The L.A. Show Low Down (Or: "Days Peel Off And Pass Away, Like Souvenirs From A Distant Place, Postcards From Your Memories...")

by Brad Roberts

Jazz greats, legendary trumpeter, Miles Davis (left) and pioneering arranger/conductor, Gil Evans team up again on Wednesday, and then on Friday and Saturday, Herbie Hancock takes over, at the Hollywood Bowl. Hancock (seen at right) has been touring with classical piano prodigy, Lang Lang, playing with some of the world's finest orchestras, and this week they're with the L.A. Philharmonic. 

By now, it feels like I've had a long history with The Black Heart Procession, though I only heard of them because of the show they opened for Calexico, back in 2006 at The Fonda. In anticipation of that, I researched this San Diego band, bought a couple of CD's, and walked into a fog of deep purple lights, as they were playing the hypnotic "Guess I'll Forget You" and I became a lifelong fan on the spot. I've seen them many, many times since then, and they never play the same set twice, and always add songs I haven't heard live before. They consistently display a respect for their audience with top-notch live shows and Thursday at Spaceland will have the added attraction of new songs from their CD, Six.

The wonderful psych-drenched heaviness of Lower Heaven and the indie-pop, melody driven compositions of Local Natives are the attractions of a couple of good local bands that kick off their free residencies Monday at Silver Lake Lounge and Spaceland, respectively. Both bands are bringing solid line ups, with a lot of bands worth checking out, to their entire schedules.

Luke Top are a band that have really delivered some beautiful sets the last few times I've seen them, so a trip to Pershing Square would be worth your time on Wednesday for this week's edition of "Spaceland Under The Stars".

I'm also looking forward to an evening of acoustic music and fine songwriting at Hyperion Tavern on Thursday with The Preacher's Son and Old Californio, a couple of bands that play some of the nicest folk/country alt rock in a rapidly expanding genre.

For more of the weeks highlights, click below.

Monday, August 3

- Local Natives, The Union Line, The Outline, We Barbarians @ Spaceland

- Juke Cartel, Lukas Rossi, Marc Cogman, Katie Cole @ Hotel Cafe

- The Growlers @ The Echo

- Boh Runga @ Largo at the Coronet

- Lower Heaven, The Street and Babe Shadow, Dissolver, Y @ Silver Lake Lounge

DECISION:

Local Natives are beginning their residency by featuring the seriously intriguing The Union Line and quirky pop courtesy of The Outline along with the gorgeous ambient music of We Barbarians at Spaceland (flyer above) for a very nice cross section of creative bands. The Growlers are another terrific band from the Costa Mesa scene who are having a Monday night residency, at The Echo. They play a kind of surfy, psychedelic folk rock with what almost sounds like waves crashing and seagulls squawking in the background. Lower Heaven are a band I need to check out since they play that hazy psychedelia I'm so attracted to, at Silver Lake Lounge every Monday all month.

Tuesday, August 4

- Lykke Li, The Deadly Syndrome, Franki Chan @ The Wiltern

- Shaimus, Samantha Mollen, Nick Rallis Band, Jackie Tohn @ The Troubadour

- Moon Zappa @ Largo at the Coronet

- The Ting Tings, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Hottub @ Club Nokia

- Bowerbirds, Megafaun @ The Echo

- Jenny O, Alex and Sam, Small Sur, Typefighter @ Bootleg Theatre

- Sextus, The Shore, IO Perry, Red Car, The Holliston Stops, Garland @ Spaceland

- Bipolar Bear, PROTECTME, Herr Jazz, Masters & Johnson, Talbot Tagora, w/ Duncan Wilder Johnson @ L'Keg Gallery

- Lovemakers, Letron, Music Video @ Silver Lake Lounge

- Pueblo Attack Tour, Scrotus, Social Cinflict, A Poor Substitute, Susie Palmer & Knuckle Children, Under Alliance @ Mr. T's Bowl

- War Tapes, Agent Ribbons, Sister Crayon, VOICEsVOICEs, Really, very @ The Smell

- Holly Conlan @ Hotel Cafe

DECISION:

Wow, The Deadly Syndrome are playing The Wiltern.  And just a couple of years ago I was watching them set up their ghosts all over the stage at Spaceland and now this, congratulations, opening for Lykke Li (neat flyer at right). What Moon Zappa is up to these days will be revealed at Largo at the Coronet. Nice bill at The Smell with the moody, atmospheric doom rock of War Tapes and the haunting, ethereal trance-inducement of VOICEsVOICEs. 

Wednesday, August 5

- Bobby Long, Maxim Ludwig, Laura Jansen @ Hotel afe

- Talbot Tagora, The Cysts, Bipolar Bear @ The Smell

- Dawes, Slang Chickens, Big Echo @ The Echo

- Blue October, Switchfoot, Longwave @ The Wiltern

- Alejandro Escovedo, The Dogs @ The Troubadour

- Luke Top @ Pershing Square

- Miles Davis / Gil Evans: Still Ahead @ Hollywood Bowl

- The Script, Parachute @ El Rey

- CLUB NME: The Capshuns, Shiloe, Queen Qwong, The Black Kites @ Spaceland

- Heavy Young Heathens, Roll the Tanks, Hammerheads @ Silver Lake Lounge

DECISION:

Miles Davis teams up with frequent collaborator Gil Evans (seen at left in an earlier time) to create magic at the Hollywood Bowl. Purveyors of Americana roots and folk, Dawes have a residency this month at The Echo, tonight offering the equally melodic Slang Chickens, who add a punk element to the genre. I have yet to get over to one of the "Spaceland Under The Stars" evenings in Pershing Square but this may be the week with Luke Top the attraction. 

Thursday, August 6

- "International Pop Overthrow 2009!" w/ The Beat Seekers, The Monthlies, Nice Guy Eddie, Evan Hillhouse, Mikey Jukebox, Silver Phial, Susan Hedges @ Knitting Factory Alterknit Lounge

- John Doe w/ The Sadies, Jill Subule @ Echoplex

- The Preacher's Son, The Black Tongued Belles, Old Californio @ Hyperion Tavern

- Bobby Long, Rachel Goodrich, Alan Semerdjian, Jeff Kite @ Hotel Cafe

- Chief, Princeton, Cheetahsaurus @ 3 of Clubs

- Spindrift (vinyl release), Assemblehead in Sunburst Sound, Magic Mirror, All Babes Are Wolves @ Spaceland

- The Hard To Get, Pioneers, Vivian Darkbloom, Ian Biggs @ Silver Lake Lounge

- Greg Laswell, Elizabeth & The Catapult @ The Troubadour

- Summer Darling, Robotanists, VOICEsVOICEs, Vanaprasta @ Silver Factory Studios

DECISION:

John Doe And The Sadies will probably fill Echoplex with fans anxious to see this other persona of the legendary X band leader. Other shows on a pretty crowded night include the acoustic night (flyer above) at Hyperion Tavern where I'll get to hear The Preacher's Son sing some of his fine Quakers and Shakers EP and hear the stripped down renditions of Old Californio's songs from their richly rewarding CD, Westering Again. And bands like Princeton, The Hard To Get, Cheetahsaurus and The Monthlies are scattered through town.

Friday, August 7

- LA Phil Presents Herbie Hancock & Lang Lang @ Hollywood Bowl

- The Black Heart Procession, Circus Miner, This Is Not My Life @ Spaceland

- Tiff Jimber record release, Janet Robin, Marcus Foster, Steve Carlson, Adam Roth @ Hotel Cafe

- Dimples, Teen Suicide, Superstitions, Hellomynameischad @ The Smell

- Jack Left Town, Three Date Theory, Junior Varsity Beatdown @ Pehrspace

- Jon Brion @ Largo at the Coronte

- Visa, The Shrine, Fish Circus @ The Troubadour

- Ha Ha Tonka, High Society, CB Brand @ Bootleg Theatre

DECISION:

The Black Heart Procession are back in town and back at Spaceland for a show promoting their eagerly anticipated CD, Six, which will be released by Temporary Residence. Just the list of bands that intersect with this one is an astonishing list of some of my favorite bands: Pinback, Three Mile Pilot, The Album Leaf, Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects, to name a few. Beginning tonight and continuing tomorrow, Jazz great, Herbie Hancock appears with classical pianist, Lang Lang, together with the L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, continuing his triumphant world tour.   

Saturday, August 8

- "Saturdays Off the 405" w/ The Dodos @ The Getty Center

- LA Phil Presents Herbie Hancock & Lang Lang @ Hollywood Bowl

- Chatelle Barry record release, Marcus Foster, Yogi, Early Dolphin, Moostache @ Hotel Cafe

- Apathetic Ronald McDonald, ¡Liberate!, Final Draft, Neon Navajo, Heart Throb @ The Smell

- Best Coast, Pearl Harbour, Wonder Wheel, Terminal Island @ L'Keg Gallery

- Casiokids, The Wave Pictures, Slow Club @ Spaceland

- Seasons, Karabal Nightlife, Downtown Union, Barrio Tiger, C-Horse @ American Legion Hall, Highland Park

- Truth & Salvage Company, Andy Clockwise, George Stanford @ The Troubadour

- Nels Cline and Jon Brion @ Largo at the Coronet

- Raven America, Mermaids, Bastidas, Anus Kings, Las Sangronas y El Cabron @ Echo Curio

DECISION:

The Dodos at The Getty Center sounds like a sure bet, and good bands are strewn around, here and there: Casiokids, Bastidas and Andy Clockwise plays an opening slot at The Troubadour. And just in time to save the day, I hear about the terrific show at American Legion Hall in Highland Park with Seasons, The Karabal Nightlife and Downtown Union among others.

Sunday, August 9

- "Grand Ole Echo" w/ Dave Insley, West of Texas @ The Echo

- The Hereafter, Ryan Harrison & The Tramps, Chris Jacob, The Lincoln Bedroom, Mike Schadel @ Hotel Cafe

- Pulse Emitter, Grasslung, Earn, Monsturo, Damion Romero @ Echo Curio

- Warpaint, Caroline Weeks (of Bat For Lashes), Corridor, Universe @ Spaceland

DECISION:

Bat For Lashes fans should be checking out Caroline Weeks' (above, photo by Rupert Noble) side project, which sounds like authentic ancient English folk songs. She's playing, with Warpaint headlining, at Spaceland tonight. Nice bill at the Hotel Cafe, too.

Let me know if we missed anything: RFSLshowlistings@gmail.com

Comments

[Lindz M]

Also, on August 8th...

Seasons, Karabal Nightlife, Downtown Union, Barrio Tiger & C-Horse at American Legion Hall! $3

[Christine Bruton]

That is quite a poster -- any idea who designed it?

[Kathy]

you should definitely include THE SCRIPT on this entry. They're amazing and they're playing at the El Rey on August 5th.

myspace.com/thescript