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2012-02-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

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Ok Go's Video Release Party

2010-03-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

LACMA hosted Ok Go's video release party last Friday night. It was a great event to celebrate their amazing music video for "This Too Shall Pass." Parts of "The Engine" were on display, the band played an acoustic set on the roof, the video was featured on the big screen and the band and machine designers held a Q & A.

http://www.okgo.net

Six Questions with Damian Kulash of Ok Go http://lacma.wordpress.com

Fitz and the Tantrums. Echo. February 19, 2010

2010-02-21T21:55:00.000-08:00

2010 Grammys

2010-02-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

This year's Grammy Awards telecast was, in a word, weird. This year represented the aftermath of a tumultuous year for the music industry and a slew of tragedies...combined with the return of glamrock punk and futuristic electronica brought on by a new decade.

Feelings evoked that of George Orwell's 1984...where 2010 marked the end of the (music) world as we know it...or rather, the record industry. It was one of the most technically elaborate shows I've seen...but even that was marked by tragedy when they announced a stage hand died the night before the show.

Most of the music performance's backdrops had images of war and destruction. Andrea Bocelli and Mary J Blige sang an original song for Haiti with footage of the earthquake's devastation. A Michael Jackson 3-D tribute played "What About Us," along with images of a rainforest being leveled. Beyonce's entrance was accompanied by an 100-man bomb squad. Bon Jovi's politically charged performance with images of Ghandi, MLK Jr. and Kennedy was surrounded by flames. During Lady Gaga and Elton John's piano duet, they played alongside a gritty oiltank that read "REJECTED;" sut and dirt covered their faces and clothing as arms and legs jutted out from the piano top. The 2010 Grammy's were a juxtaposition of glamour and destruction...literally. I mean, Pink actually spewed water all over the nominees priceless couture during her acrobatic performance.

But don't worry - innocence and wholesomeness won out in the end when Taylor Swift accepted Album of the Year.

Highlights: Eminem/Lil' Wayne/Drake/Travis Barker performance, Dave Matthews Band and the Michael Jackson 3-D tribute with Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson, Usher and Carrie Underwood.

Low highlights: Taylor Swift's voice during her duet with Stevie Nicks...and Jamie Foxx

Phoenix won for best Alternative Music Album

MJ Tribute

J Lo

Elton John & Lady GaGa

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. The Mayan. 12.14.09

2009-12-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

Band of Skulls. The Troubadour. 12.11.09

2009-12-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

Peaches. The Wiltern. 11.29.09

2009-12-15T21:24:00.001-08:00

Thank you Ashley!

La Roux @ the El Rey 10.19.09

2009-10-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Just a warning that Elly has been feeling ill and can only perform a short set tonight...so give it up for La Roux!"

FUCK.

I was really looking forward to dancing it up tonight...especially after all that free champagne and dessert we consumed at Capitol City (Monday night sports bars, guys just wanna buy you drinks after their team wins).

I had a lovely "plot of real estate" to the left of the stage and was rarin' to go. Alas, Elly Jackson, with her signature red peacock hair and enlarged cameo necklace, announced after the cheers and hollers that she "flew all the way to Los Angeles and can barely sing" ....but put on a great show regardless.

La Roux is a duo band (tonight there were 4 on stage) with singer Elly Jackson and synth player Ben Langmaid. The band's name originates from Elly's red hair and French heritage (roux is the French male form of "redhead"). Their music is a total 80's flashback, folks...a real guilty pleasure. Who doesn't like to wear sparkles and dance to synthpop?

She opened with "Quicksand"...then went to "I'm Not Your Toy"..."Saviour"...."Colourless Color" and ended with her two hits "In For The Kill" (in which she experienced her first "dance randoms" on stage) and "Bulletproof" in which a little girl dressed in a green and blue bubble unitard sang along - and knew all the words!

Little girl in bubble outfit singing "Bulletproof"

San Francisco's Treasure Island Music Festival (Day 2)

2009-10-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Treasure Island Music Festival was a perfectly sized music festival. The two stages took turns with the featured bands, making it easy to meander between the two and not miss a set. Other than the music, the festival hosted a wide variety of entertainment: Mister Gnogiurzauchshoff's Traveling Midway of Curiosities and Delights (an old fashioned carnival setup with a twist), a ferris wheel, odd characters roaming about (pirates on stilts, monsters, etc) and even a hair salon – just to name a few.

Initially, we were planning to attend both days of TIMF, but a scheduling conflict prevented us from making Day 1 (we heard MSTRKRFT stole the show). Here are highlights from Day 2:

Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Down impressed us. They are great musicians...and Thao can really get down!

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes once again blew us away (see earlier post from their 9.22.09 show at the El Rey). This is what live music is about.

Grizzly Bear sounded ah-mazing.

Beirut sounded different. Great, but different. You can tell that Zach Condon is collaborating more with band members and changing things up (Beirut started as a solo project).

Explore more: www.treasureislandfestival.com

Dr. Dog @ the Fonda. 10.2.09

2009-10-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

The crowd was rowdy and impatient on Wednesday night at the Fonda while waiting for Dr. Dog to take the stage. Leading up to this moment, we lounged on the rooftop area, not paying much attention to our fellow Dr. Dog fans.

Now on the GA floor awaiting the band's set, we begin to look around and realize that the crowd's comprised mostly of bros in flannel – hence the loud chanting and foot stomping.

"They're definitely classic rock inspired...but with beautiful harmony like the Beatles," we overhear one fan describing the band to a newcomer.

As the curtains pulled back, a jungle appeared! The band was immersed in a garden of tall grasses and foliage, some members wearing goggles and peeping from behind picket fences. It was a fairy nursery that meets a Vietnam movie set.

They opened with a song we weren't familiar with, which got us thinking maybe we've been too wrapped up in their 2008 album, Fate…(but how could you not)? The bros love them some Dr. Dog! Throughout the show, they made hand gestures and even started a “Bro Train” when the band played “The Breeze,” putting their arms around each other and swaying to the music.

Dr. Dog brings out a bro's sensitive side.

Amadou & Mariam. Henry Fonda Music Box. 10.2.09

2009-10-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

After listening to Amadou and Mariam for over 5 years, we were incredibly excited to see "the blind couple from Mali" live. We were surprised to see the Fonda as empty as it was when we arrived. Amadou, Mariam and Co. were fantastic and kept the crowd moving with their upbeat tunes. Although the crowd was small, they were one of the most enthusiastic and dance crazed bunches. We hope it doesn't take us another 5 years to see these guys perform again.

Blitzen Trapper. El Rey. 9.28.09

2009-10-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

So many things go right at Bon Iver Sunrise Concert

2009-09-30T10:12:00.001-07:00

Special Guest Bloggers Ian Chili & Erin Gogger cover the Bon Iver Sunrise Concert at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9.27.09)

At 6:04 am I received this text from an East Coast friend: “You live the most random life.” This was of course after I told her that Buddhist Monks were blessing me as I sat in a cemetery. Yeah it was random, and it was very LA, but it was also one of the best things that I have ever done. For those of you who were not lucky enough to get tickets I would hate to say you didn’t miss anything, but ya did. -Erin

It’s not very often that the perfectly advertised evening goes perfectly as advertised. I was psyched for this concert from the moment I read about it in my friend’s Facebook status update. I ended up hanging with people I knew, but not intimately. At least not in a “let’s hang out in a cemetery, drink and smoke” kinda way. But it didn’t matter. This night was about experiencing something new. – Ian

Justin Vernon, tried his best to mastermind the evenings’ events as to maximize his morning performance, but he got an assist when Mother Nature decided to add her two cents to an already eventful evening. The gates opened at midnight and shortly after a DJ set composed by Mr. Vernon himself either lulled you to sleep amongst the others taking their eternal rests or primed you for what would be a night you would not soon forget. The fog rolled in at 0 dark 30, right after the screening of Bottlerocket, during the second DJ set and shortly before the moment I realized I needed to start drinking water (for the record, the latter never actually happened but should have…the discount beer from Trader Joe’s and red bull vodkas were just hitting the spot).

The next 2 hours were spent discussing what to do for the next 2 hours, getting more alcohol and finding inventive ways to drink it. The final solution was Asshole. We ended up telling more stories than playing cards, but we somehow managed to drink just as much with every story ending in a social. We also managed to make our way through the mist to the port-a-potties, glo sticks and bird calls were involved, and if you had forgotten for some reason that you were in a cemetery the security guard yelling please keep off of the headstones, brought it right back to you.

At 5:30ish Buddhist Monks came to bless the crowd and the stage. At first we thought that this was going to be weird, and the kung fu jokes began, but after a few minutes their chanting just mesmerized us and set the stage perfectly for Bon Iver. At this point, we had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment though we were too far gone to know what we actually did. It wasn’t til B.I. was setting up that it finally hit us. All that matters is that we’re here.

The concert was flawless. There was a special appearance by Justin’s old band Megafaun and Bon Iver perfectly delivered every song in their repertoire; the sun came up as best as it could with the marine layer blanketing us and everyone finally got a chance to see who had been camping around them the whole night. It was a sea of flannel, American Apparel hoodies and beanies in case you were wondering. As we headed for the exits, the only thing left on anybody’s mind was a pillow. Or perhaps a bloody mary, depends on whom you talk to. (We get 500 BLOG points for using “whom” correctly!)

You can try to recapture the magic on youtube.com if you want. Videos are already popping up. I’ve watched a half of one and it’s hard to capture the scope of the event on a crappy video camera from the back row. Luckily our friend Cam took some pictures.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes @ the El Rey 9.22.09

2009-09-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes were everything we expected and wanted their show to be. The nearly dozen strong band had such zeal for each song and the crowd could not have encouraged them more. The El Rey was packed and the energy high.

Lead singer Alex Ebert, in his classic white jeans, jumped and danced around the stage, his voice unfaltered. Jade Castrinos was absolutely adorable and had a childlike excitement for every song. The band as a whole moved around the stage with ease and excitement while being orchestrated by Ebert.

After the encore and the band clearly wanted to call it a night, Ebert did not want to leave the stage. Nico (the guitarist) came back out on stage for “Brother.”

The posse were closing their first tour and happy to be back home in Los Angeles. There was even an onstage proposal (not within the band)! It was a superb homecoming!

The LA Ladies Choir opened

Mayer Hawthorne @ the Roxy 9.10.09

2009-09-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Mayer Hawthorne swooned as at his record release party. It was an Ann Harbor invasion with most of his band hailing from the area - all mighty fine musicians.

THE DEAD WEATHER @ THE MAYAN. 8.26.09

2009-09-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

The audience was amped up - like a flock of vampire victims under the influence of a maenad! And no, not because the opening band had a drummer who wore loose, grey sweatpants where you could see his junk whirling around. Maybe because some caught the noon show at Third Man Records pop-up store at the Regent Theatre. Either way, no matter how many times one sees Jack White, Allison Mosshart, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence on stage, their addiction worsens...

First time at The Mayan; the venue looks like the set of Nickolodeon's "Legends of the Hidden Temple." We parked upstairs behind the sound booth for the best view, then headed to the floor for the 3-song encore where Jack White proposed, "Is music in L.A. alive and well? Or are you just EMI employees and shit?" A little bit of both...

Our first time seeing The Dead Weather was a couple months ago at The Roxy. This show amped up the lighting and heavy guitar, even some dramatic acting on behalf of Jack and Allison who violently shoved one another and were egged on by the crowd to kiss, right before their sultry duet of "Will There Be Enough Water."

The humble ending to this hot-ass rock & roll show was when the band joins hands and thanks the audience. We appreciate musicians who are also humble.

One day I will take the band down as my screen saver, but not any time soon.

THE DUKE SPIRIT/BAND OF SKULLS / THE EL REY / 8.1.09

2009-09-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

The line was down the street for the opening band, Band of Skulls, who have recently gained loads of popularity due to the vocal duelings of Emma Richardson and Russell Marsden. (A mention as "band to watch" in Entertainment Weekly and Vanity Fair, and an exclusive song in the upcoming soundtrack to New Moon). Richardson has been compared to Karen O and Patti Smith, and keeps getting better as the band plays around town.

Leila Moss, lead singer of The Duke Spirit, kept the energy going with songs like "Into The Fold" and "The Step and the Walk." She jumped barefoot on stage with a sparkly top and leather mini-shorts. Those who did not attend the Mew show at the Troubadour were all at the El Rey to support both Shangri-La Records bands (kudos to the label for throwing a free after party at HMS Bounty). Overall it was a fun concert-going experience.

Andrew Bird, White Rabbits & Grizzly Bear - oh my!

2009-07-20T21:15:00.001-07:00

...And that's not all! The past few months we have seen some pretty amazing shows. We apologize for being BMIA (Bloggers-Missing-In-Action). Enjoy a brief photo recap of the shows we not only liked, but loved:

Band of Skulls @ 3 Clubs. June 4, 2009.

The Dead Weather @ the Roxy. June 17, 2009.

Jack White & Allison Mosshart. The Dead Weather @ the Roxy. June 17, 2009.

The White Rabbits @ the Troubadour. June 18, 2009.

Grizzly Bear @ the Troubadour. June 20, 2009.

Phoenix @ the Wiltern. June 29, 2009.

Andrew Bird @ the Greek Theatre. July 10, 2009.

Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens). The El Rey. May 11, 2009.

2009-07-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

The El Rey was swarming with music industry insiders for Cat Stevens' invitation-only showcase - his first Los Angeles performance in about 30 years. We were clearly the youngest people in the audience. I envisioned Stevens to be wearing 60's garb - a beaded headband, a frayed buckskin jacket, chest hair showing underneath a linen button up and a full beard. The only thing that came to fruition was the full beard. He walked on stage, humbly picked up his acoustic guitar and gave the adoring audience a thumbs up. "It's beautiful in here," Stevens later commented.

His voice sounded exactly the same. I suppose it is possible for musicians to keep their youthful voice/talents..that is, if they drop the drugs and alcohol and convert to Islam like Stevens, ahem, Yusuf. On the 3rd song of the night, Don't Be Shy, he already had commanded a standing ovation. The show was great and transported us to another time for the hour and a half. Our only disappointment of the night was the exclusion of Moonshadow from the set list.

Set List: Welcome Home Lilywhite Don't Be Shy Where the Children Play Thinkin' About You The Rain (newish) World of Darkness Be What You Must The Wind Wild World Road Singer All Kinds of Roses Boots & Sand Ruins Father & Son (encore) Peace Train (encore)

Dark Was the Night. Radi City Music Hall. May 3, 2009.

2009-05-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Special Report from NYC!

If you haven't yet purchased the compilation Dark Was The Night, buy it now. Not only do the proceeds benefit the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS, but it has 33 kick-ass songs from both new and old artists: like Talking Heads' David Byrne, Bon Iver, Beirut, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Feist, Cat Power, Grizzly Bear...the list goes on. The compilation and benefit concert, held at Radio City Music Hall, was put produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National.

OBVIOUSLY worth flying to New York for, the show featured performances in this order: The Dirty Projectors, David Byrne, My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden (the best voice I've heard in years), The National, Feist (just her and a guitar), Bon Iver (who brought Shara out to harmonize on "Flume") and finally Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings.

The finale featured the whole lot, who came out to sing a version of "This Land Is Your Land." The group huddled around one mic like it was a campfire. Some held pieces of paper with the lyrics and began a lifeless rendition of "this land is your land" until Sharon interrupted: "Hold on a minute! I like that version, but I got a new one...hit it!" It sure felt like a cheesy benefit concert at that point. It was that and the "sex advice" videos that played in between songs, showing female artists like Courtney Love and Luscious Jackson speak candidly about sex and encouraging safety even within the world of rock & roll. "If he tells you not to use a condom, you might as well use one cuz it won't be good anyway" tells Gabby Glaser of Luscious Jackson.

I definitely geeked out seeing some of my favorite musicians together, but it wasn't as great as expected. It doesn't feel right to be seated during a show like that. I felt disconnected to the performances, but glad to know music still brings people together and can raise money for a good cause.

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

FINALE: "This Land Is Your Land" with The National, My Brightest Diamond, The Dirty Projectors, Feist, David Byrne, Bon Iver, St. Vincent.

The Kills. Webster Hall. May 2, 2009

2009-05-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Special Report from NYC!

I flew to New York last weekend because I found a roundtrip, non-stop flight for $179.00. In the meantime, I caught The Kills at Webster Hall.

It's unfair to the rest of us girls when you're as hot as Alison Mosshart. Her beauty rivals that of Erin Wasson and Kate Moss, but add that musical sex appeal only a lead singer rock chick can: Hair covering her face, she chants the words "you ain't born typical," spits and girates onstage while Jamie Hince pulls her by the hair.

The duo, who go by "VV" and "Hotel," play minimalist garage rock blues with two guitars and a drum machine. They did some new tracks off the EP Black Balloon and an array of of older songs, including my favorite "Sour Cherry." After the encore, they hugged one another, Mosshart burying her head in Hince's chest. I suppose the only complaint I had was Jack White, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence didn't hop on stage and do a song from their new band, The Dead Weather.

I didn't get there to see The Horrors open, but from the reviews I didn't miss much from a band who dresses ghoolish like it's Halloween and plays "disorganized haunting, 15-minute jams, and may only have the staying power of last night's mascara."

After the show, I went to a Nylon Magazine party in Brooklyn, where the staff spoke about interviewing Mosshart and Hince when they were on the cover. Hince, who is currently dating Kate Moss, spoke about his excitement to hang out with all the children for Thanksgiving: a far stretch from his persona onstage.

Guest Writers Brian & Mitch Cover Coachella 2009!

2009-04-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Let’s be honest. When the news arrived that we would be guest blogging at the 10th annual Coachella Music Festival, an immediate rush of Hunter S. Thompson swept through us. We promptly began to mentally prepare for a drug-induced coma of a concert weekend.

After about five to ten seconds of channeling HST, we quickly came to terms with our pathetic inexperience in gonzo journalism and hard drugs. So we decided to just enjoy the music and blog because, well, we like a show, too.

FRIDAY

BRIAN:
Some part of me feels like the road to Coachella is the road to recovery. Many Los Angelinos download music at their cubicles and count the days until they make the short trek (if you’re lucky) out to the heat-intensive weekend featuring over 100 bands. What more could you ask for? How about a big house with wet bar, BBQ and pool around the corner from the festival grounds? Stage set…literally.

It’s safe to say 3:30pm is the peak arrival time. The sun begins its descent behind the surrounding mountains, cooling off backs of necks, while remaining rays stream through the kicked-up dust clouds – the perfect setting for the gritty, twosome - The Black Keys. With hits like Strange Times, Your Touch and Just Got To Be, the Keys emerged as the late-afternoon’s natural raw talent in the rawest of climates.

If expectations were higher for the following act, Franz Ferdinand, they surely weren’t met as the band slowly channeled into the night with their middle-of-the-road songs like Michael and Turn It On. When their tempo picked up during Take Me Out, lead singer Alex Kapranos called the audience “tone deaf” and advised them to “chill, ” sending waves of rolling eyes through the dissipating crowd. The show’s highlight came too late with the performance of the recently released track, Ulysses containing the Coachella-friendly lyrics “Come on let’s get high.” Unfortunately most of the crowd had already made their way over to Leonard Cohen to do so.

MITCH:
After a traffic-filled five-hour commute, I parked in Indio just after dusk and sprinted into the festival. It was my duty to meet Brian at Beirut, a show I was eager to attend. With spotty cell-phone service in a festival event that averaged about 100, 000 people per day, the odds of meeting people shrank considerably upon entering the desert setting. Instead of losing my cool, which literally had already happened, I took it all in. Art installments from mechanical hands to fiery serpents dazzled the crowds as they traveled from tent to beer garden to port-a-potty to tent.

Within minutes of my own little game of “Where’s Waldo,” I spotted Brian in his red striped shirt and our night began. Beirut took the evening stage to an excited crowd, whose energy only magnified inside the echoes of the tent. We had read the folklore of the lead singer, Zach Condon, and his teenage musical journey through Europe as a New Mexico high-school dropout. Just your average prodigy story. His homely group of awkwardly-dressed musicians supported him in a “we are more talented than we look” fashion.

With the number of instruments involved, Beirut’s set felt more like a Parisian street performance of brass, strings, and a complimenting accordion. Condon’s romantic voice, accompanied by his ukulele, would calm the mood, only to set us up as the horns rose and blew us away, belting through the melody.

“It’s okay if you don’t know the lyrics, you can just sing along anyways,” Condon proclaimed as they dove into a favorite, A Sunday Smile. The crowd further fueled the performers as they, at one point, raised their arms for more and proved to be a great starting line for our Coachellathon.

We took a backseat approach when Paul McCartney arrived on stage, but despite our location, there was still that initial overwhelming moment of “Wow, that’s a Beatle.” From my generational perspective, that may sound artificial, but for someone as iconic as Paul McCartney in the last 100 years of cultural history, any given fan will have those same goose bumps.

Aside from his fun moments, the majority of McCartney’s performance consisted of emotional dedications. On the 11-year anniversary of Linda McCartney’s death, he reflected back with a song for her, My Love. The dedications didn’t stop there. In light of most recent and most historic Presidential inauguration, Paul gave a charming presentation of Blackbird, which he had written during the turmoil of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s:

All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

At a healthy age of 66, Paul cycled through his half-century full of hits, sounding as poetic as ever with even more dedications to John and George. Of course, the moment of the night came with the greatest sing-a-long of all time, Hey Jude. We may have all anticipated its first few notes, but couldn’t predict the overwhelming “Na Na Na Na’s” that could be heard for miles.

Despite the $1000 fine for every minute over midnight, the show continued through a second encore. Tiring out at the $55,000 mark, we meandered our way back to the car, but not without the final array of songs echoing as we exited. Yesterday. Get Back. Can’t Buy Me Love. Some people have these songs as personal memories for which we are envious. Yes, we can admit it. A legend roughly 40 years our elder outlasted us that night. We address him as Sir Paul for a reason.

SATURDAY
The 95-degree Saturday heat served as a wake-up call for our day ahead. We arrived to the festival while Paolo Nutini hit the main stage. Paolo had a fun style and the casual melodies were an excellent start to our day. We waited for his hit track, Jenny, Don’t Be Hasty, jammed out and moved on. It’s a must-download, by the way.

Unfortunately, we were not fast enough to sprint to Glasvegas or Dr. Dog, who were finishing up sets as well. Always a problem with massive festivals. This barely affected us as we pulled the smart move to hit up some convenient “spray stations” and “water troughs.” Brian later referenced his soaking wet bandana as “the one thing that saved my life today.”

TV On The Radio was up next on the main stage. Their latest album had everyone buzzing, which set for a great sundown scene. In fact, they even mentioned the idea of bringing the sun down during their set. That could have been the drugs talking, though. Clichés aside, TVOTR’s music spoke for itself. And Saturday’s growing crowd helped, pulsating through TVOTR’s passionate beats. Sure enough, the sunset moments stood out as a strong highlight of the weekend.

Turning to the outdoor stage, we ran into the largest disappointment of the evening. The back-to-back Fleet Foxes/Band of Horses lineup had us eagerly awaiting a 1-2 punch, but the intimate atmospheres were drowned out by the main stage acts of Thievery Corporation and M.I.A. Not a great mix.

Regardless, the Fleet Foxes put on a talented, intricate performance that seemed better fit for an indoor venue. The band agreed, commenting on the consequences of not headlining the festival. Band of Horses managed to pump up the intensity, but still seemed bogged down by the outdoor stage’s acoustics. Lesson learned for all of us - Get closer to the outdoor stage.

Without any shame, we exited and quickly became another group sucked into the enticing main stage, where MIA finished a bright florescent performance with horns blaring. Even her jeans’ stitching lit up in the night. We have little doubt that at least one obsessive fan went home to immediately to purchase a pair to complement their bedroom black light. Either way, her stage presence emphasized crowd interaction, eventually riding on a few front-row shoulders.

Now the fun began. We got to fight for an ideal, close-up spot for The Killers. Our main strategy, you ask? A system that we called “The Link.” On Brian’s call, our group locked arms, blocking off the toppling belligerence that surrounded us. The team effort proved successful, aside from the excess of awkward rubbing with some sweaty strangers. This was soon forgotten when The Killers took the stage.

They have always seemed to excel further in each of their performances, mainly for one reason: the love they have for themselves. I respect Brandon Flowers in the same way that I respect Kanye West. Each of their oversized egos remains perfectly acceptable because of their incredible talent and stage presence. It’s a guilty feeling at times, but I can’t deny it.

Jumping around from new Day & Age tracks to classics like Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, they kept the hope that old-school rock is alive and well. Dark foggy tones lit the majority of the performance with some extra fireworks to spice it up. Skeptics disagreed with their “headline” status, but The Killers have always captured crowds with audience-electrifying sets that share creative storytelling through emotional choruses.

We may have hit a snag or two in our plans when it took us about two hours to catch a cab home, but it was all part of “the experience.” At one point, a pickup truck filled with Mexicans offered to give us a ride. I happened to wave them over, only to find that my friends did not agree with my alternative commute home. Horror stories were promptly shared, and we went with the ol’… Thanks, but no thanks.

SUNDAY
Our third and final day offered up the most relaxed mood with the hottest temperature. This hazy perspective stemmed from our obvious exhaustion, so the main portion of our afternoon was spent sitting in any sliver of shade while Lupe Fiasco, Peter Bjorn & John, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs graced the main stage.

Slightly into the YYY set, however, we could not sit any longer. The massive eyeball hanging over the stage brought us to our feet, only to find dozens of small eyeball beach balls bouncing through the crowd. Without hesitation, a Clear Eyes mirage of Ben Stein appeared, but quickly vanished. Fortunately, this strange behavior felt to fit soundly with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs style.

Plenty of time had passed since their “Unitard” days at Oberlin, but the band managed to keep people guessing with their awesomely insane outfits. Karen O yelled “Sunday!” and made her presence known with some teal blue leggings, draped in shiny, mirror-like scales. I’m pretty sure she had wings, too. Why not?

Her personality matched the clothing perfectly with impulsive giggling and dancing. Many believers in the audience imitated such behavior. I felt myself enthralled with the people-dancing-watching. There were moments worthy of hysterics, but these zealous drones were so encapsulated by their own dancing, it only produced jealousy.

Despite their quirkiness, there was no doubt that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were on top of their game, standing out as one of the better sounding bands of the festival. Their new album is great, and they proved it with various tempos the echoed their feelings. Karen O went through her laundry list of dedications for Maps, which barely needed any introduction with the power that it packed.

Our time had expired at Coachella. We chose to skip the rest of the festival, which included a classic Public Enemy act that cycled through their entire ’88 It takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. No regrets though. Not much compared to the atmosphere we were leaving behind. The bathrooms were auditoriums of chaos. The outfits were creatively perfect in their own mistaken way. Our skin was burnt. Coachella had rocked our world once again.

Blind Pilot. Spaceland. April 11, 2009.

2009-04-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

Things looked grim when we underestimated the popularity of Blind Pilot. We arrived at Spaceland still in need of tickets and not anticipating it to sell out. We waited with about 50 others, eating Bugles and Almond Joys that were purchased in an effort to get cash back for a cab. We resorted to "Bear, Hunter, Ninja" to see who deserved two of the four tickets we had - a Russian Roulette of concert-going, if you will. If all of us couldn't get in, two at least needed to enjoy the show.

Low and behold! Success arrived as the Spaceland doors opened for the hopefuls outside, just in time to see Blind Pilot's second song of the night.

Blind Pilot is Israel Nebeker and Ryan Borbrowski. The longtime friends formed the band in Portland. They began to make a name for themselves by cycling down the west coast and playing in small towns along the way. As their website (blindpilotmusic.com) states:

They hauled everything on their bikes. No gas. 100% leg powered. Playing little towns that don’t often get shows by “touring bands...”

Their first bike tour (they were hoping to cycle from Vancouver to Mexico) was cut short when their bikes wore stolen in San Francisco. On their current tour, they are riding on 4 wheels instead of 2 since they are traveling with a larger group. Joining them on stage were 3 others (who we have yet to find the names of...).

Although Spaceland was PACKED and those nights can be a bit frustrating (especially for Angelic the gnome), the show was great. Blind Pilot sounded awesome and the crowd was diggin' them. A guy at the bar was singing a little too loud, especailly for a relatively low-key show like this. But all in all, it was nice to see people come out in full force for such a great band.

The long line for valet encouraged us to stay for a few more drinks and a game of pool. Israel joined us for a couple games...and kicked total ass. Maybe this is how they funded their cycle tours...

Alexi Murdoch. El Rey. April 8, 2009.

2009-04-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

The outside of the El Rey looks like a ghost town as we approach. There is no line of concert-goers waiting outside. No one hanging out at the restaurant patio (which, btw, has changed once again. This time to Indian-Tex Mex cuisine. The menu looks quite tasty). The upstairs is closed. No line at the bar. WTF, mate?

We missed the opening act, The Portland Cello Project...but decided we didn't miss out on much when we asked our friends how they were and they responded with a shrug.

It was a very quiet crowd. When Alexi took the stage with his band, the crowd swaying began. Needless to say, it was a sleepy show. Alexi is a poor man's Nick Drake with a side of Bert Jansch. We admire his recent 2 year stint in the Himalayas, but his music doesn't bring much flare to our iPods. There are uber fans of Alexi, but we don't think he is anything to flip over. We laughed at the serious followers chanting "my salvation is in your love" in between making out with their lovers.

Once we left the venue, a usually very opinionated Jackson said nothing until we got home, then spat out, "That was so fucking boring." He thinks if you're gonna see a show live like that, you may as well spend money on Iron & Wine or Califone. Or as Angelic would prefer, be a seated show.

We did have time to draw a penis, drink a few drinks (the non existent line at the bar worked to our advantage) and make friends with the rowdy couple chanting "sing Orange Sky!" Or as we like to call it, "Pinky-Orange Moon-Sky."

Emiliana Torrini. The Troubadour. March 30, 2009

2009-03-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

We walk into the Troubadour expecting there to be people slammed up against the entrance as usual - shoulder to shoulder, trying not to spill their drink. To our surprise, the main floor is spacious and roomy. We are baffled, as the good folks at KCRW have been in love with Emiliana Torrini the past few months and play her songs every chance they can. We head to the bar and notice we are the youngest in this crowd of floral prints, stripes and tie dye. This is not a normal night at the Troub for us. As the set time approaches, the room begins to fill up. Now we understand, everyone has come for Emiliana - the hell with the openers.

Emiliana takes the stage wearing a 40's style floral print dress. Her friend picked it out for her because "she wears the same dress every day." The band, usually couped up in the cold, loves the California sunshine. The night before they celebrated by drinking and taking photos "spanking one another." We misjudged her as conservative and dainty (she enjoys whiskey, which she asked the audience for and received two full glasses of, taking it gratefully). She is cute on stage - her arms move stiffly and her face shows much emotion as she sings. In between songs, she talks with the crowd and tells stories, like how her bandmate wrote "Birds" while she sipped a cocktail inside and he was thrown into the woods for inspiration. She's admitted to forgetting much of the songwriting process due to late-night whiskey feasts.

Her voice sounds amazing. Her diction was impeccable, much like her fellow Icelander, Bjork. She is vulnerable and real. You can fee the sensuality in "Ha Ha" (there are times where she just breaths a stacatto breath into the microphone). You believe her when she dedicates the song "Big Jumps" to those people in her life who "have really taken chances" and "believe in love and the pursuit of happiness, not silly things like religion."

Highlights of the show were "Jungle Drum" and "Birds."

Side note about the Troub: the speakers upstairs in the Loft work now so you can hear the show. Hoorah!

Emiliana on the harmonium

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. The Echo. March 27, 2009.

2009-03-31T16:30:00.000-07:00

"Thees ees dee ferst time in de United States of Amedeeeka!" squeeked the tiny blonde on stage, Mette Lindberg, lead singer of the Danish band The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. They have just come off of the SXSW high. We were able to catch them at The Echo before they head back to tour in Europe. They can currently be heard on the iPod Touch commercial and episodes of Gossip Girl.

On the right side of the stage stood the "industry peeps" while the rest of the crowd (a gaggle dressed in sailor hats and nautical attire for the Echo's Friday Night Club Underground from 12 am -2 am) mingled near the bar, glancing back from the stage to the 1960's movie projected on the wall.

Accompanying Mette on the stage were five radly dressed boys: Lars Iversen (bass, keys), Miloud Carl Sabri (trumpet), Sven Meinild (sax), Mads Brinch Nielsen (guitar, keys) and Rasmus Valldorf (drums). The drummer had no shirt, but instead a long tribal necklace. Other members sported head wraps and beads (think contemporary Keith Richards), retro suits and all were wearing sunglasses.

The band seemed to be having such a great time - it was party on stage. You can tell they live for this. Their music echoes the 60's soul vibe that has invaded the music scene the past couple years, but Mette's voice was not what you would expect with the accompanying music. She is no Adele or Duffy. Instead her voice has an unmistakable high-pitched, psychedelic sound. Mette's voice matches completely with their album, Around the Bend. Her soulful lyrics and band (complete with a horn section) brings a level of depth. They are the futuristic Jetsons of soul & Motown.

And now another homage to you dancers and lonesome individualists:

Ladyhawke. Troubadour. March 17, 2009.

2009-03-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Walking into Ladyhawke's Troubadour show felt like a taping of The L Word if it were set in an 80's flashback: plenty of same sex make-out action, dance moves like "the weight lifter," cut-off leather gloves to accentuate hand-dancing, neon shapes lighting the projector screen, and celeb sightings like C.C. Deville from Poison...alas no Jennifer Beals reliving her Flashdance days. It was an appropriate crowd tribute to a band named after the 1985 Michelle Pfeiffer film.

I am neither cool nor gay enough to be there.

Pip Brown, a Kiwi with a jammin' voice, hid behind her feathery blonde bangs as she strummed the guitar and twiddled the synthesizer.

I loved chanting "bang, bang, bang, on the drum" during Dusk Til Dawn, felt seriously sexy during Magic and joined the dance crowd when she ended with My Delirium.

...now please enjoy a dance break from our sponsor:

Ra Ra Riot. El Rey. February 28, 2009.

2009-03-04T17:21:00.000-08:00

I became a fairweather fan of the Ra Ra Riot album, spending little time listening through to its entirety and skipping only to the "most listened to." I was pleasantly surprised by their live show, which was a combination of hip shaking pop and inner reflective indie rock (the latter a homage to their former drummer, John Ryan Pike, who passed away in an unfortunate drowning incident in 2007). For such a young band to decide to stay together, it shows emotional strength to create their first full length album The Rhumb Line. What manifested was something quite special.

Playing for a packed house, the band reins from Syracuse, New York. They are made up of: head cheerleader and vocalist Wes Miles, bassist Mathieu Santos, guitarist Milo Bonacci, and the pizzazz of strings Alexandra Lawn (cello) and Rebecca Zeller (violin).

I felt emotionally connected to the music and appreciate them more having seen them live. Their finesse must've come after opening for bands like Bow Wow Wow and Tokyo Police Club and most recently for Vampire Weekend and Los Campesinos!

Ra Ra Riot were recently live on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic:
www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090302ra_ra_riot

Clues with Black Cheeto. February 26, 2009. Spaceland.

2009-03-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

I usually need earplugs to enjoy the shows at Spaceland. It is loud. I know, I sound like a grandma.

However, for a "one time only show," Black Cheeto was awarded a totally silent and attentive audience (a rare occurrence in LA). Black Cheeto is comprised of: Charlyne Yi (of the "stoner girl" in Knocked Up fame, but more importantly a talented comic and musician...and girlfriend of Michael Cera), Ryan Kattner (or Honus Honus) from Man Man and 3 unknowns (as far as we know): Jess, Dave Horwitz and Mary Forrest. Charlyne posted this on her MySpace blog regarding the show:

It's scary 'cause it's our first and last show as a band haha..... Our debut and farewell performance (we only got together to play this show. And one of the guys doesn't live in LA).

The show was obviously thrown together (Charlyne fumbled with most of the lyrics and there were other minor slip ups), but they proved to be most entertaining. Charlyne was goofy on stage and was not afraid to talk back to the audience. She played the guitar, harp and fake cardboard-cutout-trumpet. Her singing was not impressive, but her nerdy presence was endearing. The lyrics were unique. These are a few that caught our attention:

"Step your heart up/Stitch the holes up"

" Why you gotta be so mean? Is it because you have little creatures' hopes buried in your nose?"

"Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow..."

Other than the sheer entertainment and light-heartiness of Black Cheeto's performance, Ryan was the savior of the night. At the end of one song, Charlyne had a look of shock on her face and spat out: "That's exactly how it was suppose to end!"

When the Clues took the stage, the crowd (which was mainly comprised of dudes) was ready for them. By the 3rd song, the crowd was rocking - maybe the dual drum sets helped set the mood. The Clues are made up of Alden Penner (Unicorns), Brendan Reed (Arcade Fire) and additional Montreal musicians: Ben Borden, Lisa Gamble and Nick Scribner. Throughout the show, they traded up instruments and kept the enthusiasm up, even though they barely acknowledged the crowd.

It was clear that Alden brought the lyric style to the group while Brendan's use of instruments could not help but invoke Arcade Fire. Our expectations for this show were high and the band did not quite measure up. I guess we cannot judge too much having only listened to one song prior to the show. Take a listen:

http://www.box.net/shared/static/ga49i9qp3c.mp3

Charlyne Yi

Ryan Kattner

Charlyne rockin' the harp

Clues

The 51st Grammy Awards. Staples Center. February 8, 2009.

2009-02-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

Although the Hollywood Reporter claims the Grammy Awards ratings boost was due in part to Katy Perry belaying from the ceiling in a giant banana, that was barely a highlight this year.

Watching on TV may bore you to tears, but seeing 24 live performances back-to-back - U2 kicking it off with "Get On Your Boots" and Alison Krauss & Robert Plant closing the show - made me as happy as Adele would be if she banged a Jonas Brother.

I am my father's date, but he wears earplugs the entire time so I am left to my own devices to indulge in the shameful "how many celebrities can I identify" game during commercial breaks.

We are seated along the isle where every presenter and performer passes by: I am titillated to brush by scruffy little Thom Yorke (who's performance of "15 Steps" with the USC Marching band was crazy-awesome), Sir Paul McCartney who is tall and still hot, LL Cool J who I am convinced licks his lips 24 hours a day, Zooey Deschanel glued to her fiance Ben Gibbard's arm, and pretty much every pop and country sensation who I could care less about any other time of year. Spotting celebs like Judd Apatow, who's only reason for attending is the music, gave the Grammys a little street cred.

Highlights: Estelle's stellar vocal performance during the Kanye West duet of "American Boy." Radiohead just being there, M.I.A.'s maternity "black and white ladybug" bump swagga' with the best rap artists this year and a tearful yet powerful performance by Jennifer Hudson.

Surprises: I like Taylor Swift and the message she sends to young girls...

Guffaws: Choosing Stevie Wonder to "play us out" as half the Staples Center has already been empty prior to the end of the telecast (this happens every year)...although many poked fun of "Stevie reuniting with the Jonas Brothers" - I kinda dug it. And Katy Perry sucked.

U2 - "Get on Your Boots"

Estelle w/ Kanye West - "American Boy"

Chris Martin with Jay-Z

Macca - "I Saw Her Standing There"

Gabrielle Cilmi with Asa. Hotel Café. January 26, 2009.

2009-02-10T21:16:00.000-08:00

*Featuring guest writer Ian Chili!*

As a music fan and friend of the we like a show girls, I was excited at the prospect of going to see shows with them at the myriad of great music venues LA has to offer. This show in particular was one that I had wanted to see for some time. Unfortunately, the girls were unable to make it and I had to see the show alone. Not an ideal situation by any means, but it did give me a chance to share my thoughts with all of you. And for only $10 I got my moneys worth. So, without further delay, let’s talk about the show...

I arrived late, only getting to see Asa’s (pronounced Asha) last few songs. The unfortunate part being that I ended up liking Asa way more than Gabrielle Cilmi, but I’ll get into that later. As I got my ticket, I rushed into a packed house. Somewhat surprising for 7 pm on a Monday, but it didn’t take me long to see why. On the stage stood a poised, confident young woman, an old soul, in no rush at all and seemingly enjoying every second of her time on stage.

She performed in a simple singer/songwriter type format with just her guitarist and back up singer. And while that format is oft overused, it works perfectly for her, allowing the audience to focus on the 2 things that make her so intriguing: her vocals and her lyrics. Born a French-Nigerian, she draws her inspiration from classic soul, jazz and Nigerian music. The best example of this being her cover of Nina Simone’s Feeling Good, which starts out simple enough with no variations then melds into an Afro-beat masterpiece. Certainly, Fela Kuti would’ve been proud. Simply put, that song alone was worth the $10 to get in.

After a brief intermission, which was marked by the mass exodus of nearly half the crowd, Gabrielle came to the stage. Only 17 years old, she has had tons of success in Australia and the UK - recently winning 6 Aria awards, Australia’s version of the Grammy’s. She is the newest face in the retro soul genre, but has yet to have the success that Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy have achieved here in the states. That being said, her single, “Sweet About Me” has only been released for a few weeks.

From the beginning of her set, it seemed almost as if she was rushing to finish. And while she undeniably has some talent, I don’t think she has the maturity yet as a performer to truly own her music. The other problem I have is that all her songs sound the same, though this probably is due to the label wanting to market Gabrielle to a younger, more pop oriented market than fellow label signee, Amy Winehouse. Who knows. Only time will tell if she has any staying power.

Some of the highlights from her set was the opening song, Save The Lies, followed by Sweet About Me. Both are very strong pop songs and should have some commercial success. The only other song to have had any buzz was a doo-wop version of Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me A River.

Overall, it was a pretty good night. You definitely get your moneys worth at Hotel Cafe and it’s a great place to not only hear music from the local LA talent pool, but people making waves all across the world.

The Walkmen with Beach House. The Fonda. January 20, 2009.

2009-01-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

Obamicans were out in full force tonight at the Fonda on this monumental Presidential Inauguration Day. Baltimore band Beach House opened. Victoria Legrand (niece of French film composer Michel Legrand) hidden behind her touselled, long hair, sang in echoes. She is timid and apologetic: "I'll be off soon, this is my last song and then the Walkmen." She was like an insecure teenager, dressed in high-waisted overalls and a t-shirt, but had a hint of bling on her index finger, paying homage to Beach House's 1st album cover decore of a treasure chest with pearls, sequins and keepsakes. Our favorite song was "Gila" and the crowd pleaser was her closing with "Heart of Chambers."

On the break we go outside to peruse the crowd and jot down notes. We spot a couple with their sleeping newborn, sporting huge sound-cancelling headphones on his tiny head. Every other person is getting in a good use with their Obama t-shirts.

The Walkmen set starts with a line of brass players (the band has become accustomed to posting Craiglsist ads in each city for the players and introduces them before they sound off). Crowd pleaser was "In The New Year" which began with a shout out to our new President Elect. Everyone chanted "It's gonna be a good year" along with the band and that addictive guitar lick.

Beach House

Lead singer Hamilton Leithauserr channels Chris Martin's new image of "Viva La Vida" (picture the Captain Morgan stance) as he plays.

Department of Eagles with The Cave Singers. The Troubadour. January 23, 2009.

2009-01-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

We walk into the Troubadour where an adorable British blond girl is going on to her bearded friends about how lovely it is to start the New Year at the Troub: "It's like my Cheers...where everybody knows your name." Although we see only a few familiar faces, the Troubadour has increasingly become our favorite venue in Los Angeles. Tonight it was made even more enjoyable by the crowd drawn in by these chill, very real, very genuine bands. (And even enjoyable with Ryan Gosling hanging out in the corner booth upstairs)

We saw this bearded trio from Seattle last year at the Echo and love them dearly. It was a pleasant surprise to see that they were the opening band tonight. We still love and listen to their 2007 album, Invitation Songs, quite often. We almost melted when they played "Seeds of Night"- it is such a great feel-good song. As they have said themselves, their music is like "a group hug."

Doodle, the man that runs the Troub grub station, mentioned that he witnesses most of the band's rehearsals. He usually notices a significant change from the band's sound check and the way they are when in front of an audience. Doodle tells us he wanted The Cave Singers to "keep it real" during their performance tonight. And that they did, that they did.

We were expecting the unexpected with the Department of Eagles. By the end of their set, we were both in awe - with a splash of disappointment. We were not sure how this duo was going to approach the show following their latest album, In Ear Park, which they recorded with the rest of the Grizzly Bear crew. Angelic wanted to hear "Forty Dollar Rug"...but had to hold back the tears of disappointment when she realized it just wasn't going to happen. Melissa, on the other hand, was hoping for more of the harmonies which were featured on their second album. She got her harmonies during the encore, but much to her dismay, it was a voice loop.

All in all, we were ecstatic that we were able to attend a Department of Eagles show and enjoyed it thoroughly. Being that they are based in NYC, are a side project and had barely produced anything since 2003...we were thrilled that they made it out to the West Coast. And were booked at the Troubadour non-the-less.

The Cave Singers

Department of Eagles

Metronomy with The Mae Shi. The El Rey. January 21, 2009

2009-01-25T19:18:00.000-08:00

From the moment we walked into the El Rey we were intrigued. The Mae Shi were on their third song of the night and had incredible energy. Although the crowd was modest, we had fun like a kindergartner does after a really great P.E. class. Lead singer and keyboardist, Jonathan Gray, was wearing a Halloween Jack-o-Lantern costume over his jeans and had facial expressions galore.

At one point, the band threw out a giant "Mae-Sheet" parachute to the crowd. Everyone grabbed an end and pulled it over our heads. A dance party ensued underneath the multicolored 'chute. Later on, the band jumped from the stage and continued playing, weaving through the crowd.

We had not listened to The Mai Shi much before heading to the El Rey. We had mainly just listened to the songs featured on their MySpace page. Although some of their music was not up our alley, we still enjoyed their performance. The show was like an interactive video game which made our 'dance nerd' came out in full-force. Melissa has since announced she would follow the lead singer around like Zoltan's bubble wrap troupe in Dude, Where's My Car? The Mae Shi sure knows how to put on a show...and we like a show!

Metronomy took the stage setup in a row, like little ducklings - each with their own "keyboard." And each with their own Tap on/off Push Light (As Seen on TV) on their chest. Some of their songs had a hint of 80s music to it..Devo is to red conehats as Metronomy is to chest and wrist lights (the most cost-effective special effect ever). They were almost like a Motown band with their synchronized hand movements, except it looked like they were trying to make shadow puppet formations instead of dance moves.

They started to dedicate a song to Obama, but them nixed the idea and instead dedicated it to their PM Gordon Brown. That's ok, we still like them.

It was a better show than we expected. We left the venue with a concert poster that was "designed & printed by two rabbits"...which I think is pretty special.

*Be sure to check out The Mae Shi next Wednesday (2/4) at the Troubadour when they open for Matt & Kim!

The Mae Shi (...or at least half)

The Mae Sheet

Metronomy: