by Brad Roberts
Now that I've seen the documentary PASS THE MUSIC, and learned a lot more background on some of the bands I love, and the struggles they go through, I shall treat them with more respect in the future. And once again this week the locals dominate the music scene. Summer breaks out at the Seasons Monday night residency with the help of Manhattan Murder Mystery, The Health Club and Downtown Union. After learning more about their history and beginnings as a band in the documentary, I look forward to this show with high anticipation. It may be raining that night, but it will be a hot time at The Echo.
So many other bands have shows this week it's hard to keep up. The Belle Bridgade play an intimate set at the Touché residency at The Central on Tuesday. Hexham Heads, Light FM, The World Record, The Pity Party, The Californian and Kind Heart and Coronets are among the best shows of the week and Naive Thieves (seen above) play twice. I use their photo above to represent the fresh new bands that are still popping up in Los Angeles with alarming regularity, of which Naive Thieves is one of the best. WALK have an album release party on Friday at The Mezz. I loved this music when I saw WALK at Echo Curio a few years ago, and be sure to see Joe's post here.
Big band Wilco blazes through town with three sold out shows at three different venues. Tuesday at Hollywood Palladium, Wednesday at The Wiltern and they're back again on Friday for a sit down show at Los Angeles Theatre.
Monday, January 23
- Seasons, The Health Club, Downtown Union, Manhattan Murder Mystery @ The Echo
- Princeton, Doldrums, Koga (Evan of Chief) @ Bootleg Bar
- Chasing Kings, Chevin, The Californian, Nightmare and the Cat @ The Satellite
- Kusewera Benefit Show w/ Cary Brothers, Javier Dunn, Rafe Pearlman, Beth Thornley, Lindsey Ray, Ben Burgess, Reedefined, Dena Deadly @ Hotel Cafe
- "School Night!" w/ Har Mar Superstar, Evan Voytas, The Good Natured @ Bardot
- Vinnie Ferra, Caridee Endlish, Capra, Eric Lening @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Whispertown, Ryan Traster, Johnzo West @ Harvard & Stone
- Zenda Marie CD release party, Brett Farkas (of Lord Huron), Escalator Hill @ The Central
- I Hate You Just Kidding, Nicole Vaughn and Her Lovely Band, Tall Tales and the Silver Lining @ Constellation Room
- Psychic Handbook, Spacebum, Disco Bunny, Princess Whatever @ Pehrspace
DECISION:
Week four of the Seasons residency at The Echo tackles Summer, replete with beach balls, beach chairs and umbrellas. The Health Club, Downtown Union and Manhattan Murder Mystery will be assisting in the delusion that it's actually warm outside and the sun is shining. The 704 is presenting tonight.
Evan Voytas CD release at Bardot for "School Night!". Headliner in Har Mar Superstar. The Californian bring performance excellence to every one of their gigs and will do the same at the Chasing Kings residency at The Satellite tonight and Whispertown play Harvard & Stone.
Tuesday, January 24
- Touché, The Belle Brigade, Rich Aucoin, Harlan @ The Central
- Rumer w/ special guests, Brett Young record release show w/ The Jason Adamo Band & special guests @ Hotel Cafe
- Olin & the Moon and Maxim Ludwig, Cory Chisel, The Damn Sons, Jeff Crosby @ The Echo
- Wilco, White Denim @ Hollywood Palladium
- Light FM, Twilight Sleep, Auditorium @ The Viper Room
- Beta Scholar & friends @ Lot 1
- Last American Buffalo, Zodiac Death Valley, Spirit Vine @ Harvard & Stone
- Peachy Keene, Midnight Radio, Brook and River @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Tommy Keene, The World Record, Owens Valley Dynamite @ Bootleg Bar
DECISION:
I'm probably guilty of sounding like a broken record, but when Touché is offering The Belle Brigade (at right) at their residency at The Central tonight, I'm tempted to forgo all the other terrific shows tonight and recommend this again this week. So, go out to Santa Monica for a great chance to see The Belle Brigade in an intimate local setting, and as I've seen Barbara Gruska playing drums for Alex Lilly's other band, Obi Best, the pairing makes sense.
Other good shows are Olin and the Moon and Maxim Ludwig at The Echo and The World Record with Tommy Keene at Bootleg Bar or Last American Buffalo and Spirit Vine at one of my favorite new places, Harvard & Stone. The Viper Room opens its doors to indie rock again with Light FM, Twilight Sleep and Auditorium forming a terrific bill.
There's a big band that a lot of people love at Hollywood Palladium.
Wednesday, January 25
- Summer Twins record release, Naive Thieves @ Harvard & Stone
- Wilco, White Denim @ The Wiltern
- Alice Smith, Raining Jane, Jamestown Revival, Scott Mellis @ Hotel Cafe
- Alabama Shakes, Dry The River @ The Troubadour
- The Watkins Family Hour @ Largo at the Coronet
- Bowery Beasts, Zig Zags, Planet Around the Sun @ Bootleg Bar
- Fawn Spots, Warm Weather, Holy Roller, Muzz @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Pity Party, Deap Vally @ The Womb Room of The Night Gallery
- Gothic Tropic, Younglight @ The Satellite
- Y LUV, The Lucky Lonely, We are the Pilots @ The Central
- Guy Blakeslee, Prison For Kids, Los Angeles @ 3 of Clubs
DECISION:
Fun show announced for a place called The Night Gallery near Dodger Stadium. In a space based on a 1972 crocheted environment art exhibit called, The Womb Room, Julie Edward's two notoriously knit and crochet-clad bands, The Pity Party and Deap Vally play in this curiously comforting atmosphere. Naive Thieves are playing at Harvard & Stone, where I had such a good time at the Jason Simon show last Thursday.
Thursday, January 26
- Allah Las, Cellar Doors, Exploding Flowers @ The Satellite
- A Lull, Deleted Scenes, Ravenna Woods, Scott Lucas @ The Echo
- Hexhan Heads, The Bentleys + more TBA @ The Grand Star Jazz Club
- Celso Piña, Very Be Careful, El Sonido Callejero, DJ Handsome Devil @ The Troubadour
- Melody Federer, One Two featuring Jeremy Silver & Skyler Stonestreet, Me of a KInd and Earl Slick, Jenni Alpert @ Hotel Cafe
- Big Freedia, Franki Chan, BLOK @ Bootleg Bar
- Chairs Missing, Tropical Popsicle, Fawn Spots, Cardboard Lamb @ The Smell
- Mergence, The King's English, Cogito @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Wolves In the Throne Room, Chelsea Wolfe @ Echoplex
- Double Naught Spycar @ Taix Lounge
DECISION:
Powerful show over at The Satellite with Allah Las, Cellar Doors (is that a Hitchcock reference?), and Exploding Flowers and advertised with this beautiful poster art. And Hexham Heads are downtown at The Grand Star Jazz Club.
Friday, January 27
- Dengue Fever, Secret Chiefs 3 @ El Rey
- Lucinda Williams, Blake Mills @ Royce Hall
- Wilco, White Denim @ Los Angeles Theatre
- Jon Brion @ Largo at the Coronet
- WALK Album Release Show, Captions @ The Mezz
- Rocco Deluca, Jack and White EP release, Neon Hymns, Anna Nelson, Ruby Jane @ Hotel Cafe
- Vicky Cryer, LP @ The Troubadour
- Diego's Umbrella, Noah Lit & The Megafauna @ Echoplex
- The Shore, Socorro, Alex Johnstone, The Saline Solutions @ The Satellite
- Daedelus, Strangers Family Band, DJ Expo, Soulmarcosa, DJ Danny Holloway @ The Echo
- Dirt Dress, TraPs Ps, Holy Roller, Gorgon Zoloft @ The Smell
- Shack Up (DJs playing 'Strictly Vinyl') @ Barragan's
- Mike Viola, Bleu, Taylor Locke and the Roughs @ Bootleg Bar
DECISION:
Big shows with Wilco at the Los Angeles Theatre finishing off their three nights here in L.A., Lucinda Williams at Royce Hall and Dengue Fever at El Rey, but I would opt for the WALK release party downtown at The Mezz just to hear the incredible soundscapes he creates. Highly original. Read about it here.
Saturday, January 28
- They Might Be Giants: A Special Family Show @ Royce Hall (3 PM)
- They Might Be Giants: 30th Anniversary Show @ Royce Hall (8 PM)
- Anna Nalick, Dawn McCoy, Nina Storey, Jameson, Lisa Jones @ Hotel Cafe
- Lucy Kaplansky @ McCabe's
- Matt Skiba, Mike Park, Vittu @ The Troubadour
- Missions, Aparato, Kyle Neal, Butter @ Lot 1
- Graveyard, Radio Moscow, The Shrine @ Bootleg Theatre
- Keychain, Peter Pants, Kit, Colleagues @ The Smell
- Kind Heart and Coronets, Jubilee Singers @ Pehrspace
DECISION:
Two big shows at Royce Hall today with They Might Be GIants or I'd take in the Kind Hearts and Coronets set at Pehrspace. In fact that's probably the place to be on this fairly quiet Saturday night.
Sunday, January 29
- "Sunday Brunch" w/ Twin Owl, Naive Thieves, Sea Lions @ Lot 1 (12 noon)
- H2O, Rotting Out, Joyce Manor @ The Echo
- LA Font, The Ross Sea Party, Rogue Valley @ Bootleg Bar
- Lovers Drugs, Kayaks, Vinyl Party @ Hotel Cafe
- Ray Wylie Hubbard w/ special guest Brandy Zdan @ McCabe's
- Arrington de Dionyso, Larkin Grimm, Anna Oxygen, Emily Lacy@ The Smell
DECISION:
What a great idea to have a Sunday brunch over at Lot 1 and at the same time get to listen to wonderful music provided by the likes of Naive Thieves or Twin Owl. Who came up with this great idea? Later on in the day mosey on over to the Bootleg Bar for sets by The Ross Sea Party and LA Font, making a sweet, relaxed Sunday with some of the joys life in Los Angeles affords those of us lucky enought to be here at this point in time. Time for another documentary.
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