The L.A. Show Low Down (Or: "Every Woman And Child And Man In The Canyon Land In A Trance And Wandering Around In The Canyon Land...")

by Brad Roberts

I really lucked out last week and managed to secure a ticket for The Shins concert at El Rey on Friday night (at right)  where they introduced selections from their latest album Heartworms. This was most special since they haven't appeared in concert in probably over seven years and the last time I saw them was at the Hollywood Palladium in '09, whose bombastic sound system tried to change The Shins into an arena rock band, which they are not. This current hectic series of radio shows and concerts is taking a bit of a toll on James Mercer as he appeared to have a cold, so there was some trouble hitting some of the higher notes.

Despite the shortcomings, Mercer valiantly pressed forward and the band came through with the typical precision that is a hallmark of their music. It also made me realize the serious weight of having to perform day after day and of not allowing yourself to cancel any shows no matter what. This set was completely musically inspiring and, accompanied by a dazzlingly beautiful light show, filled me with awe for the professionalism and energy of this much beloved band.

I've also been on something of a buying frenzy for tickets for a lot of upcoming shows the spring. And a lot of the CDs that go with them. Apart from The Shins there's a new albums from Elbow and Grandaddy that I had to get as I have tickets to upcoming shows by both of them. Both albums are "Best of the Year" material.

As for this week's shows...see below. Van Morrison is in town for three shows at The Theatre at Ace Hotel.

Monday, March 13

Recommended:

Tashaki Miyaki, Malcolm McRea, Cillie Barnes, Psychic Love @ Echoplex

Ilegal Mescal Music Series presents Harvard & Stone Sixth Anniversary w/ Teleskopes, Lauren Ruth Ward @ Harvard & Stone

Also playing:

• Geordie Kieffer, Mercury Wheel, MainMan, Split Party @ The Satellite
• Fucked Up, No Age, Fraude @ The Echo
• Tashaki Miyaki, Malcolm McRea, Cillie Barnes, Psychic Love @ Echoplex
• "School Night!" w/ NVDES, K.I.D, Gutxi Bibang, Japanese Wallpaper @ Bardot
• Caroline Hisel, The HVTS, Zach Easton, Dillon Campbell & The Donner Party, Lust & Lies @ Silver Lake Lounge
• Hurray For The Riff Raff, Kera & The Lesbians @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
• Spare Parts for Broken Hearts Single Release Party, The Bomb, Iress @ The Hi Hat
• La Bouquet, Tillie, Rad Horror @ Bootleg Bar
• Kong @ Hotel Café
• Monday Monday w/ Kail Bacley, Joe Marson, Jensen McRea, Julian Bell, Parker Ainsworth, Ariana Hall, Sol, Madison Malone, Michael Doman, Chris Loggins, Joel Eckels; Ladyhood @ Hotel Café Second Stage
• Steel Panther, Budderside @ The Roxy
• Guantanamo Baywatch, Frankie and The Witch Fingers, Trabants, Worn-Tin @ Resident
• Aquilo, RKCB @ The Troubadour
• Ilegal Mescal Music Series presents Harvard & Stone Sixth Anniversary w/ Teleskopes, Lauren Ruth Ward @ Harvard & Stone

Tuesday, March 14

Recommended:

Portugal, The Man @ Club Bahia

Also playing:

• John Early, Kate Berlant, Sam Jay, Martha Kelly, Julio Torres, Frankie Quinones, Buck @ The Satellite
• Alyeska, Livingmore, The Rangers @ The Echo
• The Menzingers, Jeff Rosenstock, Rozwell Kid @ The Regent Theatre
• Trentmøller @ The Belasco Theatre
• Zach Williams @ Hotel Café
• Dave Kazee, Evan Zee, Late Night Live w/ Donald Barrett, Justin Paul Sanders @ Hotel Café Second Stage
• Night Talks, Wargirl, Fan Fiction, Ever So Android @ The Hi Hat
• Portugal, The Man @ Club Bahia
• Part Time, Wyatt Blair, Panthar, Bill E. Trujillo @ Bootleg Bar
• The Soul Movers, Two Smoking Barrells, Summer Cure, Old Man's Money @ Silver Lake Lounge

Wednesday, March 15

Recommended:

Diamonds Music Video Release Party, Mothlight, Fellow Bohemian, Wolf Woodcock @ The Hi Hat

Also playing:

• Desert Mountain Tribe, The Sleeping Ghost @ The Satellite
• Meat Puppets, Stonefield, Ford Madox Ford @ The Echo
• "Desert Nights" w/ Karmic, Taylor John Williams @ The Standard
• Diamonds Music Video Release Party, Mothlight, Fellow Bohemian, Wolf Woodcock @ The Hi Hat
• Matt Urmy, Ernie Halter, Noah Kite, Joseph Waya, Jillette Johnson @ Hotel Café Second Stage
• Tickle Torture, Rooms, Velvet Negroni @ Bootleg Bar
• Duk, Jett Kwong @ The Lexington
• The Love Dimension, Kaz Mirblouk, The Things, Fime @ Silver Lake Lounge

Thursday, March 16

Recommended:

Harley Cortez, Jeffertitti & the Entire Universe, Low Hum @ The Satellite

Also playing:

• Harley Cortez, Jeffertitti & the Entire Universe, Low Hum @ The Satellite
• Speakpanther, War of Icaza, Marcy Mane @ The Echo
• Shiny Toy Guns, Kitten @ The Regent Theatre
• Xenia Rubinos @ Resident
• Laura Jean Anderson, Olivia Jane Kaplan, Shannon Inouye (Emerson Star) @ Bootleg Bar
• Olympic, Lugo, Color + Thunder @ Silver Lake Lounge

Friday, March 17

Recommended:

Van Morrison @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel

The Electric West, Ghost Noise, F71, Hareld @ El Cid

Also playing:

• The Beta Machine EP Release Party, Zano, Convey @ The Satellite
• GØGGS, Flat Worms, Warm Drag, Naked Lights @ The Echo
• Van Morrison @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
• We The Kings, Cute Is What We Aim For, Plaid Brixx, Astro Lasso @ The Troubadour
• Susy Sun, The Electric Frontier, Miklo, Zach Zotos & Marcy Levi, Mimi Raver @ Hotel Café
• Essy & The Call, Eliza Rickman, Ashakey @ Hotel Café Second Stage
• Teenage Fanclub, Britta Phillips @ Teragram Ballroom
• The Electric West, Ghost Noise, F71, Hareld @ El Cid
• Dirty Blonde @ Amoeba Music
• Kyle McNeill, Eli & The Itches, The Saxophones, Andrea Silva @ Bootleg Bar
• Aleksandre James, The People, Lunar Oddities @ Silver Lake Lounge
• John York @ McCabe's

Saturday, March 18

Recommended:

Sounds by Sound Majesty {SXSM} w/ Love Ghost, Topanga, Yip Yops, The Fuzzy Crystals, Arms Akimbo, Lost Beach, Porcelain Pale, Gabrielle Graves, Akward Talker, Cassette Culture, MAASS @ The Hi Hat

Also playing:

• Van Morrison @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
• The Dig, Nico Yaryan, Boone Howard @ The Echo
• Fortunate Youth, Josh Heinrichs with For Peace Band, Iya Terra @ The Regent Theatre
• State To State, Melted Vinyl, Chandler Juliet, Avalon Landing, East Of Eli @ The TroubadourSounds by Sound Majesty {SXSM} w/ Love Ghost, Topanga, Yip Yops, The Fuzzy Crystals, Arms Akimbo, Lost Beach, Porcelain Pale, Gabrielle Graves, Akward Talker, Cassette Culture, MAASS @ The Hi Hat
• Van Goat, Bullhorn Messiah, Crystal Coast and the Visions, Twin Seas @ Silver Lake Lounge
• Nick Shattuck, Ali Handal, Hey Monea, Paul Pfau- @ Hotel Café Second Stage
• Afrolicious, Sensae @ Bootleg Bar
• Tommy Keene, Ivan Julian @ McCabe's

Sunday, March 19

Recommended:

Part Time Punks w/ James Chance and The Contortions, Collapsing Scenery, TraPsPs @ The Echo

Also playing:

• Let's Eat Grandma, Cellars, SLUGS, amindi k. fro$t @ The Echo
• Part Time Punks w/ James Chance and The Contortions, Collapsing Scenery, TraPsPs @ The Echo
• Van Morrison @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
• Jazz Night w/ Bonepocket, Eyvind Kang, Josh Nelson @ Bootleg Bar
• Brother Sal & The Devil May Care, Top Tune: The Songwriters Game @ Hotel Café Second Stage
• Easter Teeth, Hot Brothers, Sketch Orchestra, Espresso @ The Smell