by Brad RobertsThe world has changed again. Some events make yesterday and tomorrow seem like they exist in different centuries and create a sharp division between life before and life after. I've lived through a few, 9/11 being the most recent, and I kind of think the attacks in may Paris fall into this category. That it happened in Paris, the favorite city of so many people I know, including myself, made it feel like it was in our own backyard. The fact that a concert hall was the site of such carnage really hit me as I spend so much time in this environment I can't help but envision how shocking and horrifying it must have been to those people trapped inside.
I had a ticket for Blitzen Trapper at Teragram Ballroom for that night and I felt totally obligated to attend just to be with fellow music lovers. The show was well received by an enthusiastic audience, but there was an underlying pall cast over the atmosphere that was undeniable.
I'll be in pursuit of the healing power of music on Monday when I go to see Low at The Troubadour. The soothing sound of Mimi Parker's voice has taken center stage on their latest release, Ones and Sixes, and I always stand, mouth agape, whenever I hear her in a live setting. Low is one of those bands that, no matter how much you love their records, sound even better in concert. The new album's great and I look forward to this sold out show.
I'm a bit shell-shocked and finding it difficult to focus on writing right now so this will be brief.
Monday, November 16
- Elle Belle, Ben Hazelwood, Whispertown, Dance With The Dead @ The Satellite
- The Big Pink, ELOHIM, Sego, Andrew Wyatt @ The Echo
- Summer Twins, 1975, Part Time, Brainstory @ Echoplex
- An Evening with Patti Smith @ Orpheum Theatre
- "School Night!" w/ Boy & Bear, Boom Forest, Kevin Garrett @ Bardot
- Third Vision, Kevin Pugh, Grapevine, Island Apollo, Muskk @ Silver Lake Lounge
- No Win, Sloppy Jane, Rudy De Anda, Nani @ Bootleg Bar
- Kate Davis w/ Jordie Lane, Honey Country @ Hotel Cafe- Low, Andy Shauf @ The Troubadour
- Psychedelic Furs, Max and the Moon @ Teragram Ballroom
- Elvis Depressedly, RL Kelly, Upset @ The Lost Room
- Ilegal Mezcal Music Series w/ Broken Arrow, Lauren Ruth Ward, Marco With Love, Jeremy Pinnell & The 55's @ Harvard & Stone
- Chris Stapleton, The Walcotts @ El Rey
DECISION:
Low (at right) are on tour with their latest release and land at The Troubadour for a sold out show with Andy Shauf and I'll be there.
Ilegal Mezcal Music Series stars host Charlie Clark's very own Broken Arrow band, along with Lauren Ruth Ward, Marco With Love and Jeremy Pinnell & The 55's at Harvard & Stone. I'd be here if I didn't have tickets for another show.
Tuesday, November 17
- A Tribute to Blondie w/ Laura Mace, Rachel Fannan, Brett Farkas, Jerry Borge, Theo Katzman, Leo Paparella, Jesse Payo, Todd Morse, Shoshanna, Sterling backed by Jonny Flaugher, Freddie Bokkenheuser, JP Maramba, Josh Lopez, Christian Wonderlich and more @ The Satellite
- Riothouse Royale, The Cold & Lovely, United Ghosts, Hawai @ The Echo
- L.A. Drones, Cellars, Terminal @ Los Globos
- Alex & Sierra, Craig Strickland, Austin Plaine, Sarah Petrella, Phillip LaRue @ Hotel Cafe
- Tom Morello @ Friends: Joe Hill Centenary Concert w/ Joan Baez, Ziggy Marley, Tom Morello, Rich Robinson, Boots Riley, Tim Armstrong, Tim Kramer, Van Dyke Parks, Jill Sobule, The Last Internationale @ The Troubadour
- Strange Names, MUNA, Line & Circle @ Bootleg Bar
- Corrosion of Conformity, Brant Bjork & the Low Desert, Punk Band, Saviour, Mothership @ Teragram Ballroom
- An Evening with Marty Balin @ The Grammy Museum
- Happy Fangs, Lion's Mouth, State Champion, Weatherbox, Tina, Entertsinment Law @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Reggie Watts & Karen, Dream Machine @ El Cid
- Meg Myers, Dark Waves, Armors @ El Rey
- Night Nail, Dignitary, Chainflower @ Club Moscow
- @ Harvard & Stone
DECISION:I should be attending An Evening with Marty Balin (right) at The Grammy Museum, but I hesitated and now it's sold out. As Jefferson Airplane celebrates its 50th anniversary, it would be so good to hear from this founding member. I'm kicking myself.
Another performer who played Woodstock will be part of a celebration at The Troubadour where Joan Baez will perform the iconic song at the Joe Hill Centenary Concert hosted by Tom Morello and Friends. also slated to perform are Ziggy Marley, Van Dyke Parks, and Jill Sobule, along with many others.
Wednesday, November 18
- Movits!, Sidewalk Chalk, Melinda West @ The Satellite
- No Age, In the Whale, So Pitted @ The Echo
- The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Foxing, This Town Needs Guns, Brightside @ The Roxy
- "Desert Nights" w/ Jenny O., Korey Dane @ The Standard
- The Good Life, Big Harp, Francisco The Man @ The Troubadour
- Matthew Van Winkle, Lasers Lasers Birmingham, Nancy Sanders & Andrew Haun @ Crane's Bar
- El May & Sara Lov, Essy & The Call, Hi Ho Silver Oh, Weather Machine @ Hotel Cafe
- Young Creatures, Infantree, Dr. Doctor @ Bootleg Bar
- Ryan Bingham, Jamestown Revival, Gold Star @ The Regent Theatre
- Grape St., Tracy Bryant, The Squids @ The Smell
- Andy Clockwise @ Hollywood Music Hall
- Black Currants, Mute Swans, The Flower Machine @ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:
A bunch of good shows crowd the field tonight when "Desert Nights" brings Jenny O. to The Standard, Hi Ho Silver Oh take the stage at 8, followed by El May & Sara Lov (hot on the heels of her new release, Some Kind of Champion) at 9 over at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood.
Also on Hollywood is Andy Clockwise at the new Hollywood Music Hall on Las Palmas. Ryan Bingham has a great line up of supporting bands at The Regent, with Jamestown Revival and Gold Star sharing the stage with them. Also one could catch Matthew Van Winkle at Crane's Bar in a solo gig at an event called Whiskey Wednesdays which highlights indie/country artists.
Thursday, November 19
- David Ryan Harris, Tyler Lyle @ The Satellite
- The Vim Dicta, Seasons, Sand Babes @ Harvard & Stone
- Boots, Marijuana Deathsquads, High Hoops @ The Echo
- Fever The Ghost, Fartbarf, HOTT MT, Charlie Bird @ Echoplex
- Mylko, Luca @ The Lost Room
- James Hersey, Jay Nash, Joel Eckles Band, Paul Pfau & Connor Pledger @ Hotel Cafe
- Honky Tonk Hacienda w/ Moonsville Collective, Jeff West & Te Witwoods, R.L. Cole @ El Cid
- Hunter Hunted, @ Club Bahia
- Dragonette, Scavenger Hunt, Stalking GIA @ The Roxy
- Good Charlotte, Waterparks @ The Troubadour
- Half Moon Run @ Bootleg Bar
- Broncho, The Shelters, Pearl Charles @ Teragram Ballroom
- Minus The Bear, Murder By Death, Aero Flynn @ El Rey
DECISION:
Two big shows tonight compete for attention. Broncho, The Shelters and Pearl Charles (at right) form a powerful bill at Teragram Ballroom and Minus The Bear, longtime favorites Murder By Death and Aero Flynn play El Rey.
Friday, November 20
- Champagne Leader CD Release Party, Children, The Black Heartthrobs, Ricky Berger @ The Lost Knight
- YOB, Black Cobra, Deathkings @ The Echo
- All Scene Eye presents Dr Fade Away, Litronix, Disco Shrine, Eddington Again @ The Lexington
- New Found Glory, Yellowcard @ The Wiltern
- Toadies Record Release Show (7 & 10:30) @ Hotel Cafe
- Prints, Fire Chief Charlie, October's Child @ El Cid
- Trails and Ways, Babes, Breakfast @ Bootleg Bar
- Emancipator Ensemble, Blockhead, Manatee Commune @ The Regent Theatre
- Apollo Soul, Mind Monogram, The Unending Thread, Josh Abrams @ The Smell
- Inside Riot, The Raven Black Project, Ramonda Hammer, Kittenhead, Sleep Machine @ Silver Lake Lounge
- We Were Promised Jetpacks, Seoul @ Teragram Ballroom
- The Polyphonic Spree, Andy, Uncle @ El Rey
- Rhett Miller @ McCabe's
DECISION:
Champagne Leader have a CD Release Party at The Lost Knight with Children, The Black Heartthrobs, Ricky Berger.
Like a cry that the circus is in town, whenever The Polyphonic Spree (at right) show up, it is time to enjoy the wild extravagance of this band that is celebrating their 15th year as group, yet they still have the exuberance of a new act. Tonight at El Rey.
Saturday, November 21
- All Scene Eye presents WASI, No Girlfriends, Ukulady Janes, One Coco @ The Lost Knight
- Dr. Boogie Record Release Show, Black Mambas, Little Girls @ El Cid
- Gabriel Kahane, The Bluegrass Situation presents Billy Strings & Don Julin w/ Special Guests, Jim & Sam @ Hotel Cafe
- Kate Boy, Morley, Harriet Brown @ Bootleg Bar
- An Evening with Lucero @ El Rey
- Sahtyre, Inner Waves, Noa James, Trizz @ The Smell
- Antibalas, Jungle Fire @ The Regent Theatre
- Christine Lavin & Friends @ McCabe's
DECISION:
.All Scene Eye presents WASI, No Girlfriends, Ukulady Janes and more at The Lost Knight on a fairly low key Saturday night.
Sunday, November 22
- The Pandoras, The Wiggles @ The Satellite
- BUSted: Stories About Getting Around LA Told By People Who Don't Drive @ Stories Books & Cafe
- Part Time Punks w/ True Widow, King Woman, Drab Majesty @ The Echo
- Drug Cabin, Bread and Butter, Acid Tongue, Hearty Har @ The Lost Room
- Yuna, Francesca Blanchard @ The Troubadour
- Mr Little Jeans, Good Graef, Soren Bryce @ El Rey
- Signor Benedick The Moor, Negro Galacticus, Mugen, Kim Tillman @ The Smell
- Sean Watkins @ McCabe's
DECISION:
.Part Time Punks provide the evening's entertainment with True Widow, King Woman and Drab Majesty at The Echo.
Sorry this is so brief, but sometimes current events just kill the mood.