by Brad Roberts
The Satellite presents the first show at the newly (and sporadically for the moment) re-named club that was once Spaceland, with Lower Heaven inaugurating the new name on Friday night. Actually, it will either be Spaceland some nights and The Satellite on others, or Satellite presents shows at Spaceland for the time being, or whatever, depending on which website you visit. At the moment tickets for upcoming events appear to be available through both Ticketweb (which still calls it Spaceland) and Ticketfly (which is already calling it The Satellite). Rather than add to the already overworked controversy, I will reserve judgement till I test the waters for myself.
Less controversial will be the final night of this month's residency of The Californian for Radio Free Silver Lake's Free Tuesday's at LaBrie's featuring great support from Le Switch and Tigerbitch. This has turned out to be much more fun than I expected and the support from the music community has been phenomenal and encouraging.
I have wondered how an experimental band like The Books would recreate their intricate, complex music and sound constructions in a live setting and I will get the chance to find out Monday night when they play with The Black Heart Procession at The Fonda. The Frames are Glen Hansard's original band before The Swell Season overwhelmed his career, and I saw then on a turn through town a couple of years ago. Playing The WIltern on Tuesday, they are more rocking and less pensive/thoughtful than The Swell Season, but the high quality of writing is just what you would expect.
For those who can't get enough Pink Floyd, Roger Waters performs The Wall Monday and Tuesday and again on Sunday at Staples Center.
Monday, November 29
- The Books, The Black Heart Procession @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Chasing Kings, Woolen, Francisco the Man, Jake Troth, Toy Bombs @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Rescues (residency), Sally Jay, John Elliot, Threes and Nines @ Hotel Cafe
- The Black Apples, Jail Weddings, My Pet Saddle, Dante Vs. Zombies @ The Echo
- Roger Waters: The Wall live @ Staples Center
- Standing Shadows, Scraping For Change, Oh My Stars, Death Kit @ The Troubadour
- Corima, The Symbolick Jews, Anomalie & the Speakeasy Earth, Use Value @ Pehrspace
- Dirt Dress, Allah Las, Cum Stain, Oh Darling @ Spaceland
DECISION:
I was going to see The Books (at right) last year when they played at Hollywood Forever last November but circumstances got in the way and I missed it. In preparing for this show I picked up their new CD, The Way Out and it certainly is challenging, experimental rock, but I can't wait to see what kind of performance art is involved in making their dense spoken word and sound tapestries come to life. I hope my brain doesn't explode or I come out of there permanently warped. An added bonus is The Black Heart Procession as the opening act at The Fonda, since they have been a longtime favorite of mine. Chasing Kings, Dirt Dress and The Black Apples end their November residencies tonight, all with very strong supporting bands.
Tuesday, November 30
- The Californian, Le Switch, Tigerbitch @ LaBrie's
- MSQUARED - Music Against MS w/ Wires in the Walls, The Whiskey Saints, Adrian Vera, Black Crystal Wolf, Kids, Greg Daponte & more @ Hotel Cafe
- Faith No More, Redd Kross, Mariachi Los Toros, Selena Luna @ Hollywood Palladium
- The Frames, Tim Easton @ The Wiltern
- Grinderman, Armen Ra @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Roger Waters: The Wall Live @ Staples Center
- T. Mills, Dez, Joffe Black, Furious + The Static Shock, Jon Dos, Dre C, Eric Ryan Elliott @ THe Troubadour
- New Kingdom, Knee High, Nathaniel Fregoso and the Bountiful Hearts, Xdao @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Kitten, A House For Lions @ The Echo
- Les Blanks, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Coyol @ Spaceland
DECISION:
Tonight is the last night of our November residency by The Californian and they have gone well over and above the call of duty in their commitment to the shows. They set the bar very high indeed for professionalism and excellence in both management and performance. Tonight Radio Free Silver Lake welcomes Le Switch, with a hot new EP release, and Tigerbitch (above), who I hear great things about from Joe's interview, here. They're all sharing the bill at LaBrie's, starting at nine. Another good show in town is offered by Les Blanks and Manhattan Murder Mystery over at Spaceland.
A couple of big shows are put on by The Frames at The WIltern and Grinderman at the Henry Fonda. Oh, and The Wall.
Wednesday, December 1
- The Abyssinians @ Echoplex
- Miracle Parade, Pierre De Reeder, Jerry Borge, The Distraction Fit @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Faith No More, Redd Kross, Mariachi Los Toros, Selena Luna @ Hollywood Palladium
- EVE 6, Dead Country @ The Troubadour
- CANCELLED: Einstürzende Neubauten @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Odd Future @ The Echo
- Little Stranger @ Tommy's Place
- Lucy Woodward, Justyna Kelley record release, Leftover Cuties, Sonos @ Hotel Cafe
DECISION:
Miracle Parade, at Silver Lake Lounge, is actually Christopher Pappas (at right), a recent transplant to Los Angeles, who sings lo-fi, rustic indie/folk, reminiscent of Great Lake Swimmers with interesting melodies and honest lyrics. The legendary Einstürzende Neubauten had to cancel their U.S. Tour due to Homeland Security problems, preventing their two night program with a straightforward concert at The Fonda and follow up tomorrow with a show at Echoplex which (was to be) an interactive participatory experience with Q & A sessions and workshops.
Thursday, December 2
- Everest, He's My Brother She's My Sister @ The Echo
- CANCELLED: Einstürzende Neubauten @ Echoplex
- David Ryan Harris & Bob Reynolds, The Young Romans record release, Jesse Thomas, Annmarie Solo @ Hotel Cafe
- Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Os Mutantes, Teen Inc @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Brooke Fraser, Sam Bradley @ El Rey
- John Butler Trio, The Beautiful Girls, Mat McHugh solo & acoustic @ The Wiltern
- Scarlet Grey, Killola, City (Comma) State, The Young Modern @ The Troubadour
- Hosannas, Gamble House, Hands @ Spaceland
- Cave Underwater, The Neo-kalashnikovs, Wherewithal + 2 Bands @ Mr. T's Bowl
- Last American Buffalo, The Steelwells, Pithy Sweet@ Silver Lake Lounge
DECISION:
Solid, early-Americana folk rock are the territory that Last American Buffalo successfully explore, and tonight they're at the Silver Lake Lounge. I saw Hands (shown on right) at The Echo last week and was impressed enough to recommend this show with Gamble House and Hosannahs at Spaceland. Another chance tonight to catch a band that has been hitting a home run every time they perform lately, and that would be Everest. They're at The Echo.
Friday, December 3
- Lower Heaven, Exploding Flowers, Jason Simon, LANTVRN @ The Satellite (NEW)
- Liz Pappademas, Friends @ Pehrspace
- Gestapo Khazi, FIDLAR, KAMIKAZI, The Hindu Pirates @ The Smell
- Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme @ Echoplex
- The Posies, Brendan Benson, Aqueduct @ Club Nokia
- Skyler Stonestreet, David and Devine, Jennifer Hirsh, Ciro Hurtado @ Room 5
- Ernie Halter, Uncle Daddy, Brett Young, Kathryn Ostenberg @ The Troubadour
- Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Dark Star Orchestra @ El Rey
- Charlie Hunter Trio @ The MInt
- Holly Conlan, Ry Cuming, Brother Sal, Vinnie Ferra, Erin McLaughlin, Kasey Anderson @ Hotel Cafe
- Atlas Sound @ The Echo
- Fences, Jenny O, Ragged Glory @ Bootleg Theatre
- Rock Cookie Bottoms, Derde Verde, Mind Meld, Lovelybones, Per Capita @ Mr. T's Bowl
DECISION:
The beautiful hazy psychedelia of Lower Heaven are an appealing opening for this place called The Satellite, who are bringing Lantvrn (at right) with them. More good shows are Atlas Sound at The Echo and Fences at the Bootleg Theatre. Brendan Benson is opening for The Posies at Club Nokia.
Saturday, December 4
- Luna Sea @ Hollywood Palladium
- Capital Cities, The Dirty Diamond, The Kepler Mission, Oh So Wild, The Nukes @ The Troubadour
- Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Harrisgrade, The Seventh Hour, Slant, Running Empty, Legal Tender @ El Rey
- Daylong Valleys of the Nile, Dunes, DIVA, Maja D'Aoust @ The Smell
- Foot Foot, Little Teeth, Slumber Beast, Moses Campbell @ Pehrspace
- The Swagger Sticks, King Cheetah, Captain Danger, The MuerTones, Fragile Gang @ Mr. T's Bowl
DECISION:
Daylong Valleys of the Nile is the offshoot band of a couple of members of Lavender Diamond, along with a Bedroom Wall, and they make just the kind of quality music you would expect from such pedigree and play tonight at The Smell. Moses Campbell will roar though Pehrspace along with Foot Foot.
Sunday, December 5
- Joe Firstman w/ Trey Lockerbie & Marianne Keith, Julian Velard, Elii Goldsmith, Edison Project@ Hotel Cafe
- Danko Jones, Hillbilly Herald, Lady Sinatra @ The Troubadour
- Mississippi Man, Rumspringa, The Howls, Dahga Bloom @ Bootleg Theatre
- Roger Waters: The Wall Live @ Staples Center
- One Trick Pony, Star Parts, Meredith Meyer @ Spaceland
- Devon Williams, The Mantles, Catwalk @ The Echo
DECISION:
Great choices for a Sunday evening are afforded by One Trick Pony (Randolph above), along with Meredith Meyer over at Spaceland and Mississippi Man at Bootleg... or, of course, The Wall again.
Let me know what I'm missing (or what to call Spaceland/Satellite) at: RFSLshowlistings@gmail.com
everest thursday at The Echo
Posted by: mark | November 29, 2010 at 07:56 AM
Little Stranger Wednesday at Tommy's Place/USC
Posted by: Disgruntled Poster who may or may not be a member of Little Stranger | November 29, 2010 at 09:33 PM