The L.A. Show Low Down (Or: "Love Will See Us Through Till Something Better Comes Along...")

by Brad Roberts

We're swinging into the summer festival season with a couple of events this coming weekend, starting with the Santa Monica Festival 2012 on Saturday which is a celebration of Santa Monica with seminars, games, workshops and music by the likes of La Santa Cecilia and Vaud & the Villains. It begins at 11 AM at Clover Park. On Sunday, the city of West Hollywood sponsors a street festival called  The Hudson Block Party which sounds like a real blowout with lots of great music by White Rabbits, Saint Motel, Little Hurricane among many others, and vendors, street artists and food. (Now that I've listed the correct festival, I urge you to go)

Some nice shows out there this week starting with The Henry Clay People headlining Chris Douridas and MFG's  "School Night!" at Bardot on Monday. One of my favorite bands, Great Lake Swimmers are back in town for a Friday show at The Troubadour and a big Broadway show on Wednesday are on my agenda for the week which finishes up with the Torches Record Release Show at The Satellite on Sunday night.

Last week was highlighted by a terrific show at The Satellite on Thursday night for Little Red Lung's EP Release Show. Seasons delivered a nice set which included two new tunes, Little Red Lung weaved a powerful magical spell with a sweeping orchestral flourish, and the evening was capped by an extraordinary performance by a one man typhoon called Dorian Wood and his dynamic band. Saturday Radio Free Silver Lake hosted a well-attended opening of a fantastic photo exhibit at the 1650 Gallery in Echo Park. Highlighting the work of about 16 photographic artists who record the local music scene in such a huge and varied range of styles, the exhibit preserves this moment in time for the ages. Thanks to everyone who came out and especially to the musicians, Ryan Fuller, Rob Danson, Kelli Noftle, Andrew Spitzer, and a special nod to The Smugg Brothers, who dragged religious revivalism, kicking and screaming, into the mix.

Monday, May 14

- "School Night!" w/ The Henry Clay People, Les Deux Love Orchestra, Brandon + Leah, Alaska Reid @ Bardot

- Caught a Ghost, Sweaters, The Neighborhood, Owenstone @ The Satellite

- Baron Von Luxxury, Harlan, HexOhHexOh, Blondfire @ The Echo

- Harriet, Chasing Kings, Pratley, Busy Living @ Bootleg Bar

- Meiko Record Release Show w/ Jesse Thomas, Count, Xenia Dunford & The Eastern Exile @ Hotel Cafe

- LP @ The Grammy Museum

- Natasha Leggero @ Largo at the Coronet

- Philanthro LA w/ Kissing Tigers and Special Guests @ The Central

- The Drums, Craft Spells, Part Time @ El Rey

- Sean Carnage presents Tremellow release party, Signals, Batwings Catwings, Stripper Pussy @ Pehrspace

DECISION:

I'm going to go out to see The Henry Clay People play Hollywood at Bardot as part of this week's edition of "School Night!". It should be a fun night with Les Deux Love Orchestra providing an unusual detour from the usual fare. Described as an all-star orchestra, they play music as diverse as Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, even the B-52's. This will be a delectable musical smorgasbord.  The Monday residencies continue at Bootleg Bar, The Satellite and The Echo with Harriet, Caught a Ghost and Baron Von Luxxury respectively.

The Drums play the first of two sold out shows at El Rey tonight, with another show set for tomorrow, touring on the strength of their new album, Portamento.

Tuesday, May 15

- Meiko Record Release Show w/ Tim Myers, Harper Blynn, John DeLore @ Hotel Cafe

- Spirit Vine, Dead Dawn, Black Flamingo, Gothic Tropic @ The Echo

- The Drums, Craft Spells, Part Time, Bryan Davidson @ El Rey

- Isabella Brent, ou Jane, Jayson Landon Marcus, Ugly, Ugly Words @ Lot 1

- Los Creepers, Waterhead, Morgan Freeman Fight Club, Deadend Stiffs @ Redwood Bar

- Emily Wells record release, Portland Cello Project @ Largo at the Coronet

- Black Dice @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts

- Austin Borwn, Irontom, Monsters Calling Home, The Band Droidz @ The Central

- Ane Brun, Gemma Ray, Elin Ruth Sigvardsson @ The Troubadour

- Wicklow Atwater and the Fallen, Flame, Family Album, Mike Quinn @ The Satellite

- Light Asylum, Chelsea Wolfe, TEARIST, Violent Tremors @ Echoplex

- Summer Darling, Silian Rail, Arms of Tripoli, Blonde Summer @ Bootleg Bar

- The Record Company, Johnny Moezzi @ Harvard & Stone

DECISION:

Great bill at The Echo with a bunch of bands that sound like they're inspired by horror movie titles: Spirit Vine (at right), Dead Dawn, Black Flamingo and Gothic Tropic. They sound like alternate titles for Spirits of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Black Swan  and I Walked With a Zombie. Though if I tell the truth, Black Swan seemed more like a comedy than a thriller to me. I mean, really, talk about silly, over-cooked movies! It seemed like it had been directed by Carrie's mother.

Get in the spirit of the coming season by heading on over to the Bootleg, where we get Summer Darling and Blonde Summer on the same bill .

Wednesday, May 16

- Portugal The Man w/ Members of UCLA Philharmonic, Haim, The Ten Thousand @ Royce Hall

- The Belle Brigade @ The Grammy Museum

- "Desert Nights" w/ Harper Blynn, Sydney Wayser, Anthony Polcino @ The Standard

- Leftover Cuties Record Release Show w/ Special Guests, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Mike Bloom, Clark Graham @ Hotel Cafe

- The Heavy Guilt @ Origami Vinyl

- Daniel Hart, Paulene, Hi Ho Silver Oh @ Echo Country Outpost

- Vanish Valley, Service Group, Jim Bowers and Special Guests! @ The Down and Out Bar

- Yellow Alex and The Feelings, Gaving Turek, Maniac @ Bootleg Bar

- Tic Tic Boom!, Y LUV, Beatnik Jr. @ Lot 1

- The Pinker Tones, The Sigularity, Mexican Dubwiser @ El Rey

- The BoDeans, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers @ The Troubadour

DECISION:

Lots of really good shows all over the place tonight. Tic Tic Boom! at Lot 1, The Belle Brigade have a show at The Grammy Museum and Vanish Valley are at The Down and Out. Portugal The Man have a spectacular show at UCLA's Royce Hall performing with the accompaniment of the UCLA Philharmonic.

But I have to be allowed a self indulgence here. Tonight I have a ticket to go to the Ahmanson to see the new revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical, Follies. This is something of a milestone for me since it was 41 years ago that I saw the original production of this landmark musical while it was trying out in Boston ( February, 1971) on it's way to Broadway. (original poster at left) My friends and I ate brownies that night before the show, not realizing that we were about to see the world's first hallucinatory musical where all the characters would be followed around on stage by the ghosts of their former selves. Where the whole show would break down three quarters of the way through and the four main characters would take turns performing their own personal "folly", revealing the terrible truths about themselves that they've been trying to avoid throughout the evening. It turned out to be the perfect combination. Follies was breathtaking, exhilarating and quite decidedly the most astonishing night I ever spent in a theatre. I remember seeing Director Hal Prince, Stephen Sondheim and Choreographer/Co-director, Michael Bennett standing together surveying the crowd from a corner as we left. The audience seemed equal parts indignant and enraptured and they looked worried. I never missed another Stephen Sondheim show after that. Poster for the new production at right.

Thursday, May 17

- The Dandy Warhols, Sleepy Sun, 1776 @ The Wiltern

- Peter Bradley Adams, Jake Newton, Sydney Wayser, The Days Weight, The Lusitania, James Bowers @ Hotel Cafe

- Mike Mcready, Mistress of Reality @ The Troubadour

- Pangea, King Lollipop, Blue Jungle, Shark Toys @ Blue Star

- "Get Yer Rocks Off" w/ Wallburds, The Hectors, Brutus Gets The Girl @ The Grand Star Jazz Club

-  Alcoholic Faith Mission, You Won't, Noah and the Megafauna @ The Satellite

- Ana Tijoux, DJ Ethos, 2Mex, Los Rakas @ The Echo

- Beach Fossils, Catwalk @ Echoplex

- Dum Dum Girls, Young Prisms, SISU @ Pappy and Harriet's

- Hundred Waters, ESP, The Tenant @ Bootleg Bar

DECISION:

Last week The Brian Jonestown Massacre played The Wiltern, so tonight, their frienemies The Dandy Warhols (see Dig) take to the same stage. Charisma and talent pour out of this high-energy band and they're a lot of fun live.  The Grand Star Jazz Club plays host to The Hectors, who played a fantastic set at the Downtown/Union Casey's residency last month, and they're opening for Wallburds for "Get Yer Rocks Off". I love the way The Hectors (shown at right outside The Satellite) are constantly evolving and one is never sure where they'll go next.

Friday, May 18

- Best Coast, Abe Vigoda, Jeff The Brotherhood @ The Wiltern

- Great Lake Swimmers, Cold Specks @ The Troubadour

- Garrison Starr record release, Brother Sal & The Devil May Care, Kasey Anderson, Star Anna, Rob Giles, Erin McLaughlin @ Hotel Cafe

- Norse Horse record release @ Origami Vinyl

- Shelby Lynne @ McCabe's

- The Boxer Rebellion, Canon Blue, DJ Bryan Davidson @ El Rey

- Khaira Arby and her Band, Peaking Lights, Moon Pearl @ The Satellite

- Suckers, Vanaprasta, Young Man @ The Echo

- Chappo, Kitten, Red Circle Underground @ Bootleg Bar

- Dum Dum Girls, Tamaryn, Young Prisms, SISU @ Echoplex

- Karl?, Joe Jane Band, Thy Squid, Mr. Elevator and the Brain Hotel, Fancy Space People @ Mr. T's Bowl

- Treasure Mammal, Colony, Summer Twins, 3 1/2 Bangs And Britches, Grandma's Son @ The Smell

DECISION:

Tremendously looking forward to Great Lake Swimmers at The Troubadour tonight. This Canadian band only come through town every couple of years or so and I see them every time. The
somber chamber-folk written by Tony Dekker is nearly cathartic in it's quiet power, and gorgeously orchestrated for his band that includes both an upright bass and violin for a sweeping cinematic atmosphere. Their new album, New Wild Everywhere, is a subtle grabber and represents a definite growth and maturity. It took a few listenings before the songs became part of my inner reservoir of music and now they stalk me in my dreams. It's weird to wake up in the dead of the night and find you're in the middle of a song in your head, and that happens to me a lot with this band.

Best Coast plays the big time Wiltern tonight, bringing Abe Vigoda with them.    

Saturday, May 19

- Santa Monica Festival 2012 @ Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd. (11 AM)

- "Saturdays Off The 405" w. Dum Dum Girls @ The Getty Center

- Alexandra & The Starlight Band @ Origami Vinyl

- Oak & Gorski, Neon Hymns, Davis Fetter, Dogs and Bones, Trevor McShane @ Hotel Cafe

- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Darcys @ El Rey

- Seasons, The Kris Special, WALK, Psychic Friend @ The Smell

- The Paul F. Tompkins Show @ Largo at the Coronet

- Eric Hutchinson, Graffiti6 @ The Troubadour

- Shelby Lynne @ McCabe's

- Plants And Animals, Warships, Kasey Anderson and Star Anna @ The Satellite

- Charlyne Yi, Day Moon, Alicia Murphy, Many Distant Cities @ Home Room

- Lee Fields & the Expressions, Cody Chesnutt, Naytronix @ Echoplex

- Very Be Careful, Mexico68 @ Bootleg Theatre

- Paul Prado's Animal Raps and guests @ Casey's Bar

DECISION:

A couple of festivals kick off this weekend with the Santa Monica Festival 2012 in Clover Park. This is an activity-based event which also features live musical performances by Dustbowl Revival, La Santa Celilia, and Vaud & the Villains, dance by Lux Aeterna, as well as workshops, contests and activities for a family-friendly day. Tonight Seasons play The Smell and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are at El Rey.

Sunday, May 20

- The Hudson Block Party 2012 @ The Hudson, 1114 N. Crescent Heights Blvd. (11 AM)

- Grand Ole Echo w/ Bob Woodruff, Ben Vaughn's Desert Classic, TBA @ The Echo (5 PM)

- Angela McCluskey Record Release Show w. Special Guests, Tongue & Groove @ Hotel Cafe

- Bright Beast @ Origami Vinyl

- The Holmes Brothers @ McCabe's

- U.K. @ El Rey

- Electric Children, Brainspoon, Plainfield Butchers, The Romps @ Redwood Bar

- Torches "Head Full Of Rust" record release party, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Tenlons Fort, Joey Siara @ The Satellite

- Monica Lionheart, El May, Daniel Ahearn & The Jones @ Bootleg Bar

- Stage Kids, Miscellaneous Ailments, Rubberneck Lions @ The Central

- Kill the Academy, Dead End Amelia, Absence of a Hero, Them Devils, Red Light Sky, Vas Defrans @ The Troubadour

DECISION:

Torches have the show of the night with a Record Release Show for Heads Full Of Rust at The Satellite which welcomes Jack Gibson back to L.A. with a performance by Tenlons Fort. Manhattan Murder Mystery and Joey Siara make it a powerhouse foursome. But first you may want to catch the debut performance of a new band called Bright Beast, with members of George Glass, The Transmissions and One Trick Pony at Origami Vinyl at 7 PM. Then head over to The Satellite.

Today's all day festival is The Hudson Block Party on Crescent Heights in West Hollywood which boasts a musical line up that includes White Rabbits, Haim and The Neighbourhood. This sounds like a blast!

(I fixed this post...I was promoting last year's show. I hate it when that happens...)

Comments

[Mark]

there is one additional show to add to the busy wednesday as Henry Clay People venture a little south and play Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach on 5/16