Interview: ISGOOD's Jon Hershfield

Few people in town, if any, seem to keep up with the local music scene better than Jon Hershfield, host of Kill Radio's "...Is Good" show.

In it, Hershfield spotlights independent LA acts who he thinks, well, are good -- including site favorites like Le Switch, The Monolators, The Happy Hollows, Radars to the Sky and many more.

Hundreds more, in fact...

We spoke with Hershfield earlier this week about his origins, his upcoming projects and shows, the art of pulling off a good interview, and the current state of musical affairs here in lah.

isgoodjon (8:25:27 PM): hey, all good, u there?
RFSL (8:25:33 PM): Hey! How are you doing tonight?
isgoodjon (8:25:55 PM): fine, exhausted
RFSL (8:25:59 PM): Yeah?
isgoodjon (8:26:13 PM): yeah tuesdays are clinical training days for me
isgoodjon (8:26:23 PM): working on a psych masters, doing counseling with inner city kids
RFSL (8:26:39 PM): Ahhh.
isgoodjon (8:27:10 PM): thankfully the wife and an unlimited supply of tivo'd law and orders waiting for me at home
RFSL (8:28:13 PM): Ah, excellent. My girlfriend and I have been decompressing by watching Madmen lately.
RFSL (8:29:12 PM): She works in speech therapy and is working at three different hospitals? I make video games, which equals long hours but isn’t nearly as emotionally exhausting.
isgoodjon (8:29:41 PM): wow busy people, just like me!
isgoodjon (8:30:39 PM): grad school, clinical training, the isgood radio show, the isgoodmusic website, live events, dj-ing, running online mental health support groups, an acting career, and electronic music production!
RFSL (8:30:01 PM): Ha. So isgoodmusic a labor of love then?
isgoodjon (8:30:47 PM): yes, well, a labor of love for the last 3 years
RFSL (8:30:58 PM): How did you start it up?
isgoodjon (8:31:55 PM): i started dj-ing at this loft hangout called the What Club and then these traveling house parties called Unlit where I met a lot of indie musicians...
isgoodjon (8:32:17 PM): then i came across killradio.org and thought it would be an easy way to practice playing music i liked
isgoodjon (8:32:44 PM): i started interviewing friends, then friends of friends, then before i knew it i was hosting some sort of morning becomes eclectic without a budget
RFSL (8:32:48 PM): For people who don't know killradio, how would you describe it?
isgoodjon (8:33:23 PM): it's a nonprofit collective of people who come in and out, occasioanlly throw rent money at a studio space, and do a variety of no-budget programming
RFSL (8:33:56 PM): And the show has grown over time.
isgoodjon (8:34:24 PM): yeah i've had around 200 guests so far, all invite-only, all hand-picked
isgoodjon (8:35:08 PM): some have become real indie stars like AM, Buddy, Henry Clay People, Happy Hollows, Pedestrian...
isgoodjon (8:35:20 PM): and a lot are just bands i like for one reason or another, all genres
isgoodjon (8:35:43 PM): i used to meet a lot from dj-ing but now i mostly come across them online
RFSL (8:36:10 PM): It's nice when you can just cover things that you enjoy, eh?
isgoodjon (8:36:36 PM): well the serious benefit to running the show the way i do is that i never have to spend an hour with a band whose music i don't care about
isgoodjon (8:36:57 PM): i never script the interviews because i never ask questions i don't actually want the answers to
isgoodjon (8:37:46 PM): i mean of 200 bands, almost none have ever blindsided me by making good music but not actually being interesting people, lol
RFSL (8:39:04 PM): It's funny, isn't it? I've been pleasantly surprised that very, very few people that I've run into in the music scene out here have been what you might normally expect from the perceived "LA Musician" type.
RFSL (8:39:22 PM): There are a lot of great people, very creative, and super interesting.
isgoodjon (8:39:44 PM): yeah i like to think i'm pretty selective about the directions i run in for that very reason
isgoodjon (8:40:29 PM): i was able to develop the idea for isgoodmusic.com because i was able to establish a personal connection with each of these artists and felt like i could vouch for them as if it meant something about me
isgoodjon (8:41:29 PM): fortunately the vast majority of bands who approach me have found out about me from bands who have been on the show -I remember The Hectors sent me a hilarious email demanding to be interviewed...
isgoodjon (8:41:40 PM): but this pool of musicians is already a great network and doesn’t know it
RFSL (8:42:17 PM): (Corinne from The Hectors just sent me an email berrating me for not taking advice from Thailand on what Thai food to order last Friday night. "Smooth...")
isgoodjon (8:42:33 PM): haha Thailand another great isgood band
isgoodjon (8:43:44 PM): when i launch isgoodmusic.com it's going to have a feature so all bands can use some of its resources but only isgood bands will have full features and i can still control musical integrity
isgoodjon (8:44:04 PM): i mean i'm not trying to be a snob about it all, but if i bring everyone into the isgood network, then it has no meaning
RFSL (9:17:02 PM): So, tell me more about the web-site. What are your plans for it?
isgoodjon (9:18:13 PM): what we're going to do is take all the isgood bands (bands i've interviewed), hook them up with really utilitarian web profiles, and then network them together - sort of myspace but just for the best of the indie la music scene
isgoodjon (9:18:24 PM): fans add themselves to bands instead of the other way around
isgoodjon (9:18:37 PM): gig promotion becomes automated
isgoodjon (9:18:59 PM): and most importantly band get to glean from each other's fans just by being in the same network
isgoodjon (9:19:17 PM): if you like radars to the sky, you should be listening to death to anders and so on...
RFSL (9:19:17 PM): Excellent.
isgoodjon (9:20:05 PM): this is also going to include isgoodradio.com, which will be its own radio station largely devoted to the isgoodmusic network and promoting quality music in la
RFSL (9:20:56 PM): When is that going live?
isgoodjon (9:21:46 PM): well we're currently in what my techie friends call beta testing, which means you can go to the site and about half the features are fully operational, but the new layout, with the radio station and all the goodies will be up this fall, hopefully by the end of october
isgoodjon (9:22:16 PM): when i started this project, it was meant to just be an easy way for me to know when my friends were gigging so i could better promote them on the show
isgoodjon (9:22:54 PM): now tens of thousands of dollars later, i have a legal team, an llc, and a team of geniuses working around the clock turning this into a movement of sorts!
isgoodjon (9:23:39 PM): although admittedly about 30 hrs/week is still just me interviewing, editing, podcasting, uploading, promoting etc
RFSL (9:24:02 PM): What's new with the show? Who are some upcoming guests?
isgoodjon (9:25:02 PM): Meredith Meyer, The New Room, Marvelous Toy, Liz Pappademas, Leviathan Brothers to name a few
isgoodjon (9:25:17 PM): i'm trying to resist booking band in octber because i want to get isgoodradio set up
RFSL (9:26:00 PM): You get a lot of compliments for being an excellent interviewer. What do you think makes a good interview?
isgoodjon (9:26:09 PM): thanks
isgoodjon (9:26:36 PM): i'm always really happy when a band writes me a testimonial and it articulates exactly what i wanted to achieve
isgoodjon (9:26:59 PM): i think a good interview is one in which the audience feels they were sitting in
isgoodjon (9:27:22 PM): i want them to get a sense of what it's like to hang out with these people, otherwise they can just listen to the cd
RFSL (9:27:45 PM): When it turns more into a conversation.
isgoodjon (9:28:21 PM): it helps that i don’t have to cut to a commercial every few minutes or feel pressured to do a give-away or something
isgoodjon (9:29:03 PM): i mean i'm aware that i'm doing a show and trying to structure something dynamic that includes talk, recorded music, and live performance, but i'm also just getting to know people i think are interesting
RFSL (9:29:25 PM): What have been some of your favorite interviews?
isgoodjon (9:30:09 PM): that's a tough question because like a good live show there are so many factors that go into it
isgoodjon (9:30:31 PM): some of the best shows are just one person with a guitar and it takes on a real philosophical tone
isgoodjon (9:30:54 PM): and others have me cramming 7 people into a tiny studio and witnessing something incredible happening
isgoodjon (9:31:32 PM): it's hard to describe what it's like to be alone in a room with something like Sonus Quartet or The Dust Bowl Cavaliers or Klum
isgoodjon (9:33:19 PM): i love it when the live sound comes out well, but honestly i'm always more moved by an act that informs me of the direction an interview will take and leave me feeling like a was able to influence the way they think about their art
isgoodjon (9:33:46 PM): ha, that looks more pretentious in text than i mean it
RFSL (9:34:24 PM): Heh. I know what you mean. I think you're covering a lot of acts who may not have received coverage before…
RFSL (9:34:38 PM): So may not have had that appreciation and outside perspective?
isgoodjon (9:35:00 PM): yeah many of my guests have never been interviewed before
isgoodjon (9:35:14 PM): they often come in pretty nervous and leave really amped
isgoodjon (9:36:02 PM): and many of those who have been interviewed have been hit with interviewers who are not genuinely interested in their music
RFSL (9:36:21 PM): Who have gotten an interview as an assignment rather than out of interest perhaps.
isgoodjon (9:36:28 PM): so they end just talking about ticket sales or talking about random irrelevant things
isgoodjon (9:36:30 PM): yeah
isgoodjon (9:37:20 PM): one advantage i think i have always had is that a lot of my friends are musicians and i really love music, so i have an instinctual feeling about what musicians do and don’t feel like talking about on the air
isgoodjon (9:37:52 PM): i don't envy the pro radio guys who just have bands dropped in front of them on a daily basis
isgoodjon (9:38:06 PM): u can almost hear the glass wall between the interviewer and the band
RFSL (9:38:37 PM): Yeah, the "this is what I'm supposed to ask so you can tell me the same thing you told the last guy" tone.
isgoodjon (9:38:57 PM): like actors at a press junket
RFSL (9:39:07 PM): “Always be on message...”
isgoodjon (9:39:44 PM): the only time i've ever scripted questions for an interview was when i had to do it over the phone and was afraid i'd draw a blank
isgoodjon (9:40:32 PM): that was with wildog of ozomatli and jeff turzo of wired all wrong and frankly i think of them as my most tepid interviews (no fault of the music)
isgoodjon (9:40:42 PM): oh and dj numark of jurassic 5
RFSL (9:40:51 PM): It's often fun driving w/o a map.
isgoodjon (9:41:21 PM): i'm much more comfortable in person and like any live performer i feed off my guests' energy
isgoodjon (9:41:28 PM): i don’t do phone interviews anymore
RFSL (9:42:06 PM): This must be a change of pace for you.
RFSL (9:42:21 PM): Being on this side of the fence and over AIM.
isgoodjon (9:42:49 PM): ha, yes
isgoodjon (9:43:40 PM): but i think this is working, again it’s a conversation with content - not a q&a
RFSL (9:44:45 PM): So I don't mean to keep you too much longer.
RFSL (9:44:55 PM): Let me ask you two more things...
isgoodjon (9:45:02 PM): sure no prob
RFSL (9:45:36 PM): Obviously you have a deep and abiding love for the Los Angeles music scene.
RFSL (9:46:32 PM): What do you think is exactly going on here right now?
isgoodjon (9:46:59 PM): ha
isgoodjon (9:47:13 PM): well, a few things...
RFSL (9:47:57 PM): You seem in a better place to answer that than a lof of people in town.
isgoodjon (9:48:35 PM): on the downside we're seeing the act of keeping a band going to continue to get expensive (especially with touring and gas prices), and a general trend around the country to treat music like some sort of contest (thanks to American Idol)...
isgoodjon (9:49:21 PM): and a lot of bands are actually leaving LA for places like Portland and Austin where they feel audiences still go out to see music and not just to promote one act at a time
isgoodjon (9:50:04 PM): on the upside, some really clever and talented LA artists are forming collectives and networks to support each other's work and this making for some great shows and some homemade buzz
isgoodjon (9:50:39 PM): and digital distribution and things like creative commons licensing are allowing bands to get their music out there
isgoodjon (9:51:29 PM): i think corporate radio is dead, but that's ok
isgoodjon (9:52:03 PM): people who are listening to cool music are listening to it intently
isgoodjon (9:52:30 PM): and no matter what your genre is, there's some amazing things going on in the LA indie scene
RFSL (9:53:06 PM): Yeah, running through the acts you've interviewed, there's a lot of variety.
isgoodjon (9:54:07 PM): also, not to pat ourselves on the back, but rogue promoters and bloggers have found a way to give back to the music they love and this is creating some positive movement too
RFSL (9:54:31 PM): Speaking of that, you've been putting on shows...
RFSL (9:54:59 PM): For quite some time, correct?
isgoodjon (9:55:09 PM): yes, it's gotten just a bit out of hand lately too, lol, hard for me to manage my time commitments
isgoodjon (9:55:38 PM): i started doing isgoodmusic.com presents events in oct 06, about a year after the isgood radio show started
isgoodjon (9:55:57 PM): generally it would be me pitching an idea to a venue and then booking a bill from bands i'd interviewed
isgoodjon (9:56:32 PM): nowadays i do more shows where bills have spontaneously developed with a majority having been on the radio show and then i get asked to step in and co-sponsor
isgoodjon (9:56:55 PM): i'm going to start helping Seasons book their monthly at Mr. T's soon for example
RFSL (9:57:07 PM): Cool. I was going to ask what was next.
isgoodjon (9:57:35 PM): it;s funny, there are a few shows that happen where everyone on the bill is an "isgood" band but by the time i find out about it indie 103 or kcrw has sponsored it!
isgoodjon (9:57:51 PM): sunset junction had four isgood bands this year
isgoodjon (9:58:26 PM): anyway, i hate getting the evil eye from some venue promoter because a band i gave a shot only brought 5 people
isgoodjon (9:58:55 PM): so i'm trying to sponsor isgood events these days where they don't necessarily begin and end with me bit still focus primarily on isgood artists
isgoodjon (10:00:52 PM): truth is if i went out every night of the week i could probably see 5 of my favorite bands play, but i can't do that, so i try to go to shows i know i'll be able to give maximum support to maximum artists, such as an isgoodmusic.com presents event!
RFSL (10:01:27 PM): Heh.
RFSL (10:02:43 PM): So last question for you: What are you listening to right now?
isgoodjon (10:03:07 PM): the bleeping sound of the instant messenger, lol
RFSL (10:03:25 PM): Oh, dude. You can turn that off…
isgoodjon (10:04:00 PM): but the last thing i was listening to was a jazz act called Leviathan Brothers which will be on the show at the end of september
isgoodjon (10:05:04 PM): and before that Willoughby
isgoodjon (10:05:23 PM): it’s funny, i used to spend hundreds of dollars at amoeba every other week digging for new music to spin
isgoodjon (10:05:49 PM): now 90% of what i listen to comes to me and ends up performed for me in a tiny room
RFSL (10:05:59 PM): Nice.
isgoodjon (10:07:00 PM): yeah i do think of myself lucky - i've been a music junkie as long as I can remember, but never imagined i'd be thanking artists so directly
isgoodjon (10:08:16 PM): a good song does a lot more for me than the 99 cent download does for the artist, so building isgoodmusic has been really fulfilling
isgoodjon (10:08:44 PM): lol, jesus, do i sound like this in person or just in text?
RFSL (10:08:55 PM): Ha, ha.
RFSL (10:09:17 PM): So, that's all I've got for you, Jon.
RFSL (10:09:23 PM): Thanks very much for all your time.
isgoodjon (10:09:28 PM): alright man, thanks to u

Photo by Avik Sogoyan.

REMINDER: Rock With A Twist IV Tonight!

Work's gotten busy enough where I've become fairly unfamiliar with the concept of sleep, let alone had time to catch shows, but, man... If I could go out tonight, I'd definitely be at Classical Geek Theatre, LA Underground, and Eagle Rock Bowling and Drinking Club's Rock With A Twist IV at All Star Lanes



The line-up is comprised of The Monolators (their new songs are consistently stuck in my head -- say it with me: "Bullet-head!"), Shiloe (what I've heard of their upcoming album sounds pretty damn good), The Health Club (equals nice and loud), and I Make This Sound (who I haven't seen in, like, forever).

All this, plus home-made pretzels!

The Tuesday Show Low Down (Or "Still Waiting For The Zombie Apocalypse... Any Time Now!")

Last weekend's Sunset Junction helps spotlight how much the Silver Lake neighborhood has changed over the years. Within a block radius of the festival, you can see bars on windows, No Cruising signs, and restaurants w/ valet parking...

The once-free festival is said to have been originally intended to bring together the area's burgeoning gay culture with the standing Latino population... Now it's $20 per day to folks who don't live in close proximity to the event and the purpose seems unclear.

Whatever the case, it's also helped spotlight some of the best local acts -- most recently, groups like The Happy Hollows, Radars to the Sky, The Henry Clay People, and Castledoor -- to a larger (at least here in LA) audience.

Many changes to the area aside, good music has luckily remained the constant for some time. As groups get bigger and export out, great new acts import in.

And we see 'em while we can.

Tuesday, August 26
- Lucky Dragons, Hecuba, Casey and Brian, Laco$ste, & Bad Dudes @ The Smell
- Manhattan Murder Mystery, The Nightbirds, Electric Russia, & The Mormons @ Mr T's Bowl
- The Artists, Old Believers, & From Leaf to Feather @ Tangier
- Bon Iver @ The Troubadour
- Buddy @ The Hotel Cafe
- Matthew Sweet @ Amoeba Music (7PM)
- Head Like A Kite & Molino @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- The Donkeys, Robert Francis, & Golden Animals @ The Echo
- The Delta Spirit (record release party), AA Bondy, Dawes @ Spaceland

DECISION:
Buddy and Manhattan Murder Mystery are my favorite local acts playing tonight...

Wednesday, August 27
- Beatnik Jr, Pic Vicious, Silver Ghost @ Three Clubs
- Shearwater, Neil Morgan, & Wye Oak @ The Echo
- Spazmatics! @ The Scene
- These United States, Clevis, Old Believer, & Amateurs @ Echo Curio
- Janeane Garofalo & Bob Odenkirk @ Largo
- Ollin, Hard Goodbye, & The Happy Casualties @ Mr. T’s Bowl
- Life Underwater, Golden Ratio, Crash Kings, & Linda Good @ The Silver Lake Lounge ($8) - TRVSDJ+AM @ The Roxy
- RX Bandits & Portugal, The Man @ Troubadour

DECISION:
Anyone have any recommendations for Wednesday night?

Thursday, August 28
- Rock With A Twist IV w/ The Monolators, Shiloe, The Health Club, & I Make This Sound @ All Star Lanes
- Satisfaction, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, & Hello Dragon @ Safari Sam’s (FREE)
- Indie 103 presents: Chester French, Saint Motel, Silver Ghost, Rumspringa @ Spaceland
- Matthew Sweet & Greg Laswell @ The Echo
- Rogue Wave (acoustic) @ The Hotel Cafe
- Human Giant @ Largo
- The Copper Thief, Carcrashlander, Alexis Gideon, & Tom Brosseau @ The Smell
- Out of Town, Ukulady, Cousin Junebug, & Cold Forty Three @ Mr. T’s Bowl
- Respect & Soundlaab present: Marcus Visionary @ Echoplex
- Mospeada, Evacuees, The Pentacles, & more @ Echo Curio
- Forget Me Nots, Dietra Kruschev, The Denouement & Samuel Kirk @ Silver Lake Lounge
- RX Bandits & Portugal, The Man @ Troubadour

DECISION:
The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra are playing for free? Gotta love that. And there's also Classical Geek Theatre and Eagle Rock Bowling and Drinking Club's Rock With A Twist IV w/ The Monolators, Shiloe, The Health Club, and I Make This Sound at All Star Lanes. Good music and free pretzels!

Friday, August 29
- Marvelous Toy, Sway, & Letting Up Despite Great Faults @ Pehrspace
- Dead Ponies & Flash Express @ Redwood Bar
- The Western Conference feat ZIONI, ABSTRACT RUDE, MYKA9, RAW vs D-STYLES & more @ Echoplex
- Jon Brion @ Largo
- Mere Mortals, LSD and the Search for God, The Swayback, Useless Keys @ Spaceland - Jay Nash, Joe Purdy, Meiko @ The Roxy - Love Grenades & The Pacific @ the Echo ($5) - Hot Water Music @ The El Rey
- Master Cylinder, Jellmunekita, Buffalo Eye, Bastard, & Skywreck @ Mr. T’s Bowl
- The Black Kites, The Hectors, James Brittain Gore, & Ladies and Gents @ Echo Curio

DECISION:
I feel obliged to recommend Marvelous Toy whenever they play out... The Black Kites and The Hectors also contain entertainment.

Saturday, August 30
- F Yeah Fest w/ No Age, Negative Approach, Matt & Kim, Glass Candy, Two Gallants, Fucked Up, Japanther, Ladyhawk, David Vandervelde, The Strange Boys, Paint it Black, Mika Miko, Monotonix, Crystal Antlers, Past Lives, Mannequin Men, War Tapes, High Places, Rumpspringa, Best Fwends, Abe Vigoda, David Dondero, Preacher & the Knife, Triumph of Lethargy, Silverghost, Underground Railroad to Candy Land, Off With Their Heads, Nodzzz, Tod Adrian Wisenbaker, Michael Runion, Frank Fairfield, Dimitri Coates of Burning Birdes, Graham Forest, Anavan, Halloween Swim Team, 60 Watt Kid, Witch Hats, & more @ The Echo and nearby
- Divisadero, Silver Summit, Fort King, Ben Kamen, & Desolation Wilderness @ Pehrspace
- Shiloe, Firebug, & The New Up @ The Scene
- Able & Baker @ The Good Hurt
- Happy Dwarfs, Weatherground, Infiel, & Black Apple @ The Cocaine at Live Jazz
- The Melvins & Big Business @ Troubadour
- Oh My Rockness Presents: Oxford Collapse & Love as Laughter @ Spaceland
- Felix da Housecat @ Avalon
- Dionysius, Growler, Corridor, & Slipping Into Darkness @ Echo Curio
- Gears w/ Media Blitz, Carnage Asada, Deadbeats, Controllers @ Mr. T’s Bowl

DECISION:
Lots of weird, interesting stuff going on at Fuck Yeah Fest...

Sunday, August 31
- Obi Best, I Make This Sound, Alex and Sam, & Vosotros @ Tangier
- Neil Hamburger & Pleaseasaur @ Spaceland
- Resolution @ The Mayan
- Manuok, Joshua Lanes, Evacuee, & The Pentacles @ Mr. T’s Bowl
- Echo & F Yeah present: polvo, Trans Am, The Drones @ Echoplex
- Grande Ole Echo w/ Southern Culture on the Skids, 5 O’Clock Somewhere, & Mike Stinson @ The Echo (early)
- Part Time Punks presents: Smiths/Morrissey Night! @ The Echo (late)
- Silver Summit, Gangi, & Winter Flowers @ Tangier
- 16 Bitch Pile-Up, T.I.T.S., Lithium Dream, & Peter Kolovos @ Pehrspace
- The Melvins & Big Business @ Troubadour

DECISION:
I haven't seen Trans Am play in fucking forever, but used to love the hell out of them. The final night of Obi Best's residency over at Tangier sounds worth checking out, too.

That's it. Please let me know if I missed anything.

Sunset Junction Photos -- Day 2

Here are shots from the second day of Sunset Junction Street Fair taken by the man/myth/legend Simon Cardoza.

THE HENRY CLAY PEOPLE --





!!! --



KINKY --



THE BLACK KEYS --



RELATED LINKS:
- Photographer Profile: Simon Cardoza

Sunset Junction Photos -- Day 1

Here are some nice shots from the first day of Sunset Junction Street Fair taken by the ubiquitous Simon Cardoza.

RADARS TO THE SKY





THE HAPPY HOLLOWS







CASTLEDOOR



COLD WAR KIDS





BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE





RELATED LINKS:
- Photographer Profile: Simon Cardoza

REMINDER: Great Show at Pehrspace Tonight

If you like fun, don't miss tonight's show with The Hectors, Tandemoro, Thailand, and Kissing Cousins at Pehrspace. Besides the event's amazing line-up, I'll also be DJing a set made up of unreleased tracks from local acts like The Deadly Syndrome, Afternoons, Marvelous Toy, One Trick Pony, Amnion, The French Semester and more.





RELATED LINKS:
- Tandemoro Interview
- The Hectors Interview
- Thailand Interview

Video Free Silver Lake: Magic Mirror, Lower Heaven, The Sweet Hurt, & Pizza!

Here are some videos from groups playing here in town tonight: Magic Mirror, Lower Heaven, The Sweet Hurt, and Pizza!.

REMINDER: Three Great Shows Tonight

You could have a fantastic time at any of these shows here in town tonight. Gotta love The Mae Shi, Pizza!, One Trick Pony, Eagle Winged Palace, Twilight Sleep, and EXITMUSIC. Whatever you do, don't stay home this evening...

Let's Independent 2nd Anniversary: The Aftermath

To say that last night was fun would be the understatement of '08. Thanks to everyone who came, performed, and helped promote. Here's what you either saw or missed...

DEATH TO ANDERS --





THE SAVAGES --





XU XU FANG --





Photos by Scott Schultz. Videos by Elaine Layabout.

REMINDER: Let's Independent! Tonight w/ Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, & Death To Anders

In case I've written too much about Let's Independent!'s anniversary show this evening, maybe you can read what Flavorpill, Classical Geek Theatre, and others have posted?

The Monday Show Low Down (Or "Head Full of Bourbon, I Can't Stand Up...")

It's been a little sleepy lately around town, musically- speaking, for awhile now. (Or at least people have kept saying that to me. I've been MIA for the most part.) But the next week more than makes up for it.

Looks like it's time to cancel some plans...

Monday, August 18th
- Indie 103.1’s Check One...Two presents... Love Grenades, Bloodcat Love, The Black Kites, & The Polyamorous Affair @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Warpaint, The Drones, Did Princess Die, Hecuba @ Spaceland
- Janelle Monae @ Amoeba Music (7PM)
- The Human Value CD Release Party w/ Dikta, Light FM, & Venus Borgardus @ The Viper Room
- Sean Carnage & William Burgess Presents The Best of the Druid Film Fest @ Pehrspace
- Moonshine, Falsetto Teeth, & Crepuscule with Fido @ Mr T's Bowl
- Blake Mackey, White and The Writing, & All Neon Like @ Echo Curio
- Gil Mantera’s Party Dream & Anavan @ The Echo

DECISION:
You know, Gil Mantera's Party Dream need to be seen to be believed. And even then, it's hard. (Watch the video below for a taste.) They're playing with electro/experimental act Anavan, who are the favorite band of Fred from KXLU Demo Listen.



Tuesday, August 19th
- Radio Free Silver Lake Presents Let's Independent! w/ Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, & Death to Anders (acoustic) @ Boardner's of Hollywood
- Le Switch CD Release Party w/ Nico Stai, Les Blanks, & The World Record @ The Echo
- Franklin For Short, Eugene Francis Jr, & The New Limb @ Tangier
- Glen Campbell @ Troubadour (sold-out)
- Hiasakits, Previously On Lost, The Naked, The Albrights @ Spaceland
- Crash Holiday, The Health Club, The Nightbirds, & Tijuana Panthers @ Mr T's Bowl
- Tent/City, Lucky Dragons, & Sleepwalkers Local @ Echo Curio
= Oh Darling, His Orchestra, The Ivy Walls, & The Color Turning @ The Silver Lake Lounge

DECISION:
You may have heard us mention this before but... we're celebrating our two-year anniversary show for Let's Independent! with Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, and Death to Anders on Tuesday night at Boardner's. (Full details and MP3s right here.)

We'll plug that show more later, you can be sure, but I'd be remiss in not mentioning that I'm bummed that our event is the same night as Le Switch's CD release party at The Echo that night. They're another one of my favorite acts in town and it sucks when two great shows happen on the same night.

Wednesday, August 20th
- Eagle Winged Palace, Young Animals, One Trick Pony, & Connie Kim @ Tangier
- Classical Geek Theatre Presents The Mae Shi, Yea Big + Kid Static (Chicago, IL), The Fuckin' Kennies, and Pizza! @ Echo Curio (DJ sets by JAX)
- Rachael Cantu & Old Toy Trains @ Tangier
- Anthony Green @ Troubadour (sold-out)
- Indie 103 presents CLUB NME with: Black Francis, The Blood Arm, Black Gold @ Spaceland
- Le Face, Vapid, B-Lines, Defektors, & Friendly Neighbors @ The Smell
- The Pleasure Kills, The Double Dates, Blue Jungle, & Don Juans @ Mr T's Bowl
- HELL YA! Presents Twilight Sleep, Avi Buffalo, Exitmusic @ The Echo
- The Atma, Venus Illuminato, Olin and The Moon, & Previously On Lost @ The Silver Lake Lounger - Marathon Live presents Electrocute & The Lady Tigra @ 3 Clubs
- Pistol Pistol @ Redwood Bar
- The Spazmatics @ The Scene
- Pizza!, The Mae Shi, Yea Big + Kid Static, & The Fuckin Kennies @ Echo Curio

DECISION:
Speaking of great shows happening the same night... Looks like there's a lot going on Wednesday night. My own favorites being One Trick Pony, Eagle Winged Palace, and Young Animalsat Tangier and Classical Geek Theatre's night with The Mae Shi, The Fuckin' Kennies, and Pizza! at Echo Curio.

Thursday, August 21st
- Lower Heaven, Magic Mirror, & Line and Circle @ Spaceland
- Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club Presents The Sweet Hurt, Reader, & The Hard To Get @ All-Star Lanes
- Io Echo, The Oohlas, & The White Arrows @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- The Walkmen @ Troubadour
- Respect presents: Demo (Human Imprint, Seattle), Friske, Noface, MC Dre @ Echoplex
- Bob Log III, Scott H Birham, Left Lane Cruiser @ The Echo
- Kissing Tigers, Get Back Loretta, Man Without Wax, The Fling @ The Knitting Factory
- GZA @ The El Rey
- Burlesque-A-Go-Go w/ The Hard Way & Spiders and Snakes @ Mr T's Bowl
- Kid Gloves, Hari Rex, Trevor Giulani, & The Coast @ Tangier
- Pizza!, Weave!, & Bill Gates' Best Friend @ The Smell

DECISION:
If you're a fan of trippy psych rock, you should check out Lower Heaven and Magic Mirror. If you're more up for smart and pretty indie pop, go directly to The Sweet Hurt.

Friday, August 22nd
- Tandemoro, The Hectors, Thailand, & Kissing Cousins (w/ dj set by Radio Free Silver Lake) @ Pehrspace
- Beachwood Sparks, The Tyde, Mia Doi Todd @ Echoplex
- Langhorne Slim @ Spaceland
- Jon Brion @ Largo
- Veruca Salt @ The Viper Room
- The Walkmen @ Troubadour
- Magnuson, Siberian Summer Camp, Die Rockers Die @ The Scene
- ISGOODMUSIC.com Presents Movement of the Sun, Happy Dwarf, Sabrosa Purr, Shiloe, & Ojos Rojos @ Mr T's Bowl
- Club Underground @ The Echo
- Expo 70, Late Young, White Breath, & Rainbow Arabia @ The Smell
- Arabian Prince @ Amoeba Music (7PM)

DECISION:
Friday night's line-up at Perhspace is uncommonly strong: Tandemoro, The Hectors, Thailand, and Kissing Cousins. But I'm djing the show, so I am likely teh bias.

Saturday, August 23rd
- Sunset Junction w/ Radars to the Sky, The Happy Hollows, Castledoor, Bodies of Water, Broken Social Scene, Cold War Kids, & more @ Sunset Junction (12PM - 11PM)
- Rock With A Twist featuring The Monolators, Fol Chen, I Make This Sound, & The Voyeurs @ All Star Lanes
- LA Weekly Presents: The Germs, The Mae Shi, Spider Problem @ The Echo
- Club Suicide - Official Sunset Junction Afterparty @ Echoplex
- DJ Mab @ Mr T's Bowl
- Sondre Lerche @ Troubadour
- Elephone & Loquat @ Spaceland
- Young Animals, The Deepsea Goes, Moldar, Black Sheep Wall, & Salt The Pillars @ The Cocaine at Live Jazz
- The Ditty Bops @ Largo
- Powersolo & Champaign Velvet @ Redwood Bar

DECISION:
There's a ridiculous amount of amazing local talent performing at Sunset Junction on Saturday... Radars to the Sky, The Happy Hollows, Castledoor, Bodies of Water, Cold War Kids -- and Broken Social Scene are pretty fucking great, too.

Sunday, August 24
- Sunset Junction w/ The Henry Clay People, Voxhaul Broadcast, Oliver Future, Gram Rabbit, Health, !!!, Black Keys, & more @ Sunset Junction (12PM - 11PM)
- Marvelous Toy and You Me & Iowa @ The Good Hurt
- Aliens, The Animalystics, Dialtone, & Van Gogh's End @ Mr T's Bowl
- Peanut Butter Wolf @ Echoplex
- Sondre Lerche @ Troubadour
- Snow & Voices, Facts About Funerals, & Namoe of the Moon @ Spaceland
- Obi Best (formerly Colorforms), Jogger, & Juliette Commagere @ Tangier
- Radiohead @ The Hollywood Bowl

DECISION:
The Henry Clay People play early at Sunset Junction on Sunday, while Black Keys go on late. (And there's still one act to be announced for the early evening.)

Though if you end up out on the west side on that night instead, go see Marvelous Toy and You Me & Iowa at Good Hurt.

That's it. Did I miss anything? Please lemme know.

Interviews & MP3s: Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, & Death To Anders

Scroll down a bit and you'll find the album version of Xu Xu Fang's modern classic Good Times, an unreleased demo of the song Snake Church off of The Savages' much-anticipated EP, and a track off of Death to Anders' upcoming Dave Newton-produced EP called Radio -- as well as links to interviews we've done with all three bands.

Please join us all next Tuesday night as we celebrate the two-year anniversary of our Let's Independent! monthly event at Boardner's of Hollywood. (Details and streaming rarities right here.) Because it promises to be more fun than having one of those armored vans with chainsaws on the sides when the zombie apocalypse inevitably hits.

XU XU FANG - "Years later, I opened a box, found the notebook and saw it. I thought it had to be used for a band name. Apparently, the words Xu and Fang exist in many languages. In one dialect of Chinese, I’m told it means 'Cool Cool Breeze.' Not sure though."

THE SAVAGES - "You begin writing and the song starts creating the story and the dream in your mind and heart. From there it is a discipline of letting the music take the lead."

DEATH TO ANDERS - "ROB: Charlene from One Trick Pony called us 'Gregorian Punk' because we harmonize with a lot of 5ths. NICK: Now I say The Beatles just to give them nothing."

MP3S:
- Xu Xu Fang's Good Times
- The Savages' Snake Church (demo)
- Death To Anders' Radio

Even More Let's Independent! Posters & MP3s

Again, as we head towards our two-year anniversary event for Let's Independent! with Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, and Death to Anders (w/ a special acoustic set) next Tuesday night at Boardner's of Hollywood, I wanted to show some more of the posters that folks have created for the nights and post another batch of MP3s from the excellent bands who have played the show.























Many thanks to everyone who has played, attended, and helped promote or put on the show.

MP3S:
- The Movies' Timothy James
- Division Day's Littleblood
- Great Northern's Into the Sun (demo)
- The Western States Motel's Powerlines
- Radars to the Sky's Prufrock
- The Spires' Grand Canyon Vacation
- Foreign Born's The Entryway
- Thailand's This Officer's Life (demo)
- Tandemoro's Lock Your Doors
- The Happy Hollows' Meteors
- Bedroom Walls' In Anticipation of Your Suicide
- Rademacher's They Are Always Into That
- Signal Hill's Luna Park (demo)
- The Monolators' You Look Good on the Train
- The Devils Romantics' Bird Song
- The Lights From Here's Birdmouth

Looking Back: Let's Independent! Posters & MP3s

As we head towards our two-year anniversary event for Let's Independent! with Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, and Death to Anders (acoustic) next Tuesday night at Boardner's of Hollywood, I wanted to look back at some of the great posters that artist/musician Christine Hale has created for the events and post a handful of MP3s from the fantastic bands who have played the show.























DOWNLOADABLE MP3S:
- The Black Pine's Goodbye Hollywood Forever
- EXITMUSIC's The Following Winds
- The Black Kites' Paper Heart
- The Parson Redheads' Punctual as Usual
- Buddy's Westgate
- The Hidden Hooks' Girl Don't You Get Buried
- Luke Top's Lord Save Me From This Valley
- The Karabal Nightlife's Sea of Sleep
- Letting Up Despite Great Faults' Movement
- Light FM's Save The Drama
- Everest's Rebels & Roses
- Princeton's Indifference Curve
- Wait Think Fast's [mystery track]
- Amnion's A Ton
- The Transmissions' Up From The Spinner

Let's Independent! on Tuesday, August 19th w/ Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, & Rob and Nick from DTA

It's just a week away from our two-year anniversary party at Boardner's of Hollywood. Clear your calendars. Empty your heads. Because we're bringing back three of our favorite live acts in town -- Xu Xu Fang, The Savages, and an opening acoustic performance from Death To Anders -- for "an evening in commemoration of rocking your goddamn face off..."

It should be, like, wow. Jaw straight to neck and eyes stinging with copius use of fog machine and everything. Someone blowing into a conch? Not even kidding...

The show starts at 9:00 sharp, it's a $6 door (w/ all of the proceeds going directly to the bands), and there will be $3 Dewar's drinks all night long. For more info (and to hear MP3s from all three acts), go right here.



Rad poster by Christine Hale.

The Monday Show Low Down (Or "One Of These People ... Is A Werewolf!")

Been working so much lately I've been missing shows left and right, but the new game is coming along well. I hope to sneak out for a few of the nights this week, but I'm really, really, really looking forward to our Let's Independent! show on the 19th. All three acts are fantastic.

Monday, August 11th
- Indie 103.1’s Check One...Two presents... Love Grenades, Ladies and Gents, Little Red Radio, & The Kiss Off @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- Sean Carnage Presents KXLU’s Demolisten w/ Pinched Nerve, Dog Weed, & Mi Ami @ Pehrspace
- Ric Veda @ Cafe Mariposa
- The Urxed, Soft Circle, Abe Vigoda, Bow Ribbons, Lucky Dragons @ The Smell
- Warpaint, Megapuss, Rainbow Arabia, Captain Ragz @ Spaceland
- Pierre De Reeder & Michael Runion @ The Echo (FREE)
- Inara George Record Release @ Largo
- Sean Carnage Presents KXLU’s Demolisten Pinched Nerve, Dog Weed, & Mi Ami @ Pehrspace
- Heck Acounting, No Go Know, Dan and Mindy and The Gorilla from Criminal Belly, & Hello From Reno @ Mr T's Bowl
- Jeffrey Davis (of Brian Jonestown Massacre) & friends @ Cafe Mariposa
- Love Grenades & Ladies and Gents @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)

DECISION:
The folks behind KXLU Demolisten show are putting on a night at Pehrspace tonight. I don't know the acts that are playing, but they've turned me on to good music (like Amnion, por ejemplo).

Tuesday, August 12th
- Paleface, Mouse Kills Tiger, My Imaginary Friends, & Dallas Don @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Bigelf @ Amoeba Music (7pm)
- Billy Boy on Poison @ The Troubadour
- Magic Johnson, Don Hellions, David Scott Sloane, & Lacoste @ The Smell
- Static Aktion Presents: Ahlzagailzehguh, Yellow Tears (members of Halflings), Rale, Infinite Body, & Human Hands @ Pehrspace
- Or The Whale, Idaho Falls, Leslie & the Badger, Caleb Nichols, & Daniel Ahern @ The Echo
- Ariel Pink, Chairlift, Gary Wilson, DJs Ian Marshall & Don Bolles @ Echoplex
- The Good Night, Townland, & Bats in the Belfry @ Tangier
- Veronique's Red Velvet Variety Show @ Echo Curio
- Or The Whale, Idaho Falls, Leslie & the Badger, Caleb Nichols @ The Echo

DECISION:
Some people like Ariel Pink's weirder music, some people like his 60s pop stuff more. Never know what you'll get...

Wednesday, August 13th
- Rachael Cantu, Nicole Simone, & Odessa @ Tangier
- My Flag is on Fire, The Ukulady, & The Solvents @ Echo Curio
- The Locusts, Qui, Upsilon Acrux, Halloween Swim Team @ The Echo
- White and The Writing & Pink Mochi @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Dub Club @ Echoplex
- Low vs Diamond @ The Troubadour
- The East Conference Champions @ Redwood Bar
- Slummonkechelon, The Big Booty Party, The Dharma Bums, & Manhattan Murder Mystery @ Mr T's Bowl
- Club Moscow/ Dead Ponys, Wallpaper, & The Black Palms @ Boadner's of Hollywood

DECISION:
Tuesday night with Manhattan Murder Mystery at Mr T's Bowl sounds like much fun.

Thursday, August 14th
- River of Suns, Daniel Ahearn, & Liz Pappademas @ Tangier
- Marcus Very Ordinary, Roger moon, & Wadsworth @ Tangier
- Chester French, Jeppe (of Junior Senior), Inverse @ Spaceland
- Xiu Xiu & Carla Buzolich @ The Echo
- Dawes & Chief Dawes @ The Troubadour
- Sunny McGroovy, Rebecca Harris, Circus Atari Acrobats, Super Duper Star, The Happy Casualties, Enid the Dowl, & Codpiece @ Mr T's Bowl
- Respect presents: Optical, Machete DJ, b2b @ Echoplex
- Actress, Idyllists, The Gene Wilder, Socadia, & Alicia Marie @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- The Octopus Project @ The Knitting Factory

DECISION:
Austin's madcap instrumental act The Octopus Project are even worth going to see at a Hollywood strip mall...

Friday, August 15th
- The Mormons 10th Anniversary w/ Ninja Academy, Midway, The Bolides, & The Beeters @ Mr T's Bowl
- Hearts of Palm UK, Fascinoma, Josh Steinmerz, & Dana's @ Echo Curio
- Benji Hughes, B.R.A.M., & Quazar and The Bamboozled @ El Cid
- Flying Lotus @ Amoeba Music (8pm)
- Valient Thorr @ The Troubadour
- Moses Campbell, Watercolor Paintings, & Haim @ The Smell
- Spindrift, Crooked Cowboy, The High Society @ Spaceland
- Idina Menzel @ The Wiltern
- Jon Brion @ Largo
- Starlight Desperation Album Release @ Redwood Bar
- Boris Smile, Joy Shannon and The Beauty Marks, & Shiloe @ Pehrspace
- Club Underground presents: Pop Levi, The Parson Redheads @ The Echo

DECISION:
Spindrift are one of those local psych rock acts that usually play warehouse shows that never get advertised... Worth catching.

Saturday, August 16th
- Benji Hughes, Whispertown2000, & Belle Brigade @ El Cid
- Panic Movement, Seasons, & Million Kids @ Cafe Mariposa
- Model K, Emperors of Japan, & Fight From Above @ Pehrspace
- New Maximum Donkey, The Power Cords, Go Set Go, & more @ Mr T's Bowl
- Ars Petria, Jesus Makes the Shotun Sound, EXIT MUSIC, & Voices Voices @ L'Keg Gallery
- The Queens of the Stone Age @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
- Colin Hay @ Largo
- Zs, Daniel Francis Doyle, & Upsilon Acrux @ The Smell
- Manimal Vinyl presents: The Muslims, Gangi, Pizza!, Amanda Jo Williams @ Spaceland
- Matt Pryor (The Get up Kids & The New Amsterdams) & Chris Conley (Saves the Day) @ The Troubadour
- Bank Holiday, Crash Holiday, Amazing Reverb Engine, & Pillows @ Echo Curio
- James Jackson Toth, The Duchess & The Duke @ The Echo
- Hang the DJs w/ The Par Avion Band & Jeppe of Junior Senior @ The Echo (late)
- Pizza! Gangi, The Muslims, & Amanda Jo Williams @ Spaceland

DECISION:
I've told myself that I will finally go see Benji Hughes this time he's in town...

Sunday, August 17th
- Super Karma @ Zen Sushi
- Amoebapalooza @ King King
- Grand Ole Echo @ The Echo (early)
- Steve Barton and the Oblivion Click, Extra, Megasapien, Sidewalk Society @ Spaceland
- Ditka, Under The Asbury, She and The Wolves, & Chrome 2007 @ Mr T's Bowl
- Part Time Punks presents: Suki Ewers (ex-Opal/Mazzy Star) CD Release Event w/ Old Toy Trains @ The Echo (late)
- Obi Best (formerly Colorforms), Readers, Mooey Moobau, & Johnnie Newman @ Tangier

DECISION:
Suki Ewers is another local act I've been meaning to see. This show is the cd release party for her latest album and Old Toy Trains are also playing.

That's it. Please let me know if I missed anything...

The Airborne Toxic Event CD Release

Tonight, the entirely-likable local rock act The Airborne Toxic Event celebrate the release of their first album with a sold-out show at The El Rey... Impressive for a group that's not been playing out even two years, but somehow unsurprising. (Their first live show was even pretty fucking packed.)

After tonight, they're off on a national tour in support of The Fratellis -- and if the attention they've gotten so far is any indication, they'll likely win a lot more converts.

Again, it's nice to see a good band from the neighborhood getting a lot of positive praise. Hopefully, it'll rub off on a lot of the other excellent acts around here, such as Radars to the Sky (who are opening up tonight), The Happy Hollows, Division Day, Le Switch, The Movies, and many, many more.

Here's a Rehearsal Space interview with the band, the ten videos they created in support of album release (one for each song on it), and links to some older interviews we did with them.






















RELATED LINKS:
- The Airborne Toxic Event Interview
- The Airborne Toxic Event Mini-Interview

Ticket Giveaways: Film School and The Pity Party & Karin Tatoyan and Sarah Negahdari

We've got a few pairs of tickets to give away for the following noteworthy shows happening this week at Spaceland. Write us right here with your full name and which show you're interested in to be entered in a drawing to win. (Must be 21+, have not gotten tickets from us in the last 60 days, and, y'know, like fun.)

New Album Release: Darker My Love

SF/LA act Darker My Love's second album (succinctly named 2) hits music stores nationally today via Dangerbird Records, which is also home to Sea Wolf and The Silversun Pickups.

I can't say I've heard the cd yet, but Duke from You Set The Scene says nice things about it so it should be well-worth checking out.

Per the attached flier, they appear to be giving out free copies at the door at the release event on Thursday night at The Troubadour. The show also features local favorite Amnion.

The Monday Show Low Down (Or "The Truth Behind Your Bruises And Scratches Revealed...")

Many thanks to all the people who wrote in with additions to the venue listing in the lower right-hand column.

Should have a fairly comprehensive list of places where bands play in and around Los Angeles now. (If anyone knows a better calendar for 3 of Clubs, please write.)

Some good shows going on here in town this week...

Monday, August 4th
- Vice Party w/ Mezzanine Owls, Spider Problem, The Muslims, & Cheeseburger @ King King (FREE)
- Conor Oberst @ Amoeba Music (6PM)
- Warpaint, Mia Doi Todd, Moonrats, Titus Andronicus @ Spaceland (FREE)
- Today Is The Day & Withered @ The Echo
- Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls @ The Troubadour
- Best Friends Forever, Tara Jane O'Neil, & Katy Davids @ Echo Curio
- Indie 103.1's Check One... Two Presents The Drones, Love Grenades, Torino, & Pulse Out @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
- The Romeros, Scars on 45, City Mouse, Regal Beagle, The Meka Leka Hi's @ Mr T's Bowl
- Sean Carnage Presents 3 Year Anniversary! w/ Juiceboxxx, I.E., Winners, The Amazements, The Monolators, Birth!, & Social Junk vs. Big Nurse @ Pehrspace
- Jeffrey Davies (of Brian Jonestown Massacre) & Friends @ Cafe Mariposa

DECISION:
I don't know any of the acts playing at tonight's free residencies, but it's nice to see Indie 103.1's Check One... Two series find a new home. They managed to regularly put together line-ups worth dealing with its old spot The Viper Room.

That all said, it looks like the Vice party at King King with Mezzanine Owls and friends is the best show tonight... It's free w/ RSVP.

Tuesday, August 5th
- Roll The Tanks & The Feelings Mutual @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Gary Wilson & Jason Grier @ The Echo
- T-Bowl Tuesdays @ Mr T's Bowl
- Conor Oberst @ The Troubadour
- IPO presents: Kristian Hoffman, 17 Pygmies, Saucy Monky, & Io Perry @ Spaceland
- Social Junk, Big Nurse, Magic Lantern, & Sasqrotch @ The Smell
- The Hush Sound @ The El Rey

DECISION:
Anyone have any recommendations for Tuesday night? Bean meaning to check out singer/songwriter Io Perry live.

Wednesday, August 6th
- Indie 103 presents CLUB NME w/ Film School, The Pity Party, & The Meeting Places @ Spaceland
- Club Moscow @ Boardner's
- The Enemy UK, Castandea, & Gran Ronde @ The Troubadour
- Prophylaxis, Hundreds and Thousands, The Guesstimates, & Nite Jewel @ Mr T's Bowl
- Neighborhood Stars, Transient, & Bill Gates' Best Friend @ The Smell
- L Train vs. Get Yer Rocks Off! w/ The Muslims, The Blood Arm, Qu’est-Ce Que C’est, & The Franks @ The Echo
- Ivan and Alyosha, Blank Tapes, & Faraway Places @ Tangier
- Music Video?, Faunts, & Stop Revolt @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- The Ting Tings @ The El Rey (sold-out)

DECISION:
Psych rock band Film School and experimental pop act The Pity Party are worth going to see separately. Together, it goes up at least an order of one magnitude.

Thursday, August 7th
- Darker My love, Amnion, Eulogies, & Tweak Bird @ The Troubadour
- Craft Club, Apple War, Lieutenants, & Rolling Blackouts @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Respect @ Echoplex
- Hockey & Andy Clockwise @ Spaceland
- Tara Jan O'Neil, Katy Davidson, Bobb Bruno, & Voice On Tape @ The Smell
- Jay Fuckcisco, DAK E&E, & Luna is Honey @ Mr T's Bowl
- The Faint @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
- Dr. Dog @ Amoeba Music (7PM)
- The Airborne Toxic Event w/ Radars to the Sky & The Morning Benders @ The El Rey (sold-out)

DECISION:
It's great to see The Airborne Toxic Event (w/ Radars to the Sky) selling out The El Rey before their album is even out yet. File this under local act makes good.

Catching Amnion open up for Darker My Love at The Troubadour is a really excellent alternative though, if you (like me) didn't get tickets. They're really kind of magic, as evidenced by the heart-burster new song that they just posted right here.

UPDATE: We have a free pair of tickets to the Darker My Love and Amnion show at The Troubadour. Write us here with your full name to be entered in the drawing to win.

Friday, August 8th
- Karin Tatoyan, Learning Music, & Sarah Negadhari and the Sad Solids (from Happy Hollows) @ Spaceland
- Dr Dog w/ Delta Spirit @ The El Rey
- Cromwell @ The Troubadour
- The Faint @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
- Weekend Warrior, Who Calls So Loud, Vitamin Piss, & Knosu @ The Smell
- The Sundowners, Azure Down, Hypatia Lake, & Happy Dwarf @ Mr T's Bowl
- Echo & Club Undergrand presents: Pop Levi & Filthy Souls
- Echo & ArtDontSleep present: Platinum Pied Pipers / Musinah @ Echoplex
- Paris Loves LA & Joel Virgil @ Tangier (restaurant)
- Man and The Motorcar @ Tangier
- Jon Brion @ Largo (two sets)
- Shiloe, Wait Think Fast, Sky Parade, & more @ The C.I.A.
- The Karabal Nightlife, Shirley, Rolls, Ema & The Ghosts, the Digs, & Queen Kwong @ Pehrspace

DECISION:
Lots of good choices going on Friday night... Karin Tatoyan and The Happy Hollows' Sarah Negahdari at Spaceland... Shiloe and Wait Think Fast at The C.I.A.... The Karabal Nightlife, Ema & The Ghosts, and Queen Kwong at Pehrspace...

Saturday, August 9th
- International Pop Overthrow w/ Super Karma’s Animal Troupe, We Should Be Dead, & more @ The Good Hurt
- The Amateurs (acoustic) & Beware of Safety @ The Cocaine
- Descarga @ The Echo
- LA Weekly presents: God’s Pottery, Jessi Klein @ Spaceland
- Mad Lovers, The Crystelles, The Shakes, Thee Makeout Party, & Le Face @ Mr T's Bowl
- Flosstradamus, Troublemaker, & Kid Lightning @ Echoplex
- The Highland Park Summer Fest w/ Le Switch & more @ Highland Park

DECISION:
I can't find anything about The Highland Park Summer Fest anywhere, other than that local favorites Le Switch are playing it.

Wait... Aaron just sent over the bands, set times, and other details:

Ars Poetria 12:30-1:00
The Beeters 1:15-1:45
TSI 2:00-2:30
Kind Hearts and Coronets 2:45-3:15
The Nightbirds 3:30-4:00
The Manhattan Murder Mystery 4:15-4:45
The Hectors 5:00-5:30
Odd Modern 5:45-6:15
The Health Club 6:30-7:00
Ninja Academy 7:15-7:45
Seasons 8:00-8:30
Le Switch 8:45-9:15
Soul or System 9:30-10:00

"Doors open at 12:00pm for $5. There will be food, drinks, live art, and music. This event will be held from 12:00pm-11:00pm Behind Zeppelin music on York Blvd."

Other highlights include the actually pretty funny musical comedy of God's Pottery at Spaceland, The Amateurs and Beware of Safety at The Cocaine, and Super Karma out at The Good Hurt.

Sunday, August 10th
- Grand Ole Echo pres: Dave Insley, Cliff Wagner and the Old 7’s, The Burlington Family @ The Echo (early)
- XBXRX, Foot Village, & David Scott Stone @ The Smell
- Part Time Punks w/ Indian Jewelry @ The Echo (late)
- The Payments, Hello My Name Is Red, Pinched Nerve, & Liquid Wagon @ Mr T's Bowl
- Ragsy (acoustic) @ The Hotel Cafe
- Obi Best (formerly Colorforms), BRAM, Whispertown 2000, & The Long Lost @ Tangier
- Merch, Telematique, & Fantastic Ego @ Echo Curio
- Signal Hill, Bexar Bexar, Balmorhea, & Neuform Project @ Pehrspace

DECISION:
While I'm obliged to recommend local post rock gods Signal Hill every time they play, Indian Jewelry and Obi Best are also well worth going to see on Sunday.

That's it. Did I miss anything? Please let me know.

Interview: The Broken Remotes

Earlier this week, The Broken Remotes' Jonathan Leahy and I completed a marathon IM session where we talked about the past, present, and future of the upbeat local rock act.

At least, eventually...

RFSL (6:08:07 PM): Hey! You around? Sorry that I'm late.
BrokenRemotes (6:08:20 PM): The Broken Remotes do not tolerate lateness.
RFSL (6:08:41 PM): There you are.
BrokenRemotes (6:08:48 PM): That could not be a false-er statement...
BrokenRemotes (6:08:57 PM): Mark showed up late for the last gig.
BrokenRemotes (6:09:11 PM): And it was 100 yards away from his house...
BrokenRemotes (6:09:25 PM): Ha. Where was that?
BrokenRemotes (6:09:31 PM): The Echo
BrokenRemotes (6:09:52 PM): He and I live in a house, Sunset and Alvarado.
RFSL (6:10:05 PM): Ah, I used to live pretty close to there.
RFSL (6:10:13 PM): Over the hill on... McCollum.
BrokenRemotes (6:10:36 PM): Hmmm... don't know that one.
BrokenRemotes (6:10:47 PM): Can you tell me where it is, in terms of proximity to Burrito King?
RFSL (6:10:47 PM): It's near the Happy/Sad Foot sign.
BrokenRemotes (6:11:43 PM): Shit, you've stumped me. Should I know where that is?
RFSL (6:11:53 PM): It's by Mae Ploy?
RFSL (6:12:07 PM): The best (and perhaps cheapest) Thai restaurant in town.
RFSL (6:12:09 PM): IMHO.
RFSL (6:12:30 PM): Near Benton and Sunset.
BrokenRemotes (6:12:48 PM): Okay, I've been there.
BrokenRemotes (6:13:05 PM): My Thai isn't what it used to be.
RFSL (6:13:37 PM): Then down the street is the foot doctor that has a big rotating sign that has a foot with a smiling face on one side and a foot that looks exhausted and is propped up on crutches on the other.
BrokenRemotes (6:13:56 PM): Oh how I love classic signage like that.
RFSL (6:14:00 PM): I hear that Beck used to say he went by that to figure out what kind of day it would be.
RFSL (6:14:13 PM): That Beck...
BrokenRemotes (6:14:34 PM): Remember that carwash in the valley with the giant arm that held up the car for a sign?
RFSL (6:14:44 PM): Nope!
RFSL (6:14:56 PM): But I would probably go there.
BrokenRemotes (6:15:00 PM): Ventura near Poquito Mas.
RFSL (6:15:17 PM): So you guys just had two songs on an ABC Family program?
BrokenRemotes (6:15:19 PM): Somebody got pissed about this enormous disembodied arm
BrokenRemotes (6:15:27 PM): and they made them amputate it
RFSL (6:15:32 PM): !!!
BrokenRemotes (6:15:36 PM): so now it's just a hand holding a car
BrokenRemotes (6:15:46 PM): went from 60ft tall to 10ft tall...
RFSL (6:15:49 PM): Because that's much more subtle.
BrokenRemotes (6:15:56 PM): Exactly.
BrokenRemotes (6:16:12 PM): I like to imagine it's like Planet of the Apes -- the rest of the arm is still underground.
RFSL (6:16:27 PM): "You blew the whole thing up!"
RFSL (6:16:44 PM): As I misquote the late great Charlton Heston.
BrokenRemotes (6:16:49 PM): I'm sorry, were you trying to start the interview a little while ago?
BrokenRemotes (6:17:03 PM): I feel like we could talk about LA signs all night
BrokenRemotes (6:17:12 PM): Circus Liquor!
BrokenRemotes (6:17:15 PM): Now there's a sign.
BrokenRemotes (6:17:19 PM): With the clown.
RFSL (6:17:34 PM): We should eventually, but I personally love how LA is like the graveyard of chain restaurants.
RFSL (6:17:56 PM): There are so many chain restaurants that don't exist anywhere else in the country anymore except here.
RFSL (6:18:14 PM): But if we could just get a Dunkin Donuts, I'd be happy.
BrokenRemotes (6:18:25 PM): Oh, but NY has some great ones like that too-- two words, "Howard Johnson."
RFSL (6:18:26 PM): (Maybe a Stuckies...)
RFSL (6:18:35 PM): I miss those, too.
RFSL (6:18:45 PM): The aqua blue and faded orange.
BrokenRemotes (6:18:52 PM): I grew up on Dunkin Donuts.
RFSL (6:18:58 PM): Where are you from?
BrokenRemotes (6:19:14 PM): To someone who's never lived in New England, it's hard to describe just how huge a cultural force DD is...
BrokenRemotes (6:19:26 PM): I grew up in New Hampshire.
BrokenRemotes (6:19:40 PM): Pronounced "Hampshah."
RFSL (6:19:46 PM): I brought back some of their coffee when I went to Chicago last time.
RFSL (6:20:03 PM): Tried to find some French Crullers.
BrokenRemotes (6:20:24 PM): I got monthly delivery of their coffee (beans, that is) for a birthday present not too long ago...
RFSL (6:20:55 PM): That's from someone who cares.
RFSL (6:21:02 PM): So, you're in a band.
BrokenRemotes (6:21:12 PM): That's what my drummer tells me
RFSL (6:21:46 PM): Are you called The Broken Remotes because you have a bad habit of throwing them against the wall?
RFSL (6:22:02 PM): [Insert a wittier comment there. I'll probably edit one in later.]
RFSL (6:22:30 PM): [That one was like Fozzy The Bear.]
BrokenRemotes (6:22:39 PM): Well I'm glad there's a level of trust between us that allows you to be open about this...
BrokenRemotes (6:22:44 PM): Yeah
BrokenRemotes (6:22:47 PM): The band name.
BrokenRemotes (6:22:58 PM): Like most people in bands, I think, I hate my band's name
BrokenRemotes (6:23:29 PM): We had other names early on, but had to change because they were already taken...
RFSL (6:23:34 PM): Maybe you'll find out there's some obscure business on the east coast that's using it already and they'll force you under threat of legal action to change it.
RFSL (6:23:52 PM): Happened to Hazelden!
BrokenRemotes (6:23:59 PM): really?
RFSL (6:24:02 PM): (They are now "End Roulette.")
BrokenRemotes (6:24:08 PM): I like that band.
RFSL (6:24:11 PM): I read it in The LA Times so it must be true.
BrokenRemotes (6:24:29 PM): Well, that was back when The LA Times still had writers...
BrokenRemotes (6:24:41 PM): Pretty soon the paper will be all pictures and crosswords
RFSL (6:24:54 PM): I have a hard time writing about bands with really hot female leads because I'm not sure if the hotness is making me biased.
RFSL (6:24:57 PM): Too true.
RFSL (6:25:08 PM): So I just don't write about them in order to be safe.
RFSL (6:25:36 PM): Conflict of interest?
BrokenRemotes (6:26:37 PM): Safety vs. distinct possibility of crushing regret 10 years from now...
RFSL (6:27:02 PM): Yeah...
RFSL (6:27:16 PM): There's a fine line between blogger and creeper.
BrokenRemotes (6:27:22 PM): Well said.
RFSL (6:27:35 PM): So it's good to avoid any walk towards said line.
BrokenRemotes (6:27:57 PM): Well, by talking to me, you're NOWHERE NEAR the line...
RFSL (6:28:04 PM): Ha, ha.
BrokenRemotes (6:28:06 PM): Well, I take that back, Amy is pretty hot.
BrokenRemotes (6:28:16 PM): Why are you stalking my drummer?
RFSL (6:28:31 PM): I just happened to be at some of the same places as you guys, I swear.
RFSL (6:28:42 PM): About ten times.
BrokenRemotes (6:28:58 PM): That doesn't explain why your cell phone number was written in sharpie on the head of her snare drum.
RFSL (6:29:23 PM): You're so getting me in trouble w/ my girlfriend Amber...
RFSL (6:29:30 PM): So, how long has the band been together?
BrokenRemotes (6:29:46 PM): Since 2004 I guess.
RFSL (6:30:01 PM): This interview is totally coming up in couples' therapy.
RFSL (6:30:04 PM): How did you meet?
BrokenRemotes (6:30:41 PM): Is that a question for me or a potential question at couples therapy?
RFSL (6:31:02 PM): Ha, ha.
RFSL (6:31:09 PM): Let's both use it.
RFSL (6:31:21 PM): But remember to come from a place of loving when you answer.
BrokenRemotes (6:33:31 PM): So, how long have you and Amber been together?
RFSL (6:33:42 PM): About nine months.
RFSL (6:33:48 PM): She ordered me online.
RFSL (6:33:53 PM): "Add To Cart."
RFSL (6:34:00 PM): How did you guys meet?
BrokenRemotes (6:34:54 PM): I met her father, John, through my friend Shark (guitar player in Wild Colonials).
RFSL (6:36:52 PM): And then how did you meet everyone else?
BrokenRemotes (6:37:10 PM): Let's see...
BrokenRemotes (6:38:12 PM): The current bass player, Mark Lane, I met through the movie Walk Hard.
BrokenRemotes (6:38:28 PM): He was playing in John C. Reilly's house band for a while.
BrokenRemotes (6:39:30 PM): Lots of great players involved in that film-- Mike Andrews, Joey Waronker, Mikey G, Gus, John Wood, et. al.
RFSL (6:41:32 PM): Ahh. I remember that the female singer in the movie was sung by...
BrokenRemotes (6:41:39 PM): Angela Correa
RFSL (6:41:46 PM): Thank you.
BrokenRemotes (6:42:01 PM): Yeah, Angela is great...
BrokenRemotes (6:42:42 PM): That song on her new EP-- I think it's called All The World -- it's so damn great it makes me want to cry.
RFSL (6:43:05 PM): She just sent over a new track called Wood Tiger that is pretty great.
RFSL (6:43:53 PM): So you guys have been playing together for four years. When did you record the album?
BrokenRemotes (6:44:11 PM): A long, long time ago.
BrokenRemotes (6:44:17 PM): 2006?
RFSL (6:44:25 PM): Who recorded that with you?
BrokenRemotes (6:44:27 PM): Yeah, I think it was October, 2006.
BrokenRemotes (6:45:10 PM): Josh Schwartz played a lot of electric guitar on the album.
BrokenRemotes (6:45:18 PM): but otherwise it was all Amy and Me.
BrokenRemotes (6:45:45 PM): Handful of friends here and there...
RFSL (6:45:52 PM): So you two are effectively the leads?
BrokenRemotes (6:46:20 PM): Seems that way.
BrokenRemotes (6:46:57 PM): Though after every show the first thing anyone says to me is "Wow, Amy is amazing."
BrokenRemotes (6:47:03 PM): So I think technically she's the lead.
BrokenRemotes (6:47:26 PM): She lets me stay in the band because I'm the only one who knows all the lyrics.
RFSL (6:48:44 PM): Have you been working on new material more recently?
BrokenRemotes (6:48:59 PM): Happy to say—yes.
BrokenRemotes (6:49:20 PM): Last set had four un-recorded new tracks in it...
BrokenRemotes (6:50:01 PM): We're in that position where there's a whole new LP written, it's just a matter of time and money to get it done...
RFSL (6:50:08 PM): It seems like you're running out of songs to have on TV shows, so you better record more.
RFSL (6:50:20 PM): How many has it been now?
BrokenRemotes (6:50:50 PM): We've been really lucky lately, I think we've licensed five different songs off the last album.
BrokenRemotes (6:51:12 PM): Which all goes to help pay for the next one...
RFSL (6:51:32 PM): Excellent.
RFSL (6:51:47 PM): What's next for you all? Are you hiding out recording, playing out more, or both?
BrokenRemotes (6:56:31 PM): Right now actually Amy and I have been rehearsing to play a friend's record release show as his back-up band.
BrokenRemotes (6:56:40 PM): We tend to get distracted with side projects.
RFSL (6:57:23 PM): What band is that?
BrokenRemotes (6:58:03 PM): His name is Jim Salinger, singer songwriter.
BrokenRemotes (6:58:25 PM): Halfway between Jeff Tweedy and Paul Westerberg.
RFSL (6:58:35 PM): Cool. When and where is the show?
BrokenRemotes (6:58:55 PM): this Saturday, August 2nd at Tangier.
RFSL (6:59:50 PM): Cool. When's your next show as The Broken Remotes?
BrokenRemotes (7:00:24 PM): None booked now-- We'll be recording starting next weekend.
RFSL (7:00:53 PM): You're self-producing?
BrokenRemotes (7:01:16 PM): Amy's father, John Wood, will be producing.
BrokenRemotes (7:01:38 PM): He runs a studio called Stanley Recordings in Santa Monica.
BrokenRemotes (7:01:45 PM): In the old Clown Rehearsal space.
BrokenRemotes (7:02:39 PM): I just got an IM from Mark the bass player
BrokenRemotes (7:02:53 PM): His car door was just ripped off by an MTA bus.
BrokenRemotes (7:03:56 PM): Okay, I'm getting the whole story now... maybe I was exaggerating a little... The door is damaged but still attached to the car.
RFSL (7:03:58 PM): That's a hell of a note.
RFSL (7:06:06 PM): He's alright?
BrokenRemotes (7:06:49 PM): Yeah, he's okay-- I guess he had just barely opened his door when the bus zoomed by, and the force of the air or whatever sucked his door open, and then the end of the bus clipped it.
RFSL (7:07:33 PM): That's terrible. Glad nothing happened to him at least.
RFSL (7:09:33 PM): I read an older interview where you said you write a lot of lyrics while driving. You still do that?
BrokenRemotes (7:10:20 PM): 95%
RFSL (7:10:34 PM): How does that work?
BrokenRemotes (7:11:17 PM): As much as I love listening to the radio, I found out a while ago that if I sit in the car, in silence, lyrics will magically appear.
BrokenRemotes (7:11:36 PM): So when I need new lyrics I turn the radio off and wait...
BrokenRemotes (7:11:39 PM): and wait...
BrokenRemotes (7:12:08 PM): and then something happens and I grab the pen and notebook there in my e-brake compartment.
RFSL (7:12:21 PM): That must be expensive these days.
BrokenRemotes (7:12:33 PM): Ha.
BrokenRemotes (7:12:47 PM): Tell me about it. Songs used to only cost $2.
BrokenRemotes (7:12:57 PM): Can you imagine that on a record budget?
BrokenRemotes (7:13:09 PM): "Lyric Writing: $1250.00"
RFSL (7:13:54 PM): You can write that off on your taxes.
BrokenRemotes (7:14:11 PM): The other 5% gets written in the shower
BrokenRemotes (7:14:42 PM): My ex-girlfriend was thoughtful enough to buy me one of those underwater writing tablets-- like the ones Jacques Cousteau used to use...
BrokenRemotes (7:14:57 PM): Kept it next to the Pert Plus
RFSL (7:15:49 PM): You seem to get pretty thoughtful presents.
RFSL (7:16:19 PM): Okay, so this has nothing to do with music, directly, but you've mentioned in earlier interviews that the French director Melville was an inspiration.
RFSL (7:16:41 PM): I'm a huge fan of Le Samourai and Le Circle Rouge.
RFSL (7:17:09 PM): What else have you seen from him that you like and what are more recent artistic inspirations?
BrokenRemotes (7:27:38 PM): Army of Shadows-- How great was that when it finally came out here in America?
BrokenRemotes (7:27:43 PM): When was that? ‘05?
RFSL (7:28:06 PM): I still haven't seen that one...
RFSL (7:28:21 PM): Had it from Netflix for forever and never got to it somehow.
BrokenRemotes (7:28:50 PM): very sad
RFSL (7:28:52 PM): One of the only material things I care about is an old rare poster for Le Samourai I got a few years ago.
RFSL (7:28:58 PM): Such a perfect film.
BrokenRemotes (7:29:15 PM): Agreed.
BrokenRemotes (7:29:53 PM): As far as artistic inspirations...
BrokenRemotes (7:30:02 PM): Are we talking about visual art?
BrokenRemotes (7:30:17 PM): I'm a huge fan of Duchamp, Christo, and Chuck Close.
RFSL (7:31:35 PM): One last one for you: What are you listening to these days?
BrokenRemotes (7:32:31 PM): The Growler's CD is in my car right now.
BrokenRemotes (7:32:43 PM): Just heard three new tracks from Ida Maria
BrokenRemotes (7:33:07 PM): and the new M83...
BrokenRemotes (7:34:01 PM): But I have ulterior motives on that one...
RFSL (7:35:18 PM): Yeah?
BrokenRemotes (7:36:44 PM): Yeah, the singer is sitting next to me right now...
BrokenRemotes (7:36:49 PM): She just cooked me dinner.
RFSL (7:37:23 PM): I can see where that would somewhat oblige you to listen to it, yes.
RFSL (7:37:40 PM): Though I'm guessing it's pretty damn good, too.
BrokenRemotes (7:38:43 PM): I like it a lot, actually. Long, ambient dreamy tracks... Driving in the desert at night music.
RFSL (7:40:30 PM): Sometimes I want to go driving out in the desert so I can listen to The Lights From Here, Signal Hill, Explosions in the Sky, Brian Eno, etc.
RFSL (7:41:14 PM): Well, that's all I have for you.
BrokenRemotes (7:41:34 PM): Oh, I have one last record to tell you about--
BrokenRemotes (7:42:17 PM): It's a compilation called "Wheedle's Groove" an underground funk/soul collection, all the artists are from Seattle
BrokenRemotes (7:42:26 PM): Some serious nuggets on that one
RFSL (7:43:04 PM): Excellent.
BrokenRemotes (7:43:21 PM): Oh shit!
BrokenRemotes (7:43:26 PM): How could I forget?
BrokenRemotes (7:43:38 PM): The album I've been listening to the most!
RFSL (7:43:43 PM): It's always that way.
BrokenRemotes (7:43:43 PM): Benji Hughes.
RFSL (7:43:50 PM): I've been meaning to check him out for awhile.
BrokenRemotes (7:44:00 PM): new double album is about to come out on New West
RFSL (7:44:00 PM): Eagle & Talon love his stuff.
BrokenRemotes (7:44:20 PM): Might be my favorite record of the year so far, no bullshit
BrokenRemotes (7:44:34 PM): Even though he's been playing these songs for a while now, the album is new...
RFSL (7:45:37 PM): I'll definitely check it out.
RFSL (7:45:46 PM): Thanks again for all your time!
BrokenRemotes (7:47:51 PM): Nice talking with you.

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