by Brad Roberts
What a year for great music from some of my favorite bands. First The New Pornographers release what is as good as the best of their discography and then The Shins follow suit and release their second best album ever. Fleet Foxes surprised with a solidly challenging work that played well live at Hollywood Bowl last month. It’s nicely introspective.
Broken Social Scene (above), after a few year’s hibernation, re-emerge with, what I think is, the very best album of their career, which includes many great albums, and it may be my favorite album of the year. And they land in town on Saturday at The Wiltern to play it for us.
Now onto Grizzly Bear and this new work which is lovely and melodic with superb production values. Just got it so I’m still falling in love. A reminder of why I have loved every iteration of this band, starting with that little show at Spaceland in 2008.
Haven’t gotten the latest Maximo Park yet, quietly released last April, and I'm shocked this band isn’t bigger. They’re one of my favorite live bands and coming soon to Teragram Ballroom. The National also have a new release which has some fine moments and many songs that came across beautifully at the Bowl last week, though it's not my favorite of their albums. But seeing them live you realize just how beautiful their music is, and I'm a sucker for a band with so many piano-driven songs. I'll be seeing Elbow next month at The Wiltern and hope that hearing their latest album live will ramp up my enthusiasm for it, but it is growing on me the more I play it.
Then there was the show by Arcade Fire at The Forum last Friday night. As it was my first concert st The Forum it was hard not to get overwhelmed by the size of the venue itself, it felt more like being in Times Square on New Year’s Eve than actually being st a concert. Try as they may, there was no way for the event to seem more than slightly impersonal. Surrounded by walls filled to the top with people, it’s not the best way to see a band. Not surprising that Arcade Fire overcame and, in retrospect, it was a spectacular show.
week of October 23 - 29
Monday, October 23
Recommended:
Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson @ The Troubadour
playing tonight:
- The Americans, Bird Concerns, MetronOhm, Vattica @ The Satellite
- Goon, Alyeska, Liv Slingerland, Raspberry Blonde @ The Echo
- Beartooth, Avatar, Ded, Royal Thunder, King Woman, My Ticket Home @ Echoplex
- "School Night!" w/ Braeves, Bonnie McKee, The Amazons, Scarlett Pleasure @ Bardot
- Space Diaries, Shine A Light, The Patients, Maxwell Cary @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Generationals @ Teragram Ballroom
- Ohmme, Fell Runner, Pinky Pinky @ The Hi Hat
- Summer Heart, Drum & Lace, TwinKids @ Bootleg Bar
- Sam Marine, Ben Raddell, Joe Fletcher @ Resident
- Tegan and Sara @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
- Monday Monday hosted by Josiah Leming, Still A Great Night @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson @ The Troubadour
- Molly Lewis and Her Band, Elroy @ Zebulon Cafe
- Ilegal Mescal Music Series: Club Foxes presents Give Peace A Chance @ Harvard & Stone
Tuesday, October 24
Recommended:
LSD And The Search For God, LEAF, Clear @ Resident
playing tonight:
- Quiet Domino, Nina Rohse, Malea @ The Satellite
- Have Mercy, Boston Manor, Can't Swim, A Will Away @ The Echo
- Tegan and Sara @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
- The Maine, Dreamers, Night Riots @ The Regent Theatre
- Larkin Poe & Mawd, CAAMP w/ The Wonderfool @ Hotel Café
- Caroline Pennell, Wendy Bevan, Agnes Azria, Anthony Fedorov & Shelley Segal @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Marty O'Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra @ The Hi Hat
- Mystery Skulls, Phone Call, hey!dw @ The Troubadour
- Welshly Arms, Cannons @ Bootleg Bar
- Spectacle, Borderline Delusion, Something with Soul @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Lee Ranaldo, Itasca @ Zebulon Cafe
- Santa Barbara, Triangle Fire, The Absurd @ Harvard & Stone
- LSD And The Search For God, LEAF, Clear @ Resident
- HIM @ The Wiltern
Wednesday, October 25
Recommended:
Roky Erickson, Death Valley Girls @ The Roxy
Bloody Death Skull, Drinking Flowers, Sloppy Jane, Billy Uomo @ Zebulon Cafe
playing tonight:
- Decorator, Rooms, Zach Alwin @ The Satellite
- Yeah Yeah Yeah's @ The Fonda Theatre
- Misty Boyce, Billie, We Are J Blynn @ Harvard & Stone
- "Desert Nights" w/ Vera, Naomi Greene @ The Standard
- Turnover, Elvis Depressedly, Emma Ruth Rundle @ The Troubadour
- M. Ward, Rhiannon Gibbons @ Walt Disney Concert Hall
- PLEXXAGLASS, Yume, Spencer Robinson & The Wolf Spiders @ The Hi Hat
- Roky Erickson, Death Valley Girls @ The Roxy
- Bloody Death Skull, Drinking Flowers, Sloppy Jane, Billy Uomo @ Zebulon Cafe
- Escape-ism, POW, Urgent Care @ Resident
- Raya Yarbrough, Young Mister, Aloud @ Hotel Café
- Cindy Alexander, Rocko Wheeler & Drover Shy, Chelsea Williams @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- The Bones of J.R. Jones, Melaena Cadiz, Leroy from the North @ Bootleg Bar
- Coat Check Girl, Tiger March @ Silver Lake Lounge
Thursday, October 26
Recommended:
Iron & Wine @ The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
playing tonight:
- Convey, KIDDO, Dead Posey, The New Electric Sound @ The Satellite
- Atlas Genius, Magic Giant, Half the Animal @ The Regent Theatre
- Witt Lowry, Ro Ransom @ The Echo
- Iron & Wine @ The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
- Atlas Genius, Magic Giant, Half the Animal @ The Regent Theatre
- John Moreland, John Calvin Abney, Michigan Rattlers @ Hotel Café
- Savoir Adore, LO/HI, James Carrington, Marcus Eaton, Juke Ross @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Vava, Tillie, Irene Green @ Harvard & Stone
- Turnover, Elvis Depressedly, Emma Ruth Rundle @ The Troubadour
- Busdriver, The Underground Railroad, Kenny Segal, Jerry Quickly @ Zebulon Cafe
- Twin Temple, The Schizophonics, Yacht Punks @ The Hi Hat
- Chase Atlantic, Armors @ Bootleg Bar
- Filibuster, Rocky Shores, Jet Jaguar, Lovejoy, The Revies @ Silver Lake Lounge
Friday, October 27
Recommended:
The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Boswell Kid, Mylets @ The Echo
playing tonight:
- Jack Symes, Greg Ackerman @ The Satellite (8 PM)
- The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Boswell Kid, Mylets @ The Echo
- Rocky Shores, Jet Jaguar, Lovejoy, The Revies, Elettrodomestico, No Small Children @ The Satellite (10 PM)
- Save Ferris, Stacked Like Pancakes, PapaFish @ The Regent Theatre
- BØRNS @ The Viaduct
- Alexz Johnson, Grand Canyon, yellowbirddd @ Hotel Café
- Canyon City, Taylor John Williams & The Crooked Hand, Merit Badge, New MaximumDonkey, Fenton, Lola Rhodes @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- No Chaperone @ Resident
- Sad Girl Halloween/Tour kickoff, Wild Wing, BOYO, Red Channel @ The Hi Hat
- The Devil Wears Prada, Veil of Maya, Thousand Below @ Moroccan Lounge
- Odessa @ Bootleg Bar
- Paul Weller @ The Wiltern
- The Aquadolls, Precious Kid, Lily Waters, Gypsum @ The Smell
- The Sutra, Electric Ferrets, Tiffinny, Saint Ranae, Dee Roq, ModPods, Myke Anthony @ Silver Lake Lounge
Saturday, October 28
Recommended:
Broken Social Scene @ The Wiltern
playing tonight:
- Dia De Los Muertos w/ Aterciopelados @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- The Pink Slips, Hellp, Harmony Tividad @ The Echo
- Trevor Hall, Easr Forest @ The Regent Theatre
- Red Fang, Fireball Ministry, All Souls @ The Troubadour
- Haunted High featuring Raymonda Hammer, Spare Parts For Broken Hearts, Velvet, New Evil @ The Hi Hat
- Broken Social Scene @ The Wiltern
- 4th Annual New Moose Masquerade Ball w/ Greg Holden, Andrew Herringer, Garrison Starr, Caroline Pennell, PJ Pacifico, Valerie Broussard, Sleeping Wolf ; Trevor Green, Keaton Simons, Carly Van Skaik & Kara Connolly @ Hotel Café
- Mike Viola, Eric Kufs, The Grand Southern, Will Jay, Odell Fox, Evan Roth @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Panoramic, Yume, Afro Patchouli, Little Timmy McFarland Of Flight 19 @ The Smell
- BØRNS @ Moroccan Lounge
- The Reluctant Apostles @ McCabe's
Sunday, October 29
Recommended:
Slowdive @ The Wiltern
playing tonight:
- Livingmore, Nightgown, Royal Cavves, Ever So Android @ The Echo (5 PM)
- Part Time Punks w/ Skeletal Family, Black Mare, Second Still @ The Echo
- Greta Van Fleet, courtship @ The Troubadour
- Slowdive @ The Wiltern
- Deiter Von Cynthia & The Throat Rippers w/ special guests @ Hotel Café
- Bluegrass Situation presents Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards w/ special guests @ Hotel Café Second Stage
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week of October 30 - November 5
Monday, October 30
Recommended:
The Night Before Halloween Covers Party w/ Ugly Sweaters, POLARTROPICA, Madame Headdress, Los Kinkos, The Breakups @ The Hi Hat
playing tonight:
- Foxtrails, Zookeeper's Palace, Old Blood, Westerner @ The Satellite
- Goon, Alyeska, Gypsum, HOTT MT, Lily Waters @ The Echo
- Sinead Harnett @ Echoplex
- Har Mar Superstar, Fartbarf, Soft Kill, Honus Honus, Jonah Ray @ The Regent Theatre
- "School Night!" w/ BØRNS, Cyn, Snny, Exes @ Bardo
- Space Diaries, Lucky+Love, Mason Summit, The Do Overs @ Silver Lake Lounge
- The Night Before Halloween Covers Party w/ Ugly Sweaters, POLARTROPICA, Madame Headdress, Los Kinkos, The Breakups @ The Hi Hat
- Boytoy, The Entire Universe, Cat Scan @ Resident
- Monday Monday Hootenanny, Worth @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Greta Van Fleet, courtship @ The Troubadour
- Molly Lewis and Her Band, John Carroll Kirby @ Zebulon Cafe
Tuesday, October 31
Recommended:
A Tom Petty Tribute Show w/ Joe Purdy, Joshua Radom, Cary Brothers, Liz Phair, Milo Greene, Greg Holden, Manda Mosher, Jenny O, Shane Alexander, The Mastersons, Garrison Starr, Paul Doucette, Brother Sal, Tom Freund, Paul Zollo, Clay Blair, The Morning Yells @ Hotel Café
playing tonight:
- The Controversy, Teleskopes, The Vitals, Pom Poms @ The Satellite
- EMA, The Blow, Dynasty Handbag @ The Echo
- Yellawolf, Mikey Mike, Big Henri, Cookup Boss @ Echoplex
- A Tom Petty Tribute Show w/ Joe Purdy, Joshua Radom, Cary Brothers, Liz Phair, Milo Greene, Greg Holden, Manda Mosher, Jenny O, Shane Alexander, The Mastersons, Garrison Starr, Paul Doucette, Brother Sal, Tom Freund, Paul Zollo, Clay Blair, The Morning Yells @ Hotel Café
- Trey Anastasio Band @ The Wiltern
- Wolf Eyes, Hieroglyphic Being, Fluct, Twig Harper @ Zebulon Cafe
- Bushwick Bill, Stupid Life @ Resident
Wednesday, November 1
Recommended:
Hauschka @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
playing tonight:
- Hauschka @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- Billy Strings + The Whiskey Shivers - The Whiskey Strings Tour @ The Echo
- Lee Ann Womack, The Mastersons @ The Troubadour
- Vundabar @ The Hi Hat
- The New Mastersounds, Kung-Fu @ Moroccan Lounge
- Colleen, Mary Lattimore @ Zebulon Cafe
- Kilo, GXNXVS @ Resident
- Doe Paoro w/ Maiah Manser @ Hotel Café
- NHD, Bluegrass Situation presents Dead Horses, The Sweet Lillies, Sammy Striffmatter @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Overlake @ Silver Lake Lounge
Thursday, November 2
Recommended:
The Black Heart Procession, Sam Coomes @ The Echo
The Drums, Methyl Ethel @ The Fonda Theatre
playing tonight:
- Chris Bathgate, The Go Rounds, Anna Ash @ The Satellite
- The Black Heart Procession, Sam Coomes @ The Echo
- DakhaBrakha, JJUUJJUU @ Echoplex
- Goblin, Mondo Drag @ The Regent Theatre
- Matt Wertz w/ Dustin Ransom, JT Roach, Maggie Koerner @ Hotel Café
- Boots On Stage presents Katie Dix, Joshua Aigner, Alexandri Corn, Cris Marshall @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- The Drums, Methyl Ethel @ The Fonda Theatre
- Yelle, Lewis OfMan @ Resident
- Jessie Ware @ The Troubadour
- NEEDTOBREATHE @ The Wiltern
- Wolf Eyes, Joe & Joe, Elow Omoe, Martin Escalante, Wood & Metal, Phill Musra, Ace Farren Ford @ Zebulon Cafe
- Brian Marquis, Divided Heaven @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Machine Girl, Gianna Gianna, David Scott Stone @ The Smell
Friday, November 3
Recommended:
The Drums, Methyl Ethel @ The Fonda Theatre
playing tonight:
- Lone Kodiak EP Release Show, STAL, Oddnesse, Cuesta Loeb @ The Satellite
- Bruno Major, Raelee Nikole, Emily Elbert @ The Echo
- Ghostemane, Wavy Jone$, Nedarb, Chxpo @ Echoplex
- Manatee Commune, Dave B, Roses & Revolutions @ The Troubadour
- Jennifer Chung Record Release Show, w/ Nessa Rica & Priska, Josiah Bell, Ollie Gabriel, Space Cadets @ Hotel Café
- Patrick McGrath, Bluegrass Situation presents The Steel Wheels, The Alice Austin @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- The Drums, Methyl Ethel @ The Fonda Theatre
- Yelle, Lewis OfMan @ Resident
- Caleb Hawley @ The Hi Hat
- Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Ian Sweet @ Moroccan Lounge
- Wolf Eyes, Fluct, Flaccid Mojo, Odwalla 1221, Lexie Mountain @ Zebulon Cafe
- Lany @ The Wiltern
- Negro Galacticus, Espresso, Chud, King Gypsy @ The Smell
- Surge Event presents... @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Jolie Holland & Samantha Parton @ McCabe's
Saturday, November 4
Recommended:
Yelle, Lewis OfMan @ Resident
playing tonight:
- The Drums, Slow Hollows @ The Fonda Theatre
- Emily Saliera, Lucy Wainwright Roche @ The Troubadour
- Wand @ The Hi Hat
- Yelle, Lewis OfMan @ Resident
- GrooveSessions, Ryan Nealon Birthday Show, Eva B Ross, Melissa Gottlieb Record Release Show @ Hotel Café
- Alexia Bomtempo, Eleanor Tallie, Brandon McCulloch presents, Mollie Jane @ Hotel Café Second Stage
- Lizzie No, Caroline Reese, Kwesi, Sarah Summer @ Silver Lake Lounge
- Lany @ The Wiltern
- Patrick Shiroishi/Paco, Casanova/Dylan Fugioka, Man Forever, Jerkagram, FeatherWolf @ The Smell
- Bobbie Long @ McCabe's
Sunday, November 5
Recommended:
Acid Tongue, Naked Giants, Party Nails @ The Hi Hat
playing tonight:
- Prettiest Eyes Record Release Show, Sister Mantos, Hooveriii @ The Echo
- Part Time Punks w/ @ The Echo
- Grace VanderWaal @ The Troubadour
- Yelle, Lewis OfMan @ Resident
- Acid Tongue, Naked Giants, Party Nails @ The Hi Hat
- Jeff Bernat, Mac Ayers @ Moroccan Lounge
- Israel Horowitz @ McCabe's
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