Tuesday’s happenings: ‣ The National give a concert and host the theatrical premiere of their documentary film “Mistaken for Strangers” at the Shrine Auditorium. ‣ London Grammar, whose debut “If You Wait” is released in the U.S. today, visits the El Rey Theatre, supported by HighasaKite. That’s the video for their hit “Strong,” above. And […]
Incoming: Young Fathers, Jamie Scott, the National, London Grammar, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Liza Minnelli, PAPA, Fanfarlo, the Jezabels, John Legend, TeamMate, Facts on File, Love Darling, Matisyahu, the Sounds, the Kin, Magic Wands, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, Linda Perhac, Delta Rae, Steve Aoki, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Daniel Rossen, Moving […]
Although Buzz Bands LA spends a lot of energy following local artists, my year-end album list is a general one. (EPs are a different story.) In comparison to last year’s list, 2013’s lineup seems to be dominated by artists from across the pond – with a handful of L.A.-based artists making the cut. Check out my […]
It’s one heck of a Monday: ‣ Jay-Z brings his “Magna Carta World Tour” to Staples Center. ‣ Glam-rock violinist-cum-actress-cum-fashion adventurer Emilie Autumn [pictured] visits the Troubadour behind her latest release “Fight Like a Girl.” ‣ Zappa Plays Zappa celebrates Frank’s 1974 album “Roxy & Elsewhere” at the Roxy Theatre. ‣ Lissie headlines the Fonda […]
The National can come off as so grave. Brilliant, but … you know, serious. The video for “Graceless” was directed by Sophie Peer and filmed in the backyard of frontman Matt Berninger’s parents’ house in Cincinnati. This is a party we would like to have attended. The song is from the band’s sixth album “Trouble […]
By Gabriel Jones Matt Berninger has an impressively long microphone cord, as the audience learned at the National’s show Saturday night at the Greek Theatre. The band’s frontman has made a decent living for some years now straddling the fault line between ego and id. In concert, he’s the model of elegance and civility, dressed […]
Super Sunday things: ‣ It’s a been a good week for Medicine fans. The legendary L.A. shoegazers just released a new album titled ” To the Happy Few” – their first full-band record in 20 years – via Captured Tracks, and now they return to the stage at the Echo tonight for Part Time Punks. […]
Your Saturday show options: ‣ The National visits the Greek Theatre behind its acclaimed “Trouble Will Find Me,” the band’s sixth album, released in May. Daughter opens. That’s the video for “Demons,” above. ‣ Emeli Sandé plays Club Nokia behind her debut album “Our Version of Events.” ‣ Chicago indie-rockers Smith Westerns headline the El […]
Incoming: Phish, Rudimental, Palma Violets, Cimorelli, Mac Miller, Action Bronson, Savoir Adore, One Direction, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, James McCartney, Hanni El Khatib, the Heavy, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars, the Veils, Lorde, P.O.D., Hall & Oates, Grizzly Bear, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Superhumanoids, Foals, the Living Sisters, Mia Doi Todd, the Standells, Train, Emeli […]
For days now I’ve been holed up with “Trouble Will Find Me,” the forthcoming sixth album from the National (out May 21 via 4AD). It’s the latest opus in what has become a 12-year hexalogy from the NYC-via-Cincinnati quintet of Matt Berninger, Scott and Bryan Devendorf and Bryce and Aaron Dessner. The literary allusions are […]
