by Brad Roberts
Oklahoma's Starlight Mints, who undoubtedly have some of the best album artwork around, extend that artistic instinct right up to the lightshows that back the stage where they perform their fabulous art rock. I once saw them perform with the title sequence from the Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn movie Charade playing behind them (photo at right). Joined by our own fantastic art rockers, in the guise of innocent pop, Castledoor will satisfy a full house at The Troubadour on Monday. The Mints are armed with a new CD's worth of new material, so expect a perfect blend of the old and new. No Doubt bring The Sounds back to town for two shows at the Gibson Amphitheatre, but the Swedish upstarts take a night off to play their own show at the Key Club on Thursday. I enjoy the music of Beduoin Soundclash, who I've seen a couple of times and highly recommend, at The Roxy on Wednesday.
I've wanted to see Regina Spektor for a long time and I have my chance Tuesday night. She has a new CD called Far that began life near the top of some charts somewhere, and her concert sold out within hours of going on sale, so the Moscow born, Bronx resident has got a solid following. Her creatively odd and qurky songs suit her easy, breezy voice and I have longed to hear her live. The El Rey seems the perfect venue for her to play and for an audience to enjoy her refreshingly honest and straight-forward songs about relationships.
At the local level, the number of bands one has to see continues to mushroom out of control. Not only is it the tremendous amount of new bands appearing almost daily, but the frequency with which these bands like to perform. Some of our favorite L.A. bands play three, even four, times in one week, I guess for the sheer love of playing live. Man, are we lucky! So this week I'll just mention one of the newer and more unusual bands on stage this week. Marshweed (at left) is something you just have to experience to understand. I first saw Heather Lockie's band at a delightful show at Echo Curio last month and I recommend the L'Keg show for those who enjoy, what I'll call, homemade chamber/bedroom, indie/classical music of personal expression. Got it?
Find the rest down below...
Monday, July 27
- Starlight Mints, JP Inc, Castledoor @ The Troubadour
- No Doubt, The Sounds, Paramore @ Gibson Amphitheatre
- Diane Birch, Sweaters, Nick Motil, The Morning After Girls, Nicole Simone @ Hotel Cafe
- Donovan Leitch: The Dark Root of The Dream @ Largo at the Coronet
- Jarvis Cocker, Little Joy @ The Wiltern
- Andy Clockwise, The Audreys, Carla Werner, Matt Ellis, Ebony Bones @ Spaceland
- Japanese Motors, Thee Makeout Party, The Blank Tapes, Goldiggers! @ Echoplex
- The Mekons, Pollstars, Bollweevil @ The Echo
- 60-Watt Kid, Shirley Rolls, Mikki and the Mauses, The Seizure, Single Mothers @ Women
- Ash Reiter, Pierre De Reeder, The Long Lost @ Bootleg Theatre
- Last American Buffalo, The Monthlies, Rio Bravo @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Tiny Vipers, Lazarus, Night Canopy, Dameon Lee @ Echo Curio
DECISION:
It's been a while since we've heard from Starlight Mints, but suddenly they're on the loose again, armed with a bright and shining new CD, Change Remains, they are touring with a stop in L.A. on Monday. Their new material is upbeat, densely orchestrated and positively celebratory. They always fill the stage with musicians, resembling a small pop orchestra, and perform in front of some amazing pop art light show backgrounds. JP Inc (who used to be Pleaseeasaur, which I could never spell correctly without painstaking effort) and, certainly one of my favorite local bands, Castledoor (above photo by Mick O.), who often have a similarly stylized visual impact, round out the bill at The Troubadour. Classic Americana from Last American Buffalo, who could have stepped off a time machine from some early 20th century prairie bar, continue their residency offering an opening slot to indie power pop outfit, The Monthlies, at Silver Lake Lounge
Tuesday, July 28
- Jesca Hoop, The Chapin Sisters, Kristy Kruger, The Once Was, Heather Waters @ Hotel Cafe
- Glasvegas, Ida Marie @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Regina Spektor, Little Joy @ El Rey
- Band of Skulls, Useless Keys, The Filthy Souls @ Spaceland
- No Doubt, The Sounds, Paramore @ Gibson Amphitheatre
- Magnolia Electric Co, The Donkeys, Dave Gleason & Old Californio @ The Echo
- Morgan Orion and the Constellations, Hank and Jack F.E. and the Verbing Nouns, Moreeats, Bunny Zewt Suit @ Echo Curio
- Obi Best, Willoughby @ Bootleg Theatre
- Our Lady Peace, Billy the Kid @ The Troubadour
- The Nights, Pulse Out, Victim Vision @ Silver lake Lounge
DECISION:
I've been looking forward for a long time to seeing this Russian born chanteuse of remarkable talent, Regina Spektor (at right). She's playing a sold out date at El Rey and her stylish and sophisticated songs are so distinctly her own, she's carved out a niche all her own. Former local resident, Jesca Hoop has relocated to Manchester England, but is back in town for some shows including the one she played with other Manchester residents, Elbow, last week at The Wiltern. Tonight she's at the Hotel Cafe and I recommend seeing her before she jets back to Britain. And speaking of the British Isles, I was so intrigued by a band with a name like Hank and Jack F.E. and the Verbing Nouns, I had to check them out and found a terrific sounding English pop band who channel early Kinks and Donovan into a fresh sounding compote. Check them out at Echo Curio.
Wednesday, July 29
- Glasvegas, Ida Marie @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Adam Marsland's Chaos Band, The Janks, Fat City Reprise, Golden Years, J.P. Cregan, Coca-Cola @ The Echo
- No Doubt, The Sounds, Paramore @ Gibson Amphitheatre
- David Ryan Harris, Angel Taylor, Ernie Halter, Ryan Star, JT Spangler @ Hotel Cafe
- "Spaceland Under The Stars" presents Club Underground Night @ Pershing Square
- Bedouin Soundclash, The Lions, Rootbeer Ft., Pigeon John @ The Roxy
- CLUB NME: Themselves, ((Post-Foetus)) @ Spaceland
- Brandon Reynolds, Dylan Trees @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Brian Kenney Fresno, Rademacher, Harvey Sid Fisher, Breech Breech @ Juanita's
- Family Album, Pierre De Reeder, The Hunting Accident, Blanket @ Mr. T's Bowl
- Pam Shaffer and TBA @ 3 of Clubs
- The Movies, Seasons, Vibeslayer, Icebird @ The Bordello
- Trashcan Sinatras, Brookville @ The Troubadour
- Watts Ensemble, Firs @ Bootleg Theatre
DECISION:
Bedouin Soundclash sound like a Brooklyn/Jamaica (by way of Canada) Reggae band, noted for the wonderful husky/sweet singing of lead, Jay Malinowski (at right), combined with African spiritual vocal harmonies and their entrancingly danceable beat, at The Roxy. I've seen them a couple of times before and they sound every bit as good live as on their recordings. Quality songwriting, too. Also a full line up of fresh bands, from Cincinnati's intriguing electro pop singers, Firs, to the hypnotically beautiful ambient environmental music produced by (Post-foetus) (a band I've been anxious to check out) and everyone in between, scattered throughout the clubs of the city.
Thursday, July 30
- Castanets, Warmer Milks @ Spaceland
- HoneyHoney, Lal Meri, Juliette Commagere @ The Roxy
- Rachel Goodrich, Steve Reynolds, The Audreys, Nightfur, John Swardson @ Hotel Cafe
- Manhattan Murder Mystery, Pizza!, Woah Hunx, The Seizure @ L'Keg Gallery
- Xu Xu Fang @ Swinghouse Studios
- Barrio Tiger, Angus Khan, Jesse Deluxe, Thunderdikk @ The Echo
- The Sounds @ Key Club
- Gram Rabbit, Oliver Future @ The Troubadour
- Kevin Greenspon, Prayola, Runners, Megawand, Ancient Crux @ Echo Curio
- Ratas Del Vaticano, Inifinte Body, Mikki and the Mauses, Tearist @ The Smell
- Tommy Santee Klaws, Lusterko, Amee Brobruk, Liz Pappademas @ Hyperion Tavern
- Sara Watkins @ Largo at the Coronet
- Square On Square @ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:
Above: Xu Xu Fang, if they had been performing on that planet where the spacecraft landed in the first Alien movie, "Wait a minute...there's movement...". They're having a special party at Swinghouse Studios, where I'll be because I haven't seen them in a very long time. But, nearly every show in town boasts an act you shouldn't miss: Castanets at Spaceland, Juliette Commagere plays The Roxy. Nightfur at Hotel Cafe, Manhattan Murder Mystery at L'Keg. Oliver Future opens for Gram Rabbit, who are after my heart with their great version of "White Rabbit", tonight at The Troubadour showing what a successful residency at Spaceland can do. Then there's Tommy Santee Klaws at Hyperion Tavern and The Sounds take a night off of the tour with No Doubt to bring their Swedish trash/glam rock to the Key Club. They are pretty spectacular live.
Friday, July 31
- Deerhoof, Busdriver, Avocet @ Echoplex
- Horse the Band record release, Upsilon Acrux, All Leather @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts
- Damion Suomi, Floating Action, The Generationals, Golden Boots, The Steelwells, Bombadil, Stampead @ Hotel Cafe
- The French Semester, We Should Be Dead, The Tearaways, The Mayberrys, Hail Citizen, The Smith Bros., Strangefinger, Flashing Red Lights @ Knitting Factory Alterknit Lounge
- Katie the Pest, Foot Foot, Big Death, Moses Campbell @ Pehrspace
- Nora Keyes, Tommy Santee Klaws, Marshweed @ L'Keg Gallery
- "Club Underground" presents Anavan, Dazzler @ The Echo
- Future Of The Left, Japandroids, Dead Ponies @ Spaceland
- Stellastarr, Wild Light, Mason Proper @ The Troubadour
- Chief, Michael Runion, Mini Mansions @ Bootleg Theatre
- Jogger, Former Ghosts, quangstuh, Michael Nhat @ The Smell
- Jon Brion @ Largo at the Coronet
DECISION:
If I wasn't going to see Tommy Santee Klaws spin their musical magic show, supported by the astonishingly fresh and original Marshweed, both opening for Nora Keyes and her other-side-of-the-grave music at L'Keg, in what will definitely be a mind bending evening, I'd be at The French Semester set at the Alterknit Lounge to hear some of their great new songs.
Saturday, August 1
- Ferraby Lionheart, Terra Naomi, Michelle Featherstone, Jamie Meyer, Kristen Toedtman @ Hotel Cafe
- The Handsome Family, Daniel Knox @ McCabe's Guitar Shop
- Company Of Thieves @ Spaceland
- Timonium (covering Slowdive), Dirt Dress, The Soft Opening @ Pehrspace
- Harry Marry, Best Coast, Pearl Harbour, Native Fauna @ The Smell
- Priscilla Ahn, Landon Pigg @ The Troubadour
- Vanaprasta, Rye Douglas Band, Make Moon @ Bootleg Theatre
DECISION:
In a neat concept, Timonium (at right, in a shot from '08) are beginning a year long residency at Pehrspace on Saturdays where they will cover a different band each month. This month it is Slowdive, recreating their dreamy beauty. Ferraby Lionheart is the idiosyncratic and entertaining singer/songwriter appearing tonight at the Hotel Cafe.
Sunday, August 2
- The Hereafter, Jason Soudah, Alicia Witt, Brian Whelen @ Hotel Cafe
- "Grand Ole Echo" w/ Grant Langston, Lisa & Her Kin, Chris Miller Band @ The Echo
- Warpaint, Moonrats, Upsilon Acrux, Nü Sensae, Random Cuts @ The Smell
DECISION:
I'm at a loss for this night, but I think the bill at The Smell would be worth checking out. Let me know about anything I may have missed at: RFSLshowlistings@gmail.com
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