The Ting Tings!

It seems that just about everyone is buzzing about the Ting Tings. I guess that's what happens when your songs are featured on a commercial for the Apple iPod. What ever happened to Jet?

Anyway, The Ting Tings will be on Jimmy Kimmel tomorrow on June 6th and will be coming to LA on June 13. The duo from Manchester, England has an amazing sound on the album, but I have a feeling their sound will be much thinner when playing live. Here's a video clip of a studio sound:


Updated June 7,
Here's the video clip of them on Jimmy Kimmel... Cute concept as a duo, but they really need a band on stage with them.

Treasure Island Music Festival Lineup..

The Treasure Island Music Festival was an absolute blast last year. The island makes for an awesome venue with breathtaking views and the comfortable grounds. I didn't know if the good folks from Noise Pop and Another Planet Entertainment would be able to top last year's roundup of artists, but they did. Here's some info about the upcoming festival:

"After an immensely successful inaugural year, Noise Pop and Another Planet Entertainment are thrilled to announce another stellar line-up for the Treasure Island Music Festival. The two-day festival will once again take place in one of the world’s most breathtaking settings: an island smack-dab in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Picking up where it left off last year, Saturday, September 20th will feature cutting edge electronic and dance oriented acts with Justice closing. The Raconteurs will headline Sunday, September 21st which features a one-of-a-kind line-up of highly regarded established and emerging indie rock bands. Here is the confirmed line-up for each day so far.

Saturday September 20th
JUSTICE
TV ON THE RADIO
GOLDFRAPP
HOT CHIP
CSS
ANTIBALAS
AESOP ROCK
AMON TOBIN
FOALS
MIKE RELM
NORTEC: BOSTICH + FUSSIBLE

Sunday September 21st
THE RACONTEURS
TEGAN & SARA
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
SPIRITUALIZED
OKKERVIL RIVER
TOKYO POLICE CLUB
THE KILLS
DR. DOG
JOHN VANDERSLICE
THE DODOS
FLEET FOXES

Additional artists are yet to be confirmed but the total number of performers will be 28 over the two-day event. Single day tickets cost $65.00, Two-day tickets cost $115.00.

Worth every penny.

Jamie Lidell @ El Rey

It is said that Los Angeles sucks the soul dry. Fortunately for about 800 Angelinos in attendance at the El Rey Theatre last night, a fresh, delicious refill was served courtesy of Jamie Lidell; and their cups now runneth over!

The evening's stage was set by James Pants who opened with a radio countdown format, spinning samples off vinyl and digital format and throwing in a little vocals. He got the crowd warmed up for some elbow-jerking, ass-shaking good times.

After a short break, Jamie Lidell emerged wearing black-and-white striped pajama pants and a shiny gold smoking jacket. The sax player followed wearing a red silk robe and business socks. These guys definitely do not suffer for fashion. Sax guy's awesomeness does not end there, though, as he demonstrated how to play two-- count 'em: one, two-- saxophones simultaneously. Jamie is also supported by a keyboardist, bassist, and two percussionists. After about four songs from his new album, Jim, the band disappeared leaving Lidell alone on stage for a 15 minute beatbox and looping interlude that captivated the smiles and feet of all in attendance. The band then returned to the stage to dish up a fresh serving of funk, soul, groove and, of course, a little bit (more) feel good.

As I walked out of the show, I was surrounded by ear-to-ear grins, and comments that included, "Did that really happen?", "Holy Shit! He touched me, I can't believe he touched me.", "That might have been the greatest show I've ever seen, now lets go have sex." Though I didn't check with everyone personally, based on hearing these comments, it seemed that all who were there enjoyed the show.

Back to Home Page

May Archive

05/08 - Tapes 'N Tapes (Troubadour)
05/09 - Alice Cooper & Slash (Henry Fonda)
05/12 - Film School (Viper Room)
05/13 - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (the echo)
05/14 - Kate Nash (Henry Fonda Theater)
05/17 - The Dirtbombs + Dan Sartain (Troubadour)
05/19 - The Kooks + Morning Benders (Wiltern)
05/20 - Foxy Shazam (Glass House)
05/21 - Dresden Dolls + Smoosh (Wiltern)
05/21 - Foxy Shazam (Knitting Factory)
05/27,28 - The Police + Elvis Costello (Hollywood Bowl)
05/29 - Jamie Lidell (El Ray)
05/29 - Ladytron + Datarock (Henry Fonda)
05/29 - REM + Modest Mouse (Hollywood Bowl)
05/30 - Beirut + The Brunettes (The Wiltern)
05/30 - Flight of the Conchords (Orpheum Theatre)
05/30 - Ladytron + Datarock (Henry Fonda)
05/31 - The Cure (Hollywood Bowl)

Where Should I Live?

Still can't decide on where to live in LA. My biggest hurdle is finding a neighborhood. Each neighborhood in LA is about the size of San Francisco. So here are the important factors in finding a place. Perhaps my loyal reader(s) can help.

Location: Beach or City?
Beach Benefits - It's the Beach
City Benefits - closer to music venues
Commute is not an issue as i work from home. But, driving to my favorite music venues IS an issue. Don't drink and drive. Just say no. Friends don't let friends listen to Matchbox 20. Do I live on the beach and find sober transportation to music venues? Or do I live in the city and make a 30 minute drive to go to the beach when its nice out.. which is every day.

So the areas that I'm considering are:
Hermosa Beach (green pin)
Venice Beach (pink pin)
Culver City (purple)
W. Hollywood (yellow)
Silver Lake (teal)

The Blue teardrop markers are all the music venues in LA..

Los Angeles Concert Radar for May & June

My first concert radar for LA is up... and it doesn't suck. Check it out on the right-hand column.

That's it for now.

An Intimate Evening Honoring Slash and Alice Cooper (Henry Fonda Theatre)

Feb - April SF Concert Archive.

Clearing out the old SF LIVE MUSIC RADAR to make room for the LA CONCERT RADAR... and I'm archiving.

02/24 - Built To Spill + Meat Puppets (Fillmore)
02/27 - MINIPOP + West Indian Girl
02/28 - Or, The Whale (Cafe du Nord)
02/29 - The Helio Sequence + Film School (The Independent)
03/01 - British Sea Power (Bottom of the Hill)
03/02 - M.Ward + Zooey Deschanel, She and Him (GAMH)
03/02 - Tilly and the Wall + Capgun Coup (Rickshaw Stop)
03/03 - Nicole Atkins (Independent)
03/07 - Honeycut (GAMH)
03/13 - Bravery (Fillmore)
03/13 - Gogol Bodello (Warfield)
03/15 - Say Hi [fka Say Hi to Your Mom] (Bottom of the Hill)
03/22 - Vampire Weekend (Independent)
03/23 - Vampire Weekend (Rickshaw)
03/24 - Tokyo Police Club (Independent)
03/25 - Blue October (The Grand Ballroom)
03/25-27 - Citizen Cope (Independent)
03/27 - Portugal. The Man (Bottom of the Hill)
04/02 - The Black Keys (Warfield)
04/23 - Death Cab for Cutie (Fillmore)
04/23 - Man Man + Yeasayer (GAMH)
04/24 - Hot Chip (Fillmore)
04/27 - Datarock + Ladytron (Fillmore)
04/27 - Les Savy Fav (GAMH)
04/29 - VHS or Beta (Mezzanine)
05/03 - Rogue Wave (Fillmore)
05/13 - Kate Nash (Fillmore)

The Swan Song...

It has been a wonderful adventure being in San Francisco for the last 9.5 years. Over the last three years, I've seen about 500 different bands perform live in San Francisco, and luckily for me, my last concert in San Francisco was pretty much the best I could ask for: Face shredding performances from multiple bands in a nearly-sold-out small venue.

Portugal. The Man + Foxy Shazam at Bottom of the Hill.... That's the last handstamp I'll get from an SF venue until I eventually move back. Portugal put on a phenomenal show (almost as good as their Slim's performance). I have never seen this trio perform as a trio. They always bring others on stage (usually members of other bands on their tour). At one point there was 9 people with instruments on stage. And, while it was really really really really loud, it was amazing to see.

However it was opener, Foxy Shazam, that made this bill a night to remember forever. Keyboardist, Schuyler Vaughn White, stands like a giant animal on his keyboards while playing. It was some of the most amazing keyboard playing I've ever seen live. Between songs, lead singer, Eric Sean Nally fills in with hilarious and eccentric comedic interludes.

Their passion and stage presence was the best I've seen since Gogol Bordello. In fact, if you can imagine Gogol Bordello, Queen, and Andy Kaufman on stage together, it MIGHT give you an idea of what you are in for when you see Foxy Shazam live. If they ever stopped touring, they could make a career Off-Broadway. Check out the video below of Foxy Shazam... IF you think the composition and theatrics are amazing in this video, their live performance is easily an order of magnitude more bizarre.

Thank you San Francisco.
And goodbye.
For now.

Nicole Atkins @ the Independent

Ah, Mondays can be such a drag sometimes... but on a Monday night with Nicole Atkins playing at the Independent, who can complain about anything? Not me, that's for sure.
During the evening I met a couple of friends who I proceeded to tell that Nicole Atkins was high on my list of potential baby-makers. We scurried to the edge of the stage to sing along and watch as Nicole so skillfully eye-fucked everyone in the room as she belted out song after soulful song.

Folk/soul rocker, Langhorne Slim, opened with an amazing set that might sound like what the love child of Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello might sound like.

There are six straight days of great music coming to the Independent. Don't miss:
3/22 - Vampire Weekend + Yacht
3/23 - Phosphorecent + Bon Iver
3/24 - Tokyo Police Club
3/25 - Citizen Cope (through 3/27)

video:

Tilly & The Wall @ The Rickshaw Stop

Why I LOVE Noise Pop.

Every year I get excited about the bands headlining at Noise Pop. And inevitably, I walk away with a new love affair with at least one of the bands that would open for them. Last night my Noise Pop discovery was The Builders and The Butchers who opened for Helio Sequence at the Independent. Their style is a grimy southern rock with bluegrass, folk, and punk influences. Each song is written and performed with a haunting dark passion that makes me believe they've lived everything they were singing about (murder, thievery, and rambling) as great storytellers should always be able to do. If someone can find postings with lyrics.. please let me know.

More photos on The Bay Bridged

Flight of the Conchords to perform at Sasquatch! Music Festival.

Here's the full lineup:

R.E.M. / The Cure / The Flaming Lips U.F.O. Show / Death Cab For Cutie / Modest Mouse / M.I.A. / Flight Of The Conchords / Rodrigo Y Gabriela / Michael Franti & Spearhead / The Breeders / Built To Spill / The Hives / Tegan & Sara / The Presidents / Ghostland Observatory / Ozomatli / The New Pornographers / Blue Scholars / The National / The Kooks / Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Cold War Kids / Beirut / Rogue Wave / Okkervil River / Fleet Foxes / Kinski / Mates of State / Crudo (featuring Mike Patton & Dan The Automator) / Sera Cahoone / Battles / Destroyer / Dyme Def / The Blakes / Pela / Jamie Lidell / The Cops / Dengue Fever / Siberian / Say Hi / White Rabbits / David Bazan / The Little Ones / "Awesome" / Dead Confederate / The Heavenly States / 65daysofstatic / Grand Archives / Vince Mira with the Roy Kay Trio / Joshua Morrison / Throw Me The Statue / J. Tillman / Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down / The Cave Singers / Matt Costa / The Shaky Hands

West Indian Girl + Dios Malos @ the Troubadour

It was a dark and stormy night in Los Angeles. My business travels had brought me there for one night and I was fortunate enough to be there on the same night West Indian Girl was headlining at the Troubadour. I had never been to the Troubadour and it was high on my list of venues I need to see before I die. The weather conditions were horrendous yet I battled through the rain with a very 'Blues Brothers' mission-from-God mentality.

Upon entering the Troubadour I was standing in a dank atrium that reeked of rock and roll. To the left I saw a main bar room. Ahead of me, there were doors with a sign above that read 'SHOWROOM'... Given my excitement, It might as well have said 'MECCA'. If you don't know the history associated here, read up here. I had been dying to see this place, and it lives up to everything I've heard, and more. While I still believe that pound for pound, San Francisco has better venues to see live music, the Troubadour has immediately risen to the top 5 places I would ever want to see live music.

Thankfully, I was able to share this experience with one of my oldest and closest friends who I hadn't seen in ages. He recently moved to LA and hadn't been to the Troubadour either.

Of the four bands on the bill that evening, I only saw the last two. Opener, Dios Malos fka Dios, from Hawthorne, CA bring a sweet freshness of sound to the stage that you will enjoy. Album reviews are mediocre at best, but the passion they exude on stage is enough to make me think that somebody fucked up while recording the album. Catch em live if you can... and keep an eye on the drummer as he will have you in stitch with his stage antics.

Headlining was West Indian Girl. Now, if you recall.. I caught a piece of West Indian Girl at the Treasure Island Music Festival several months ago and I liked what I heard enough to buy the album.

West Indian Girl is a psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles. Their name is derived from a strain of LSD that was designed in the 60's by Bear Owsley and Nick Sands. The biggest trip for me, however, was the diversity among the group. I mean, the lead singer, Robert James, looks like the guy from the Spin Doctors, and the bassist, Francis Ten, looks like Dave Navarro. I think the similarities also extend into their musical style. Relax, I'm not bagging on them (or the Spin Doctors).. I think it speaks volumes that each member has their own set of talents, their own look, and their own style.

Each tune explored a different musical direction and they were all pleasing to listen to. In live performance the band is extraordinarily tight and the songs were all very well done. My friend asked if the two leads wrote songs individually which I thought was quite astute. It was almost like hearing two different bands on stage. It was JamBand-Psychedelia. Perhaps this is where things don't quite work for me. I felt as if each song only got me half-excited... but never brought me over the edge. Like I said, the songs are great on the album, and overall pretty good live... but I found myself bored enough to battle through the crowd and stand in the cold rain to smoke a cigarette where I heard others' melancholy longings for the je ne sais quoi that this performance lacked. The band played right through encore theatrics, which I think all bands should do. They ended with my favorite tune off their new album 4th and Wall called, "All My Friends". They scored major points with me by pulling some major creativity. Drummer, Mark Lewis, came up with an instrument that looked like a piccolo (it may have been). Bassist, Francis Ten, pulled out (with extraordinary dramatics) a toy piano... perhaps it was a fisher-price model. Keybordist, Nathan Van Hala, played a Harmonium... and it was a nice way to punctuate my mild discontent with them saying, 'fuck you, we'll play it how we want to, and we don't give a fuck if it sounds good or not." Catch them live this week at NOISE POP on 2/27 opening for MINIPOP at Bottom of the Hill.

Vampire Weekend, New Album, Popscene This Week!

I just listened to the much anticipated Vampire Weekend album and I have nothing but good things to say (as always). The debut album is available on iTunes, and I'm sure they will have copies at Popscene (330 Ritch) on Thursday. Take a listen, watch the video, see the band. You'll enjoy.

Concert Schedule Heating Up

January 24th - Silian Rail - Hemlock Tavern - The instrumental duo impressed the crowd at the Thread Production showcase at Bottom of the Hill back in July. Plus the reference to one of my favorite movies gets bonus points. If you don't know it, watch the video.

January 25th - Action Design - opening for the Donna's at Aaron Axelsen's new Popscene establishment. Get there early to see them... The lead singer has a very Karen O + Pat Benetar rock'n'roll hotness to her.

January 26th - planningtorock - Mezzanine - I saw her open for Hot Chip at the Fillmore earlier this year. It was on my wishlist of artists to see in 2008. Very bizarre, Very eccentric... If that's OK with you, then you will think she is awesome. I'm not making this shit up..
"Neo-vaudevillian kaleidoscope of a record, its vigorous and defiant, littered with off kilter touches" - WIRE June 2006
"I´m getting a record that is super fucking weird but also satisfyingly mind-blowing." - VICE magazine July 2006

January 27th - Ian Fays - Hemlock Tavern:
The Ian Fays were supposed to play on my birthday at the Hemlock, but the show was cancelled. Fortunately, I gave their tunes a listen and was immediately hooked to their casio-tone indie rock.

January 31st - Vampire Weekend - Popscene - I seem to have missed a handful of their shows since I saw them open for The Shout Out Louds. The talented young band from NYC has been compared to the sounds of Paul Simon and David Byrne.

A Great Date With Kate In Another State: Was it Fate?

My business travels recently put me on the east coast for a week and though I was never in one place for more than 48 hours, I was able to squeeze in some live music while in New York City. Admittedly, I've not been to a concert in NYC since 1992 and the Bowery Ballroom was high on my list of places to see music before I die. So, when I checked into my hotel, I immediately went to the Bowery Ballroom's website to see if anyone was playing. Success! The much-hyped Kate Nash playing that very evening. Sold Out. Bummer. I went on craigslist to see if anyone would sell tickets at a reasonable price, but most of the listings were $50 and up. As luck would have it, one kind poster noted that Ticketmaster just released more tickets. Huzzah.

The Bowery Ballroom was packed and the room was buzzing as Kate Nash made her first appearance of three US dates. She gingerly sat on her bench and then her little fingers started dancing furiously across the keys. The New York crowd, much like a San Francisco crowd, just watched in judgement. As the notes to first song ended, the applause, the whistles, and the bellows of undying love laid the foundation of a fun night.

For a great review of the show, read the post by the Brooklyn Vegan.

NOISE POP 2008 - TILLY AND THE WALL

At this point, it may be difficult to predict what bands I'll be going to see on the final day of Noise Pop, but I'm sure glad one of my options is Tilly and the Wall. Their sophomore release, Bottoms of Barrels, is much more... um... clappy?... in a pixies-meets-architecture-meets-the-pipettes way. I don't know.. I'm never good at those comparisons. But I do know is that if you have a CSS remix of one of your songs, you are a force to be reckoned with. In any case here are a couple of tracks for you to hear for yourself. The first and third tracks are off the new album... and the second track is from their first album, Wild Like Children.

Tilly and the Wall will play on Sunday March 2, during Noise Pop at The Rickshaw Stop. Opening will be Capgun Coup. In the time I've taken to write this post, I've already developed a liking to Capgun Coup's raw basement-style indie pop. Definitely maybe going to see this show.

Rickshaw Stop - March 2, 2008
Show @ 6:30 - $15, ALL Ages

NOISE POP - THE GUTTER TWINS

Much hype has been surrounding the collaboration of Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan called The Gutter Twins. I haven't heard a single measure of any of their songs from the upcoming release, "Saturnalia". In fact, I think the only people who have heard what they sound like are people that have seen them live as The Gutter Twins, and those number few. They haven't posted any of their songs online and creating a lot of mystery around it. So, of course, because I can't have it... I want it. I'll have to wait until March 1st when they play Bimbo's, which will supposedly be their CD release party too. Here's a press release with a little background:

SEATTLE, WA - Sub Pop veterans Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan return to the label in its 20th year under the moniker The Gutter Twins for the March 4th, 2008 worldwide release of Saturnalia, their highly anticipated first album. In addition, the band has announced a handful of very special US and European show dates to preview the complex and carefully crafted songs in advance of the official record release. Show dates and on sale information provided below.

Mark Lanegan rose to fame as singer for the much loved Seattle band Screaming Trees and Greg Dulli as the magnetic leader of the Afghan Whigs. Following the break up of both groups, Lanegan and Dulli went on to achieve significant notice on their own. Lanegan continued to release successful solo albums, as well as create vivid partnerships with the likes of Belle & Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell and Queens of the Stone Age. Dulli, meanwhile, innovatively fused indie, soul and electronic sounds in his post-Whigs ensemble the Twilight Singers, who released their first album, Twilight As Played By The Twilight Singers, in 2000; the most recent Twilight effort, 2006's Powder Burns, proved a crowning achievement, landing on many year-end best lists.

The Gutter Twins was born out of a rumor told by Lanegan to a journalist after the two artists began collaborating together in various ways in 2002. What started as a rumor grew into an honest and raw record, and while Saturnalia brings together the driving forces behind '90s favorites, the record does not rest on the sonic laurels of these singer's previous successes.

3/1/08 - Noise Pop - Bimbo's, $18, 18+

NOISE POP 2008 - BAND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Some people get excited about birthdays and holidays, others go nuts for fleet week or pride week. The time of year I get most excited about each year is Noise Pop. Six nights of music and a hundred or so bands playing at the best venues across San Francisco. They bring "nationally-known indie rock, electronic, punk and cutting edge musical artists teamed up with the best local bands, transforming the city into an almost week-long celebration of the finest that the underground and not-so-underground has to offer."

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 2

Since there will undoubtedly be some tough decisions to make, I'll be spending some time making my 'fantasy schedule' and I'll report back here with my thoughts. Here is the list of bands that have been announced. Check back often, as this list will multiply in size. I've provided a quick NOISE POP 2008 link on the side-bar for convenience.

A Place to Bury Strangers
ASG
Blitzen Trapper
British Sea Power
Capgun Coup
Cursive
Darker My Love
Fleet Foxes
Fu Manchu
Fuck Buttons
Gutter Twins
Holy Fuck
Jeffrey Lewis
The Magnetic Fields
Minipop
Monotonix
The Mountain Goats
Panther
Saviours
Tilly And The Wall

NOISE POP 2008 WEBSITE