[Happy birthday, Jonesy. We miss your jukebox …] Keeping it very brief today: Which legend you wanna see? Patti Smith plays a free show at the Santa Monica Pier, while the Pretenders, joined by Cat Power, are at the Greek Theatre. …. Nine Inch Nails plays the second of its four SoCal shows at the […]
The biggest comeback of this decade hasn’t been by any one band, but by the entirety of the 1980s. It’s not exactly a news bulletin that the post-punk, new wave and electro that announced itself in the ’80s has wielded a huge influence on the current landscape. On Thursday at the Knitting Factory, a nice […]
Should be a homecoming atmosphere tonight at Spaceland, where Division Day plays its first local show since the release last month of “Visitation,” the L.A. quartet’s superb sophomore album. Dangerbird Records labelmates Bad Veins, along with Lovelikefire, are also on the bill. … Nine Inch Nails (supported by Mew and Queen Kwong) play the Palladium […]
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 […]
I’ve been to a lot of residency Mondays at Spaceland over the years, and tonight’s lineup, front to back, rivals any I’ve seen. Residents Local Natives could probably pack the place themselves, but they have two other great SoCal bands on board – the Henry Clay People and Aushua. Not to mention: Fun., who are […]
First thing you need to know about His Orchestra is that “Field Guide to the Wilds,” the debut album that saw a quiet digital release back in February, is one of the most enchanting indie-pop albums you’ll hear this year. Its winsome mix of string-, glockenspiel- and keyboard-flavored confessionals reminds me of the likes of […]
Tonight: The Morning After Girls [pictured], who’ve released one of my favorite shoegaze albums of the year, “Alone,” roll back into L.A. tonight, supporting two local bands who grow their music from the same sonic soil, the Warlocks and Gliss. Should be a lively night of distortion and fuzz at Spaceland. … Ted Leo & […]
[Happy birthday, Tony Kanal. As for you, Los Angeles: My, what a big show list you have …] Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, who were gorgeous in the summer evening air at Sunset Junction, hang around town for another show, tonight’s at the Echoplex, rather curiously billed with Swedish rockers Dungen. … Fresh […]
A busy night just got busier – Australian rockers Wolfmother are playing a surprise show [update: at 6 p.m.] at the Roxy. It’s for Yahoo! Music, and Andrew Stockdale [pictured] and his (new) bandmates, who teased L.A. audiences with a show back in April at the Natural History Museum and who crashed last weekend’s Sunset […]
[Birthday greetings go out to Jeff Tweedy today. In L.A. tonight, I’m not sure many music fans will be staying at home …] You probably already know about all the big deals –Green Day and Franz Ferdinand at the Forum; the Dead Weather at the Wiltern;” Steely Dan’s all-request night at the Gibson Amphitheatre; Tom Jones […]
