One special show: ‣ Matthew Sweet’s “Girlfriend” remains one of my favorite albums of all time – along with the Posies’ “Frosting on the Beater,” it was the best power-pop album of its era, and deservedly earns mentions on any shortlist of the top power-pop albums ever made. Sweet’s sweet melodies and bittersweet lyrics were […]
‣ It’s a night of great folk-rock at the Echo – a double-barreled tour featuring two harmony-heavy bands brings in Vancouver’s Yukon Blonde (behind their new “Fire//Water” EP) and Long Beach’s the Fling (behind their new “What I’ve Seen” EP). That’s Yukon Blonde’s video for “Water,” above. BollWeevil kicks off the night. ‣ Stones Throw […]
Florida-bred, Tucson-based songstress Tracy Shedd has been crafting her sometimes-fuzzy, always-piquant indie-pop for over a decade, releasing four albums (three on Teen Beat Records) and, in 2010, the “EP88” that saw her switch from the guitar to the piano as her weapon of choice. Shedd doesn’t get out much, though – her current U.S. tour […]
A shorter schedule as we wind down toward the holiday: ‣ Rachel Goodrich and the Sister Ruby Band team up for a show at the Bootleg. Goodrich’s self-titled album came out early in the year (that’s the video for the non-album track “Wereman,” above), and Johny Ruby this fall released one of our favorite local […]
Who wants to wake up on Monday morning when you’re dreaming of pizza parties, models and a live band made out of teddy bears, gorillas, a singing sun and moon and more? Mayer Hawthorne‘s latest video for “Dreaming,” a track off his latest record “How Do You Do,” depicts this fun adventure, and compared to […]
Your Sunday show menu: ‣ The final night of the GV30 celebration of Goldenvoice’s 30 years and punk-rock legacy in Los Angeles offers blasts from the Descendents, the Vandals and the Dickies. It goes off at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. ‣ Tori Amos does a second night at the Orpheum Theatre. ‣ Another big […]
When we last spotted Amy Wood, she was making racket on the port side of Big Black Delta’s two-female-drummer arsenal. That was just the last sighting, of course; she also commands the kit for White Sea, All Wrong and the Plans Change, the Broken Remotes, Lonely Trees and … aw, this’ll give you a good […]
The midweek mix: ‣ Dinosaur Jr. visits the Music Box to play its 1988 album “Bug” in its entirety, part of a show that will include a Q&A conducted by Henry Rollins and an opening set by Pierced Arrows. ‣ Alt-rockers Standing Shadows, who since October have released two in of a trilogy of EPs […]
Need a new dish for all those holiday parties you’re attending during the next couple of weeks? Meiko‘s music video for her new tune “Stuck On You,” a track off her forthcoming album “The Bright Side” (out in the spring via Concord Records), has got you covered, as the singer-songwriter takes you through each step […]
The ambitious “Beat LA” compilation released this year by Narnack Records and Greatminds Records not only benefits a great cause – proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders for their continuing efforts in earthquake-stricken Haiti – the project connects the dots between two eras of Los Angeles music. The covers collection features bands from L.A. present […]