RATATAT & E*Rock @ the EchoPlex

E*Rock + RATATAT @ EchoPlex - July 12


E*Rock is the brother Evan e*vax Mast of Ratatat. His particular brand of laptop-rock/electronica included some Wii controllers that he masterfully controls on stage like Dr. Frankenstein in a lab creating monster beats and effects. Wish I had more time to write about this, because it was mind-blowing.



Here's a video interview with e*Rock that gives a little background on his career and some samples of the music he creates (courtesy of coolhunting.com):


Ratatat took the stage and confirmed my loved for the tracks on their newest album, LP3. Anyone who thinks that the album tamer than their previous releases should see Ratatat perform the songs live and then listen to the album again.


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One Two Three Four!

One, Two, Three, Four! I heard this cadence many times last night. And this is what it represents:

One - One Great night
Two - Two Venues. Two great friends.
Three - Three delicious beverages (at each venue)
Four - Four wonderful bands!

It was my first time going to the EchoPlex (below the Echo) and its a decent size venue (similar layout to the Independent in SF, possibly a bit bigger.) If you are ever going to a show here on a Thursday night, make note of the EARLY doors @ 7:30. Show started at 8pm with Castledor:


Tilly and The Wall followed shortly thereafter. The show was as energetic as I expected, but every song was played about 15% slower than you'd be used to hearing. Still extraordinary. I think I want to make babies with the tap-dancing Tilly.


We were out of The Echoplex by 10:15pm! So, we attempted to wait for another cab. This is an exercise in futility in LA. A bus came by, and we hopped it. $2.50 bus fare, took us about half-a-mile to Silver Lake Blvd. at which point I decided it would be a good idea to jog the rest of the way to Spaceland. I made it without dying, although I was excessively sweaty. As we walked in, we were greeted by a few members of The Builders and The Butchers who remembered me from their last performance. They hadn't yet performed, so it was perfect timing!


Finally, thanks to the diligent photo-taking of yours-truly, I was able to document that I saw Port O'Brien... and I'm pretty sure it was fun, though... things were a bit hazy at this stage.

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Upcoming Shows

07/10 - Tilly & The Wall (EchoPlex)
07/12 - RATATAT (EchoPlex)
07/18 - Wolf Parade (Henry Fonda)
07/19 - The Action Design (Knitting Factory)
07/20 - Download Festival - Datarock, M83, Tapes 'n Tapes, etc.
07/23 - Mickey Avalon (Grove, Anaheim)
07/24 - Foxy Shazam + Scary Kids Scaring Kids (Key Club)
07/29 - Bloc Party + Does It Offend You, Yeah? (Mayan Theatre)
07/30 - The Hold Steady (Avalon)
08/06 - The Ting Tings (El Rey)
08/07 - The Faint (Henry Fonda)
08/23, 24 - Sunset Junction Street Fair (Broken Social Scene, Cold War Kids, Menomena, The Happy Hollows, !!!, The Black Keys)
08/27 - Portugal. The Man (Troubadour)
08/28 - Portugal. The Man (Troubadour)
09/09 - Ratatat (Henry Fonda)
09/10 - Ratatat (Henry Fonda)
09/13 - Aesop Rock (Troubadour)
09/14 - Aesop Rock (Troubadour)
09/15 - Aesop Rock (Troubadour)
09/17 - Vampire Weekend (The Wiltern) 2 nights
09/18 - Tokyo Police Club (Henry Fonda)
09/18 - Vampire Weekend (Wiltern)
09/19-20 San Diego Street Scene (Hot Chip, TV on The Radio, New Pornographers, Tokyo Police Club, Tegan & Sara)
09/20-21 Hot Chip (Wiltern)
09/21 - My Morning Jacket (Greek Theatre)
09/25 - Tussle + Ra Ra Riot (Echo)
10/01 - Stars (The Avalon)
10/02 - Gogol Bordello (The Grove - Anaheim)
10/02 - Sigur Ros (Greek Theatre)
10/02 - Stars (HOB Anaheim)
10/16-19 - Tegan & Sara (4 nights @ Henry Fonda)
10/30 - Fujiya & Miyagi (Troubadour)

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My New Favorite Blog

It's called 'Stuff White People Like' and it is hi.la.ri.ous. Plus, it explains why I want to make babies with Jenny Lewis.

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June Archive

06/01 - Flight of the Conchords (Orpheum)
06/04 - The Long Blondes (Troubadour)
06/07 - Los Campesinos! (Troubadour)
06/08 - Los Campesinos! (Glass House)
06/11 - The Detroit Cobras (The Detroit Bar, Costa Mesa)
06/12 - The Builders and The Butchers (Spaceland)
06/12 - The Detroit Cobras (Troubadour)
06/12 - The Helio Sequence (echo)
06/14 - The Helio Sequence (Detroit Bar)
06/18 - Rilo Kiley (Greek Theater)
06/18 - The Secret Machines (The Viper Room)

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Gogol Bordello Announces Show @ the Grove In Anaheim

It used to be said that Barnum & Bailey's Circus was the 'Greatest Show On Earth'. But Gogol Bordello's 'circus' was not around back then. Here's my recap of the last adventure I had with Gogol Bordello. You'd be wise to get tickets early. Tickets go on sale today (if you have a password). The public on sale date is Saturday. The password is in the image below.

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Interview with Jamie Lidell

"Some people say whiskey is good, just to loosen up ... the build up of mucal extracts." - Jamie Lidell

courtesy of Revision3 XLR8R TV:



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My Morning Jacket @ Radio City Music Hall - Full Set List and Live Recording!

Band/Artist: My Morning Jacket
Date: June 20, 2008
Venue: Radio City Music Hall
Location: New York, NY
Full Set List and Live Recording!
Courtesy of Internet Archive





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Extra Action Marching Band

This weekend, I visited SF for the first time since moving away in April and I was faced with 48 hours of action packed fun. From lounging in the park, to birthday parties, to bar-hopping, and as always, live music... i got to sample everything that I love about the city in an insanely short amount of time. I had two birthday gatherings to attend in one night and many many people to catch up with so Saturday night was a whirlwind adventure. Just before midnight I hopped in a cab to get to a private birthday event at the Climate Theatre which is a tiny little performing arts space that my friends rented for the birthday party. After a few minutes of mingling, the crowd was overcome by the intrusion of The Extra Action Marching Band. A snapshot from the party is pictured on the right...

and the video below is from their performance at the Fillmore when they opened for David Byrne in 2005.



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The Ting Tings announce show @ El Rey

Indie-pop duo, The Ting Tings, will return to Los Angeles on August 6th for a performance at the El Rey Theatre. Tickets are $16 and go on sale today @ 10am Pacific Time.

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Modest Mouse - Late Night Show in Williamsburg Tonight

Update - Someone pointed out to me, when The Bowery Presents sends out an email about a show, it is no longer considered "secret". This show sold out in less than 5 minutes.
------------------------
Attention New Yorkers... Modest Mouse will be performing at 1:30AM tonight @ The Music Hall of Williamsburg. As if that's not unusual enough, Tickets are available for $20 at Ticketmaster with (get this...) no FEE! Tickets are only available online.



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Blind Melon @ Blend (Ridgewood, NJ)

Ridgewood, NJ? Don't knock it. Them's my stomping grounds and Blend has built some cred with the bands coming to their stage. Tonight's performance was a reunited (sans Hoon) Blind Melon. Pictures below courtesy of THS field correspondent, HRH.


Blind Melon Set List - June 18th, 2008 - Blend - Ridgewood, NJ


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I'm not known to rock the microphone.

But, I am internationally known.

Here's a map of the last 150 visitors to Tenacious Hand Stamp....



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Sunset Junction Street Fair

Having lived in San Francisco, I know a thing or two about street fairs, given that there is almost always a street fair happening somewhere in San Francisco every week during the summer and early fall. I've seen some good music at said street fairs, but nothing like this... Check out the lineup for the Sunset Junction Street Fair:

August 23rd,
Langhorne Slim
Menomena
Broken Social Scene
Cold War Kids
and more...

August 24th
!!!
Black Keys
and more...

This is a street fair worth going to. Tickets for the Sunset Junction Street fare are on sale at Ticketweb. $15 per day!



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Download Festival - 2008, LA Lineup.

Here's the lineup for the Download Festival 2008 in Los Angeles. The event will take place on July 20, 2008 at the Gibson Amphitheater.

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN
GANG OF FOUR
BRAND NEW
MUTEMATH
YEASAYER
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY
M83
CARIBOU
FLOSSTRADAMUS
RJD2
MATES OF STATE
THE DUKE SPIRIT
THE NIGHT MARCHERS
BLITZEN TRAPPER
TAPES 'N TAPES
DATAROCK
THE PARLOR MOB
KAKI KING
VEDERA
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS
DE NOVO DAHL

The event also takes place in San Francisco on July 19th and in Philadelphia on August 2.

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The Helio Sequence + Talkdemonic

The music coming out of the Pacific Northwest continues to amaze me. In addition to seeing Parenthetical Girls and The Builders & The Butchers this week, last night I was pleasantly surprised to see that Talkdemonic was the opener The Helio Sequence (both from Oregon) at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa.

Talkdemonic is self-labeled "folktronic". Lisa Molinaro rocks a viola, while Kevin O'Conner keeps the beat and lays down the tracks. I last saw Talkdemonic when they opened for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in 2005. For one reason or another, their sound didn't resonate with me back then, but I'm glad I got to see them again, because I quite enjoyed it this time.


After a somewhat lengthy break between sets, The Helio Sequence came on and played to a very loyal and enthusiastic crowd. Unfortunately, while most of the room was loving every second of it (including yours truly), the volume was out-of-control loud for the size of the venue and it was muddling the sound. Those who hadn't experienced The Helio Sequence found it difficult to enjoy the intricacies of their composition, but the duo have such amazing stage presence (esp drummer, Benjamin Weikel) that a good time was had by all.
Sample tracks coming soon... stay tuned.

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Wayward Panties

Today is the birthday of one of the founders of one of my favorite music blogs,waywardpanties.com. Happy Birthday Tiffany!



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Vampire Weekend - Then and Now.

Vampire Weekend, July 2007, Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco - Capacity 127



Vampire Weekend, June 2008, Central Park, New York City, - Capacity WTF?


photo courtesy of HRH

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Beck - Surprise Show @ Echo TONIGHT!

Beck will be playing tonight at the Echoplex. The show was announced yesterday. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door the night of the show on a first come, first served basis for $25 cash. No line ups before 6pm.

Ages 18+. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8pm.


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Why I Love The Builders and The Butchers

It's singing and shouting with guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, accordian, drums, xylophone, trumpet, bells, and washboard. Oh, and a megaphone and a funnel.

One Man, One Giant Bass. One drum set, Two drummers.


Clapping!


Audience Participation! Noisy toys for all to play.


One Big Man, One tiny mandolin.

I heard 4 or 5 new songs played live at Spaceland in Silver Lake.. Some are up on their myspace page. Expect a new album in January/February time frame. They will be at Cafe du Nord on Saturday June 14. If you miss them this time around, they'll be swinging back around again in July, touring with Port O'Brien.


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