by Brad Roberts
You know how it is when you fall in love with a new album and all you want to do is listen to it over and over again and you start waking up in the middle of the night with the music ringing through your brain, sometimes even from the midpoint of a song as if you've been listening to the whole album all the while you've been asleep. Well it's happened again, this time with the spectacular new album from Broken Social Scene, Hug of Thunder, released last week, which is an effort of such grand ambition and extraordinary musical accomplishment that is becomes a career defining milestone. It leaves me stunned. Like all the different threads that exist in a band of 15 have finally coalesced into the most potent, unified force since they first collaborated in 1999. And their hippie message of unity and togetherness in this Trumpian era is most welcome. Can't wait to see them at The Wiltern in October.
The remainder of this year is turning into a concert-goer's fever dream. My calendar is filling up with some of the favorite bands I have been following right from the beginning of my musical re-birth. Some have been on hiatus, Some have plowed through the last ten years non-stop. As of this week I have a major concert event at least once every month right through December.
What is it with all these twenty year old bands suddenly releasing some of the best music of their multi-storied careers? Like Pitchfork said in their review of the new album from Broken Social Scene, many indie rock giant of the past decade have been releasing new music, almost like a big collective response to the emerging horror of the Trump years. Music can save us and raise us into renewed activism. I'm hopeful that this may trickle down into the local music scene which has of late been gripped in a kind of paralysis.
So far, this year has seen the release of Heartworms from The Shins and and Whiteout Conditions from The New Pornographers that rank among their best records. And now comes Hug of Thunder and Visuals by Mew, another brilliant album, maybe their best, and the new Fleet Foxes effort, Crack-Up, which is pulling me in slowly. Add to that upcoming releases from Arcade Fire (later this month), The National ( in September), and Grizzly Bear, in August, and this is a year to contend with.
week of July 17 - 23
On the other hand, the prohibitively expensive FYF Fest 2017 gets underway this weekend at Exposition Park and quite frankly that line up doesn't warrant digging that deep into my pockets. But fear not for I have picked out some shows this week with The Happy Hollows, yOya, and Allah-Las.
Monday, July 17
Recommended:
Bloody Death Skull, Happy Hollows, Zero DeZire, Quazar & The Bamboozled @ The Echo
Dustin Lovelis, Tino Drima, Wilding @ Bootleg Bar
playing tonight:
- AOE, Common Souls, Jennah Bell @ The Satellite
- Bloody Death Skull, Happy Hollows, Zero DeZire, Quazar & The Bamboozled @ The Echo
- "School Night!" w/ R.LUM.R, Harts, Star Parks, Stacey @ Bardot
- Watch For Horses, Bless My Stars, Yume, Fellow Bohemians @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Chamanas Record Release, Ruzzi, The Marias @ The Hi Hat
- Dustin Lovelis, Tino Drima, Wilding @ Bootleg Bar
- Uncle Lucius, Space Hurricane @ Resident
- Monday Monday w/ The Hawkline Monster, Scott Goldbaum, Patrick Joseph, Sydney Bakst, Kurt Hunter, Nicole Jaffe, Connor Pledger, Chris Loggins, Sarah Hollins, Parker Ainsworth ; Jake Walker @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Ilegal Mescal Music Series w/ Trickster Guru, The Zachary Kibbee Band, Faunavasion, The Entire Universe @ Harvard & Stone
Tuesday, July 18
Recommended:
yOya, J.E. Sunde, Ryan Lerman, Philip Krohnengold @ The Hi Hat
Retro Futura w/ Howard Jones, Paul Young, The English Beat, Men Without Hats, & more @ The Greek
playing tonight:
- Nation of Language, POW!, Dang @ The Satellite
- Algiers, Sextile, Moon Diagrams @ Echoplex
- Verde 70, Agnes Azria @ Hotel Café
- Sophie Strauss, Heartstring Hunters, Katie Boeck, Danelle @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- yOya, J.E. Sunde, Ryan Lerman, Philip Krohnengold @ The Hi Hat
- Retro Futura w/ Howard Jones, Paul Young, The English Beat, Men Without Hats, & more @ The Greek
- The Coffeehouse Live Tour w/ Joshua Radin, Rachael Yamagata, Brandon Jenner @ The Belasco Theatre
- Cymbals Eat Guitars, Palo Duro @ Bootleg Bar
- Madeline Lauer, Romarius Beard @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Mitch Grainger, Maesa Pullman @ Harvard & Stone
- The Delta Riggs, The Soft White Sixties @ Resident
Wednesday, July 19
Recommended:
"Desert Nights" w/ Allah-Las @ The Standard
playing tonight:
- Retro Futura w/ Howard Jones, Paul Young, The English Beat, Men Without Hats, & more @ The Greek
- Cat Scan, Shark Toysm VNLVX @ Harvard & Stone
- "Desert Nights" w/ Allah-Las @ The Standard
- Dzang, Cones, Maxim Ludwig @ The Hi Hat
- TV Heads, Crook , The Bomb @ Resident
- Wrabel, Tulpa & BLANKTZ, Samson @ Hotel Café
- Kasey Lansdale, George Stanford, Dean Alexander, Sarah Roberts, Doncat @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Hazel English, Kera and The Lesbians @ Bootleg Bar
- The Sword, Big Jesus & All Souls @ El Rey
- Alien Space Kitchen, Clark Chimp @ Silver Lake Lounge
Thursday, July 20
Recommended:
Third Blind Eye: Summer Gods Tour w/ Special Guests Silversun Pickups @ The Greek
Psychic Love, Pom Poms, Santa Barbara, Omniflux @ The Satellite
Twilight Concert Series w/ Eric Burdon & The Animals, Mr. Elevator, Rusty's EAC @ Santa Monica Pier
"Planetarium" performed by Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, James McAlister @ The Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
playing tonight:
- Psychic Love, Pom Poms, Santa Barbara, Omniflux @ The Satellite
- Twilight Concert Series w/ Eric Burdon & The Animals, Mr. Elevator, Rusty's EAC @ Santa Monica Pier
- Cap'n Jazz @ The Echo
- Dead Kennedys, Wrath, The Gears, The Last Internati0nale @ Echoplex
- Zola Jesus, Lawrence Rothman, Smerz @ The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
- Brainstory, Ethiopia Cali @ Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
- The Marked Men, Royal Headache, Audacity, Fkat Worms @ The Regent Theatre
- Smerz, Yaeji @ The Globe Theatre
- Third Blind Eye: Summer Gods Tour w/ Special Guests Silversun Pickups @ The Greek
- Birdtalker w/ Austin Manuel, Perta, The Fontaines @ Hotel Café
- "Planetarium" performed by Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, James McAlister @ The Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- Jesse Baez, Emmitt James @ Resident
- Hawk Percival and Friends, Rock Horn Project, Trackless @ The Troubadour
- Rozwell Kid, Vundabar, Great Grandpa @ The Hi Hat
- The Americans, Laura Jean Anderson, Camila Webb @ Bootleg Bar
- Bien Bien, Sabre, Runnner, Jake Weisman @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Perfume Genius, serpentwithfeet @ El Rey
Friday, July 21
Recommended:
FYF Fest 2017 @ Exposition Park
Santoros Vinyl Release Party, So Many Wizards, Wyatt Blair @ The Echo
playing tonight:
- Sound in Focus w/ Paul Oakenfold, Mondo Cozmo, Lo Moon @ Annenberg Space for Photography
- Santoros Vinyl Release Party, So Many Wizards, Wyatt Blair @ The Echo
- Ruby Force, The Morning Yells, Brother Sister @ El Cid
- MNDSGN @ Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
- Josh Kelley, Molly Kate Kestner @ The Troubadour
- Sidewalk Chalk, Lynette Williams, Pendustry Live Playlist @ Hotel Café
- Trouble In The Wind, The Standstills, Jack and the Bear w/ The Ferdy Mayne & The Absurd, Mitchell Schaffer, Sammy Arriga @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Javier Mena, Vanessa Zamora, Cesar Saez, Pony @ Teragram Ballroom
- FYF Fest 2017 @ Exposition Park
- Identity Crisis, Xavier Miller, The Hate Club, Ben Lamar, Almost Awake @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Shelby Lynne @ McCabe's (8 & 10 PM)
Saturday, July 22
Recommended:
Yowie, Corima Record Release, Feather Wolf, Henry Barajas @ The Echo
playing tonight:
- Yowie, Corima Record Release, Feather Wolf, Henry Barajas @ The Echo
- Jungle Fire @ Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
- Viza, Caroucells, Nathi @ The Troubadour
- FYF Fest 2017 @ Exposition Park
- Afterglow, Jane Machine @ Resident
- The Dirty Diamond and Friends, Night Click w/ Chimney & Misty Boyce @ Hotel Café
- John K & Ilana Armida, Maggie Koerner, J3PO, A is for Atom @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Stef Chita, Moaning, Shannon Lay, Soccer Mommy @ Bootleg Bar
- Javina Magness @ McCabe's
Sunday, July 23
Recommended:
Sondheim On Sondheim @ Hollywood Bowl
playing tonight:
- Grand Ole Echo w/ Agastock 2017 @ The Echo
- The Hollow Trees @ Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
- Part Time Punks w/ HIDE, Future Blondes, Bustié @ Echoplex
- Sondheim On Sondheim @ Hollywood Bow
- lFYF Fest 2017 @ Exposition Park
- Nani, Mega Bog @ Bootleg Bar
- Molly Kruse Video Release w/ Brittany O'Neill & Lean @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Roy Zimmerman @ McCabe's
-----------------------------------
week of July 24 - 30
This week features a show I've been looking forward to for months, the glorious return of The Parson Red Heads to our local stage at The Satellite to help celebrate the release of the Vinyl Guitars Forever album by The World Record (at right) on it's tenth anniversary this Friday. Adding to the enticement, The Henry Clay People and a reunion of Le Switch add to the merriment.
Monday, July 24
Recommended:
Dhani Harrison, Mereki @ The Echo
playing tonight:
- AOE, Lapel, Pavy @ The Satellite
- Dhani Harrison, Mereki @ The Echo
- Bloody Death Skull, Chrome Canyon, L.A. Takedown, r.r. barbadas @ Echoplex
- "School Night!" w/ @ Bardott
- Dustin Lovelis, GospelbeacH, Lens Mozer @ Bootleg Bar
- Monday Monday, Wes Swing @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Ilegal Mescal Music Series @ Harvard & Stone
Tuesday, July 25
Recommended:
StaG (farewell show), Brothertiger, Deep Breaths @ The Satellite
The New Schematics, Jessica Lamb, Ghost Lit Kingdom @ Silver Lake Lounge
playing tonight:
- StaG (farewell show), Brothertiger, Deep Breaths @ The Satellite
- Joey w/ Jay Hype (7PM), Joey w/ Aldae (9:30) @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Defend L.A. Benefit featuring The Great Sadness, Butch Bastard, Worms, The Pinks @ The Hi Hat
- Daisy, Teo Halm, The Roswell Universe @ Resident
- Post Animal, Levitation Room, Femni @ Bootleg Bar
- The New Schematics, Jessica Lamb, Ghost Lit Kingdom @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Mitch Grainer w/ Special Guests @ Harvard & Stone
- Nana Grizol, Your Heart Breaks, Wizard Apprentice @ The Smell
- Blackberry Smoke, The Cadillac Three @ The Fonda Theatre
Wednesday, July 26
Recommended:
Facial, Color Caves, Clear, Low Hum @ The Satellite
playing tonight:
- Facial, Color Caves, Clear, Low Hum @ The Satellite
- Wolf Alice @ The Echo
- Deronda, Oddnesse, The Family Cash @ Harvard & Stone
- "Desert Nights" w/ Jess Williamson, Kacey Johansing @ The Standard
- Delta Rae, Liz Longley @ The Troubadour
- Warbly Jets, King Shelter, Pinky Pinky @ The Roxy
- The Singles Album Release Show, Tommy Clifton Band, The Plexikill, Tiger Tank @ The Hi Hat
- Sleeplust, Rosechild, Dr. Doctor @ Resident
- Alpha Pup Showcase, Stacey Munroe & Chase Cohl @ Hotel Café
- Joe Marson & Friends, Ninet, The Songwriters Round w/ David Rothschild, Rebecca Peters, Ari Herstand, Angie Keilhauer, Nico Franc, Annabel Lee @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Worriers, Chris Farren, Camp Cope, Typesetter @ Bootleg Bar
- Josh Harmony, Jordan Lovelis, Andy Waddell, Desert Hounds @ Silver Lake Lounge
Thursday, July 27
Recommended:
Psychic Love, Night Talks, Bones Muhroni, Rival Cavves @ The Satellite
playing tonight:
- Psychic Love, Night Talks, Bones Muhroni, Rival Cavves @ The Satellite
- Twilight Concert Series w/ Miami Horror, Cleopold @ Santa Monica Pier
- Korey Dane, Peter Matthew Bauer @ The Echo (5:30)
- Thee Commons @ Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
- No Age, Purity, & more @ The Smell
- RJ Bloke, Buhu, Candio Bandio, Ben Limpic, Dan Kattan @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- The Life and Times, Mossbreaker, INTRCPTR @ Resident
- Jeff Rosenstock, Laura Stevenson, Kitty Kat Fan Club, The Matt Kurz One @ The Troubadour
- Litronix Record Release Party, Alina Bea, Avi Buffalo @ The Hi Ha
- Cillie Barnes, Z Berg, Allie Crow Buckley @ Bootleg Bar
- B.R. Lively, Danny Pratt @ Silver Lake Lounge
Friday, July 28
Recommended:
The World Record Vinyl Release Party, The Henry Clay People, The Parson Red Heads, Le Switch @ The Satellite
playing tonight:
- The World Record Vinyl Release Party, The Henry Clay People, The Parson Red Heads, Le Switch @ The Satellite
- Steve Gunn, Heron Oblivion, Mary Lattimore @ The Echo
- Madina Lake, PVSHER, The New Pacific @ The Roxy
- Slow Magic, Ian Chang @ The Troubadour
- Zealyn w/ O'Neill Hudson & Flavia, Jules Galli Fridays w/ Special Guests, Water Seed @ Hotel Café
- Scarlet Sails, Radiator King, Magnolia Memoir @ Resident
- All Get Out, Souvenirs, I'm Glad It's You @ The Hi Hat
- Edward Richards, COTE, Kristen Reilly @ Bootleg Bar
- Treasure Mammal, Glob, Margot Padilla @ The Smell
- Bush, She Wants Revenge @ Hollywood Palladium
- JD Souther @ McCabe's
Saturday, July 29
Recommended:
Strange Forest w/ Devendra Banhart @ The Broad
Rooney, Run River North @ Teragram Ballroom
playing tonight:
- East of Eli, State To State, City Of Sound, Smoky Knights @ The Roxy
- Sound in Focus w/ Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Natalia LaFourcade @ Annenberg Space for Photography
- Baio @ Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
- Rhett Miller, Kate Micucci @ The Troubadour
- Portugal, The Man @ Hollywood Palladium
- Strange Forest w/ Devendra Banhart @ The Broad
- Rooney, Run River North @ Teragram Ballroom
- Wake Child, Bodacious Thang, Charge & Deliver, Rob LaFond @ Hotel Café
- Waxahatchee, Cayetana, Snail Mail @ The Regent Theatre
- The By Gods, Sad Baxter, Heflin @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Marika Hackman, The Big Moon @ Bootleg Bar
- A Tribe Called Red @ El Rey
- Saturdays Off The 405 w/ Steve Gunn @ The Getty Center
Sunday, July 30
Recommended:
Grand Ole Echo w/ Greg Felden, Victoria Bailey @ The Echo
playing tonight:
- Grand Ole Echo w/ Greg Felden, Victoria Bailey @ The Echo
- Part Time Punks w/ Hide, Future Blondes, Bustie @ The Echo
- Prayers, High-Functioning Flesh, Night Club @ Echoplex
- Twinkle Time @ Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
- AJR, Johnny Balik @ The Troubadour
- Tobin Sprout, Elf Power @ Bootleg Bar
- The Minus 5 @ McCabe's
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