Happy Valentine’s Day! Zuzu’s weekly "Night of the Living DeadHead" night features a stellar line-up tonight.
Roland & Jane -Featuring Jesse from Apollo Sunshine and Anna from Quilt Andy Maher Candy Bar -Usually a one-man band, reminiscent of 90s alt rock (think Presidents of the USA), Maher is performing his first show tonight with a band in tow. MMOSS-Psychedelia is back in full force. There may still be snow on the ground, but MMOSS will make you feel like it’s the Summer of Love!
Redhook flies under the radar in the NYC music scene but is home to two great venues, Jalopy and Sunny’s which are the epicenters for NYC’s roots/bluegrass revival. Here musicians come together to perform, jam and learn from each other. The Rooftops will be playing Jalopy Theatre this Thursday and you want to check out this lively scene before it blows up. The Rooftops are a new band that has been nurtured by this bluegrass and old-time scene, they have played at BB Kings, Jalopy and Banjo Jim’s. This show will showcase the release of the their new EP. Unlike those who pick up the banjo simply to tinker with the open tuning and the novel sound, this band can actually play it. They may not be the easiest to Google, but their music proves to be more original than their name. They’ll be sharing the stage with WA songwriter Ali Marcus The Rooftops go on at 9PM, Ali Marcus plays at 10PM, cover is $10. Jalopy is a little hard to find so look it up first. – Alex Borsody
We continue our "Best of LA Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year Ends Best of LA Poll list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel, DJs, and our writers and readers).
Sometimes it’s easy to write off female pop artists here in LA, especially when so many are preened to become the soulless zombie fair that Radio Disney adores. I reserved judgement before I hit play on Tara Priya and was pleasantly surprised that my eyes didn’t roll into the back of my head. What came out was a slightly more demure version of Amy Winehouse (the rare, sober one) who obviously pays homage to 60’s doo-wop, soul and jazz on tracks like "Wounded" and "Expectations". The track "Memories" breaks away a bit, but only to sound like other indie songstress Ingrid Michaelson, before slipping right back into an arrangements of horns. The only thing this girl needs to round herself out is a collaboration with Mark Ronson.
It might not be 1967, we might not be in New York City, pop art might be outdated, and "heroin chic" might be a term of the past…but that shouldn’t stop anyone from wanting to hear songs from The Velvet Undergound…especially played live. See, the way I look at tributes is not in the bitter, "Well NO ONE can cover those songs because _______ is the greatest band that ever lived" sense, but rather an opportunity to appreciate a band that was so inspirational that the kick-ass musicians of today just want an excuse to play their songs. A memorial if you will. With that said, I’m sure He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, cinematic as ever onstage, will be dressed to kill and prepared to play the part. And with Vanaprasta and Erik Hassle, there is no going wrong. So ladies, don’t be afraid to wear your bored face or rock the bangs, and guys feel free to wear sunglasses inside (just this once). It is a time for tambourines and lazy drums, high-pitched guitars and golden bananas. Ladies and gents…it is time to get weird.
This event will take place at The Satellite, a.k.a. the old Spaceland. Buy your tickets here.
You can’t quite put your finger on Pigeons. That just sounds funny. But really, this nearly punk, mostly folk, Americana, noisesque trio seems to befit so many off-kilter adjectives that click just-so with their latest release The Talking Wire (which you can download for free at their Bandcamp). Violin peppers a wall of guitar and gleefully strained vocals that walk the fence between yelling what for what it’s worth and just plain sincerity across the album, giving in only for moments of plucked strings and sneaking piano notes, which makes you want to scream along with the best of ’em. Catch these birds the next time you see them flyin’ about town.
Ars Nova Workshop will be presenting another rare performance this evening at University City’s International House when they bring in Rhys Chatham Brass Trio for one of their only three U.S. dates. He will debut his new trumpet project with David Daniell (guitar) and Frank Rosaly (drums). You may be familiar with Chatham’s work from his massive orchestration of performances by armies of up to 400 guitarists, which have included Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, members of Godspeed! You Black Emperor, and an impressive list of others too numerous to name. Hometown guitarist Chris Forsyth will be receiving the honor of opening for Chatham tonight. Forsyth is probably best known for his work with experimental trio Peeesseye and his record label Evolving Ear. He’ll be releasing a new album on March 29 titled Paranoid Cat via Family Vinyard. You can check out a new track from the album called "New Pharmacist Boogie (For Jack)". It was inspired by the late, great local guitar hero Jack Rose who was a close friend and collaborator. Be sure to get to the International House early enough this evening to catch Forsyth’s set when he performs as a duo with organist Don Bruno. International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 8pm, $12, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
Singer-songwriter, Alex Vans, has released a new EP titled Old Souls and Other Cellar Songs that has been filling my stereo (alongside his self-titled EP, released in April of last year) this week with his ragged voice and blues guitar. He’s also been cool enough to offer the new EP for free for a limited time if you sign up for his mailing list.
The thing that will surprise you about these EP’s is not Alex’s emotional voice or his masterful guitar playing, it’s just how versatile his songwriting is. The tracks span effortlessly between bright pop songs, wrenching and raunchy blues anthems (with harmonicas blaring) and delicately lamenting ballads. The common thread amongst these songs is a bare, exposed arrangement of chords and words that lets your ears know that what they’re hearing is utterly honest.
You can wash away your Valentine’s Day hangovers with Alex Vans next week at Iota on February 15th. He’ll be opening for Star FK Radium along with a handful of other like-minded artists. (8:30, $10 Cover.) -Jarrett
Baltimore rockers Double Dagger and their stripped-down and modernized garage punk are making an overdue appearance at Black Cat on February 24th. ($8.00 Backstage, Doors open at 8:30) They’ll be sharing the stage with Imperial China and Tiny Bombs. You can expect a show that’s loud, intense, fun and that doesn’t always take itself too seriously. It’ll be a great time. Now, if only I could convince them to start scheduling shows when I’m not out of town…
We continue our "Best of LA Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year Ends Best of LA Poll list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel, DJs, and our writers and readers).
Sometimes you’re in the mood for fisticuffs, and an old Irish trick to rile an opponent up is to offer them milk at the bar. The other way is to slap some headphones on them and turn up The Mighty Regis — a band that isn’t afraid to pen a few songs about hard drinking and Irish pride.
After cutting their teeth on Co. Sligo and Another Nickel For The Pope, the third and most recent album, 21, shows the band off in fine form. "Paddy Don’t Live In Hollywood" has Franky McNorman leading the charge on vocals over punk-bred choruses. Gavin McLoud’s mandolin raises the tide on "Celtic Storm", a high energy seaside yarn built on the foundation of a traditional Celtic melody. The remainder of the album winds through the familiar, but fun, territory that is Celtic Punk. The Mighty Regis reels back from the distorted guitars of their contemporaries Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly though, to show off the more traditional mandolin, tin whistle, and accordion.
The Mighty Regis will be playing at The Blue Cafe in Long Beach on Feb. 19th, before hitting dates in central California and the east coast.
Quiet Life will be getting rowdy this Saturday (tonight!) at the Doug Fir. The boys will be celebrating the release of their latest album, Big Green. Their latest release swings between what you’d want to call rootin’ tootin’, but it steers clear of the cheesiness of Americana that might get it stuck in that affected mire of adjectives. Big Green seems the perfect mix of Pacific Northwestern indie with good old fashioned dancing tunes. Yet another band that makes me miss summertime and it’s neverending bouts of daytime drinking and good-time-having.
Listen: Jim’s Wedding Band
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from psych-pop Fishtown natives Creeping Weeds. But Pete Stewart and the rest of the crew have finally emerged through the looking glass, after four years since the release of their promising debut We Are All Part of the Dream You Are Having, with another impressive new album in See Through. Their signature pop hooks and irregular arrangements remain intact, but they have also found a precarious balance between the two forces that makes for a most enjoyable listen! During tonight’s album release party at Johnny Brenda’s you will have an ample opportunity to soak in the new material since it will be played in its entirety. They’ll be joined by Cheers Elephant who have been on cloud nine since the release of their latest full-length Man is Nature (you can check out our review of the album here). After this show, the motley crew will be joining Chubby Checker in celebrating the 51st anniversary of The Twist on NBC, and will be prepping hard for their first ever performance on the big stage of the TLA when they open for The Go! Team and Dom in April. Rounding out the lineup will be Chet Delcampo and his pop music zing masters, Hong Kong Stingray. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Germantown crew WrittenHouse has become one of the most buzzed-about groups in Philly hip-hop. Much of the excitement is based on their dynamic live shows, and tonight will be no exception. It is a celebration for the release of their debut LP While You Were Sleeping so expect the energy levels to be at its peak. The album drops on February 15th and combines the smooth production of Chris Conway and Kush Shalimar with the rhymes of MC Charlie K and hype-man Somersville Sleeves. Hopefully their whole album is as slick as lead single “Puttin’ In Werk” which has got me that much more excited for the release. The bill is solid through and through this evening with the additions of Kuff Knotz, another premier local hip-hop artist who released a fine album last year in BoomBox Logic on Drexel-run label Mad Dragon, and 84, the wicked combination of “lyrical warlords A.U.L.P.U.R.P.I.S and FATNICE combined with beat digging alien and dj BLAAK THE 9TH MAN”. BTW: You’ll also get a copy of WrittenHouse’s While You Were Sleeping with the price of admission. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7pm, $10, 21+ – Adam G.
