[My reference material tells me Simon Cowell turns the big Five-Oh today. I know that name from somewhere. … Here’s what’s happening somewhere else:] Fever Ray, the solo incarnation of singer Karin Dreijer Andersson of critical darlings the Knife, plays to a sold-out Fonda tonight behind its wonderfully eerie self-titled album [Above, the video for […]
[I was fulfilling a previous obligation on Saturday and was not able to attend downtown’s FYF Fest, which, according to people I’ve spoken with in the past 24 hours, was either an unmitigated disaster or an unqualified success. Funny how experiences can vary on a 100-degree afternoon. I solicited Michael Bauer, frontman of the L.A. […]
The 88 have begun work on the follow-up to its third album “Not Only … But Also,” which helped get them picked up by Island Records last year. There are few finer purveyors of power-pop around, and the L.A. quartet this month is doing something of a return to its roots – a Tuesday night […]
That annual collision of people, pavement and pop music known as Sunset Junction is upon us. The two-day street fair may very well be on its last legs – I frankly don’t know what to make of all the political wrasslin’ – so I vote that we just enjoy it while we can. At 20 […]
The Black Lips, Lucero, No Age [pictured], Lightning Bolt and the Thermals will be among the acts playing Sean Carlson’s FYF Fest (formerly known as the F Yeah Fest), scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, at Los Angeles Historic State Park in downtown. The lineup, announced today, includes locals such as Darker My Love, Dios, Avi […]
[One sentence or so, over and out …] The roster at Anti- Records gets even more eclectic with today’s news of the signing of Dead Man’s Bones, the project of Oscar-nominated Ryan Gosling and fellow actor Zach Shields, whose debut album (produced by Ima Robot’s Tim Anderson) will come out Oct. 6. (Click on image […]
[Folks, today is 07/08/09, and maybe a numerologist could explain it to me, but I remember have a distinctly crappy 06/07/08 and 05/06/07. So I might not get out of bed today, even to wish Beck a happy 39th birthday.] The acclaimed Brooklyn avant-pop group Dirty Projectors hit town tonight behind their new release “Bitte […]
[Good morning … See the promo box in the first sidebar at right to win Ed Harcourt tickets for tonight …] Ed Harcourt, the Londoner who just released the gorgeous EP “Russian Roulette” [see last week’s post], plays an intimate show at downtown’s Bordello. … John Vanderslice [pictured], getting some of the best reviews of […]
[Birthday cheers go out Sunday to Donovan, and I hope this abbreviated rundown isn’t too late to inform your weekend plans:] Tonight, updated: Here’s where it gets loud – Spectrum, who will be joined by members MGMT, plays Club Underground at the Echo tonight, along with the Entrance Band and Abe Vigoda. … Grand Duchy, […]
[Happy birthday to Nancy Wilson from Heart … Now, to a great slate of shows:] Bands, bands, from distant lands: The Soundtrack of Our Lives [pictured], those Swedish purveyors of psychedelic power-pop, are back with a new album, “Communion” (on Yep Roc), their first effort in four years. And quite an effort it is – […]
