Music coverage by people who actually like music...
Friday, January 30, 2009
REMINDER: Radars to the Sky, Fol Chen, & Light FM on Sunday
Just wanted to give one last reminder about this Sunday night's Rock Against HD Benefit show at Spaceland with Radars to the Sky, Fol Chen, and Light FM. If you haven't heard one or more or all of the bands before, you've been missing out. Here are linked excerpts to interviews we've done with the bands in the past w/ some MP3s:
One of the local acts I'm keeping an eye out for the most this year is the sly, moody indie rock of The Californian...
They're a relatively new group who I've written before are "great music to listen to while driving at night in the middle of the desert... Pretty immediately likable" and Mouse at Classical Geek Theatre has likewise gushed "The Californian is electric to listen to. How can a band be so pretty-sounding and so electrifying at the same time? The conflict is confounding. When listening to The Californian: Am I being romanced or hunted? Is there a difference?"
After seeing them play at Bordello awhile back and listening to the demos of their new material for months, I feel like they have the potential to become a popular local stalwart and even grow to gain national attention, likesay a Great Northern. (Several of their tracks kind of scream "movie soundtrack.")
The Californian has an album available on itunes, but their newer material (songs like Bad Habit and The Ghost of Everything, which can be heard on their myspace page) seem to be more the focus of their current live show. No word on when their second album is due or when they'll be performing live next -- some of their members have tours with other projects planned -- but when you see that name on a show listing sometime later in 09, try to remember to check them out.
LA folk act Eagle Winged Palace -- who routinely send music writers running for their thesauruses to find new ways to say "spooky" and "unique" -- announced today that they've signed to Park The Van, the home of popular acts like Dr. Dog and The Spinto Band. The label will digitally release the group's EP in mid-March (with an event to celebrate it at SXSW) and their full-length due in the fall.
As a fan of Eagle Winged Palace and their lead's former garage rock group The Prix (both played our Let's Independent! night), I've got to say that it's great to see them doing so well.
The Monday Show Low Down (Or "You Tried to Live the Monumental Life...")
I've had Willie Nelson's nonsense song Shotgun Willie stuck in my head since I heard it in the opening to the new season of Lost last week... I don't think I'd heard it since I was wee and absolutely nothing else will dislodge it.
Monday, January 26 - Olin and The Moon, Damn Sons, Evan Way, & Taylor Goldsmith @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE) - Monday Night Residency w/ Rocco Deluca, Marvelous Toy, The Petrojvic Blasting Co., Pawnshop Kings @ Spaceland (FREE) - Monday Night Residency - Robert Francis, Magic Bullets, Peter & the Wolf, Anni Rossi @ The Echo (FREE) - Sean Carnage & Folktale Records present… The “Sun, Smog, and Hate” Phoenix/L.A. new music comp. release party w/ Whitman, John Thill, Voice on Tape, Clark 8, Foot Ox, & Bri White @ Pehrspace - THE ROOFTOP VIGILANTES + DOUGLAS ARMOUR + THE FARAWAY PLACES + PHAROAHS @ Echo Curio
DECISION: It's the last free residency night of the month. Who have you missed? Are you alright with that? Some of the more noteworthy supporting acts are Evan Way from The Parson Redheads, Peter & The Wolf, and Marvelous Toy.
Tuesday, January 27 - The Rhone Occupation, Ballerina Black, & Satellite Crush @ The Silver Lake Lounge - ISGOODMUSIC Presents The Voyeurs CD Release Party w/ The Monolators, Les Blanks, & Go West Young Man @ The Echo - AZALIA SNAIL BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA with such guests as FEATHERBEARD + members of the PICKUP STICKS + PUPPIES AND KITTENS + THE SUPREME DICKS + much more @ Echo Curio - The Honorary Titles @ The Hotel Cafe - Sara Lov (of Devics), Hands, BRAM, & Yearbook Pictures @ Spaceland - Mike Stinson & Dave Gleason @ Redwood Bar - Puppy Dog, Rooftop Vigilantes, 4 Da Kidz, & The Widow Babies @ The Smell - Check One Twosday w/ IO Echo, Zaza, Jjamz @ Echoplex
Wednesday, January 28 - French Semester CD Release Party w/ Moving Picture Show, Tigers Can Bite You, & Divisadero @ The Silver Lake Lounge - Indie 103 presents CLUB NME w/Benji Hughes, Vincent and Mr. Green, & Other Lives @ Spaceland - Low End Theory @ The Airliner - Dub Club @ The Echoplex - Brian Wilson @ The Wiltern - Skull and Phones feat. Imarobot, Ringside, & Crash Kings @ The Roxy - Swordfight, Torches in Trees, & Max and The Marginalized @ Mr T's Bowl - LOVERS + RACHEL CANTU + THE CARTOGRAPHERS (curated by NICKI of the BLACK KITES) @ Echo Curio - NO CULTURE with Resident DJs Guns N Bombs, Goddollars @ The Echo - The Soft Pack (formerly The Muslims), The A.M. @ The Echo - His Orchestra, Superhumanoids, Manhattan Murder Mystery, & Ethan Gold @ Bordello - Amy Ray @ The Troubadour - Big Search & John Webster Johns @ 3 Clubs
Thursday, January 29 - Valerie DJ Collective (France) w/ Anoraak, College, Keen House. & Lexicondon @ Echoplex - Respect @ The Echo - Amber Jean’s Birthday Beatles tribute bash w/ The Baja Bugs, The Wallbirds, DJ Dia @ Spaceland - Nickel Eye feat Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes, Low vs. Diamond, Nickel Eye, & The Shys @ The Troubadour - Heart of Gold, Hippie Cream, Falsetto Teeth, & Out of Town @ Mr T's Bowl - Jonneine Zapata, The Vacation, & The Paul Chesne Band @ The Kibitz Room - Lelia Broussard @ The Hotel Cafe - Country Tea, Cave Country, Tommy Santee Klaws, Bret Jensens Death Valley Jubilee @ The Hyperion Tavern - Wake Up Lucid, The May Fire, & Divisible @ The Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION: I'm kind of charmed by The Hyperion Tavern because it reminds me of what it might be like if you opened up a bar in my living room and started putting on shows.
Friday, January 30 - Eleni Mandell & Theresa Anderson @ The Hotel Cafe - Pam Shaffer & The Victorian @ Pehrspace - Jon Brion @ Largo - NASA Space Universe, Okie Dokie, God Equals Genocide, Sheeep, & Teen Beer @ The Smell - Infinity (Journey cover band) & Lovelikefire @ Spaceland - Thriving Ivory, Barcelona, & The Record Life @ The Troubadour - The Highbinders, Siberian Summer Camp, The Big Booty Party, The Fabulous Miss Wendy, & That Noise @ Mr T's Bowl - MOOEY MOOBAU + VIDEO + CRATER FARMER + DORIAN WOOD @ Echo Curio - Echo, Club Underground & HTDJs present LADY SOVEREIGN @ The Echo
DECISION: People keep saying you have to see Theresa Anderson live...
Saturday, January 31 - The Hungry Beat Dance Party @ Pehrspace - The Black Heart Procession, The Mumlers, & Warpaint @ Spaceland - Three Bad Jacks @ The Troubadour - Adele @ The Wiltern - Katy Perry @ The Wiltern - Babyland Record Release Show w/ Former Ghosts @ The Smell - Funky Sole @ The Echo
DECISION: I'm not a dancer. I'm so stiff I can barely walk sometimes and the only dance I can carry off with any degree of confidence is a robot from the future who has come back to destroy the past. But if I did cut a rug, it would likely be at The Hungry Beat because Marion has great taste in indie pop and other kinds of rug-cutting music.
Sunday, February 1 - Radio Free Silver Lake Presents Rock Against HD - A Benefit for The Huntington's Disease Society of America w/ Radars to the Sky, Fol Chen, & Light FM @ Spaceland - Calvin Johnson, Sharon Cheslow, Devon Williams, & Sam McPheeters spoken word @ The Smell - Part Time Punks: The Cure Tribute Night @ The Echo - Part Time Punks & Dub Lab present: Arthur Russell Documentary
DECISION: Did you know that Sunday is the Super Bowl? Yeah, I guess you got kicked out of your home town for not being into sports, too. Either way, here's what you're doing on Sunday night after The Game: Going to Spaceland for the Rock Against HD benefit show and seeing some of the best live acts in town -- Fol Chen, Light FM, and Radars to the Sky -- while contributing to a good cause.
For more details on the event (and to hear MP3s for all three groups), go right here.
frenchsemester (6:32:14 PM): Hi, Joe. This is Riaz, Gil and Bryan. We're ready whenever you are sir..... RFSL (6:33:09 PM): Hey, guys. frenchsemester (6:33:19 PM): Good, evening man. RFSL (6:33:28 PM): How you doing today? frenchsemester (6:33:46 PM): Quite good. What a day right? RFSL (6:34:06 PM): Yeah, what a week. A new president today, then two new episodes of Lost tomorrow. RFSL (6:34:12 PM): (I'm only half-kidding.) frenchsemester (6:34:30 PM): Ha! You’re not the first to say that... RFSL (6:34:34 PM): (Okay. 1/4th.) frenchsemester (6:34:45 PM): Fair enough. RFSL (6:35:07 PM): So, you guys have an album release event on the 28th at The Silver Lake Lounge. frenchsemester (6:35:42 PM): Yeah, were super psyched. Psyched is not hyperbolic enough. Youve seen the bill. How can we not be hyperbolic? RFSL (6:35:55 PM): Yeah, I was going to say. Great line-up. RFSL (6:36:17 PM): That's one of those get-there-early-and-stay-til-the-end nights. frenchsemester (6:36:43 PM): Thanks, man. We've had past good times with all of them so we expect more of the same. A lot of people are coming.... RFSL (6:36:59 PM): Excellent. RFSL (6:37:22 PM): How long were you guys working on this album? How did it come together? RFSL (6:37:29 PM): There are some songs from the EP on it too, right? frenchsemester (6:40:04 PM): Well, those two songs were recorded in the summer and did make it onto that Tour EP we did for August. The rest were done in about a month this past fall. We have a backlog that reaches back about six months. We basically do as much as possible live, and then touch up details and such. Our newest member Charles (drums) has added a new dimension so it made the arranging smoother and more nuanced. RFSL (6:40:58 PM): That's great. I'm a fan of the EP tracks and the new ones, too. RFSL (6:41:05 PM): Where did you record? frenchsemester (6:43:35 PM): We switched to a new method of self-recording and engineering. Whereas last time we used Earthling in San Diego, this time it was all self-produced until the mastering stage. At that point we followed our friends Divisadero (following many great bands from K and Sub Pop) to Golden Mastering in Ventura. He has a sort of purist mastering approach that suits our old timey interests. RFSL (6:45:42 PM): Nice. What would you say is new about the new material? What's different from your last release from your standpoint? frenchsemester (6:51:05 PM): Hmmm. Thematically, the first album has a lot of tunes written in the third and second person, for instance. Political, worldly themes were on display in our own scratch-pop way. On THIS one there are more songs in the first person. So more introspection, self reflection, blah blah blah. I feel like we needed that too, having gone through a lot as an incipient band. Sonically, this album is maybe more uniformly lo-fi. We employed a lot more reverb to disguise what are otherwise punchy lyrics. And I think the rhythm section is pretty enviable. RFSL (6:51:52 PM): I've had bands say before "It's the same, but better." Which is a perfectly valid answer, but I think yours is better. frenchsemester (6:52:01 PM): oh man thanks! RFSL (6:53:23 PM): What are songs like Fourteen and The East Man about? Because I can catch snippets of lyrics like "your grandmother made love during The Great War" but haven't put it all together. RFSL (6:54:27 PM): "before The Great War and after it was won" RFSL (6:54:40 PM): Correction. frenchsemester (6:57:32 PM): Explaining is always tough, it escapes me. But let me try. The East Man popped out after I watched a film about a family of 12 people. The father had this philosophy of repopulating the world single handedly. Me, I study nationalism (dont ask). So I was thinking of love, romance, sex as a tool of nation building, and demographic warfare. So, "your grandmother made love, in the Great War and after it was won"........"after it was won" because why stop? frenchsemester (6:58:12 PM): Fourteen is like other songs on the album about falling behind when you have many things you want to do, accomplish. For whatever reasons idealistic or self interested. RFSL (6:59:10 PM): I've neglected to ask how you all met. How did you meet and start the band? frenchsemester (7:06:47 PM): We're getting better and better and answering this one. Me (Riaz) and Bryan met in kindergarten. Literally, the playground, the sand, toy cars, etc. . . . We've been pals ever since. We also shared an interest to see the world. Not just "the world" but worlds. We both split off around college times, went out to places like Mexico, Bolivia, France, England, North Africa, etc. As tourists yeah, but we have family in many of these places. Gil we met through our former drummer and immediately clicked with. He's Vietnamese-American. Heres the thing: being from other parts, going to other parts, is key to our songs and sound because while some roots indie bands want to sound like those old bands, we want to sound like kids back in the day first hearing those bands in faraway places never intended by the players. India, Mexico, Vietnam, and so forth. Then maybe trying to emulate them in their english-as-a-second language ways. frenchsemester (7:07:46 PM): Also, Charles, our drummer, came from another local band. We needed help on a few shows and he stepped in and we all got married. frenchsemester (7:08:01 PM): He's raised our level. RFSL (7:08:34 PM): That's a great story. RFSL (7:08:36 PM): What band was Charles in before? frenchsemester (7:09:23 PM): He was in Mospeada and in Black Kites previously. Both great bands. RFSL (7:09:32 PM): Ah, cool. RFSL (7:09:51 PM): So, you guys were on Is Good Radio last week. How did that go? frenchsemester (7:14:05 PM): Yeah, it was great. Hershfield is a keystone. He's moved over to a new studio and is building a new LA centric music/fan site. People should check it out. We see you guys as both serving an important role around here where people are pretty isolated otherwise. We're glad to take part. RFSL (7:14:47 PM): (I think he lives a block away from me...) frenchsemester (7:14:59 PM): That explains it. Its in the water. RFSL (7:15:28 PM): So, two more questions for you guys... And thanks again for all this time. frenchsemester (7:15:41 PM): No prob, thank you, shoot RFSL (7:15:47 PM): I like your video for Arrowheadings. Any more coming? frenchsemester (7:18:30 PM): Thanks. There we stuck to our ethos of simplicity, staying honest, and a little daydreaming. The colors, like in our other things, are important. Next one is in the works and will likely be similarly lo-fi but dreamy. Arent dreams always pretty lo-fi anyway? Anyway. . .it's coming....
RFSL (7:18:56 PM): For which song? Or are you still deciding? frenchsemester (7:23:17 PM): Likely Backwards Rolling or We'll March Again. We're discussing the different ideas now but its coming soon. We'll probably do a few so requests could be entertained. Requests deserve to be entertained too... RFSL (7:23:39 PM): Cool. Last question for you: What are you guys listening to right now? frenchsemester (7:25:20 PM): Love that one. Gil: The Zombies, Bryan: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Riaz: Wilco/Billy Bragg Mermaid Avenue. We didnt plan that but these are all part of our canon. RFSL (7:25:52 PM): Excellent. That's all I've got for you guys. Thanks so much for your time and see you at the album release show next week. frenchsemester (7:26:38 PM): Thanks man. Let’s do this in person. We might have cardboard emoticons. Peaceout.
In the second of our three articles on The Future of Music Here and Abroad, we asked a bunch of bands who they think people should look out for in the world of aught nine. Here are the results.
I've been thinking about the first quarter of 2009 for the last two months... Guaranteed, there are lots of future shows booked with wonderful bands I really enjoy--both as musicians and genuine people. Hmm, maybe there'll be some shows in new spaces? No promises.
I heard from the source that the Red Maids recorded some songs a few months ago up in San Francisco. Everyone should listen to their album when they finish it cos it'll be above and beyond beautiful if their current myspace recordings are any indication. Kenneth Pattengale performed at the Bessie Smith night and it was pretty darn good (the sibilant sounds of "who is he?" all around the room)--he has a release on Milan Records coming out in January.
Keep an eye out for all those bands with wolves and foxes and bears and deers and all those other creatures that belong in the forest in their name, in fact pretty much the whole animal collective.
Fol Chen is going to become much bigger than they are now, most likely. Big Whup is going to have a rad year too. Don't expect much out of the Avant-Garde Volkpenis.
Well, I think Flashing Red Lights, one of our fav local bands, is putting out a record in 2009, maybe. That will be great. Blitzen Trapper is recording another full length (already). So that will be REALLY exciting. And I know that Henry Clay People are going to explode. So catch em while you can.
Automatic Drawing is really a great band, they've got some amazing material, so hopefully someone will pick up on that and get it out there. Of course, I'm a huge fan of The Hidden Hooks. I haven't seen any show lined up, but if they get out there -- that could be huge -- amazing songs.
We would recommend that people watch out for the awesome Shiloe. And our new favorite, C-horse. We are also really looking forward to the new album from Nightfur.
- The Karabal Nightlife! Ken is recording their new full-length and the songs are really, really good. People are going to take notice of this one in a big way. -Divisible. Their recent performance at the Bordello was awesome, and the new songs are fantastic. Keep an eye out for their new album. -Full-lengths from Summer Darling and Kissing Cousins! Yay!
The Monday Show Low Down (Or "Not Quite The Same As The Old Boss...")
There are times when, after spending an hour plus putting together the show calendar, you don't want to write an intro and just fill the space with a video by Leonard Cohen -- who, incidentally, played his first US show in 15 years last week in NYC -- instead.
At such times, it's nice not being beholden to sponsors or having an editor...
Monday, January 19 - Robert Francis, Lex Land, Avi Buffalo, & Amateurs @ The Echo - Rocco Deluca, Musee Mecanique, & Correatown @ Spaceland (FREE) - The Jake LaBotz Band @ Redwood Bar - MAGICK ORCHIDS + THE HEALTH CLUB + BILLYGOAT @ Echo Curio - Sean Carnage Presents Narf Records showcase! w/ American Gil & the Major Dudes, Vaginals, knight Rider, I.E., & E&E @ Pehrspace - Olin and The Moon, Mouse Kills Tiger, & Gamble House @ The Silver Lake Lounge (FREE)
Tuesday, January 20 - Filter Presents: Sara Lov (of Devics), Willoughby, The One AM Radio, & Evan Way @ Spaceland - Check One Twosday w/ Castledoor, Earl Greyhound, & He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister @ Echoplex (FREE until 10:30) - IM Radio presents: Inaguration Party @ The Echo - Mike Stinson & Dave Gleason @ Redwood Bar - Stab City, Off with Their Heads, Pu$$y Cow, & Toys that Kill @ Mr. T’s Bowl - Fuck Yeah Fest Presents Crystal Antlers, Ancestors, Magic Lantern, & Slang Chickens @ The Smell - Michael Gerald Bauer, Kamptriefenbach, Jacked Up Blazers, & Sand Sky Rituals @ The Silver Lake Lounge - The Walkmen, Beach House, & Johnny and The Moon @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
Wednesday, January 21 - Indie 103 presents CLUB NME w/ The Ettes, Useless Keys, Tulsa Skull Swingers @ Spaceland - Curumin W/ Money Mark @ The Echo - Fountains of Wayne (acoustic) @ Largo - Captain Sean Wheeler, Zander Schloss, & Ryan Pitts @ Redwood Bar - Metronomy & The Mae Shi @ The El Rey - Dub Club w/ Yami Bolo @ Echoplex - Luna is Honey, Jbts, combat!, & Zombelle @ Mr T's Bowl - MANGLED BOHEMIANS + MOLINO + ELECTRIC RUSSIA @ Echo Curio - NO CULTURE with Resident DJs Guns N Bombs, Goddollars @ The Echo - 60 Watt Kid, Bobb Bruno, Voices Voices, & Kaisercartel @ The Silver Lake Lounge - Low End Theory @ The Airliner - Glacier Hiking & Army Navy @ The Troubadour - Marathon Live w/ The Furs (slc) + BOBBIE MARIE + Adam & Evil @ 3 of Clubs
DECISION: I'm of a mind that garage rock act The Ettes don't get nearly enough attention as they should here in LA. They're pretty damn tight live.
Thursday, January 22 - Young Hunting, Diamonds Under Fire, the Raggedy Anns, New Maximum Donkey @ Knitting Factory (Alterknit Lounge) - Wovenhand, Silver Summit, Blue Giant @ Spaceland - Respect @ Echoplex - High Places @ The Echo - The Power Cords, The Christopher Walk-Ins, Cola-Cola, & The Fresas @ Mr T's Bowl - Fountains of Wayne (acoustic) @ Largo - North Mississippi Allstars @ The Troubadour - War Tapes, Love Grenades, & Sam Sparro (DJ set) @ The Roxy - Amebix w/ Book of Black Earth, Doomsday Hour, & Bruise Violet @ Echoplex - Creedle (w/ Rob Crow), Van Stone, El Ten Eleven, & Falsetto Teeth @ The Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION: Creedle, another one of Rob Crow's side projects, is playing at The Silver Lake Lounge on Thursday night w/ the electrically interesante El Ten Eleven.
Friday, January 23 - Death to Anders, The Hectors, Divisadero, & Tasso @ American Legion Post 206 in Highland Park - Pizza!, IE, Tlienaxu Music Machine, Naomi Elizabeth, & You're in Urine & The Smell - Department of Eagles @ The Troubadour - MONSTRO + DRAGGING AN OX THROUGH WATER + ELISA VICTORIA + THE TRADITIONIST + BONES AND FEATHERS @ Echo Curio - Headtraffic, Beware of Safety, & Ready the Jet! @ Mr T's Bowl - Echo & Club Underground present Japanese Motors @ The Echo - Jay Reatard, Earthmen & Strangers @ Echoplex - Jon Brion @ Largo - Thorns of Life @ Center for Arts in Eagle Rock - Ladyfest LA w/ Ladies and Gents @ 1137 E. Redondo Blvd. (FREE) - Animal Collective, Ariel Pink, Lucky Dragons, & Zach Cowie @ The Henry Fonda Music Box (Sold-out)
Saturday, January 24 - One Trick Pony cd release event w/ Spider Problem & Evan Voytas @ Pehrspace - THE KRIS SPECIAL + MINOR CANON + ERINN WILLIAMS + THE PECULIAR PRETZELMEN @ Echo Curio - Tapes ‘n Tapes, Wild Light, & Wavves @ The El Rey - Wounded Lion, Nothing People, Bad Trips, & Bipolar Bear @ Mr. T’s Bowl - Manu Chao Viewing Party w/ La Santa Cecilia @ Home (Silver Lake) - Futurecop, Thunderheist, We Are The World, Franki Chan @ Echoplex - Funky Sole @ The Echo - KSCR Presents Army Navy, Other Lives, & Gangi @ Ground Zero Performance Venue on the USC Campus (FREE) - The Raveonettes @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
DECISION: There's some great stuff on Saturday night, but it's hard to imagine going anywhere but Pehrspace for One Trick Pony's cd release party. They're just so ridiculously good...
Sunday, January 25 - Bowling and Drinking Club/Craft night...w/ Daniel Brummel, No Little Kindness, Divisidero, Roman Candles @ All Star Lanes - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings & Ivan Milev @ Club Nokia - Seasons, The Karabal Nightlife, Cobra Lilies, & Odd Modern @ The Scene - Stab City, Supersonic Jets, & Sweater @ Redwood Bar - No Age, Rings, Mika Miko, Abe Vigoda, David Scott Stone, & Jennifer the Leopard @ The Smell (early) - Neil Hamburger, Kidneys, Bryson Lang, Brent Weinbach, Eccentric (from "American Idol") @ Spaceland - Part Time Punks w/ Anavan @ The Echo
DECISION: It's Chinese New Year and whether you celebrate it at All-Star Lanes, Club Nokia, The Scene, or The Smell, you're going to have a great time.
Video Free Silver Lake: Amateurs, Fol Chen, Dead Man's Bones, So Many Wizards, & Bodies of Water
Here are some new videos from a few great local bands like... Amateurs, who are opening for Robert Francis at his free residency at The Echo next Monday. (I'm there.)
Fol Chen, who are playing our Rock Against HD benefit show in just over two weeks. (See yesterday's post.)
The Tuesday Show Low Down (Or "Like A Unicorn Under a Rainbow on the Moon...")
Hnhh. Maybe I'm just catching some more heavily attended shows lately, but damn if it seems like people are going out more again. The last few times I've been to The Silver Lake Lounge, it's been packed. The last time few times I went to Spaceland, there was a line at the door.
I remember a few months ago, some local nightclub owners and managers were telling me that they could see the effect of the economy, but I swear that ever since Obama won, it feels like people are out and, well, the mood has really changed.
Tuesday, January 13 - Sara Lov, Learning Music, Modwheelmood, & Pink Mochi @ Spaceland - Check One Twosday w/ Warpaint, Brother Read, & Crooked Cowboy @ Echoplex - Mike Stinson & Dave Gleason @ Redwood Bar - Ida Maria & Gliss @ The Viper Room - Living Dead Lights @ The Troubadour - Andrew Jackson Jihad, Dan Janish, K Gholie, Roman Candles, & Joyce Manor @ Echo Curio
DECISION: I've been meaning to check out Sara Lov, Learning Music, and Pink Mochi, separately, so it's quite helpful that they're all playing together.
Wednesday, January 14 - Glasvegas @ The Troubadour - The Nels Cline Singers @ Largo - Club NME @ Spaceland - NO CULTURE with Resident DJs Guns N Bombs, & Goddollars @ The Echo - Shane Walsh, Alex and Sam, & James Bowers @ Bordello - Intergalactic Noise, New Planets, & FIM @ The Silver Lake Lounge - Captain Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss @ Redwood Bar - Les Blanks, Death to Anders, & The Soft Hands @ Three of Clubs - Big Whup, Sean Pineda, Ilo Mar, & Hello Shark @ The Smell
DECISION: I haven't seen local act Les Blanks play yet, but have seen some amazing live performances by both "gregorian punk" Death to Anders and Long Beach's finest The Soft Hands.
Thursday, January 15 - Yacht @ The Roxy - Tribe After Tribe, Thriftstore Allstars, & Paul Newsome @ Spaceland - Studiofix, Double Damn, & Black Tales @ The Silver Lake Lounge - Meiko, Obi Best, Lelia, Broussard, & Keaton Simmons @ The Hotel Cafe - Navigator vs Navigator, Elba, Flaspar, & Sprawl Out @ The Smell - The Entrance Band, Indian Jewelry, & The Growlers @ The Troubadour - Nikki Costa & Fiona Apple @ Largo - Respect @ The Echo - Old-Time Ruckus Revue Special Show @ The Hyperion Tavern - Glasvegas @ Amoeba Music (FREE - 7PM)
DECISION: The line-up at The Troubadour sounds pretty great, if you're a fan of interesting (ie Arthur Magazine) music.
Friday, January 16 - Delta Spirit & Everest @ The El Rey - Eleni Mandell, Theresa Anderson, Emily Wells, Pedestrian, & Big Phony @ The Hotel Cafe - Ozomatli, Wait Think Fast, & The Little Bastards @ Echoplex - The Chuck Dukowski Sextet, Scarcity of Tanks, Autopgolpe, & Jack Brewer Reunion Band @ The Smell - The Start @ The Troubadour - Kill Kill Kill, Corey Fogel, Moses Campbell, & Red Maids @ Pehrspace - Club Underground @ The Echo - The Muffs, The Dollyrots, Calamity Magnet @ Spaceland - STS9 & Prefuse 73 @ The Wiltern - Jon Brion @ Largo - Husere Grav, Robedoor, Horse Head, Wagon Tongue, & Goliath Birdeater @ Echo Curio
DECISION: Everest at The El Rey or Eleni Mandell at The Hotel Cafe would be a good use of your Friday night...
Saturday, January 17 - Autolux & Wooden Ships @ The Henry Fonda Music Box - Paramount Styles, Rademacher, & Model Actress @ Spaceland - The PolkaDOTDOTDOT + WALK + VOICE ON TAPE + BROTHER MITYA @ Echo Curio - Theresa Anderson @ Amoeba Music (FREE - 2PM) - The Ditty Bops @ McCabe’s - STS9 @ The Wiltern - Funky Sole @ The Echo - Wild Youth, Daytime Television, The Rozzes, & Skinny Tie Band @ The Smell - Hundred Days, Victoria, Kingsize, & The Pacific, @ Bordello - Manhattan Murder Mystery, The Primos, The Mormons, & The Studiofix @ Pehrspace - Fool’s Gold, Visa, & Pluralone @ The Troubadour (FREE)
Sunday, January 18 - The Eastern Conference Champions @ The Scene - HERMIT CONVENTION + BIRDS FLEW FROM ME + DEEPAKALYPSE + BRAVE GIRLS RUN @ Echo Curio - Brunch Americana w/ Mike Stinson, Dave Gleason, Josh Davis, & Dale Peterson @ Redwood Bar - Tenlons Fort, Jenny O, Adam Ezra, The Northstar Session, & Ryan Smith and Voyage @ The Hotel Cafe - Blue Diamond Benefit w/ The Hectors, The Breakups, & Hello Dragon @ Spaceland
DECISION: Jack Gibson from Tenlons Fort is a creative madman with more energy and enthusiasm than a classroom full of second graders.
Hey, Jared. Thanks for taking the time. How you doing today?
Hey Joe, I'm doing great today, but I'm not sure why. I didn't get a parking ticket this morning, so maybe that's it. ha ha
So, how long have you guys been together? How did you meet?
I joined up with Sunil about two years ago (Jesus!) after hearing his demo of Morning Panic, finding myself sort of enchanted by it. I remember showing up to his practice, possibly uninvited, after a pretty solid day of drinkin'. Those were the days! Since then we've lost the old rhythm section and replaced them with my brother Calvin and my friend Sam, who had just moved here from Chicago, most likely fleeing the mob. That line up change occurred over the summer and we started playing shows last autumn. Calvin's first performance of any kind was with us at Que Sera!
What's are some influences you all share or don't?
I feel like none of us recognizes anything in the other guys' record collections! I showed Sunil a Slowdive song he'd never heard the other day, for goodness sakes. I was giving Sam a bunch of shit for having a Weezer sticker on his guitar. But I think as people we're all pretty similar, so we tend to appreciate the same elements of what we're hearing.
What's the best thing about being a band in LA?
The best thing about being a band in LA is that there are a ton of amazing bands to inspire you, or challenge you I guess. Just living in LA is amazing if you ask me! I still can't get over this place, and it's been more than three years! You know what's not the best part of it? LA girls are just not impressed by musicians. In other towns you could just be like "Yeah, so I'm in a band..." Or at least that's the way it seemed before I moved out here and joined one.
You've got a show on Friday at The Scene with The New Room, The Transmissions, and Lost Libraries. That's a good line-up. How did that come together?
That's a great line-up, and it's just pure luck! We played with The New Room the last time we played at The Scene, and I felt like we destroyed it. So maybe we impressed them or the booker. I hope that's what it is. I hope my mom isn't bribing people again.
What's the band's name from?
Sunil came up with that name after reading about Generalissimo Francisco Franco, who took a really goddam long time to die.
What have you been working on most lately? Writing, recording, playing out?
We're preparing to record sometime this winter. We've been playing quite a bit, and we've been working out some covers, including OMD's The Native Daughters of The Golden West, Killing Joke's Love Like Blood and Ladytron's Destroy Everything You Touch which we debuted in Venice to a predictably clueless audience last week.
You were interviewed on ISGOODMUSIC earlier this week. How did that go?
It was great! John is such a cool guy, really the first person to take an interest in us. We were nervous as hell, but he made us feel really comfortable after about a minute of shakey voices. As an added comfort we brought a 30 pack of Cerveza Cauguama, and he shared it with us. Afterwards, he sent us mp3's of our performance and he even edited out my mistakes! Magically, I assume, because they were huge mistakes! It feels really good to be part of the IsGood community.
What's next for you guys?
We're playing tonight at The Scene, then we're going to teach Sam and Calvin some of the older material. I'm really trying to change my style, and I'm trying to screen print some shirts! I'm ruining about five per day as of now. That will put us on the map!
Last question: What are you listening to right now?
VOICEsVOICEs! Have you heard them? It's unbelievable to me. That's actually the best part about being in LA: having bands like them or Blackblack or Eskimohunter as our peers. Or The Warlocks, for godssakes!
Yep. As the title of this post pretty much states, we asked a bunch of our favorite bands what's next for them in "the future" (aka 2009). And more than two dozen replied -- with answers ranging from intense specific plans to charming vaguenesses to comedy gold.
Evan Way – The Parson Redheads
In 09 - lots of things planned! We may be putting out a 7" in the early part of the year. That is REALLY exciting, since we have never had a vinyl before. Keep your eyes peeled. We also will start the process of learning the last handful of songs we need to get down before thinking about a full length. So there will be a new Red Heads full length by the end of 09, for sure. Who will release it? When exactly? No idea. And, as always - we really want to get out on tour more. A lot more.
Diana Salier – Automatic Drawing
As for 2009 we're hoping to refresh the setlist and write some new songs for the new year. We also have some plans to record "The Winter Scientist pt. 1 & 2" and "Sea Urchin song,'' which we wrote at the tail-end of this year and don't have any solid documentation of, beyond some live acoustic recordings and videos.
Beyond that we'll be playing around LA 1-2x a month to keep the live thing going so we hope to see you out there!
Jordan Huddock – The Marvelous Toy
Shows beginning on Jan. 5th at Silverlake Lounge for Olin and the Moon’s residency. Spaceland on the 26th. And then next month at SL again for Local Natives’ residency. I’m writing more songs for a full length to be released hopefully mid-year sometime. Franck will be buying a few new shirts. Ny will probably be late to a couple rehearsals. Eventually we will most likely meet up at a restaurant somewhere and have a hamburger. Franck will order the veggie burger.
Matthew Teardrop – Manhattan Murder Mystery
We're doing some recording with Brian from Divisadero that hopefully will be done in early 2009.
We're making a concept album. The concept is "awesome."
Jason Brown - Nightfur
Nightfur will play some local shows to support the new album. I will also be finishing up my feature film and am very excited to have the music of Band Of Horses, Everest, The Parson Redheads, Stevenson Ranch Davidians, Lucy Langlas, and The Karabal Nightlife involved! The trailer will be posted online in January. Karabal Nightlife has a new album on the way that should be really cool.
William – The Savages
We going to either run guns in Myanmar or eradicate Death Squads in South America (they’re killing kids you know).. and more music of course.
Sarah Negahdari – The Happy Hollows
In 2009, we are releasing lots more music!!!
Mike Corwin – Red Maids
Touring with Dorian Wood and Killsonic.
Wendy Wang – The Sweet Hurt
I'm writing for my first ever full-length album.
Nick Ceglio – Death to Anders
Touring Touring Touring. Heading over to SXSW in March. We're also gonna start demo-ing for our next album in January/February
Keith Waggoner - Amateurs
I’ve got a wedding coming up in March that I’m pretty excited about. And a couple musical collaborations happening in January that I’m looking forward to. 2008 turned out to be a pretty quiet year for Amateurs, but we’ll be making some noise in ‘09, so keep an ear out for that I suppose.
Hunter Curra – The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra
There will be some new beginnings. We are hoping SXBW will work out as well as many other out of town shows, more planned out special in town shows, and a long form release of innocuous indie pop hooks from us to you.
Andrew – The Temporary Thing
I'm recording in an REAL recording studio and -depending on whether or not I somehow acquire a sack of money- an album should be finished soon. World tour to follow.
Geoffrey Geis – Pizza!
We are recording new music for our next studio LP. We are planning right now on a digital release with remasters of some of the best music we released combined with a couple of new songs. Later in the year we are hoping to release a full-length vinyl record, and we will also most likely continue to release home recordings and oddities in the vein of our non-studio 2008 EPs "Bound by a Love" and "What is Love? ...I Just Drifted Away." Finally, we are working on a cover of David Bowie's "Modern Love" for a charity tribute record to be released by Manimal Vinyl.
Riaz - The French Semester
For us: New album release party Jan 28 Silver Lake Lounge, European release in Spring. Many local shows. Two road trips, one regional, one transatlantic (thats right, roadtrip). First album is getting interest in Spain so that should be fun. Get the car dirty, then take it to the carwash.
Josiah Mazzaschi – Light FM
Feb 1st at Spaceland! SXSW in March! New Full length CD!
Jonathan Leahy – The Broken Remotes
We're shooting a video for "Shut off the Machines" with director Warren Kommers, shooting for february premier. Releasing a single called "Boxer's Arm" in January. Funny story-- a week before recording the song (session was two days ago, Sunday the 14th) I broke my hand playing football with friends at the Rose Bowl. The injury is called a "Boxer's Fracture". Crazy coincidence. I still managed to lay down my guitar parts between painkillers.
Jacob Summers – The Rhone Occupation
Yeah, we'll be definitely releasing our record early this year (09)- it's been a tough process trying to get everything to sound right, but we're getting really close. We'll be having David Newton mixing a bunch of it, so we're excited about that! And, hopefully: we'll play more shows!-
Erica Elektra – Hearts of Palm UK
We are releasing our album in the UK, and will be going on tour there in the summer.
Karma – Super Karma
The new album will be done in the new year and more shows to come!
Jason Bays – The Spires
Releasing our new record sometime in early part of the year and playing a bunch. Late 2009 release - The Spires / Riot In My Heart --A compilation of our first 5 years w/ unreleased tracks and covers.
Samuel Bing – Fol Chen
Fol Chen will spend the first half of 2009 finishing up the construction of the FC Pyramid (see attached image). There has been a lot of red tape to deal with. The deadlines. Total bullshit. Anyway, the thing about the FCP-1 is that it will allow us to broadcast from the legendary WLIR-FM, though that station has been off the air for years, and was located in Garden City, Long Island, New York. Still working out the details on this, but we've run some tests and it's looking good. The first broadcast will deal with our "problems" with John Shade. It will be called "Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made." The presence of DJs Donna Donna and Malibu Sue will be felt, which is appropriate.
Princeton
In 09 we are taking the beginning of the year easy to finish our first full album, and then head off to SXSW in March. Hopefully the album will be out in the fall of 09 and we are going to try to tour as much as possible. If Blur is playing Coachella we will also be in attendance in late spring.
Wavves is a more obvious band to keep an eye on, but some LA bands are Fol Chen and Music Go Music. Also keep an eye on The Sleeping Bags to take over the LA shoegaze scene.
Randolph – One Trick Pony
2009: We'll have "full of life" album and "familiar" EP.
Ken & Melissa - Shiloe
We're planning to play more out-of-town shows in nearby cities like San Francisco, San Diego & Vegas. We would also love to head out to the Southwest...hopefully for SXSW. (Fingers crossed!) We're probably going to be doing some recording in the new year; a full-length is a definite possibility. And, of course, if anyone wanted to take us to Europe, we wouldn't be adverse!
Pauline Lay – Divisadero
I've been thinking about the first quarter of 2009 for the last two months...Guaranteed, there are lots of future shows booked with wonderful bands I really enjoy--both as musicians and genuine people. Hmm, maybe there'll be some shows in new spaces? No promises.
Jesse & Lindsay - The Karabal Nightlife
Next in '09? The release of our second album in the earlier part of the year followed by some touring. We'll be happy to finally start playing a bunch of shows again.
Thursday, March 12
- Plants & Animals, Castledoor, Avi Buffalo @ The Echo
- Bodies of Water, Lake, Fol Chen @ Echo Curio
- Horse Stories, Leopold and His Fiction, Jenny O. @ HOME
- Sara Bareilles, Tony Lucca @ Hotel Cafe
- De La Soul @ The Key Club
- Sara and Sean Watkins @ Largo
- Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Tim Eriksen Shape-Note Extravaganza @ The Troubadour
- Thee Oh Sees, The Fresh & Onlys, Bipolar Bear, Private Beach @ The Smell
- Or, the Whale, Willoughby, Foundry Field Recordings @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Cursive, Modern Memory @ Spaceland
- Yelle, We Are the World, Casxio @ The El Rey Theatre
- Free Moral Agents @ The Air Conditioned Lounge (Venice)
Friday, March 13
- Mouse's B-day Extravaganza w/ Manhattan Murder Mystery, The Besties, & Mystery Guest (plus DJ set by Squaregirl Marion) @ Pehrspace
- Exposure Photography Show w/ Works by Ben Hoste, Jeff Koga, & Simon Cardoza w/ Meiko, Adeline, & Evan Way @ WHERE Space
- Say Hi @ The Echo
- Gram Rabbit, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Crooked Cowboy @ Echoplex
- Cursive, Ladyfinger, Little Brazil @ The Troubadour
- Sara Bareilles, Tony Lucca @ Hotel Cafe
- Ben Weasel, Toys That Kill, Underground Railroad to Candyland, The Girls @ The Knitting Factory
- Lady Gaga, Chester French, The White Tie Affair @ The Wiltern
- The Twelves, Gina Turner, Little Red Radio, Destructo, Mr. White @ Avalon
- Tindersticks, Spain @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
- Casxio, The Nights @ HOME
- Jon Brion @ Largo
- Minmae, John Vecciarelli, Azalia Snail @ Echo Curio
- Purple Rhinestone Eagle, Meho Plaza, Forever, Tacocat @ L'KEG
- Richard Swift, We Barbarians, Dappled Cities @ Spaceland
Saturday, March 14
- The New Standards, The Fresh, Katie Costello, Sean Kelly, Ryan Calhoun @ Hotel Cafe
- Asobi Seksu, Bell, Resplandor @ The Troubadour
- Phosphorescent, Viva Voce, The Donkeys, Rafter @ The Regent
- Ben Weasel, Toys That Kill, Underground Railroad to Candyland, The Girls @ The Knitting Factory
- Rickie Lee Jones @ Largo
- The Bird and the Bee, Haim, The Damn Sons, Post-Foetus @ Tricot Showroom
- The Von Bondies, Nico Vega, The Pink Snowflakes @ The Roxy
- El Ten Eleven @ HOME
- Franklin for Short, Moses Campbell, Enid the Dowl, No Paws (No Lions) @ Echo Curio
- Miami Horror, Danger, Futurecop! featuring Short Circuit & The Kids Are Radioactive @ Echoplex
- Sky Larkin @ Spaceland
- Smegma, Aaron Dilloway, Joe & Joe, Allen Pyle, Pigs in the Ground, Pod Blotz @ The Smell
- The Monolators, Roman Candles, Audacity, Jonesin' @ L'KEG
- Space Mtn, Light FM, Divisadero, Siggy @ Silver Factory Studios
Sunday, March 15
- Zee Avi, Luke Top, Michael Rosa (of Satisfaction) @ Spaceland
- Alela Diane, Come Gather Round Us, Josh Pyke @ Hotel Cafe
- These Are Powers @ The Echo
- Former Ghosts, Infinite Body, Felt Drawings, Amir Coyle, Knight Rider @ The Smell
- Australian All Ages BBQ w/ My Disco, The Drones, Dappled Cities, Red Riders, The Fumes, The Boat People, Leone Carmen, The Art, Hell City Glamours @ The Echo
- Part Time Punks w/ These Are Powers, Death Sentence: PANDA! @ The Echo
Monday, March 16
- Great Northern, O+S, Electrocute @ The Silver Lake Lounge
- Jennifer Gail, James Harries, Jeremiah James @ Hotel Cafe
- Primal Scream, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Red Cortez @ Club Nokia
- Simian Mobile Disco @ The Henry Fonda Music Box
- Mad Happy, French Quarter, Hell-Kite, The Seizure, Hello My Name Is Red @ Pehrspace
- Meg Baird, Lucky Dragons, Kurt Vile @ Echo Curio
- Mika Miko, Clipd Beaks, Lovvers, Megawand @ The Smell
- Larytta, Girls, Hecuba, Nosaj Thing @ Echoplex
- MSTRKRFT (record release party) @ The Roxy
- The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Shane Alexander @ The Troubadour
- Nico Stai, Youth Group, Josh Pyke @ Spaceland (FREE)
- Wait.Think.Fast., VOICEsVOICEs, Dame Satan, The Late Birds @ The Echo (FREE)
Wednesday, March 18
- ISGOODMUSIC & Radio Free Silver Lake Present Nightfur CD Release Party w/ Old Toy Trains & The Breakups @ The Silver Lake Lounge
Friday, March 20
- Exposure Photography Show w/ Works by Ben Hoste, Jeff Koga, & Simon Cardoza w/ The Gena Rowlands Band, The Movies, & Ema and The Ghosts @ WHERE space
Sunday, March 22
- Jaguar Love & Thriller Party @ Space 15 Twenty
- The Library @ Cinespace
Saturday, March 28
- The Library @ Bardot
Sunday, April 5th
- Pam Shaffer CD Release Party @ Echo Curio
Friday, April 10
- Jack Wilson, Jr, Correatown, Amateurs, & Marvelous Toy @ Pehrspace
Thursday, April 30
- The World Record, Jack Wilson, Jr, & Les Blanks @ Echo Curio
Just wanted to give one last reminder about this Sunday night's Rock Against HD Benefit show at Spaceland with Radars to the Sky, Fol Chen, and Light FM. If you haven't heard one or more or all of the bands before, you've been missing out. Here are linked excerpts to interviews we've done with the bands in the past w/ some MP3s:
