by Brad Roberts
I saw so much great music last week that I have to write a column for Tuesday to get it all down. Los Angeles came back to life as the new year swept in and you could hardly keep up, with local bands taking the spotlight in residencies, record releases and that KROQ thing at The Viper Room. There's little chance for rest this week as well.
The French Semester have the killer line up on Monday with The Monolators and Manhattan Murder Mystery at The Echo for their second residency night and I can't miss this show. But, alas, Tenlons Fort (photo above) is also playing across town at Pehrspace and here I'm going to wax eloquent about Tenlons Fort. I was at The Echo one night last November to see Avi Buffalo when I saw my friend Jack Gibson, who performed a solo set around 1 AM that stood the hair on the back of my neck straight out. It was all new material from a CD, of which he slipped an advance copy to me, called Shelters, to be released under his banner, Tenlons Fort. Beautifully produced by Will Courtney, each song is a precious gem, full of such longing and emotional resonance as to be nearly overwhelming, stated with a profound eloquence that one hears too rarely, and sung in his direct and unaffected singing style. Joined onstage for one song, "You Won't Be With Me" by Nate Cole of Castledoor, the harmony vocals were so perfect I melted on the spot. I remember having the same reaction on September 16, 2008 at Joe Fielder's "Let's Independent!" at Boardner's (God, I miss those nights!) when I first saw Tenlons Fort. People need to go see this performer, though there'll be another chance at his record release party on March 3 at Synchronicity Space. There's just no way around it, the guy's a major talent.
Steven Severin, founding member of Siouxsie and the Banshees, has turned his attention to scoring silent and experimental films and the results are to be savored on Wednesday and Thursday at the Silent Movie Theatre, The week's other highlight are below.
Monday, January 11
- The French Semester, The Monolators, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Asbury @ The Echo
- Odawas, Dominique Leone, The Vespertines @ Echo Curio
- Toby Lightman, Aslyn @ Largo at the Coronet
- Steve Shane with Amie Miriello and Steve McMorran (Trading Yesterday) @ Dakota Lounge
- Jesca Hoop, Maria Taylor, Brandon Walters, Mark Growden, Nicole Simone, Ryan Harrison and The Orphans @ Hotel Cafe
- The Northstar Session, Clockwork, David George @ Bootleg theatre
- The Steelwells, Yellow Red Sparks, The Romany Rye @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Thurston Moore is a Faggot, Mikki and the Mauses, Tenlons Fort, Elijah Crampton, Tic///Tic @ Pehrspace
- Year Long Disaster, Hydrovibe, It's Casual, Fatso Jetson @ Spaceland
DECISION:
I'll be at the second Monday residency night of The French Semester at The Echo for the powerhouse line up of The Monolators and Manhattan Murder Mystery. I picked up the new EP, Forces Afield, by The French Semester last Monday and look forward to hearing their set now that I'm more familiar with the new material. This is also the night Tenlons Fort plays Pehrspace and Year Long Disaster continue their Spaceland residency.
Tuesday, January 12
- Garrison Starr, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Daphne Willis, Anna Rose @ Hotel Cafe
- Beth Orton @ Largo at the Coronet
- Ruido De Fondo, Beatmo, Rolling Radio, Leo Machado @ The Troubadour
- Southshores, Lovers Ball @ Dakota Lounge
- The Pee Wee Herman Show @ Nokia Theatre
- Vampire Weekend, Very Be Careful @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Obi Best, The Monthlies, Queen Kwong, Meredith Meyer, DJ Mr. Shovel @ Spaceland
- Seven Saturdays, The Parson Red Heads, Go West Young Man @ Bootleg Theatre
- Cloaked Light, Pale Blue Sky, Josh Burke, Infinite Body, Rale, Mirror To Mirror, Earl, Pedestrian Deposit @ Echo Curio
- Olin & the Moon, Eleni Mandell @ The Echo
- The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Jubilee @ Cinespace
- The Secret 6, Lantvrn, Lucy Ryder @ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:
The Pee Wee Herman Show begins tonight for a four week engagement at Nokia Theatre, so bear with me as I list it every night it plays, because, after all, it is Pee Wee Herman. It must be an incredible show. I haven't decided whether to spring the money for it or not.
Olin and the Moon are enjoying a Tuesday residency at The Echo, tonight welcoming the enchanting singer/songwriter Eleni Mandell. There's also The Parson Red Heads at Bootleg Theatre or The Secret 6 at Silver Lake Lounge and Spaceland has Obi Best, The Monthlies, Queen Kwong, and Meredith Meyer in a night with too much good music to cover.
Wednesday, January 13
- "Spaceland On Ice" w/ Le Switch, The World Record @ Pershing Square
- Steven Severin "Music For Silents" @ Silent Movie Theatre
- The Pee Wee Herman Show @ Nokia Theatre
- Chris Pureka, Sheila Nicholls, Freddie & Francine, Emily Greene, Coyote Grace @ Hotel Cafe
- Kina Grannis @ The Troubadour
- Oh Darling, The Passports, Mia Maestro, Nadine & Terence @ Bootleg Theatre
- The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Holloys, Jogger, White Arrows @ The Echo
- Boats!, Rough Kids, Batwings Catwings @ Echo Curio
- Club NME: The Meeting Places, Wrong Way Driver, Robotanists, Ovideo @ Spaceland
- Molino, Space Waves, Half Hearted @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Willi Williams with The Expanders featuring David Hillyard, Larry McDonald, Mr. T-Bone, Jah Faith @ Echoplex
DECISION:
I've been trying to catch up with The World Record ever since they wowed me last April at Spaceland, and here's a chance to see them for free with Le Switch at "Spaceland On Ice" in Pershing Square. (Thanks to Benjamin Hoste for the photo above)
As a real fan of bands that clap I would like to attend The Phenomenal Handclap Band at The Echo but don't see how I'll be able get from Pershing Square in time.
Another show I'd have high expectations for is Molino and Space Waves at Silver Lake Lounge, both bands I'm anxious to see.
Thursday, January 14
- The Pee Wee Herman Show @ Nokia Theatre
- Julia Nunez, Danny Tieger, Make Moon @ The Echo
- Man/Miracle @ Origami Vinyl
- The Daylights, Golden State, Apollo Run, The Spring Standards, Kelly Dalton @ Hotel Cafe
- Van Dyke Parks, Clare & the Reasons, Josh Mease @ McCabe's
- Steven Severin "Blood of a Poet" @ Silent Movie Theatre
- Alberta Cross, Hacienda, The Jakes @ The Troubadour
- Creedle, Upsilon Acrux @ Bootleg Theatre
- Twilight Sleep, The Arms, A Decent Animal, Red Tide @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Kimya Dawson, Your Heart Breaks, Angelo Spencer @ The Smell
- The Builders and the Butchers, Blue Giant, Mia Riddle @ Spaceland
- The Cigarette Bums, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Robert James @ L'Keg
- The Fresas, Toy Robot, Canons and Clouds, The Antiques, Franklin Music School @ Mr. T's Bowl
DECISION:
Seven Severin, of Siouxsie and the Banshees, is presenting his film scores for experimental and silent films at the Silent Movie Theatre tonight and tomorrow night. His dark brooding score for the 1928 surrealist film, The Seashell and the Clergyman tonight and his new score for Jean Cocteau's Blood of the Poet (at right) on Thursday. Fresh scores for old silent films is a movement I very much support and would like to see grow, as it breathes new life into a too-often forgotten art form. Van Dyke Parks has certainly done his share of film work. Reading Robert Altman's biography recently, I was surprised to be reminded he had worked on the arrangements of Harry Nilsson 's score for Popeye in 1980. He's appearing tonight at McCabe's.
I've seen Portland's The Builders and the Butchers and they play a wonderful theatrical brand of Americana folk rock that sounds like it comes from a party on a pirate ship, worth catching tonight at Spaceland. Or there's another set by the unstoppable Manhattan Murder Mystery at L'Keg.
Friday, January 15
- State Radio, The Aggrolites @ El Rey
- Jesca Hoop, Andy Clockwise, Brother Sal, Steve Reynolds, Chris Milam @ Hotel Cafe
- M31, Stab City & Not The Government @ 5011 Warehouse
- Richard Shindell, Antje Duvekot @ McCabe's
- The Pee Wee Herman Show @ Nokia Theatre
- Abe Vigoda, Alps of New South Wales, Dunes @ Echo Curio
- Club Underground w/ Psychic Powers, Evan Voytas @ The Echo
- Jackie Greene, Truth & Salvage Co. @ The Troubadour
- New Planets, Tigers Can Bite You, Luke Janela, Modern Time Machines @ Pehrspace
- Night Horse, Dusted Angel, Normandie @ Spaceland
- Throwing Seven, Black Sequin Disaster, Siva Noir, Street Spirit, Native June @ Mr. T's Bowl
- Mount Righteous, Seasons @ Bootleg Theatre
DECISION:
Lot's of shows all over, but many are bands I'm not familiar with yet, so I'll push Jesca Hoop, playing for the Andy Clockwise residency at Hotel Cafe tonight. Andy Clockwise continues every Friday for the rest of the month. Local favorites, Seasons, drop by Bootleg Theatre for a set.
Saturday, January 16
- The Pee Wee Herman Show @ Nokia Theatre (matinee at 4:30)
- FYF presents AA Bondy, Nik Frantis, Willy Mason @ The Echo
- Asobi Seksu, Coby Brown, Yellow Red Sparks, The Janks, Dewi Sant @ Hotel Cafe
- My American Heart - Final LA Show, AJ Rafael, On The Surface, Polaris At Noon @ The Troubadour
- Jesse Sykes & Phil Sandscher @ McCabe's
- Moze Allison @ Largo at the Coronet
- Radars to the Sky, The Voyeurs, Oliver Future, Tigers Can Bite You @ Dakota Lounge
- Rickie Lee Jones @ Vista Theatre
- Foot Foot, The Finches, Ash Reiter, Loyal Sons and Daughters @ Echo Curio
- Hockey, Asa Ransom, Eastern Conference Champions @ Spaceland
- Meho Plaza, SISU, boxViolet, soccoro @ Pehrspace
- Merry Christmas, Les Blanks, Roman Candles, + special guests @ L'Keg
- Mike Watt & His Second Men @ Redwood Bar
- Papa, Slang Chickens @ Bootleg Theatre
- The Condors, Cue the Moon, ExDetectives, Wet and Reckless, Plus 1 Band @ Mr. T's Bowl
DECISION:
Dakota Lounge has a great bill with Radars To the Sky, The Voyeurs, Tigers Can Bite You and George Glass for a good cause. Hockey, about to embark on a European tour, appear with Asa Ransom and Eastern Conference Champions in what will be a good show at Spaceland as well. Les Blanks play L'Keg.
Sunday, January 17
- Orphan Fairytale, Dolphins Into The Future, Eekhorn X, Helmutmut, James Ferraro @ L'Keg
- Moze Allison @ Largo at the Coronet
- The Pee Wee Herman Show @ Nokia Theatre (matinee at 4)
- Hell Ya! Presents Adam Franklin & The Bolts Of Melody, Rabbits, The Arms @ Spaceland
- Driftwood Reunion Band, Parker Ainsworth, Son of a Velvet Rat, + TBA @ Hotel Cafe
- Andrew Jackson Jihad, Kepi Ghoulie, Partners in 818 @ Echo Curio
- Repeater, Deep Sleep Ops, Scattered Like Birds @ Dakota Lounge
- Castanets, Tiger Saw, Alps of New South Whales, Bridges Academy Rock Recital @ Bootleg Theatre
- The Yummy Fur, Neverever @ The Echo
DECISION:
Should head over to Dakota Lounge for Deep Sleep Ops, who show a tremendous potential, based on their myspace samples. I knew them when they were Golden Ratio, but like the new psychedelic/shoegaze direction their taking.
Let me know what I missed: RFSLshowlistings@gmail.com
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