The Airborne Toxic Event schedules L.A. show for April; Anna Bulbrook departs band

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Anna Bulbrook with the Airborne Toxic Event in 2013 (Photo by Carl Pocket)

L.A. rockers the Airborne Toxic Event, who last released music in 2015 and last performed live in 2017, have announced live dates in Los Angeles and New York City next April.

The L.A. show will be April 4, 2020, at the El Rey Theatre. Tickets go on sale Friday; an announcement from the band said pre-sale tickets would be available on its website at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The news comes two weeks after frontman Mikel Jollett bade a heartfelt farewell to founding member Anna Bulbrook, the charismatic performer who played viola and keyboards and contributed backup vocals to the band, which she has now amicably left. His tribute read [fell text here], in part:

“I can’t express to you what an amazing partner Anna has been all these years. She’s an avid professional musician with a wonderful ear for melody and precise tone. As all of you know, she’s a captivating performer and for that reason, a great person to take the stage with. I’ve always enjoyed recording and performing with Anna, our dances on stage, our harmonies, the countless ways I am comforted and proud to be performing next to her.

“To say she will be missed understates the point. Ever since I asked her one drunken night 13 years ago to ‘come on stage and play a few songs with my band with the funny name,’ she has been reliable, warm, professional, kind and generous with her talent — the kind of collaborator every musician hopes for. I will miss her so much.”

Bulbrook responded, in part:

“Once in a while, a handful of people and thousands of strangers find an alchemy that is greater than the sum of any of our individual parts. Airborne, and all that comes with it, has been and will always be in my DNA. While I know that I am where I am supposed to be right now, I am going to miss it, and you, so much.”

Besides her exploits in TATE, Bulbrook has become a music and cultural influencer in Los Angeles. Four years ago, she founded GIRLSCHOOL, a festival and artistic community that has continued its curatorial mission with events such as March’s “BREATHWATCHLISTENTOUCH: The Work and Music of Yoko Ono” at Disney Hall and the recent “SILENCE at Descanso Gardens” music series. Those, in addition to releasing music from her own project, the Bulls, and performing with other bands.

In his announcement two weeks ago, Jollett alluded to a “massive project” that he and bandmates Steven Chen, Daren Taylor and Adrian Rodriguez had in the works. More details to come.