by Brad RobertsPlenty of tasty morsels to choose from this week culminating in a show that is, for me, one of the major concert events of my lifetime, Cat Stevens. And in between now and that I see Kan Wakan at The Troubadour on Tuesday, Allah-Las at El Rey on Friday and The Lonely Wild at Bootleg HiFi on Saturday. Busy and great week. Perfect way to begin a festive holiday season.
The biggest gift of course was scoring a ticket for the instantly sold out return of Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) to the performing stage. I'm halfway back in the large Nokia Theatre and thrilled to be that close. We'll see how thrilled when I get there. It's my first trip to that venue.I became a fan and bought Tea For The Tillerman in early 1971, so that when Harold and Maude opened that December, I was already well aware of the music that helped that movie go from enormous box-office flop to cult film within a few years. By 1974 it had already been rediscovered and was playing year-long engagements in many cities across the U.S.A. So every time I've watched that film over the years (25 times probably) I've regretted not having seen him perform live. Adding to the excitement is the fact that he sounds remarkably like he did forty years ago.
Hotel Cafe gets a jump on the seasonal celebrations with "Hohotel Holiday Shows" on Thursday and Friday and featuring huge line ups of Cafe regulars and a few surprises. Rachel Stolte and Solon Bixler, of Great Northern, have a new project called W.A.R.S. and they play Monday at The Satellite with Kissing Cousins, Joel Jerome has a show at Echoplex on Tuesday, the same night as Halfbluud and Nightmare Air appear at Bootleg HiFi, while Halfbluud are also at "School Night!" on Monday night at Bardot. L A River Bend have a date at Silver Lake Lounge on Wednesday, De Lux inaugurate the first show since Live Nation took over programming at Club Bahia on Wednesday, as Hobart W. Fink presents a new line up for his birthday show on the same night at The Satellite.
Monday, December 8
- Daniel Lanois @ Amoeba Music
- Kissing Cousins, Cataline, W.A.R.S., The Singles @ The Satellite
- Girlpool, Upset, TraPs Ps, Michael Vidal @ The Echo
- Cannabis Corpse, Mammoth Grinder, Inanimate Existence, Witchhaven @ Echoplex
- The ALTimate Rooftop Christmas Party w/ Cold War Kids, Bush, Banks, Fitz and The Tantrums and more @ W Hollywood
- Ilegal Mezcal Music Series w/ Dakotah, Tara Fox, Pearl Charles @ Harvard & Stone
- The Black & The White, TeamMate, Wages, Midnight Faces @ Bootleg HiFi
- Madi Diaz, Mosco Rosco, King @ The Troubadour
- "School Night!" w/ SEGO, Andrew St. James, BØRNS, Halfbluud @ Bardot
- Zane Carney, Andy Allo, Javier Dunn, Alfa @ Hotel Cafe
- The Sunset Drifters, The Electric Fields, David Steele, Raven Clawhammer, Byrd Dogs @ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:This might be a night to club-hop. Start out at The Satellite where Kissing Cousins are continuing their residency to see a new project from Rachel Stolte and Solon Bixler, of Great Northern fame, called W.A.R.S. (at right) Cataline and The Singles fill out the rest of the bill.
Ilegal Mezcal Music Series at Harvard & Stone features three wonderfully talented females, all on the same bill. Lauren Barth's new band Dakotah, Tara Fox and Pearl Charles each have healthy followings on their own, so this should be a big draw.
"School Night!" also has a heavy bill with SEGO, Andrew St. James, BØRNS, who have a few shows in town this week, and Halfbluud, who we haven't seen in a while, which could lure us to Bardot.
Or you could just spend the whole night at Silver Lake Lounge to enjoy The Sunset Drifters and a bunch of new music from The Electric Fields, David Steele, Raven Clawhammer and Byrd Dogs.
Tuesday, December 9
- MusicFeedsLA w/ Drug Cabin, JC August, Thieves @ The Satellite
- JMSN, Olivver, Spelles @ The Echo
- The Memories, Joel Jerome, Psychomagic, Wyatt Blair, Billy Changer @ Echoplex
- Dear Boy, Halfbluud, Nightmare Air @ Bootleg HiFi
- Andrew Bird @ Largo at the Coronet
- Augustana, Scars On 45 @ The Fonda Theatre
- Kan Wakan, Niia @ The Troubadour
- The Battlefield, Whiskey & Wine, Sariyah Idan EP Release Show w/ Des Hope, Leah Capelle, Cooper Phillip @ Hotel Cafe
- Eric Hutchinson, Tristan Prettyman, Nick Howard @ El Rey
- Opeth, In Flames, Red Fang @ Hollywood Palladium
- Redwood Stills, Patrolled By Radar, Troy Romzek @ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:
The Memories, Joel Jerome, Psychomagic, Wyatt Blair and Billy Changer are at Echoplex and Dear Boy, Halfbluud and Nightmare Air make a killer bill at Bootleg HiFi and Andrew Bird, who should be seen every Christmas time to my way of thinking, is at Largo at the Coronet. All very attractive events.
But I'll be going to see Kan Wakan (above) at The Troubadour which I have long been looking forward to as I foolishly missed all of their shows earlier this year. This band has had a very busy year, has a new lead vocalist, and is definitely moving up in the world.
Wednesday, December 10
- Big Search, Bouquet, White Dove @ The Satellite
- FMLYBND, The Wild Wild, Sisters, J Laser @ The Echo
- Step Rockets, Mexico City Blondes, Public, James Davis @ Bootleg HiFi
- Raury @ The Troubadour
- The Ataris, Fenix TX, Floodlove @ El Rey
- tUnE-yArDs, Cibo Matto @ The Wiltern
- Ryn Weaver @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- Wet & Reckless, Heathers @ Harvard & Stone
- "Desert Nights" w/ Omar Velasco, Dee Lewis Clay & Dom Lewis, Preston Perry @ The Standard
- Matt Hopper, Michael Starr Record Release Show, The Hereafter, Korey Dane @ Hotel Cafe
- Bizzy Kiddo, Young Creatures, The Active Set, L A River Bend @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Midnight Magic, Kingdoms, Rosechild, Kim Anh @ Los Globos
DECISION:
"Desert Nights" at The Standard is presenting a performer I came to know when I first started giving shows at Lot 1 and Omar Velasco was one of my first bookings, His wonderful take on Southwestern American Rock has elements of a Native American tribal influence that distinguishes his sound.
L A River Bend (at right) are another band who I would love to have for a return performance at my Lot 1 show. Solidly professional and musically sound this band really took me by surprise when they played Feed Your Head last year in September. Bizzy Kiddo, Young Creatures and The Active Set are all equally highly regarded and join them at Silver Lake Lounge tonight.
FMLYBND, The Wild Wild and Sisters is another good show at The Echo.
Thursday, December 11
- Black Belt Karate, Hobart W. Fink, Will Love @ The Satellite
- The Icarus Line, Zig Zags, Zodiac Death Valley, Neo Globs, Death Valley Girls @ Echoplex
- Grand Ole Echo's Winter Dance Party w/ The Far West, Sam Outlaw, Reverend Baron, Ruby Force @ The Echo
- Josh Garrels, Jason Barrows @ Bootleg HiFi
- Young Adults, Crissy, Ford Prefect, Channel One @ The Regent Theatre
- Maya Rudolph & Gretchen Lieberum Are Princess @ The Troubadour
- Allah-Las, Tashaki Miyagi, Dream Boys @ El Rey
- De Lux, Gavin Turek, Lavashark @ Club Bahia
- Hohotel Holiday Show w/ Act As If, Buddy, Zane Carney, Charlie Clark, David & Devine, Distant Cousins, Joel Eckles, Clark Graham, Ari Herstand, Josh Kelley, Chris Pierce, Joe Purdy, Keaton Simons, Smithfield Bargain, Jesse Thomas, Yellow Red Sparks, Young Romans, and more @ Hotel Cafe
- The Living Strange, Kid Cadaver, Missions @ The Smell
- KiBBZ, Los Angelics, Let's Drive To Alaska, My Empty Phantom @ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:
Tonight I'm going to El Rey for Allah-Las and I can't wait. Another local band makes good and they deserve it. Their authentic take on mid-sixties British/Merseybeat/pop is unerringly accurate, complete with the "Bah Bah Baaaahhhs" and "yeah-yeah-yeahs", yet still fresh and original. I haven't paid them nearly the attention they deserve. Two other very hot local acts Takashi Miyagi and Dream Boys make this a triumphant show of local talent.
Club Bahia is about to become a force in the east side music scene as Live Nation takes over programming four nights a week beginning tonight when they present one of the most talked about bands of 2014, De Lux. in a sterling show with Gavin Turek and Lavashark.
Hotel Cafe always does something special for the holiday season and this year's "Hohotel Holiday Show" is as good as ever with Act As If, Buddy, Zane Carney, Charlie Clark, Joe Purdy, Keaton Simons, Yellow Red Sparks, Young Romans, and many, many more.
Black Belt Karate are headlining at The Satellite and a brand new line up and new songs from Hobart W. Fink for his birthday show will help open the evening festivities. The Icarus Line, Zig Zags, Zodiac Death Valley, Neo Globs and Death Valley Girls are at Echoplex, while upstairs at The Echo, the Grand Ole Echo hosts their Winter Dance Party with The Far West, Sam Outlaw, Reverend Baron and Ruby Force for a very alt-country Christmas.
Friday, December 12
- The Barr Brothers, Leif Vollebekk @ The Satellite
- Jail Weddings, Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, Isaac Rother & The Phantoms @ The Echo
- Roadkill Ghost Choir, Babes @ Bootleg HiFi
- Hohotel Holiday Show w/ Shane Alexander, All Spots To Black, Broken Anchor, Cary Brothers, Coby Brown, Javier Dunn, Honey County, Jim & Sam, Michael Bernard, Fitzgerald, Tyler Lyle, My Name Is You, Sleeping Wolf, Nobel, Ramsey, Ruby Force, The Silent War, Sweet Talk Radio, Dawn Thomas, Roof Beam Carpenters, and more @ Hotel Cafe
- Kina Grannis, Imaginary Future @ The Fonda Theatre
- Dylan Starrs, Black Yaya, Steps Of Doe @ El Cid
- Museum of Love (LCD Soundsystem), New Build (Hot Chip) @ The Regent Theatre
- Jeffertitti's Nile, Jjuujjuu, Adult Books, Prettiest Eyes @ The Smell
- La Santa Cecilia @ The Broad Stage
- Arrica Rose & The ...'s, Orange Umbrella, Gantastic Negrito @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Donna Bummer, A&A (Tommy Santee Klaws and Andy Yamakazi, Matt Van Winkle Band @ Taix Lounge
DECISION:
There's a lovely, intimate show over at Taix Lounge tonight featuring Donna Bummer the hotly anticipated side project of Tommy Santee Klaws and Andy Yamakazi called A&A and good friend Matt Van Winkle Band making a wonderful pre-Christmas show. Maybe there'll be a fire in the fireplace.
Or you could catch the second night of the great "Hohotel Holiday Show" at Hotel Cafe. Among tonight's artists are Shane Alexander, All Spots To Black, Broken Anchor, Javier Dunn, Honey County, My Name Is You, Sleeping Wolf, Sweet Talk Radio, The Roof Beam Carpenters and lots and lots more.
Lots of other shows all over town as well, but I'll limit my recommendations to these two.
Saturday, December 13
- Gardens & Villa, Geneva Jacuzzi, TV Girl @ The Echo
- 3rd Annual Merry Minstrel Musical Circus @ The Troubadour
- Howie Day w/ Anna Rose, King Washington, SuperSoul Saturday w/ Jason Joseph & The Spectacular @ Hotel Cafe
- BuzzbandsLA presents The Lonely Wild, LA Font, A House For Lions @ Bootleg HiFi
- American Football, David Bazan @ The Fonda Theatre
- The Abigails, The Pocket Rockets, The Frights, Ancient Animals @ The Smell
- The Ukelady Janes, Our Hospitality, Maxie Dean, Pat Cook, Tim Vordtriede @ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:
BuzzbandsLA is hosting the final show of the year for The Lonely Wild tonight at Bootleg HiFi. After a hectic and productive year of touring and recording, they have released a digital single called "Holidays" this month, and are set to release a new full album, Chasing White Light, in early 2015. LA Font and A House For Lions help make this not only the show of the night, but one of the best of the week.
Elsewhere, The Abigails play The Smell and Gardens & Villa are at The Echo.
Sunday, December 14
- Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens @ Nokia Theatre
- A Giant Dog, Useless Eaters, Prettiest Eyes @ The Satellite
- Part Time Punks w/ Cosmonauts, Corners, Burnt Ones, Feels @ The Echo
- The Forest Rangers @ The Troubadour
- Jonah Matranga, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Lakes & Hurricane Rose @ Hotel Cafe
- American Football, The Dodos @ The Fonda Theatre
- MIYAVI @ El Rey
- Ghost Noise, Goodnight Cody, howardAmb, In Tents @ The Smell
- A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Hildur Gudnadottir from Múm @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
DECISION:
How can I possibly describe the intense excitement that I feel at finally seeing Cat Stevens live in concert at the Nokia Theatre. After I'd fallen for his 1970 Tea For The Tillerman album, which I bought on April 3, 1971 (so glad I always wrote the date on all my record albums when I bought them), he didn't tour until a couple of albums later and I figured I'd catch up with him at some point...and then he retired from music for decades. That story is well known, as is the news of his return to recording and touring. I'm afraid this show knocks all others off the chart.
On top the the recent Fleetwood Mac at The Forum, shows this is a great year for catching up with seventies artists. Seeing Jefferson Starship on their 40th Anniversary tour last May, and the very special evening with the remarkable Grace Slick in conversation at the Grammy Museum in June (she straddled the decades) were all a part of this big nostalgia package.