by Brad Roberts
Local bands move to center stage in this week. Lots of new and up and coming talent are all over town every night of the week. Starting with bands that seem like institutions already, Everest and Red Cortez have a show at The Hammer Museum over at UCLA to showcase their more-than-ready-for-primetime quality. They have come so far, so fast, it's already a treat whenever we get to have them back in town, however infrequently. Everest have been on tour for over a year with Neil Young, and Red Cortez (photo at right by Sonia Onate) are about to go out again, this time with The Airborne Toxic Event and The Henry Clay People. These guys work so hard and have earned everyone's respect, they deserve all their success because, simply stated, they are two of the best bands in town.
Blitzen Trapper are back in Los Angeles, opening for Ray LaMontagne and The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday. Jenny Lewis is also on the bill making it a must see event. Typically, Andrew Bird may perform the most creative and unusual show in Los Angeles at The Greek on Friday, and Radio Free Silver Lake and Filter Magazine are offering a pair of free tickets (see Friday listings below). And The Hold Steady are sold out, at El Rey on Tuesday.
Then there's his Orchestra, who I just recently got to know and whose CD, Field Guide to the Wilds, was probably my number one most played album for the month of June. They're playing with another top local band, The Minor Canon at Silver Lake Lounge. And that's just one of the problems Thursday night. There's also The French Semester, who have changed and added some band members and are forging a new sound worth checking out at the Roxy's On the Rox. Tommy Santee Klaws has a show at Echo Curio, which is where I first saw them, and The Faraway Places recently impressed me at an Avi Buffalo residency, so I want to see them again. Check out the schedule below.
Monday, July 6
- 60-Watt Kid, High Castle, Italic Indian, Skull Kiss, Garrett Pierce @ Women
- Kim Divine record release, Amie Miriello, Emy Reynolds, Jackie Tohn @ Hotel Cafe
- Andy Clockwise, The VLA, Globes on Remote, Miniature Tigers @ Spaceland
- Japanese Motors, My Pet Saddle, Audacity, Gestapo Khazi @ The Echo
- Tommy Santee Klaws, Oh Foot (can't be there), Marshweed, Elisa Ferrari @ Echo Curio
- Last American Buffalo, Eastern Conference Champions, Globes @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Weasel Walter/Aram Shelton/Josh Berman Trio, Pigeon Religion, Adrien Barbobott @ The Smell
DECISION:
The week begins, not with a bang, but with a solid supply of local artists, like Andy Clockwise at Spaceland beginning a residency with his techno/disco-Australian style and his basso profundo voice. Japanese Motors has My Pet Saddle as an opener at The Echo.
Tommy Santee Klaws returns to Echo Curio (nifty flyer above). I'm also curious about Last American Buffalo and Eastern Conference Champions who are playing together at the Silver Lake Lounge.
Tuesday, July 7
- Bleu, Drake Bell, Heather Waters, Elisa Ferrari, Scott Simons @ Hotel Cafe
- The Hold Steady, The Bronx @ El Rey
- Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Le Switch @ The Echo
- Fishtank Ensemble, Ukulele Loki, Klaus Knomi, Petrojvic Blasting Company @ The Bordello
- The Captains, Birds Beware, Infrared Sunday @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Vieux Farka Toure, Luke Top @ The Troubadour
DECISION:
The Hold Steady have sold out El Rey tonight, attesting to this band's success. A night of Balkan gypsy revelry at The Bordello with Fishtank Ensemble, who I really want to see badly, and with Klaus Knomi carrying on the wonderful cabaret freak tradition of Klaus Nomi. And let's not neglect to mention that Luke Top, from a "Let's Independent!" last year, is opening for the wonderful artist from Mali, Vieux Farka Toure at The Troubadour! Congratulations.
Wednesday, July 8
- CLUB NME w/ Army Navy, White Arrows, Thee Mighty Angels @ Spaceland
- Mika Miko, Ty Segall, Charlie & The Moonhearts, Shark Toys @ The Smell
- David Ryan Harris, Zachariah & The Lobos Riders, Ernie Halter, Danny Chaimson, Derek Evans @ Hotel Cafe
- Rootbeer, U-N-I, Boombox Ninjas @ The Echo
- The Monthlies, Purple Melon, The Faraway Places @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Volunteers, The French Semester, Anderson, Joe and the Jungle @ The Roxy Theatre - On the Rox
- The Watkins Family Hour @ Largo at the Coronet
- Watts Ensemble, Baby and Guy @ Bootleg Theatre
- JUST FOUND OUT: Love Grenades, Pico vs Island Trees, Avi Buffalo, Dave smallen @ TheViper Room
DECISION:
One of my very favorite unsung local bands is playing tonight, The Faraway Places (photo at right) at Silver Lake Lounge on a bill with headliners The Monthlies, while across town at The Roxy's On the Rox room The French Semester spread out as they explore new territory with a new line up.
Thursday, July 9
- Joan Baez, Tift Merritt @ Santa Monica Pier
- Tortoise @ Amoeba Music
- Ace Enders & A Million Different People, Person L, The Gay Blades, The Dangerous Summer, Bleu @ The Knitting Factory
- You Me and Iowa with The Damselles, Rachel Goodrich, Oak and Gorsky, Sara Roberts @ Hotel Cafe
- Dusty Rhodes and The River Band, These United states, Olin and The Moon @ Echoplex
- Everest, Red Cortez @ Hammer Museum
- Steve Wynn and The Miracle Three, The Urinals @ The Echo
- Cave Country, Tommy Santee Klaws, Sparrows Gate, Quiet Life @ Spaceland
- The Ruse, Goldenstate, Red Letter Agent @ The Troubadour
- Confirmed Bachelor, Dick and Jane, Cat Hair Ensemble, The Blasting Company @ Hyperion Tavern
- Oliver Future, The Rhone Occupation, Old War Shirt @ Edgar Varela Fine Arts
- The Minor Canon, his Orchestra, Courtenay Green @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Start, Bloodcat Love, Into the Presence, Useless Keys @ The Roxy
DECISION:
O.K., this night is a killer. I'm opting for the Everest/Red Cortez show at the Hammer, but at the expense of seeing one band that has become a recent obsession, his Orchestra, who are playing with The Minor Canon, who also take a very orchestral approach to their music with similarly impressive results, at the Silver Lake Lounge. There's also The Rhone Occupation, Cave Country,Olin and the Moon, You Me and Iowa, not to mention Tortoise, free at Amoeba, and Joan Baez at Santa Monica Pier, which I'm sure will sound absolutely incredible.
Friday, July 10
- Andrew Bird, Ra Ra Riot, Heartless Bastards @ The Greek Theatre
- The Idyllists, Aidan Hawken, Hool, Damion Suomi, The Steelwells, Beth Jean @ Hotel Cafe
- Cydney Robinson, Automatique, Gypsy River Haunts @ Pasadena Museum of California Arts
- Sara Lov, Two Sheds, Big Organ Trio @ The Mint
- The Rural Alberta Advantage @ the Echo
- Seaspin @ Spaceland
- Tyrone Wells, Curtis Peoples, Huntingfield @ The Troubadour
- The Widow Babies, NASA Space Universe, Audacity, The Amazements @ The Smell
DECISION:
Andrew Bird is playing at The Greek. I'll be there. Ever since I first saw him give an in store at Amoeba a couple of years back, I've been an astonished fan. There's no one like him and no one makes quite the kind of music he creates. And we here at Radio Free Silver Lake want to thank Tristan Gacoscos at Filter Magazine for the opportunity to offer a pair of free tickets to this show. Details here. (Photo above by Cameron Wettig)
Saturday, July 11
- The Parson Red Heads, Electric Skychurch, LA LaAdies Choir, Tommy Santee Klaws, Moonrats, The Delta Mirror @ The Echo Park Community Festival
- Lucky Dragons, Foot Village, KIT, Death Sentence: Panda!, Gowns, Softboiled Eggies, Former Ghosts @ The Smell
- Dudley Saunders @ The Talking Stick
- Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs @ The Greek Theatre
- Copeland, Sherwood, Anchor & Braille, The Union Line, The Music Lovers @ Hotel Cafe
- "Upset the Rhythm" Showcase: Lucky Dragons, Foot Village, Kit, Death Sentence: PANDA!, Gowns, Softboiled Eggies, The Urxed @ The Smell
- "Saturdays Off the 405" w/ Mas Exitos, Domingo Siete @ The Getty Center
- Nightmare of You, Plushgun, Brian Bonz, Magic @ The Knitting Fctory
- "Systemics" group show w/ musical guests Ema and the Ghosts, Red Maids @ Pehrspace
- Beware of Safety, Gifts from Enola @ Mr. T's Bowl
DECISION:
Copeland is a band I've seen at The Fonda and here's a rare chance to see them at the intimate Hotel Cafe. They sing a very pretty, commercial indie pop, but with a flair for melody and harmony. They have some very nice recordings as well. Pretty interesting line up at The Echo Park Community Festival today, though the festival runs Friday and Sunday, too.
Sunday, July 12
- Ray LaMontagne with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Jenny Lewis, Blitzen Trapper @ Hollywood Bowl
- Oneida, Amps For Christ, Clip'd Beaks @ The Echo
- Kim Lenz @ Amoeba Music
- Johnette Napolitano, Seth Roberts & The Lakes, Flo Paris, Aras Baskauskas @ Hotel Cafe
- Loch Lomond, The Heavenly States @ Spaceland
- Flexions, Bronze, Puppy Dog, Kill Kill Kill @ The Smell
DECISION:
When I heard Blitzen Trapper (above, by Jade Harris) were opening for Ray LaMontagne at the Hollywood Bowl, and he'd be performing with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, I knew I had to get a ticket. Then Jenny Lewis joined the line up and I felt it was like predestination, since I've never seen her or Ray before, and have longed to. Jenny Lewis I've wanted to see ever since I caught the video she did with The Watson Twins for "Rise Up With Fists" which, though it looked like a Hee-Haw sketch, actually had the razor sharp satire of Robert Altman's Nashville. Very funny stuff. So thanks, Blitzen Trapper, for getting me out to this show. They had just about my favorite album last year, the dazzling Furr, and I've only seen them once before, so this is a year's highlight for me.
Well, that's it. Let me know if we missed anything at: RFSLshowlistings@gmail.com
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