by Brad RobertsI seem to be accumulating a bunch of tickets for upcoming shows which should make for a musically rich Spring concert season. Added a ticket to see Andrew Bird again, at The Ace Hotel in May, even though I just saw him at Teragram Ballroom in February. I got a copy of this wonderful poster at right at that show where they handed them out for free. The show was that good! Add this to the Joanna Newsom and Rob Crow's Gloomy Place shows I have lined up on March 25th and 26th. Brian Jonestown Massacre is also in May at Teragram Ballroom, and lookong ahead I am going to The National at The Greek in July.
In anticipation I picked up Joanna Newsom's latest album, Divers, and was once again blown away by the striking individualism of her gifts. Filled with inventive melody, intriguing lyrics and rich orchestrations, it exists somewhere between classical music and indie rock. It's as emotionally exciting as it is intellectually stimulating.
But the other album I picked up last week that I've been playing more than any other right now is the soundtrack of Mad Max: Fury Road by Junkie XL. I just revel in its pounding, concussive power, punctuated with passages of moving orchestral beauty which conveys the deep sense of tragedy in that remarkable movie. I only saw the movie for the first time a couple of months ago, but I have been watching it over and over ever since. Should have won Best Picture, and this score wasn't even nominated.
Anyway this week I'll try to get out to see Emerson Star at Harvard & Stone on Tuesday, The Lonely Wild at The Troubadour on Thursday. Lots more inside...
Monday, March 7
Mating Ritual Record Release Party, StaG, Inspired and the Sleep, UZi @ The Satellite
LP, Josiah, Chelsea Lankes, Nightgown, Lauren Ruth Ward @ The Echo
Pompeya, I, Us & We, Dream Vacation, Bed Bugs @ The Hi Hat
Third Vision, The Rift, The Wrecks, Disco Shrine, Ryan Holmberg @ Silver Lake Lounge
Fell Runner, Easy, Joey Dosik, Golden Daze @ Bootleg Bar
The Absolute, Annuals, The Things, Bahari, Liz Loughrey @ Hotel Café"Monday Monday" w/ Jesse Thomas, Kyle McNeill, Joel Eckles, Chris Pierce, Funk & Wagnall, Levi Parham, Jade Hendrix, Kristan Toedman, Patrick Joseph, Rosa Pullman, Soren Bryce, The Songbirds, We Are The West, David Zimmer, Jenni Alpert and more @ Hotel Café Second Stage
Treasure MammaL, Eric Schlappi, Jack Toght @ The Smell
Illegal Mescal Music Series @ Harvard & Stone
Mumiy Troll, The Soft White Sixties @ El Rey
DECISION:
New Monday residencies start up tonight with the crown being taken by Mating Ritual who are celebrating with a Record Release Party, bringing StaG, Inspired and the Sleep and UZi to The Satellite. The Absolute and Annuals are on the bill at Hotel Café, while "Monday Monday" at the Hotel Café Second Stage has a giant bill of individual performers.
Tuesday, March 8
James Davis, Hotel For Strangers, Grace Kelly @ The Satellite
Eliot Sumner, Cillie Barnes, Rosechild @ The Echo
"School Night!" w/ Bishop, Halfnoise, Joseph @ Bardot
Ben Ottewell of Gomez, Jordie Lane, Jacob Luttrell @ Hotel Café
Casey Breves, Josh Shirah, Jesse Macht @ Hotel Café Second Stage
LoveyDove, D'Animal @ The Ace Hotel
Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Cryptosy, Abysmal Dawn @ The Mayan
Animal Collective, Ratking @ The Fonda Theatre
High Highs, Mothlight @ Bootleg Bar
ORI, Oldchild, Lidor Sai, Osairis @ Silver Lake Lounge
The Cooties, Allie Goertz, Erin & MeLissa @ El Cid
Mike Posner, Magic Giant @ The Roxy
Cassandra Violet @ The Love Song
Emerson Star, Alina Bea, Pom Poms @ Harvard & Stone
Rudy de Anda, Friendly Males, Janelane @ The Smell
DECISION:
This week I intend to get to the Emerson Star residency at Harvard & Stone to lend them my whole-hearted support. Also on the night's bill are Alina Bea and Pom Poms. Animal Collective open up a two night engagement The Fonda Theatre.
Wednesday, March 9
Drinking Flowers, Winter @ Amoeba Music
Jake Davis @ The Satellite
Oscar, Colleen Green, Vulkano @ The Echo
Langosta Blanca @ The Love Song
"Desert Nights" w/ Johnny Ashby, Steve Taylor @ The Standard
Carah Faye, The Rebel Light @ The Troubadour
Animal Collective, Ratking @ The Fonda TheatreThe Dose, Chris Riffle & Malread MacMullen, Austin David @ Hotel Café Second Stage
DZ Deathrays, Criminal Hygiene @ Bootleg Bar
Brooke Aulani, Ren Farren, Dale @ El Cid
Shinedown, Virginmarys @ The Mayan
Sit Kitty Sit, Jason Achilles Mezilis, Alexa Merrill, Luke Janela @ Silver Lake Lounge
Iva Dawn, Levi Parham, Brother In Law @ Harvard & Stone
DECISION:
This sounds like a fun event. Soundscape: The Sunset and Vine Business Improvement District’s first public art initiative which features live performances at Amoeba Music from local bands, Drinking Flowers and Winter, and a public art display by Paige Emery on the area's utility boxes.
Thursday, March 10
Eleanor Friedberger, Chris Cohen, Meganet, Icewater @ The Satellite
Wolf Eyes, Timmy's Orgasm and Video, Rough Kids @ The Echo
The Soul Rebels, The Sidewinders @ Echoplex
Max Jury w/ special guests, Big Phony, RKDN @ Hotel Café
Jim and Sam w/ Special Guests Biscuits & Gravy, Mt. Wolf, Nicky Egan, Jordan Alexander @ Hotel Café Second Stage
Dreamers, Arkells @ The Roxy
Honky Tonk Hacienda w/ Rosie Flores, Ben Bostick, Special Guests @ El Cid
Miner, The Lonely Wild, KONG @ The Troubadour
St. Lucia, Grace Mitchell @ The Fonda Theatre
Gnash, Goody Grace, Julius @ Bootleg Bar
Rod Melancon, Sam Marine, Kat Myers & The Buzzards, Caitlin Anne Webster @ Silver Lake Lounge
Stonefield, Jurassic Shark, Rexx @ The Smell
DECISION:
I should make it over to The Troubadour for the Miner show which features a turn by The Lonely Wild who I haven't seen in far too long a time.
Friday, March 11
Dude York, Naked Giants @ The Satellite
Flor, Tigertown, Party Nails @ The Echo
together Pangea, KAV, Gateway Drugs, Magic Wands, Drinking Flowers @ The Regent Theatre
Strangers You Know, Arms Akimbo, Ghost Lit Kingdom @ The Roxy
Leroy Sanchez w/ Special Guests, Austin Kolbe, John Craigie, Major @ Hotel Café
Skyler Day, Joel Jorgensen Band, Vancans, Zoe Rose Palladino @ Hotel Café Second Stage
Wyndham, Whispertown, Steady Holiday @ El Cid
Rearranged Fce, Mind Meld, The Birth Defects, Zig Zags @ The Smell
Falling by the Wayside, Niantic, Evan S. Robbins, Josh Arbour @ Silver Lake Lounge
David Lindley @ McCabe's
DECISION:
Big party downtown at The Regent Theatre when together Pangea, KAV, Gateway Drugs, Magic Wands and Drinking Flowers get together to put on a show.
Saturday, March 12
Lightning Bolt, Frankie Rose, La Sera, Wax Idols @ The Echo
Force Field 10 Year Anniversary w/ Lightning Bolt, Sonny & The Sunsets, Wax Idols, La Sera, Dent May, Papercuts, Nedelle Torrisi, Terry Malts, Jimmy Whispers @ Echoplex
Win Instantly Record Release, Some Gifts, The Pretty Flowers @ Casey's Irish Pub
Sugar Fly Record Release Show @ El Cid
Electra, Vincent Coleman, Animal Super Species, REVE, Blackmore @ Teragram Ballroom
Silverstein, Being as an Ocean, Emarosa, Coldrain, Rarity @ The Fonda Theatre
Tyrone Wells & Jordie Lane, Smooth Hound Smith, The Proof, The Cabin Project @ Hotel Café
Pi Jacobs & The Graces, Kat McDowell, Los Kingdom, Naomi Greene @ Hotel Café Second Stage
Vallis Alps, Demo Taped @ Bootleg Bar
The Jigsaw Seen, The Roswell Sisters, The Walker Brigade, Spidey @ Silver Lake Lounge
The High Curbs, Cunstain, Pookie & The Poodles, Melted @ The Smell
David Lindley @ McCabe's
DECISION:
Los Angeles' Force Field publicity firm is celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary with performances by a members of their roster including Lightning Bolt, Sonny & The Sunsets, Wax Idols, La Sera, Papercuts, Terry Malts and more at Echoplex. The Pretty Flowers are downtown at Casey's Irish Pub,playing for the Some Gifts Record Release show.
Sunday, March 13
Pure Bathing Culture, Pillar Point @ The Echo (6 PM)
Part Time Punks w/ Dark/Synth/Wave/Dance Nite @ The Echo
Bronze Radio Return, Howard @ The Troubadour
Syd Straw @ McCabe's
Andrea Gibson, SOAK @ The Fonda Theatre
DECISION:
Bathe in the warm glow of Pure Bathing Culture as they weave their synthy, dreamy, alt-pop this evening at The Echo at 6 PM. After honing their skills in the band Vetiver, they struck out on their own and now have two albums to their credit. Pillar Point open the festivities.