Ever since we first saw him in the young band Simon Dawes, Blake Mills has been a marvel. And the guitarist, songwriter and (now) producer continues to be. He’s the subject of a new mini-documentary that takes a look at his prodigious talents. Mills, 25, has not only played astride myriad L.A. artists (and released […]
One of pop music’s most charmingly inscrutable figures, Mark Oliver Everett, gave one of his most charmingly eclectic performances on Tuesday night at the Music Box. The man known as E, as in Eels, performing at times solo and at others with a full band, mixed songs from his vast catalog with material from his […]
[Raising a glass to Juliana Hatfield on her birthday …] Five mp3s, with tonight’s corresponding shows: ‣ Polls, “Executive Toys.” The L.A. noise-pop trio celebrates its EP release at the Bootleg Theater. [See last week’s feature for more.] ‣ Jesca Hoop, “Feast of the Heart” (e-mail required). The songstress and former Tom Waits nanny celebrates […]
Stellar songstresses back-to-back tonight at the Hotel Cafe – first it’s Azure Ray’s Maria Taylor [pictured], abetted by Brandon Walters, followed by Jesca Hoop. … There’s a full plate of residencies – Year Long Disaster (with It’s Casual) at Spaceland, the Northstar Session (with David George) at the Bootleg Theater, the French Semester (with the Monolators, […]
[Apologies for the radio silence yesterday; I think Buzz Bands’ server problems have been fixed. Here are some delectable options for tonight:] That band with Jack White in it is getting all the attention, but there are several other newsbies filling my ears with hot-licked blues-rock. Band of Skulls, playing L.A. for the umpteenth time […]
[Birthday greetings go out to Rufus Wainwright today. Meanwhile, big doings all over SoCal tonight:] No Doubt’s return to the road has been triumphant, from all the reviews, and it finally hits the band’s native southern California tonight. Paramore is the main support band at the sold-out Gibson Amphitheatre, and although they don’t seem to […]
[Serving up birthday greetings today to Master P. Now for a busy night on the club circuit …] She won me as a fan as South by Southwest, and now Thao Nguyen – that’s Thao With the Get Down Stay Down to the uninitiated – hits the Hotel Cafe for a big show with Samantha […]
[One day left till Coachella, and my schedule sheet looks like a 4-year-old practiced drawing circles, lines and arrows on it. So many tough decisions this year …] Tonight isn’t any easier. My Bloody Valentine shakes the chandeliers at the El Rey Theatre, and the Black Keys have a pre-Coachella show at the Glass House […]
Music and a movie, anyone? Dengue Fever is performing at the Echoplex, and while there is no word on whether there might be popcorn, there will be a screening of the excellent documentary “Sleepwalking Through the Mekong,” which chronicles the L.A. band’s 2005 trip to lead singer Chhom Nimol’s native Cambodia. (The DVD/soundtrack will be […]
[Happy April 1. Don’t do anything silly, I’m gullible …] Big night to be at Spaceland – Austin rockers White Denim will be on hand to play Club NME, joined by NYC (and, recently, SXSW) darling the Pains of Being Pure at Heart [pictured]. … At the Troubadour, London’s the Rakes, whose new album “Klang” […]
