by Brad Roberts
Tumultuous occurrences in the outside world shook everything up a bit this week. The security was so intense at the Fleet Foxes concert at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday night, you would have thought we were attending a death metal band concert featuring members of al Qaeda. Nonetheless, I got to be right down front, and it was a great show, with some of the most extraordinary vocal harmonizing I've ever heard...and I've never seen that theatre so packed! This band is BIG. Most of the rest of their U.S. tour is sold out. And they're just as good as you want them to be, maybe even better. Together with the Calexico show at Echoplex last Wednesday, it made for a pretty great week of music.
Feed Your Head is celebrating with a 3rd Anniversary Show starring Torches In Trees at Lot 1 Cafe on Monday night, and I would not be here, writing this, were it not for Feed Your Head. I highlight this, not just for the purposes of self-aggrandizement, but I think it's going to be a damned good show. Check above to see who is playing. And the flyer goes with the headline quote. Newly transplanted local band, Lord Huron moves up to The Troubadour for a concert this Saturday. I have watched with great interest as their career has taken off over the last few months, and their success is well deserved.
Pinback are coming back through town Tuesday at El Rey and I'm making good on my vow never to miss an opportunity to see them. Kenseth Thibideau, who has performed in the Pinback touring band, opens the evening with his own compositions and band. I caught him at The Satellite a few months ago opening for Rob Crow, bought his wonderful CD, Repetition, and now I am as glad to see him as the headliners.
Be prepared for major partying when The Henry Clay People return to the local stage after a half year absence, playing two nights, Friday and Saturday, at The Satellite. There's a lot of competing shows both nights, but these celebratory high spirits are going to be hard to resist.
Monday, May 9
- KT Tunstall (the solo show), Charlie Mars, Meiko @ El Rey
- The Low Anthem, Ivan & Alyosha, Daniel Lefkowitz @ The Autry
- Kristeenyoung, Betty, Suzie Brown @ Hotel Cafe
- "Feed Your Head" 3rd Anniversary Party w/ Torches In Trees, Paulie Pesh, Judson, Avi Zahner Isenberg @ Lot 1 Cafe
- My Jerusalem, Michael Kingcaid @ Bootleg Bar
- Boy Hits Car, Cage 9, Midnite Theory, Spliff Tannen @ The Troubadour
- Brian Wright, Warhorse @ Bardot
- Mia Doi Todd @ The Broad Stage
- He's My Brother She's My Sister, Sister Rogers, Sweaters, The Pleasure Circus @ The Satellite
- The Bixby Knolls, Bowery Beasts, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians @ The Echo
- The Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Echoplex
- Roses Jade Camellia, Penelope Edmund, David Liebe Hart Band, Dream Being @ Pehrspace
- Taylor Locke & The Roughs, Ned Brower, Mike Viola @ Silver Lake Lounge
- White Arrows, Papa, J. Irvin Dally, Steffaloo @ Bootleg Bar
DECISION:
My own blog, Feed Your Head is celebrating it's Third Anniversary with a show over at Lot 1 Cafe tonight featuring one of my favorite up-and-coming bands, Torches In Trees, along with the ever-mind expanding sonic experimentation of Avi Zahner Isenberg. Judson continues his musical odyssey with a powerfully spot on backing band which includes John Seasons (shown at left), who put together this show, thank you very much. Paulie Pesh is a band I have yet to appreciate live, though I like their EP that they handed me. I'm especially pleased to be having this event at Lot 1 Cafe after that terrific write up in Brand X, congratulations are in order. And thanks to owner Eileen Leslie, who I suspect played a large part in putting this together as well. Although nothing can replace Echo Curio, I'm glad there's a spot available in the neighborhood for up-and-coming and untried talent. I'm feeling equal parts pride and humility. There's also a terrific show at The Echo for The Bixby Knolls residency with a band we haven't heard from for too long, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians. Another good show is at The Satellite with He's My Brother, She's My Sister continuing their residency with Sweaters on the bill.
Tuesday, May 10
- Mogwai, Errors @ The Mayan
- Persephone's Bees, Aaron Beaumont, Rachel Goodrich, Sean Kangataran @ Bootleg Bar
- Pinback, Kenseth Thibideau @ El Rey
- The Lonely Wild, Bellows, Escalator Hill, Instant People @ The Central
- Brian Whelan, Stephen Sowan, Jason Diaz @ Lot 1 Cafe
- Saint Sea Hat, Seasons, Parents, Moon Pearl @ The Echo
- Alberta Cross, Blonde Summer, Twilight Sleep, The Romany Rye, Brian Aubert (DJ set) @ The Satellite
- Zodiac Death Valley, Red Circle Underground, Neon Hymns, Deap Valley @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Wavves, Trash Talk, Franki Chan @ Echople
DECISION:
Pinback are at El Rey tonight and I suspect they'll be introducing some new material, as Rob Crow indicated to me last time we spoke, they're at work on songs for a new album. I have high expectations for this one and I can't resist the urge to put up this picture of them, at left, (shot by Danielle Bacher) from their stripped down show I attended at Detroit Bar last year during a tour that was cut short. (Zach became a father). Tonight, the 13th time I've seen them, they appear as a full band. It's almost six years since I first heard them and they became my favorite band, so it's hard to believe I once thought I'd be lucky if I saw them once. I've been incredibly lucky in that they enjoy playing L.A. so much. Kenseth Thibideau opens the evening. Mogwai are at The Mayan and there's a really interesting show at The Satellite with Alberta Cross, Blonde Summer, Twilight Sleep, The Romany Rye and DJ-ing by Brian Aubert.
Wednesday, May 11
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters @ The Wiltern
- Kevin Devine w/ The Wealthy West & special guests, Leighton Meester, Yellow Red Sparks @ Hotel Cafe
- Broken Numbers Band, The Far West, The Outdoors, The Orange Effect @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Coheed and Cambria @ Club Nokia
- Colin Hay record release @ Largo at the Coronet
- The Greenhornes, Jeff The Brotherhood, Wet Illustrated @ The Echo
- Jew Cocks, Gnarbaby, Masxs @ The Smell
- Anna Waronker, Psychic Friend, Moxy Thynx @ The Satellite
- Le Butcherettes, Agent Ribbons @ Bootleg Bar
DECISION:
Big shows tonight include Elvis Costello &The Imposters (at left) begins a two night stand at The Wiltern. Coheed & Cambria at Club Nokia and Colin Hay has a record release show at Largo at the Coronet. Locally, not so much, with the exception of an attractive show at Hotel Cafe with Kevin Devine and Yellow Red Sparks.
Thursday, May 12
- Eagle Rock Gospel Singers withJamie Drake and Aaron Ballard @ Lot 1 Cafe
- The Knitters, Slang Chickens @ The Autry
- "Disaster Relief Efforts in Japan Benefit" w/ Hands, The Goldberg Sisters, Corridor, Venus Illuminato @ Bootleg Bar
- Brian Wright, Kathryn Calder w/ Himalayan Bear, Breanne Duren, Larry Bagby and Brad Rabuchin and Jon Stone @ Hotel Cafe
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters @ The Wiltern
- Hayes Carll, The Romany Rye m@ The Troubadour
- Purple Melon, Jetstream, Wormburner @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Cars @ Hollywood Palladium
- Cold Cave release party @ Space 15 Twenty
- John Carpenter, Folk Riot, James Mulvey, The Cotillionaires @ 3 of Clubs
- Kutmah "Two Soups and a Honeybun" afterparty @ The Echo
- Lights In The Sky, Wolf Rage + 3 Bands @ Mr. T's Bowl
- The Watson Twins, Wrong Way Driver, Cubby Lovers @ The Satellite
DECISION:
Songbirds, The Watson Twins (above),are playing a date at The Satellite with Wrong Way Driver. Otherwise, big shows dominate the night with The Cars at Hollywood Palladium, The Knitters at The Autry, and Elvis Costello, again at The Wiltern.
Friday, May 13
- The Happy Casualties, Richard Sax Ross, Matthew Teardrop, Remote Consoler @ Lot 1 Cafe
- Seasons, Marvelous Toy @ Casey's Bar
- The Henry Clay People, Shadow Shadow Shade, Apex Manor, The Dig @ The Satellite
- Eli Rise' Birthday Creepshow w/ Ferras, Daniel Bedingfield, Taryn Manning, Jarvis Church, Ultraviolet Sound, Shawn Hlookoff; Jen Hirsh, Paige Nichols, Tim Blane @ Hotel Cafe
- Man Man, Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers @ El Rey
- The Kills, Cold Cave, The Entrance Band @ Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
- Urge Overkill, Astronaut Academy, Roll The Tanks @ The Troubadour
- John Maus, Geneva Jacuzzi, Holy Shit @ The Echo
- Penelope Edmund, Black Love, Roses Jade Camelia, Warrior Line @ The Smell
- Cranky George @ Bootleg Bar
- Mutaytor @ Echoplex
DECISION:
I've committed to going to see The Happy Casualties at Lot 1 Cafe, who I haven't seen for a while, but if the stars align right, I may be able to run up to The Satellite afterward and catch some of The Henry Clay People (that's Joey being hoisted by the crowd, at the right) at their first local show in over six months. They also play tomorrow night, but I'm going elsewhere, so I need to try to see them tonight, if possible. There is great excitement in the land about these two shows, as the photo shows what can happen. Shadow Shadow Shade are opening for them. Elsewhere, Seasons continuues their Friday night residency at Casey's Bar with Marvelous Toy.
Saturday, May 14
- Evil Maria @ Origami Vinyl
- Lord Huron featuring The Calder Quartet, The Union Line, Milo Greene @ The Troubadour
- Of Montreal, Nite Jewel @ Avalon
- The Henry Clay People, Shadow Shadow Shade, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Maus Haus @ The Satellite
- Peter Bjorn and John, Bachelorette @ El Rey
- Joan of Arc, Air Waves, Catwalk @ The Smell
- The Daylights w/ Andrew Ripp, Deana Carter, Jake Walden, Joe Gill, Ann Marie Boskovich @ Hotel Cafe
DECISION:
It's killing me to miss The Henry Clay People 's second night at The Satellite, but I've had a ticket to Lord Huron at The Troubadour forever (that's them at the right at SXSW) and I can't wait to see them up at the level of playing The Troubadour so quickly. An added incentive is that they're playing with The Calder Quartet, so as beautiful as their music has always been, now it will become even more gorgeous. I expect to melt on the floor. This is one amazing band.
Speaking of The Henry Clay People, they have assembled another wonderful bill with Shadow Shadow Shade (again) and Manhattan Murder Mystery, which makes this the other show of the night, so if you can't do The Troubadour, do The Satellite. By the way, there's also Of Montreal at the Avalon and Peter Bjorn and John at El Rey.
Sunday, May 15
- Grand Ole Echo @ The Echo (5 PM)
- Kissing Cousins EP/7" release @ Origami Vinyl (6 PM)
- Everest, Incan Abraham, Chapin Sisters, Sarah Negahdari @ Echoplex
- The Moody Blues @ Nokia Theatre
- Eisley, The Narrative, Christie Dupree @ The Troubadour
- Haroula, Charlie Wadhams, Terra Naomi @ Bootleg Bar
- The Black Angels, Sleepy Sun, DJ Travis Keller @ El Rey
DECISION:
It was tough to find out about this show at Echoplex (it's not on their website) but it's a benefit for The Harmony Project with a killer of a line up, starting with Everest, and including opening sets by Incan Abraham, The Chapin Sisters and Sarah Negahdari. This is one of the week's best bills for a super-worthy cause. And any week that boasts both Everest and The Watson Twins is a good week.
Those old warhorses, The Moody Blues, play the Nokia Theatre tonight, forty-one years after I saw them at the Music Hall in Boston when they were on one of their first major tours through the United States in 1970. You see, I bought their album Days of Future Passed in 1969, when it was fairly new, because I loved the song "Tuesday Afternoon". But, apparently I was part of a small group, because the album sales caused barely a ripple. Then in 1970 they released "Nights In White Satin" as a single and suddenly they got super hot and their year old album flew up to the top of the charts. It gave my taste in music a big shot of confidence, especially a year or so later when the same thing happened with the Derek & The Dominos album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs when "Layla" was released as a single and the two-year old album became number one. It had long been one of my favorite songs, and suddenly everyone loved it. As a bit of historical context, Poco opened The Moody Blues show that night and we were told it was being recorded for an album, which became Deliverin', released later that year. They used a shot from that show for the back cover, so, I'm twenty years old and in that audience (at left) somewhere. It was a great show that I remember to this day. Pardon my trip down memory lane, but cut me some slack, it is an anniversary week after all.
Let me know what not here...here: RFSL@showlistings@gmail.com
Apex Manor was just announced for the Friday the 13th Henry Clay People show at the Satellite.
Tuesday 5/10 RFSL faves the Lonely Wild play a FREE show at The Central Social Aid and Pleasure Club
1348 14th St., Santa Monica, with the Bellows , Escalator Hill, Instant People. Escalator Hill is very, very good.
Posted by: Kathryn | May 09, 2011 at 01:31 PM