songs then go cower in the darkness. In any case, we highly recommend heading out to Largo for any of the nights they have scheduled for the rest of the year. Even though shows may say they're sold out, you might want to stop by anyway to get last-minute openings. Also, this Friday will be Jon Brion's last regular weekly as his night will go monthly come 2010. We you love long time, wee Jon Brion.
What's up this week...
We call nights like tonight "heavy" meaning lineups are weighted top to bottom making it difficult to club hop (yes, some scenesters also call it "Rosie" but we think that's just mean). Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros return home with a show at the Mayan. Joe Purdy and Meaghan Smith continue their run at the Hotel Cafe. BIRTH! and others at pehrspace. Aimee Mann & friends at g'net. Trent Cantrell, Kazell, and others at Playhouse. And of course Monday residencies up the ying yang... Tuesday, Kenan Bell, Res and others at Spaceland. The Damselles, The Voyeurs, and others at The Echo. Pepper Rabbit opens for The Rural Alberta Advantage and The Shaky Hands at the Bootleg. And Aimee Mann and Joe Purdy finish off their thing at g'net and the Hotel Cafe, respectively... Wednesday, Obi Best and Correatown ice dance at Pershing. Saint Motel, Ruspringa, Oliver Future, and Early Dolphin at Spaceland. Shark Toys, Widow Babies, and others at The Smell. Kid Sister battles Moving Units at The Vanguard. Twilight Sleep, Acid Girls, and War Tapes open for Lilofee at The Echo. Jake Newton and others at The Mint. Claire Holley, Nicole Gordon, and others at Cafe 322. The Good Listeners, Sonus Quartet, and Hi Ho Silver Oh at the Bootleg. Spring Summer and Micky Adams at the Standard Hotel. Cannoneers of the New Command, Post-Op, and others at Boardner's. And Power 106 hosts their annual holiday function at Gibson... Thursday, Mia Doi Todd premieres her new Michel Gondry-directed music video "Open Your Heart" at the Hammer. Fool's Gold returns home with a show at The Echo with The Entrance Band and TEARIST. Sea Wolf and others at the Roxy. Hotel Cafe does their annual holiday shows with all-star lineups. Man's Assassination Man and others at the Silverlake Lounge. PROTECTME, Woven Bones, and others at The Smell. Manhattan Murder Mystery, Lost Lake, Guppies, and Magick Orchids at L'KEG. Oliver Future and others at The Mint. Little Red Radio and others at Pershing. Dunes, Luna Is Honey, and others at Bow & Sparrow. Rose's Pawn Shop back at Redwood. Marie Digby and others at Saint Rocke. And probably more stuff is happening but our fingers are hurting from typing all this and so we're stopping here even though we actually could have typed more instead of complaining about it.
Complete calendar listing here.
Happy birthdays this week to Jeff Koga (LAist) and Joey Siara (The Henry Clay People).
Pictured above is from the launch party of "Spread Eagle" on Saturday at Show Cave, which was fantastic. Show Cave, by the way, recently moved into its new location in Glassell Park and already it's in the running for best new space of the year. We love it.
Mia Doi Todd - "What If We Do" (Luxury Wafers Sessions)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Congrats to all the bands who celebrated record releases this past week including Rachael Cantu, Parade of Lights, and The French Semester. Those who did not attend can probably contact them on how to obtain their records via this new app called the Internet... Also, congrats to the participants of Artwalk last night. That was one of the better/wetter ones we've gone to all year. Adding to the fun was the launch of the annual "Downtown on Ice" (the non-Spaceland version) at Pershing Square. After practicing our signature quad axel into a layback spin choreography, we enjoyed the sweet sounds of the night's musical performers Dead Rock West (above) and Lucy Walsh. After which, we went to lots of good shows at Sync, Cinco Astros, La Cita, et al. FYI, for those obsessed with only New York bands, two good ones have been in town this week. Jessica 6 was quite excellent at La Cita last night. And Two Tears played La Cave and The Prospector to much less hype but still very well received. Two Tears ends their SoCal visit with a show tonight at the Redwood. Get on it. But back to local band stuff...
Tonight, big Jon Brion birthday show at g'net. John Doe at McCabe's. Red Cortez opens for Band of Skulls at the Troubadour. Lower Heaven opens for Tristeza at Spaceland. Queen Kwong, Dante vs Zombies and others at the Bootleg. Traps, ps, Big Whup, and others at pehrspace. The Lamps and Two Tears at the Redwood. Woah Hunx, Christmas Island, Cowabunga Babes, and Le Face at Boo Radley's. SISU, Travisaurus, and others at Mountair. U-N-I, Audible Mainframe, 87 Stick Kids, and others at Viper. Camp Freddy at the Roxy. Ice Cube at the House of Blues. The Rescues, Joey Ryan, Lelia Broussard, Randy Coleman, Brother Sal, and others at the Hotel Cafe. Republic of Letters and Brookline at Boardner's. Vanaprasta at Bardot. Seasons, Shirley Rolls and others at Juanita's. "Space Hell" opening reception at L'KEG with I.E., Kid Infinity and others. Radio Moscow and Golden Animals at Five Star Bar. Foot Village, Bipolar Bear, and others open for Magik Markers and Sic Alps. Joe Firstman and White Buffalo at Saint Rocke. Jonathan Richman at The Mint. Last chance to see ZaZa at Vacation.
Saturday, Avi Buffalo and Correatown play a couple of daytime in-stores at Origami. Mellowdrone, The Start, Shiloe, and Cat Party at the Troubadour. Kate Earl, Sara Watkins, and The Rescues at the Hotel Cafe. Pocahaunted and others at The Smell. Angry Samoans, J.F.A., and Woolly Bandits at Alex's Bar. Restavrant, Street Buddy, and The Branches at 1257. The Parson Red Heads, Princeton, and The Coals at Spaceland. Black Math Horseman and Ojos Rojos at Cafe 322. "Spread Eagle" screening at Show Cave. Tavin boutique celebrates its "First Winter". Brett Dennen, Robert Francis, and Grace Potter and The Nocturnals at The Wiltern. Familiar Trees and NOPAL at Zephyr. And oh that little Christmas show put on by that radio station KROQ or something is happening at the Gibson.
Sunday, Aimee Mann's Christmas Show at g'net. The glory of Evangelista with Thrones and Imaad Wasif at Echoplex. Adam Freeland and friends will be spinning at the genius venue of The Best Fish Taco in Ensenada in honor of the new track of the same name (stars around 3pm). Big benefit for Riverboat Gamblers' Ian MacDougall at Alex's Bar with performances by Youth Brigade, Channel 3, The Stitches, and others. Another big benefit for Fran Drescher's Cancer Schmancer Movement at Million Dollar Theater with Jackson Browne, The Bird and the Bee, Olivia-Newton John, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Whispertown 2000, and many others. Joe Purdy, Meaghan Smith, and others at the Hotel Cafe. The Henry Clay People, Evan Way, and Dirt Dress at Origami. Brainfeeder Sessions at Downtown Independent. The Slits and WEAVE! at The Echo. Buzzbands presents Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Death Kit, Spirit Animal, and Wet & Reckless at Spaceland. Manhattan Murder Mystery, Church, That Ghost and others at The Smell. Evan Way, Brittain Ashford, and Cricket and the 2:19 at Echo Curio. The Abominable Iron Sloth and others at Old Towne Pub. Jamie Drake at The Foundry. And "Dear JD Salinger, I Forgive You Signed, Yoko" book signing at Family.
Lots to do, right?
Happy birthdays to Jon Brion, Gabe Combs (Castledoor), Mary Monolator, Paz Lenchantin, and Alexandra Hope this weekend.
Monday, December 07, 2009
In case you've been stuck indoors doing jury duty like we have the last few weeks, it has been abnormally below 60° recently and today this strange watery substance was falling from the sky. Besides being obvious signs of the apocalypse, these are also supposedly indications that we are in this month called December and all these severe climate changes are supposed to happen. Weird.
December residencies: Jonathan Richman, Mere Mortals, Manimal Vinyl roster, Links, Stereofix, Jon Brion, Emily Lacy, King Washington, Rose's Pawn Shop, Camp Freddy, Amie Miriello, Population Game...
Record release shows this month: Spain, Parade of Lights, Rachael Cantu, Hi Ho Silver Oh, The French Semester, Lilofee...
Big shows this month include: Aimee Mann Annual Christmas Show, Ho-Ho-Hotel 2009, Space 15 Twenty anniversary, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros/Aaron Embry, Fool's Gold/The Entrance Band/TEARIST, Spaceland on Ice concert series, Winston Calling benefit, West Coast Left Coast, 3rd Annual Xmas Sweater Festival, Christmas with Bessie, WinterFresh, BassFace X-Mas, L.A. Record X-Mas Party 2009, Elaine Layabout's Hella Hipster Ho-Ho-Hoedown, 3rd Annual X-Mas BASSFACE Bonanza, A Phil Spector Christmas, Million Dollar Revival, Spread Eagle, KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, Power 106 Cali Christmas, and a whole bunch of New Year's parties we'll post later about...
Plus, we're presenting a lovely afternoon holiday show on 12/20 at pehrspace.
Happy birthday over the weekend to Erica Elektra (Hearts of Palm UK). Happy birthdays this week to Sara Bareilles, Sean Johnson (The Voyeurs), and Brandi Emma.
Pictured above is that charming and funny gal Cricket & the 2:19. She plays with Evan Way on 12/13 at Echo Curio.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Excellent shows this past week. Congrats to Hi Ho Silver Oh on the release of their new record on Tuesday at El Cid (which was so crowded we were relegated to the corner in which we took the above picture). See them on 12/16 at the Bootleg on the very well-stacked lineup of The Good Listeners, The Sonus Quartet and Penelope Fortier.
On to the weekend before us, which should have quite few scenesters at a loss on where to go given the amount of prime select Grade A choices...
Listen up for Whitman on Demolisten tonight. Later, The Airborne Toxic Event go big at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Todd Rundgren at the Orpheum. Camp Freddy at the Roxy. Peter Case at McCabe's. Hecuba opens for Little Dragon the El Rey. The Shys, Castledoor, and The Black Hollies at The Echo. Abe Vigoda, Former Ghosts, and Surfer Blood open for Cold Cave at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock. Family of the Year and The Sweet Hurt open for Fink at Spaceland. NOFX at the Fox Pomona. Jon Brion at g'net. Los Pinguos and Very Be Careful at The Mint. Randy Coleman, Shane Alexander and others at the Hotel Cafe. Bobb Bruno and others at The Smell. Big Whup, Cobra Lilies, So Many Wizards, and Watercolor Paintings at Echo Curio. Missincinatti, EFFT, and others at pehrspace. I See Hawks in LA at Cinema Bar. Peg Leg Love, The Crystelles, and others at L'KEG. And Tijuana Panthers, Cobalt Cranes, and others open for The Fresh & Onlys at Five Star Bar.
Saturday, The 88 and The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra play for the kids at The Echo (1pm). Space 15 Twenty celebrates their one year anniversary with music and sales galore all day. The Hotel Cafe hosts Rockdrive 2009 benefiting local non-profit organizations featuring performances by Chris Pierce, Keaton Simons, and many others. Sara Watkins and Tom Brosseau at g'net. Zero Film Festival continues with music by Restavrant, Love Grenades, Voxhaul Broadcast, Olin & the Moon, and others. FMLY is doing another Test Ride in Santa Monica with band performances along the way by Kid Infinity, Manicorn, and many others. Chuck Dukowsky Sextet, Insects vs. Robots, and othes at Echo Curio. PROTECTME, David Scott Stone, TEARIST, and others at The Smell. The Damselles at Casey's. White Arrows open for Stellastarr* at Spaceland. Emily Lacy begins her residency at LACMA. Tom Morello at the Actors' Gang. KRS-ONE at the Roxy. Los Hollywood, Salt Petal, and others at Juanita's. And WinterFresh 2009 at Pico River Sports Arena.
Sunday, Brian Wilson, Dave Alvin, The Living Sisters, and Harper Simon at the Walt Disney Concert Hall is weekend's big must-go with tickets reasonably priced. Elsewhere, Modern Time Machines, Wrong Way Driver, and others at All Star Lanes. Tenlons Fort, Chin Up, Meriwether!, and others at Echo Curio. Nite Jewel opens for Cold Cave at The Echo with a DJ set by Tim Burgess. Mack Winson & the Reflections open for Tamaryn and Veil Veil Vanish at the Bootleg. Puppies and Kittens, Julie the Band, and others at Spaceland. And Alaskan Summer, Jo Krasevich, and others at the Hotel Cafe.
Complete calendar listing here.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Monday residencies came to a November close earlier this week and we have to admit being amongst The Happy Hollows' throng of groupies that packed Spaceland the whole month. We secretly hope that this residency will be their last as we feel that they are the caliber of band we would enjoy paying hefty surcharges and convenience fees to see. The main reason for our visit Monday, though, was for the welcome return of Twilight Sleep who have been in somewhat limbo the last year. The new band (which features members of Everest, Light FM, and The Comas) sounded better than we have ever heard them (Gehweiler, of course, is a guitar goddess). TwiSleep fans should be at The Echo on 12/16 when they open for Lilofee (who we could have caught in San Francisco last Friday if it were not for our makeout sesh in Oakland with The Lovemakers that night, pictured above).
In other news: Bob Keane, a true blue Angeleno and founder of Del-Fi (Ritchie Valens, Sam Cooke), passed away last Saturday... Also, RIP'ing on Saturday was the Vermont House who ended their 3-year run of doing some of the best DIY house parties in town. We were lucky to take part in a couple of the shows but even more lucky to be alive after falling down that infamously steep staircase once (or twice). Tweak Bird, Crystal Antlers, Abe Vigoda, Japanther, Wallpaper, and Rumspringa are just a few of the hundreds of bands that played that tiny little nook of a stage. Thanks to the fine people of How To Be A Microwave for being such welcoming hosts. We're sure they'll be back doing parties in the near future but for now we'll miss you Monsieur Vermont... The Watson Twins new album Talking To You, Talking To Me is due 2/9... Origami Vinyl is now broadcasting their in-stores live so if you were like us last weekend and were out of town then you could have still seen The Voyeurs and Cobra Lilies perform from nowhere near Echo Park. You can also see archived footage as well. Check it out here.
Semi-lastly, we thought we didn't have any shows for the rest of the year but this one just came up. Please pencil in 12/20 at pehrspace in your Google calendars. We're presenting an intimate Holiday soiree in the early evening around 4pm. Food, drink, and a few of the best bands we've been having a secret love affair with will be present. We cannot wait.
Lastly, here are videos of shows we did not go to and we don't know why:
