by Brad Roberts
Last week was a great time to go out at night and feast on the many musical pleasures available in Los Angeles. You could choose from national acts as diverse as P.J. Harvey or Dan Hick and His Hot Licks to local bands like Manhattan Murder Mystery or Seasons giving multiple shows.
I had the one-two-three punch of Tommy Santee Klaws and Cave Country and Slings, one night, Gliss in a blistering performance of tracks from their phenomenal new CD, Devotion Implosion, the next, followed by an inspiring set by Chad VanGaalen the last night. All three shows were transportive.
This week promises to provide ample stimulation as well. Both Fol Chen and The Parson Red Heads have landed opening sets at The Troubadour and Pinback make a surprise vist to USC.
Let's take a closer look at this week's shows in L.A....
Monday, March 30
- Rocking Horse People, Bixby Knolls, Junius, Atlantic Line, DJ Dia @ Silverlake Lounge
- The Renderers, Sleepwalkers Local, Metal Rouge, Maersk @ Echo Curio
- Kevin Greenspon, Boo and Boo Too, Rapid Youth, Realicide @ Pehrspace
- Nico Stai, The Grates, Tim James (of the Movies), Line and Circle @ Spaceland
- Tiny Vaudeville @ Echoplex
- Wait.Think.Fast., Summer Darling, The Lassie Foundation, Kissing Cousins @ The Echo
DECISION:
Nico Stai has Tim James (of The Movies) opening for him (and Line and Circle, too) and all three are reason to go, but that's a pretty interesting line up. The Origami Records residency concludes with the smart, complex indie band Wait.Think.Fast. playing with the choral driven indie rock of Summer Darling, the hazy psychedelia of The Lassie Foundation and the impossible to classify Kissing Cousins.
Tuesday, March 31
- Thenewno2 @ Amoeba Music
- Becky Stark @ Largo at the Coronet
- Random Patterns, Starkiller, Intricate Machines, Captain’s Package @ Silverlake Lounge
- Bohren & Der Club of Gore, Void ov Voices @ Spaceland
- Mia Doi Todd, Christie and Emily, Evan Way (solo) @ The Echo
- Mike Stinson, Dave Gleason @ Redwood Bar
- Signal Hill @ Bootleg Theatre
DECISION:
Thenewon2 features son of a Beatle, Dhani Harrison (at right) and I have a feeling that will be enough of a factor to pack Amoeba Music for his in-store show. Lavender Diamond's fairy tale princess-like singer Becky Stark solo at Largo at the Coronet will, I'm sure, be melodious, spacey and humorous, all at the same time.
Wednesday, April 1
- Bonnie Prince Billy @ Amoeba Music
- Tristan Prettyman, Jesca Hoop, Annie Bethancourt, Lucy Schwartz @ Hotel Cafe
- Ovideo 10p Tiyuana Panthers 11p Tasso @ Silverlake Lounge
- Brant Bjork & the Brothers @ Air Conditioned Supper Club
- The Rakes, Fol Chen, Lower Heaven @ The Troubadour
- Club NME: White Denim, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Spaceland
- Gregory and the Hawk @ The Echo
- Triston Palma and Michael Palmer, backing by Cualli @ Echoplex
- War Tapes, Laco$te, DonniePepper, Moment Trigger, Bloody Robots @ The Smell
- Low Flying Owls, The Brobecks, Birds Beware, The Answering Machines @ 3 of Clubs
- You Me and Iowa, Vaudeville, Death to Anders @ Dakota Live Music Lounge
- Paging Beto @ Redwood Bar
DECISION:
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart from New York, have been getting a lot of attention lately with their catchy music. With a touring schedule that keeps them on the move until July, this may be the last chance to catch them in a small venue, locally. Oh, and favorites, Fol Chen have jumped into an opening slot at The Troubadour for London's The Rakes. (Late breaking news: Death to Anders join You Me and Iowa and Vaudeville tonight also!)
Thursday, April 2
- Bonnie Prince Billy, White Magic @ The El Rey
- Godric @ Home Restaurant
- HAR MAR SUPERSTAR JJAMZ with DJ Boom Bip and special guests @ Bootleg Theatre
- Jeremy Jay, Princeton, The Tartans @ The Smell
- Lily Allen, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head @ The Wiltern
- Robert Francis, The Parson Red Heads, Haim @ The Troubadour
- Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit featuring Justin Townes Earle, Frank Fairfield @ Spaceland
- Voxhaul Broadcast, Spirit Vine, My Pet Saddle, Olin and the Moon@ The Echo
- The Capshuns, Queen Kwong, New London, 3D Stereo @ Silverlake Lounge
- Tift Merritt @ Largo at the Coronet
- "The Rumble: LA" present Rademacher, The Frontier Brothers, Simon Says No @ 3 of Clubs
- "Gooseberries" release party with Afternoons, Golden Gram, Le Switch, One Trick Pony @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts
DECISION:
Robert Francis follows his January residency with a show at The Troubadour, dragging along local darlings, The Parson Red Heads, as he continues his ascension. Should be a great show. And there's also Frank Fairfield (below) bringing his hypnotic roots music to a show with Jason Isbell at Spaceland, and a terrific local lineup at The Echo. Just found out about "The Rumble: LA" featuring Rademacher, The Frontier Brothers, and Simon Says No from Norway.
Friday, April 3
- Busdriver, Tim Fite, The Phatal DJ + T-Kay @ Natural History Museum
- Pedestrian, Andy Clockwise, John Elliott & The Herafter record release, The Blue Hit, The Venus Illuminato @ Hotel Cafe
- Acid Mothers Temple, Kinski @ The Echo
- Alex & Sam @ Home Restaurant
- Jail Weddings, Blue Jungle @ THe Smell
- Jon Brion @ Largo at the Coronet
- Moving Picture Show, Stacy Clark, Garland, All Spots to Black @ Mr. T's Bowl
- The Hard to Get record release, Christopher Walk-Ins, The Breakups, The Active Set @ Pehrspace
DECISION:
Those wishing to drop a tab should rush over to (try to find) The Echo to feel Acid Mothers Temple and watch the walls melt. Or you could go to the record release party for Hard To Get at Pehrspace.
Saturday, April 4
- Noodles The Outline @ Home Restaurant
- Great Lake Swimmers, Kate Maki, Travel by Sea @ Spaceland
- John Wesley Harding, Eugene Merman @ Largo at the Coronet
- LA Dolls @ Mr. T's Bowl
- Moses Campbell, Watercolor Paintings, Franklin for Short, Enid the Dowl @ The Smell
- One Trick Pony, Erinn Williams, The Surrenders @ Pehrspace
- White Leopards, Combat!, Italic Indian, Alien Soundtracks, Skyline Electric @ Echo Curio
- Pinback @ McCarthy Quad, USC
- Sonos, Former Future @ Home Restaurant
- Rachael Yamagata, Greg Laswell @ The Troubadour
DECISION:
I've been a big fan of Toronto's Great Lake Swimmers (above) for a while and they don't come to town often enough so I'll be there to hear the stunningly beautiful music they seem to turn out effortlessly. They have a new CD, Lost Channels, due out on Tuesday, March 31. Also, One Trick Pony at Pehrspace always make beautiful music, but when I found out Pinback suddenly scheduled three local dates, including tonight at USC, I considered changing all my plans. I still might.
Sunday, April 5
- Old California, I See Hawks in L.A., Whispering Pines; on the patio; Tommy Santee Klaws @ The Echo (5pm)
- Steven Severein: Music for Silents @ Echoplex
- Pam Shaffer record release, EXITMUSIC, Nathyn Knott @ Echo Curio
- Puppy Dog, Kid Infinity, Laco$te @ Space 15 Twenty
DECISION:
Pam Shaffer 's record release with Karin Tatoyan and EXITMUSIC promises to deliver enough intellectual stimulation and startling musical experimentation to boggle the mind. Great lineup.(late breaking news: Nathyn Knott will replace Karin Tatoyan at this show.)
That's it. Did we miss anything? Please let us know at: RFSLshowlistings@gmail.com
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