by Brad Roberts
In spite of the fact it could be seen coming from a hundred miles away, the death of Whitney Houston still came as a shock, as members of the local music community took to facebook to express what she had meant to them in their formative years. I don't think I had been aware of the extent of her influence. Sadly, the price of celebrity can be costly.
Meanwhile, this week is a bit more normal than we have seen thus far this year. After seven straight weeks of multiple concerts every night, you can actually take a day off or two, or at least not have to see more than one each night. Except for Saturday night which includes a Sara Radle record release, shows with Eastern Conference Champions, The Lonely Wild and Death To Anders continue their residency at Casey's Bar with Downtown Union.
The "Valentines Day Song Massacre" sounds like just the kind of Valentines Day party I'd like. A collection of some of the best songwriters in town singing anti-love songs at The Echo to counteract the usual syrupy nature of the traditional Valentines Day.
There's another chance to catch Aaron Embry at the Judson McKinney residency on Monday at Silver Lake Lounge, some nice choices for Valentines Day on Tuesday, and Lavender Diamond plays The Troubadour on Thursday.
Monday, February 13
- Judson McKinney, The Far West, Aaron Embry, Escalator Hill @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Dorian Wood, Anya Skidan, Fredrik, Electric Church Trio @ Hotel Cafe
- NO record release @ Origami Vinyl
- Electric Guest, Cuckoo Chaos, Summer Camp, Haim @ The Echo
- Incan Abraham, NIghtmare & the Cat, The Pity Party, High Rise @ Bootleg Bar
- Milo Greene, Family of the Year, Maniac, Handshakes @ The Satellite
- "Black Sabbath" formerly known as "Earth", Infernal Damnation, Ace Diamond Experience @ Pehrspace
- "School Night!" w/ Walk The Moon, Lady Danville EP release party, Liam Bailey @ Bardot
DECISION:
The week starts out with a bang, as usual, with lots of choice residencies. Of course I'm recommending the Judson McKinney gig at Silver Lake Lounge since Aaron Embry (at right) is on the bill, along with Escalator Hill. Aaron Embry dazzled at Hotel Cafe a couple of weeks ago, as I wrote here, and I'm looking forward to revisiting that experience. The other residencies offer temptations like The Pity Party on the Incan Abraham show at Bootleg Bar or Family of the Year with Milo Greene at The Satellite. NO celebrate a record release early in the evening at Origami Vinyl.
Tuesday, February 14
- "Valentine's Day Song Massacre" w/ Grant Langston, Driftwood Singers, Matt Adams & The Blank Tapes, Death To Anders, Aaron Kyle, Aaron Ballard, Soft Swells, Fort King and more @ The Echo
- Audra Mae, Wise Cub @ The Satellite
- The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Vacationer @ Echoplex
- Sister Rogers, The Americans @ Harvard & Stone
- Islands record release show , Idiot Glee @ Bootleg Bar
- Night Jeans, Masxs, Maston, Dandelo @ Silver Lake Lounge
- You Me At Six, The Swellers, Twin Atlantic, We Are The Ocean @ The Troubadour
- Mind The Gap, Saint Sea Hat, SeanShan, Danni Rosner @ The Central
- Saint Motel @ The Belasco Theatre
- Liam Bailey, Matthew Good, Emily Greene, King Washington @ Hotel Cafe
- Daniel Ahearn & The Jones, The Sweet Hurt, Monsters Calling Home, Correatown @ The Mint
DECISION:
A lot of great singers raise their voices in song all over town tonight. I like the sound of the "Valentines Day Song Massacre" at The Echo featuring such sterling artists as Grant Langston, Driftwood Singers, Fort King and so many others. Terrific show at The Central tonight with Mind The Gap, Saint Sea Hat and SeanShan. Daniel Ahearn & The Jones (shown at right), who really blew my mind when I heard them last week at The Echo, play at The Mint with more strong vocal bands, The Sweet Hurt and Correatown.
Wednesday, February 15
- Bombay Bicycle Club, The Darcys, Lucy Rose @ El Rey
- Meiko, Milow, Chris Shinn, Olly Hite, Mark Ballas @ Hotel Cafe
- Brothers of Brazil w/ special guests @ The Central
- David Nail, Tyler Hilton @ The Troubadour
- Nacosta, Freshly Watered Sidewalks, Jack Fris Radio Choir @ The Satellite
- Bachsung, Aftergloam, Sketch Monster @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Las Cafeteras, Irene Diaz + Mucho DJ's @ The Echo
- Liquid Love Letter, John Gold, Stephen Sowan @ Bootleg Bar
DECISION:
Nacosta headline an interesting bill at The Satellite and Backsung offer space age dance music that sounds like it comes from the future of Blade Runner. John Gold is a singer/songwriter I can recommend most highly. His catchy music really won me over when I saw him last June and you should check him out tonight at Bootleg Bar.
Thursday, February 16
- Dreams., Chrome Sparks, Pageants @ Space 15 Twenty
- Harper Blynn, White Dress, Mia Maestro, Keaton Simons, Erin McLaughlin @ Hotel Cafe
- My Brightest Diamond, Lavendar Diamond @ The Troubadour
- Tammy Faye Starlite as Nico in Chelsea Madchen @ Bootleg Bar
- Howlin Rain, The Allah-Las, Neal Casal @ The Echo
- Jeff Taylor, Rainbow Jackson, Owenstone, Monstro Flora @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Bixby Knolls video release, The Sister Ruby Band, Magic Wands @ Harvard & Stone
DECISION:
Happy to see Lavender Diamond (at right) back out around town, and tonight Becky Stark's band is on stage at The Troubadour, opening for another gem of a band, My Brightest Diamond. There's also an early show at Space 15 Twenty presented by Jaxart and Absent Fever with Dreams. and Pageants. Over at Harvard & Stone, The Bixby Knolls are celebrating a video release with The SIster Ruby Band.
Friday, February 17
- Andy Clockwise, Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, C-Gak, Kingvolt, Jeff Taylor @ Hotel Cafe
- Neutral Uke Hotel, Michael Epstein Memorial Library, Golden Bloom, Miracle Parade @The Echo
- Tammy Faye Starlite as Nico in Chelsea Madchen @ Bootleg Bar
- Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks @ McCabe's (8 & 10 PM)
- Phutureprimative, Helicopter showdown, Chris Loren, Virtu @ The Central
- Ryan Adams @ Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Viza, Orkestar Meze, Super Black Market, Soap, Tangent Transmission @ The Troubadour
- Wizard Rock Festival @ El Rey
- Lost Lander, Warm Weather @ The Satellite
- Blue Jungle, Catwalk @ The Smell
- Nostalghia, Ezra Buchla, Infinite Body, Tremellow @ Home Room
- Salvation, Tempe SS, Francis Harold, NASA, Low Places @ Five Stars Bar
- Space Age Bachelor, Poppet, Habits, Letters @ Pehrspace
- Mad Planet @ Bootleg Bar
DECISION:
Andy Clockwise (right) is back at Hotel Cafe where he seems to play with amazing regularity. A lot of new and interesting sounding bands are everywhere from Pehrspace to The Central and a band that gave me great pleasure and amusement with their recordings in the 1970s, Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks are still around (or around again?) and performing at McCabe's.
Saturday, February 18
- Future Dancing, The Lonely Wild, Jonny Corndawg @ The Satellite
- Sara Radle record release, Kissing Cousins, The Damselles @ Pehrspace
- Youngblood Hawke, Eastern Conference Champions, Finish Ticket, Jesse Kivel (DJ set) @ The Central
- Tammy Faye Starlite as Nico in Chelsea Madchen @ Bootleg Bar
- Death To Anders, Downtown Union, The Son and the Sea @ Casey's Bar
- The Fling @ Bootleg Bar
- Retox, Doomsday Dtudent, Secret Fun Club, Spider Fever @ The Smell
- Nicole Eva Emery, Rainman, Lia Rose, Kelly McFarling, Nettie Rose @ Lot 1
- Cake @ Hollywood Palladium
- Emily Wells, Rugged Nuggets @ The Echo
- David Lindley @ McCabe's
- Mayday Parade, We The Kings, The Downtown Fiction, Anarbor @ El Rey
- Savannah Phillips, Erik Anders, Major F & Dealo, Tracy Thomas @ The Troubadour
DECISION:
Tonight is deadly! First of all there's the Death To Anders residency at Casey's Bar downtown, with Downtown Union tonight, but I'd really like to attend the Sara Radle record release at Pehrspace. Seen at right, Sara has been contributing her talents to Walking Sleep for a couple of years now, but her solo work is notable as well. Other great female vocal talent will be on display as well with Kissing Cousins and The Damselles sharing the bill. There's also The Lonely Wild with Future Ghost at The Satellite and Eastern Conference Champions at The Central with Youngblood Hawke.
Sunday, February 19
- David Lindley @ McCabe's
- Hi Ho Silver Oh, Keychain @ Echo Country Outpost
- The Makepeace Brothers, The Empty Pockets, Brothers of Brazil, Clark Graham, Danni Rosner & more @ Hotel Cafe
- Broadcast Station, Cave Country, David Rosales @ Bootleg Bar
- Dirty Candy, Chris Allen & The Dirty Pots, Stop Revolt, Sullied RIver Band @ Time Warp Music
- My Empty Phantom, Black Sea, Dirty Harriet And The Swamis, Bronson Caves @ The Smell
- Vektor, Witchaven, Exmortus @ The Echo
DECISION:
I haven't seen Cave Country (at right) in a while, but have always enjoyed their indie alt country which can be heard at Bootleg Bar tonight, along with Broadcast Station. Hi Ho Silver Oh are out at the Echo Country Outpost.
More shows?
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