Top 5 outings this weekend: ‣ Stones Throw Records’ Aloe Blacc and the Grand Scheme hit the Echoplex tonight. That’s Alan Algee’s video for “Femme Fatale,” above. ‣ Power-pop doesn’t get any better that the pairing of the Posies and Brendan Benson tonight at Club Nokia. ‣ Jens Lekman performs an RSVP-only gig at the […]
[Tip of the cap to birthday boy Teddy Geiger, 22 years young. The former teen phenom has been releasing new songs via his website, by the way. Worth a listen.] Top 3 stops for a Thursday: ‣ Portland art-rock trio Menomena (joined by Brooklyn’s Suckers, pictured) play the El Rey Theatre. Menomena’s new album “Mines” […]
The easy way to find Buzz Bands tonight: ‣ Radars to the Sky celebrate the release of their new album “Supra/Infra” at Spaceland, supported by Death to Anders and Smokers in Love – and, playing the late set, the Henry Clay People. I had a sneak peek of the album last week. [And on a […]
I’ve been to a lot of residency Mondays at Spaceland over the years, and tonight’s lineup, front to back, rivals any I’ve seen. Residents Local Natives could probably pack the place themselves, but they have two other great SoCal bands on board – the Henry Clay People and Aushua. Not to mention: Fun., who are […]
[Here we are, Sunset Junction hangover and all, starting another great week of shows:] One of the most memorable sets last April at Coachella was Friendly Fires’ early-afternoon assault in 100-degree (give or take) heat in the Gobi Tent. In fact, I’ll venture to say it was almost superhuman – both on the part of […]
Marcos Chloka cops to being something of a sonic fetishist – fond of “creating soundscapes and music that just surrounds you,” he says – but how that has played out in the L.A. quartet Lower Heaven is a little bit different. Chloka has incorporated the autoharp into the band’s reverb-soaked compositions, adding a little shimmer […]
Good stuff in the Silver Lake/Echo Park environs tonight, starting at the Echo and Echoplex, where there is a double dose of free shows. Restavrant, along with Spirit Vine and Mini Mansions (pictured), performs downstairs, while the Growlers’ residency continues upstairs. … Resident guys Local Natives, who enjoyed line-down-the-block status last week at Spaceland, do […]
[Happy August. And happy birthday, Shirley Manson …] The members of blues-pop provocateurs Gomez live all over the place these days, and for their sixth album, “A New Tide,” a lot of the songwriting was done online. Can’t do concerts that way, though – the quintet’s national tour behind its new album visits the Wiltern […]
[Why, it’s Paula Abdul’s birthday today. Isn’t that nice …] Today: A seriously busy weekend gets started with the seriously beautiful orchestral maneuvers of Grizzly Bear, who are joined by Here We Go Magic to play a (very) sold-out show at the Wiltern. … It’s also opening night at the Hollywood Bowl, where the Bowl […]
[Happy birthday to Suzi Quatro – maybe I will bust out the leather jacket in her honor tonight …] Not quite as frantic a schedule in the city tonight – unless you’re a fan of Pennywise (sold out at Club Nokia) or 2 Live Crew (playing the Key Club). … Pilar Diaz ends a rockin’ […]