Thursday 03.06.08: JUNIOR BOYS (DJ set with Jeremy Greenspan) / EDZK / TROY THIS

Junior Boys || Listen

Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus hold to a style that’s danceable but purposefully dry, drawing on the power of electronics to pump steady and never flag. Tracks like So This Is Goodbye’s opener, “Double Shadow,” have an art-disco sheen and flashes of Chic guitar, but all the sonic elements weaving in and out don’t make the end product any warmer. These songs are complicated robots.

But while the slow-swinging, sorrowful “Count Souvenirs” sounds like the kind of music a Miami Vice drug dealer would listen to in his underfurnished beachfront mansion, and while “Caught In A Wave” features synthesizers that sound like faltering tractor beams, Junior Boys’ emphasis on the aloof and mechanical doesn’t diminish their feeling for how humans relate to technology. There’s a sexiness to songs like “First Time,” with its whip-clap beat and bubbly synths, and a sweetness to the conciliatory “Like A Child.” The precision and perfection reflects human aspiration—a striving to be better. – The Onion AV Club

with:
Troy This
EDZK

Friday 03.07.08: First Fridays w/ WHY? & YACHT @ Natural History Museum

First Fridays – Dinner, Discussion, Music & More

with:
WHY? || Listen
Yacht || Listen

plus Dub Lab DJs:
Ale
MatthewDavid

@ Natural History Museum
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007

FMI: http://www.nhm.org/firstfridays/

5:30pm – Tour
6:30pm – Discussion
8:00pm – Music

5pm / Adult $9, students (w. ID) $6.50, Members FREE / All Ages

Saturday 03.22.08: SCHOOL OF LANGUAGE (from Field Music) / AMATEURS / WONDERGROUND

School of Language || Listen

Sunderland’s Field Music was known for its exquisitely constructed pop songs, elegantly proportioned compositions that united seeming contradictions in time signature, key, and mood into graceful, memorable wholes. Field Music is on hiatus now—in one memorable interview the Brewis brothers explained that the band was now only a name on a bank account—and with it some of the white-knuckled control. David Brewis’ School of Language is nothing if not free-wheeling and adventurous, careening through pop, funk, soul, and glitchiness. Sea from Shore, his first mostly-solo album, is messy, even sloppy at times, but gleefully so. Hey, it’s a bedroom record… you can’t expect all the corners to be tucked in. – Popmatters

with:
Amateurs || Listen
Wonderground

Friday 03.21.08: TRAVIS MORRISON HELLFIGHTERS / SAY HI / KEVIN DEVINE

Travis Morrison Hellfighters || Listen

Morrison and his Hellfighters bring a tightness and cohesion to All Y’all that the singer avoided on his solo debut, Travistan, but they don’t flinch at the childish vomit-wave that album caught. Morrison still writes lyrics other singers wouldn’t know what to do with, then dresses them in a flea market’s worth of rhythms, synths, fidgety guitars, and electronic bloops. Conflict and ambivalence create new Morrison standards like “East Side Of The River,” his most heart-melting song yet: “If there is someone that you’d rather be, go find him and bring him back, I’ll love him just the same.” Spastic delights like “As We Proceed,” “Hawkins’ Rock,” and “You Make Me Feel Like A Freak” might reassure pickier Dismemberment Plan fans. Even better, All Y’all should help them embrace Morrison for what really defines him—his defiance. – The Onion AV Club

with:
Say Hi || Listen
Kevin Devine

Thursday 03.20.08: FILM SCHOOL / AIRIEL / FAMOUS AMOS / TALL HANDS

Film School || Listen

Like a brother from another mother, San Francisco-based Greg Bertens’ second release as Film School is just similar enough to last year’s self-titled debut to register as family. Hideout finds his band completely overhauled (after a crippling robbery and “creative differences”) and much improved; this end result doesn’t sound like another predictable addition to your nu-wave library. (But file between Echo and Interpol, if you must.) There’s a shambolic fervor with tambourines, and cyclonic guitars, in places that recall Primal Scream’s psychedelic rock. Other tracks drift into expertly crafted space. Hideout excels as mood music, with at least one stellar single (“Two Kinds”) that creates a new and better one than however you felt before. – XLR8R

with:
Airiel || Listen
Famous Amos
Tall Hands || Listen

Wednesday 03.19.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME w/ THE ANSWER / WOLFKIN / THE TRANSPERSONALS

The Answer || Listen

Meet Irelands The Answer, Cormac Neeson (vocals) Paul Mahon (guitarist) Micky Waters (bassist) and James Heatley (drummer) a band who are finally gutsy enough to take the chops forged by Led Zeppelin, Free, AC/DC and The Black Crows and bring them, air guitar and all, into the 21st century. The first British name to hit the world of classic rock (we are ignoring the Darkness, they don’t count) since it faded out way back when, and boys, I love you for it!

It’s already been called ‘The Best British Rock Debut of the Decade’ by Classic Rock magazine. And, in a world where hype overrules sense, here’s a rare record that outpaces all media hysteria. “Rise” is an album that brings back the frontline to British Blues Rock, it has energy from the start opening up with guaranteed single “Under The Sky” that smacks you in the face and lets you know that they will be here to stay, a powerful, catchy rock song with enough energy to make a grown man cry! – Contactmusic.com

with:
Wolfkin || Listen
The Transpersonals

plus DJs Dia & Neil (War Tapes) spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

Dewar’s Drink Specials: $3 before Midnight, $1 after

Wednesday 03.12.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with THE MINT CHICKS / THE PRAYERS

The Mint Chicks || Listen

The Mint Chicks are almost a throwback Green Day pop-punk outfit but they incorporate the last couple years of other throwback bands’ greatest throwback-nuggets: a little glistening dance-punk here, a little raspy post-punk there… They seem to do it with an appropriate measure of un-ironic candor, despite the drummer’s silly Vanilla Ice haircut/erection rising behind white-rimmed Buddy Holly nerd glasses, and the requisite strutting front man. TRUE, that doesn’t sound very un-ironic, but they “rock hard” in the most convincing fashion. Indeed, it’s a muscle-rippling sonic fuck affair that may leave you unwittingly sore, but then again, I guess those who return know what they want and where they want it (in the ear hole). – Sentimentalist

with:
The Prayers

plus DJs Dia & Neil (War Tapes) spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

Dewar’s Drink Specials: $3 before Midnight, $1 after

Tickets Available at The Door

Sunday 03.09.08: BIG BUSINESS / RED FANG / THE COPS

Big Business || Listen

Although well known these days for their collaborating with/joining of The Melvins, Los Angeles-based (but Seattle-born) duo Big Business have enough trump cards in their back catalogue to warrant ample praising of their talents when shorn of Buzz ‘n’ Dale.

Here Come The Waterworks is the pair’s second LP following 2005’s well-received Head For The Shallow debut, also on Hydra Head; unlike many of their label of choice’s past releases, this eight-tracker never once wanders into waters classified as contemporary hardcore. Instead, Big Business’ forte is forceful, brutish ‘classic’ rock – i.e. you can nod yr head ‘til it falls from your shoulders, the vocals are clear and epic of tone, and the instrumentation, while powerful, is never disarmingly discordant. It is classic. – Drowned in Sound

with:
Red Fang || Listen
The Cops || Listen

Friday 03.07.08: KCRW presents DIVISION DAY / THE A-SIDES / THE CORAL SEA

Division Day || Listen

Division Day. Were. Awesome. So awesome, in fact, that they could be considered awesome awesome, deserving of far better praise than this meager college rock fan… could ever dish… I dug Division Day the most for unabashedly mixing my favorite things- a preference for Dismemberment Plan-style awk-rawk over the too-obvious Moving Units post-punk-white-boy funk, soft vocals from a dude who can actually sing, (and) a drummer who looks like Dennis Wilson (pre-alcoholic downfall) and plays like him too (if Dennis Wilson were a robot with precision timing)- a real rock nerd would lay out for you why, exactly, you suck so much for missing their show. – OC Weekly

with:
The A-sides || Listen
The Coral Sea || Listen

Tuesday 03.04.08: AMNION / LUKE TOP / LAYER

Amnion || Listen

Amnion is a medical term for the inner-womb in a female human being or animal. This makes Amnion a likely candidate for worst-band-names-of-2008 lists on the grounds that medical terms are off-limits. Then again, their MySpace page bills their genres as “pop/emo/other” and the headline reads, “pop/emo/other=Pope Mother”. Their debut album “AmenNamO”, and website www.WEAREEACHOTHER.com is riddled with dedications and thank-you notes to “all LOVE” their Mothers, so, at least their name has a continuity with their intents. And, like most Mothers, they seem to care about seeing their children grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults. Healthy, well-adjusted adults with a strong sense of Melody, a diverse vocabulary of Dance moves, an appreciation for positive, well-written Lyrics, and a hunger for some damn good Songs. If you miss this chance to see them, count on your friends to drag you to the next one. Their Music is like a Tree growing in that one special place – you know where she is, but the next time you visit, she’s gotten a LOT BIGGER!

with:
Luke Top
Layer

Tickets Available at The Door

Tuesday 03.11.08: THE WOMBATS / AANCHORS AAWEIGH / COCO B’S

The Wombats

Back in 2003 – three young lads, brought together by their love for primary colors and marsupials formed a band. This trio, emerged from the Liverpool music scene with an infectious indie pop sound. This riot of bright colors and energetic tunes would become known as The Wombats.

Five years later and The Wombats are set to release their debut US EP, The Wombats. The first single, Kill The Director, is chock full of nonstop rhythms and electrifying vocals. Delivered in a rush of adrenaline and guitars, it leaves you hyper and jumping for more. – Filter

with:
AAnchors AAweigh || Listen
Coco B’s || Listen

Wednesday 03.05.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with HOWLIN RAIN / THE MOON UPSTAIRS / THE HIGH SOCIETY

Howlin Rain || Listen

After leading magnificent Californian psych-rockers Comets On Fire through a decade of uncompromising, speaker-busting cacophony, singer/guitarist Ethan Miller started to display a more melodic tendency with the inception of his Howlin’ Rain side project. Their 2006 debut album was a rollicking, classic-rock delight in the Creedence/Skynyrd mould, packed with southern-boogie verve and big choruses. With Comets On Fire now on hiatus, and golden-touch producer Rick Rubin signing Howlin’ Rain’s second album, it seems like a side project no more. Looking as scruffy as any retro rock-inclined band worth their salt should, Howlin’ Rain have expanded their lineup to five for this first overseas tour, and it was clear Miller has lost no enthusiasm for volume. Bursting off with new songs, the sound is as blusterous as the name implies. – The Guardian

with:
The Moon Upstairs || Listen
The High Society

plus DJs Dia & Neil (War Tapes) spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

Dewar’s Drink Specials: $3 before Midnight, $1 after

Thursday 03.27.08 – THE DATSUNS / THE BINGES / ANGUS KHAN

The Datsuns || Listen

The Datsuns established themselves in 2002 with their eponymous debut as a rock band in the old fashioned sense of the word. Two years later, ‘Outta Sight / Outta Mind’ provided more of the same and now, continuing the New Zealanders’ biannual release rhythm, ‘Smoke And Mirrors’ cements the trend.

Those who already harbour feelings for the band’s concoction of punchy guitar riffs laced with hints of country and blues harmonies will feel right at home here. There really isn’t much to dampen the spirit – even the odd ‘slow’ song feels as though the vitality of the rest of the album has simply been placed on a tighter leash. Thus the slide guitar of ‘Stuck Here For Days’ or the hairspray and leathers finish of ‘Too Little Fire’ show the same gritted teeth as their louder neighbours. – New-Noise.net

with:
The Binges || Listen
Angus Khan

Saturday 03.08.08: KCRW presents LIAM FINN / THE HEAVENLY STATES / THE FEATURES

Liam Finn || Listen

On his full-length debut, the child of Kiwi pop kingpin Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House) is more a descendant of the scattershot aesthetic that Todd Rundgren perfected on his 1972 masterpiece Something/Anything. Often producing and playing all the instruments, Liam loops hook-happy guitars through syncopated rhythms (“Second Chance,” “Energy Spent”), serves up classic-pop reproductions (the Beach Boys-esque “Lullaby”), and tosses in odds and ends both ridiculous (the honking “Better to Be”) and sublime (the gently folk-rocking “Wise Man”). Skillful if occasionally rickety, Lightning showcases a confident, evolving voice. – Spin

with:
The Heavenly States || Listen
The Features || Listen

*Pela canceled their tour due to injury

Saturday 04.05.08 – KING BROTHERS (from Japan) / SHELLSHAG / BIPOLAR BEAR

King Brothers || Listen || Video

Souls were sold at the crossroads of hells inferno. In 1998 those three souls would come to be known as KING BROTHERS, a trio hailing from the city of Nishinomiya. Their bass-less style filled with wrath and fury caused a great deal of excitement, reaching the ears of Guitar Wolf and becoming one of their favorite bands at the time. This notoriety seized them an opportunity to release their very first album on the US indie label BULB and after having successfully completed a hellish US tour with stolen passports and a tour van up in flames; 1999 marked the release of their first Japanese album ★.　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
“In the East is Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, In the West KING BROTHERS” became a common saying resulting in astounding record sales. This attracted a great deal of attention from the major labels and in 2000 they signed a deal with EMI. Releasing three albums, the one they’re most proud of was ‘6×3’ produced by their hero and a man they had looked up to, the virtuoso Jon Spencer.

with:
Shellshag || Listen
Bipolar Bear || Listen

Monday 03.31.08: Monday Night Residency – VOXHAUL BROADCAST / LEMON SUN / RUMSPRINGA / THE UNION LINE

Voxhaul Broadcast

After signing with Leftwing/Retone Records early in 2007, Voxhaul decided to take a page from some of their favorite artists and embrace the kinks and mistakes that make live records so great. By harnessing a sound that reflects a range of influences from James Brown and Al Green to The Beatles and Donovan, the group composed tracks with smart lyrics and undeniably catchy beats. In turn, the results of their labor are 8 songs full of raw enthusiasm, echoing the sort of musical honesty that turns even the most pretentious listeners into fans.

with:
Lemon Sun || Listen
Rumspringa
The Union Line

FREE SHOW

Monday 03.24.08: Monday Night Residency – VOXHAUL BROADCAST / EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS / LAST AMERICAN BUFFALO / THE GROWLERS

Voxhaul Broadcast

After signing with Leftwing/Retone Records early in 2007, Voxhaul decided to take a page from some of their favorite artists and embrace the kinks and mistakes that make live records so great. By harnessing a sound that reflects a range of influences from James Brown and Al Green to The Beatles and Donovan, the group composed tracks with smart lyrics and undeniably catchy beats. In turn, the results of their labor are 8 songs full of raw enthusiasm, echoing the sort of musical honesty that turns even the most pretentious listeners into fans.

with:
Eastern Conference Champions || Listen
Last American Buffalo || Listen
The Growlers

FREE SHOW

Monday 03.17.08: Monday Night Residency – VOXHAUL BRODACAST / THE PIGEON DETECTIVES / MY PET SADDLE

Voxhaul Broadcast

After signing with Leftwing/Retone Records early in 2007, Voxhaul decided to take a page from some of their favorite artists and embrace the kinks and mistakes that make live records so great. By harnessing a sound that reflects a range of influences from James Brown and Al Green to The Beatles and Donovan, the group composed tracks with smart lyrics and undeniably catchy beats. In turn, the results of their labor are 8 songs full of raw enthusiasm, echoing the sort of musical honesty that turns even the most pretentious listeners into fans.

with:
The Pigeon Detectives || Listen
My Pet Saddle || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 03.10.08: Monday Night Residency – VOXHAUL BROADCAST / AUSHUA / YVES KLEIN BLUE / WHITLEY / OLD MAN RIVER / ASH GRUNDWALD / DAN KELLY

Voxhaul Broadcast || Watch

After signing with Leftwing/Retone Records early in 2007, Voxhaul decided to take a page from some of their favorite artists and embrace the kinks and mistakes that make live records so great. By harnessing a sound that reflects a range of influences from James Brown and Al Green to The Beatles and Donovan, the group composed tracks with smart lyrics and undeniably catchy beats. In turn, the results of their labor are 8 songs full of raw enthusiasm, echoing the sort of musical honesty that turns even the most pretentious listeners into fans.

with:
Aushua || Listen

Australian Music Showcase from 7-10:30pm with:

Yves Klein Blue || Listen
Whitley || Listen
Old Man River || Listen
Ash Grunwald || Listen
Dan Kelly || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 03.03.08: Monday Night Residency – VOXHAUL BROADCAST / CAVIL AT REST / SAINT MOTEL / WORKING FOR A NUCLEAR FREE CITY

Voxhaul Broadcast

After signing with Leftwing/Retone Records early in 2007, Voxhaul decided to take a page from some of their favorite artists and embrace the kinks and mistakes that make live records so great. By harnessing a sound that reflects a range of influences from James Brown and Al Green to The Beatles and Donovan, the group composed tracks with smart lyrics and undeniably catchy beats. In turn, the results of their labor are 8 songs full of raw enthusiasm, echoing the sort of musical honesty that turns even the most pretentious listeners into fans.

with:
Cavil at Rest || Listen
Saint Motel || Listen
Working for a Nuclear Free City || Listen

FREE SHOW

Sunday 03.02.08: Spaceland 13 year Anniversary Party with THE BLOOD ARM / 400 BLOWS / EARLIMART / RUN RUN RUN / WISKEY BISCUIT / RADAR BROS / OLIVER FUTURE / THE VACATION / THE BROKEN WEST / THE MOVIES / LET’S GO SAILING / THE TYDE & MORE

1:00 – 1:30 – Let’s Go Sailing || Listen
1:50 – 2:20 – The Tyde || Listen
2:40 – 3:10 – The Broken West || Listen
3:30 – 4:00 – Oliver Future || Listen
4:20 – 4:50 – The Movies
5:10 – 5:40 – Radar Bros || Listen
6:00 – 6:30 – Earlimart || Listen
6:50 – 7:20 – Special Guests
7:40 – 8:10 – Wiskey Biscuit
8:30 – 9:00 – 400 Blows || Listen
9:20 – 9:50 – The Blood Arm || Listen
10:10 – 10:40 – Run Run Run || Listen
11:00 – 11:30 – The Vacation

To purchase poster, please visit: http://option-g.com/store/spaceland.htm

Saturday 03.01.08: HOLY FUCK / A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS / IN WAVES

Holy Fuck || Listen

Founded by Toronto musicians Brian Borcherdt and Graham Walsh in 2004, the band’s basic setup is simple: a ton of drums, keyboards, and electronic noise generators. All of their instrumental music is created through a process of improvisation and refinement, and the lineup is somewhat elastic from show to show, which adds an extra element of unpredictability to the development of each piece.

I felt that their 2005 debut, while it had a few jaw-dropping moments, demonstrated mostly potential, but you can pretty much forget potential on LP. This album is leagues better than the debut, an exciting blend of aggressive rhythm and nuanced, skillfully manipulated noise. The band has developed every song on the record and captured them in raw, live performance (in the case of opener “Super Inuit”, in front of an audience). The result is frequently exhilarating, a cyborg dance party for a broken future that’s closer than you think. – Pitchfork

with:
A Place to Bury Strangers || Listen
In Waves || Listen

Wednesday 02.27.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with BEDTIME FOR TOYS / IO ECHO / HOLLY MARILYN

Bedtime For Toys || Listen

This isn’t just “cross genre because we like everything” kind of party music. No, Bedtime for Toys crosses genres because on an intellectual level they recognize the similarities and where different genres can actually fit together. The result is a sound that is as slick as any pop act out there, but with legit street cred to back it up. – Classical Geek Theatre

with:
Io Echo || Listen
Holly Marilyn

plus DJs Dia & Neil (War Tapes) spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

Dewar’s Drink Specials: $3 before Midnight, $1 after

Tickets Available at The Door

Sunday 02.24.08: NEIL HAMBURGER / TOM GREEN / PAUL F. TOMPKINS / TOTALLY DARRYL / ART HINTY

RENO IN LA – a monthly night of variety and comedy

hosted by:
Neil Hamburger

with:
Tom Green
Paul F. Tompkins
Totally Darryl
Art Hinty

The best of Reno-quality entertainers, right here in Los Angeles!

All the glamour, celebrity, and excitement of a Reno casino showroom – for the first time ever in our little town!

Saturday 02.23.08: DIRTY SWEET / LIONS / CHIEF NOWHERE

Dirty Sweet || Listen

Dirty Sweet’s debut LP, Of Monarchs and Beggars, takes nothing more than having a pulse to get. Yes, it could be described as derivative of say, T. Rex, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, or just about anything from the Dazed and Confused Soundtrack and of course, much later The Black Crowes. But they aren’t merely imitating, they use the dynamics of classic rock’n'roll: blues riffs, syncopated beats, the high hat, a little bit of southern rock and country, heavy basslines, etc. to construct their sound. – Sly
Oyster

with:
Lions || Listen
Chief Nowhere

Friday 04.11.08: ENON / MELLOWDRONE / AANCHORS AAWEIGH

ENON || Listen

Seven years into Enon’s career, fans should know to expect the unexpected– which is, in this case, the completely expectable. Let me rephrase: While they’ve never shied from frothy pop or big guitars– and done pretty well with both as of High Society and onward– Enon have come at it from their own direction, trailing their samplers and Moogs in an unbalanced camper just behind the hooks. There’s plenty of unexpected and strange sounds on Grass Geysers… Carbon Clouds, but they’re far less obvious or apparent, tucked away behind big-rock choruses and spotlight-ready vocal turns. After a four-year gap between records, there’s no “alternate-universe” wishing about the songs on Grass Geysers…; they seem radio- and arena-ready, and that’s probably where they’d sound best. – Pitchfork

with:
Mellowdrone || Listen
AAnchors AAweigh || Listen

$10 Adv , $12 dos

Saturday 02.09.08: SHILOE / TIGERS CAN BITE YOU

Shiloe || Listen

Shiloe started off the evening with a sound heavily influenced by the Pixies mixed with some Sonic Youth. Ken Ramos (Vocals/Guitar) had a vocal delivery that resembled Thurston Moore and was squeezing a sharp fuzz from his Gibson SG. Melissa Pleckham (Bass) had a Rickenbacker bass that was filling the room with low notes. Their latest release is “Please Remove Your Teeth From My Neck” which you can download from itunes. I will have to check them out again. – Amateur Chemist

with:
Tigers Can Bite You || Listen

Tickets Available at The Door

Friday 02.08.08: ASHER / AMNION

Asher

College campuses have given birth to countless bands, few of which live beyond graduation. But for Asher, the good news is that its members have survived the transition from the University of Michigan to the so-called real world. Actually, the Ann Arbor, Mich. quartet has blossomed immeasurably, as evidenced by the fine five-song disc, This Is A Demo. As with their past material, the tunes here crackle with unshakable alt-pop hooks and sturdy mod-rock instrumentation. Lyrically, the band meditates on decidedly more grown-up issues, with “Radio, You Let Me Down” (which weighs high expectations against reality) standing out as the disc’s truly stellar moment. Asher is branching out beyond its local club scene, hitting a variety of cities in the Midwest. Gigs in the West and East are being planned for later this season. A&R execs shouldn’t wait for the band to come to town-hunt these lads down. – Billboard

with:

Amnion || Listen

Tickets Available at The Door

Friday 02.22.08: THE GRAY KID / PIEL / KENAN BELL

The Gray Kid || Listen

…the Gray Kid, performing for just the second time (New Year’s Eve was the maiden voyage) with a backing band he’s calling Spirit Animal. Many who have seen the Gray Kid perform around L.A. the past year and a half (counting me) have eagerly anticipated the rapper/crooner graduating from his one-man, mic-and-backing tracks routine. He’s got people with chops behind him — three-fifths of the band Oliver Future (Jordan Richardson, Josh Lit and Jesse Ingalls) as well as beatmaker Computer Jay. – LA Times Buzz Bands

with:
Piel
Kenan Bell

Tuesday 02.05.08: XIPPER / AM / SHATTO / THE PRIMOS

Xipper

with:
AM
Shatto
The Primos

Tickets Available at The Door

Friday 02.01.08: BIIRDIE / SONS AND LOVERS / MY PET SADDLE

Biirdie || Listen

In just under four and a half minutes, Biirdie shift effortlessly between the countrified balladry of early Wilco, the sunny harmonies of the Elephant 6 collective, and 70′s Laurel Canyon guitar pop. Vocalist Jared Flamm’s creaky moan is perfectly complimented by the accompanying vocal harmonies that the rest of the band supplies; the searing countrified guitar licks near the song’s end add expansive depth as Flamm muses, “Do you feel like you were living life in a dream?” Any of these musical elements standing alone would be considered relatively average; however, Biirdie synthesize their influences to create pretty, laid-back Americana that justifies their sonic flights of fancy. – Spin.com

with:
Sons and Lovers
My Pet Saddle

Tickets Available at The Door

Thursday 02.21.08: Isgoodmusic.com presents EJECT / THE HECTORS / RADARS TO THE SKY / COSIO

Eject

“We are all slaves to the songs,” says Andy Blunda of his new band, Eject. And it shows in Eject’s compelling performances, which breathe life into Blunda’s crafted compositions through cultured arrangements and four-as-one synergy. Having toured the world with platinum Texan trio Fastball and Rick Rubin protégés Paloalto, Blunda became disillusioned with the major label meat grinder. Retreating to his father’s California home for a hiatus he soon found songs seeping out of him and, over a 3 year period, wrote an album’s-worth of material. “I just did what felt natural and easy and didn’t worry about who would like them,” Blunda recalls. Stimulated by the Cure, Smiths, Beatles, Pink Floyd and his classical training, Blunda’s songwriting impetus is timeless: “Usually when I sit down to write it’s because I’m bummed about a girl or I’m happy about a girl or I’m pissed-off at someone. It’s hard for me to write when there’s not some sort of drama in my life.” An ad stating simply “Peter Hook Wanted” brought Brit bassist Paul Rogers on-board, with friend-of-a-friend Irish drummer Gary Sullivan and his countryman Tim Boland soon completing the Silver Lake, CA-based Eject.

with:
Radars To The Sky
The Hectors
Cosio

Tickets Available at the door

Sunday 02.17.08: ELECTROCUTE plus HAR MAR SUPERSTAR

Electrocute

Electrocute is what they aim for, now that Nicole Morier has relocated her electro-punk duo from Germany to Los Angeles, joined by a new partner, Legs Le Brock. Yes, Electrocute are cute with their satiny superheroine-style costumes, but their songs are too catchy to be mere novelties. “Tales of Ordinary Sadness” is a driving pop-punk number that sounds like early Fuzzbox, juiced up with surging distorted guitars, serenely assertive vocals, and lyrics partially lifted from the Monkees’ “Stepping Stone.” – LA Weekly

Plus Special Guest:
Har Mar Superstar || Listen

Sunday 02.10.08: ELECTROCUTE / THE LADY TIGRA / B.R.A.M / ARP

Electrocute

Electrocute is what they aim for, now that Nicole Morier has relocated her electro-punk duo from Germany to Los Angeles, joined by a new partner, Legs Le Brock. Yes, Electrocute are cute with their satiny superheroine-style costumes, but their songs are too catchy to be mere novelties. “Tales of Ordinary Sadness” is a driving pop-punk number that sounds like early Fuzzbox, juiced up with surging distorted guitars, serenely assertive vocals, and lyrics partially lifted from the Monkees’ “Stepping Stone.” – LA Weekly

with:
The Lady Tigra
B.R.A.M
ARP

FREE SHOW

Sunday 02.03.08: ELECTROCUTE / PUNK BUNNY / ARP / LACO$TE

Electrocute

Electrocute is what they aim for, now that Nicole Morier has relocated her electro-punk duo from Germany to Los Angeles, joined by a new partner, Legs Le Brock. Yes, Electrocute are cute with their satiny superheroine-style costumes, but their songs are too catchy to be mere novelties. “Tales of Ordinary Sadness” is a driving pop-punk number that sounds like early Fuzzbox, juiced up with surging distorted guitars, serenely assertive vocals, and lyrics partially lifted from the Monkees’ “Stepping Stone.” – LA Weekly

with:
Punk Bunny || Listen
ARP
Laco$te || Listen

FREE SHOW

Friday 02.29.08: SPINDRIFT / SPIRIT ARMY / MOONRATS / RESTAURANT

Spindrift || Listen

“Kirpatrick Thomas, the founding member of Spindrift, a self-dubbed ‘psychedelic Spaghetti Western’ band, made just such a journey-in true cosmic cowboy fashion-from Delaware to Southern California in late 2001. He was already heading up the experimental post-punk incarnation of a band called Spindrift when he took off. His fuel: fragrant dreams of the Western mystique rooted in the stylized ’60s cowboy movies of Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone (often grandly referred to within the burgeoning L.A. ‘neo-cosmic cowboy’ scene as simply ‘Sergio’).” – LA Alternative

with:
Spirit Army
Moonrats
Restaurant

Tuesday 02.26.08: THE HELIO SEQUENCE / THE BUILDERS AND THE BUTCHERS / HEARTS OF PALM UK

The Helio Sequence || Listen

Sub Pop stalwarts the Helio Sequence have always been masters of atmosphere, no stranger to the epic and echoed build-up. While the group stays grounded in pop songwriting, their music absorbs a demure and warm ambiance from soft keyboard textures, loose guitar lines and gentle but eerie, emotive vocals. Sounding polished and radiant on this title track from their upcoming fourth full-length, the Helio Sequence has perfected the art of rise and fall. – Spin.com

with:
The Builders and The Butchers
Hearts of Palm UK || Listen

Wednesday 02.20.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with THE SNOW / THE MINOR CANON / THE DIRTY DIAMOND

The Snow || Listen

The Snow is a melodic, alt-space rock outfit from Los Angeles that formed in a quick beautiful instance in the spring of 2006. Their first two titles “October” and “Trading Post”, recorded in less than 2 days, were enough for them to know that something special was happening. The band’s style is a blend of soaring, spaced out, sonic guitars, a dynamic, tight, and melodic rhythm section, and a quiet-to-wailing vocal assembly all coming together beautifully to create a lush and mesmerizing soundscape. With a live show filled with intensity and passion, the band is continuing to expand an ever-growing fan base.

with:
The Minor Canon
The Dirty Diamond

plus DJs Dia & Neil (War Tapes) spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

Dewar’s Drink Specials: $3 before Midnight, $1 after

Tuesday 02.19.08: RANCH PARTY w/ MERLE JAGGER

with:
Merle Jagger || Listen
Well Diggers Banquet

Tickets Available at The Door

Saturday 02.16.08: KCRW presents LIAM FINN

Liam Finn || Listen

On his full-length debut, the child of Kiwi pop kingpin Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House) is more a descendant of the scattershot aesthetic that Todd Rundgren perfected on his 1972 masterpiece Something/Anything. Often producing and playing all the instruments, Liam loops hook-happy guitars through syncopated rhythms (“Second Chance,” “Energy Spent”), serves up classic-pop reproductions (the Beach Boys-esque “Lullaby”), and tosses in odds and ends both ridiculous (the honking “Better to Be”) and sublime (the gently folk-rocking “Wise Man”). Skillful if occasionally rickety, Lightning showcases a confident, evolving voice. – Spin

with:
Rocco Deluca || Listen
Nico Stai

Friday 02.15.08: AC/DSHE (The all female Bon Scott era Tribute to AC/DC)

AC/DShe || Myspace

AC/DShe is the original all-girl AC/DC tribute band doing Bon-era songs. These gals have been committed to staying true to the heart pounding rhythms and high energy presentation of early AC/DC. The FIRST of the female tribute band phenomenon, they have been performing since the summer of 1999, although the creation of the band goes back several years to 1997. Like AC/DC, AC/DShe knows it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock-n-roll, but they’ve been doing a kick ass job of delivering some high voltage rock to maximum capacity crowds worldwide. So, put on your best AC/DC tour shirt, grab a beer, and hop on the highway to hell with AC/DShe.

With:
The Binges || Listen

Thursday 02.14.08: MELLOWDRONE / YOUR LIPS, YOUR LIPS – Benefit for the LA Regional Food Bank

Mellowdrone || Listen

Bates, with drums and bass behind him, cloaked the audience with catchy melodies and blasts of sonic dissonance, at times recalling the early days of Radiohead. – VARIETY

A wicked, bratty sense of humor that bubbles up whenever the music threatens to become ponderously serious. – SPIN

Beautiful and catchy – GORILLA VS BEAR

This is a band worth keeping your eyes on. – MODA MAGAZINE

with:
Your Lips, Your Lips

Benefiting the LA Regional Food Bank

Bring a can of food and get in for $6!

Tuesday 02.13.08: TALKDEMONIC

Talkdemonic || Listen

The same can be said of Talkdemonic’s instrumental post-rock, which lays a bevy of acoustic elements over a foundation of pulsing programmed beats and modulating, soft-focus synthesizers. The duo acquiesces to this tension, cheekily dubbing their music “folktronic hop,” a hybrid genre that seems to have its roots in records like Bjork’s Homogenic. But, without a doubt, it’s the players, not the preset laptop tracks, who lend Talkdemonic’s music its emotional heft. Kevin O’Connor plays banjo, guitar, piano, and Wurlitzer on the recording, but it’s his highly expressive drumming that is most memorable. When the punctuated rhythm of programmed percussion gives way to cascading cymbal crashes and spacious break beats, it’s nothing short of cathartic. And viola-player Lisa Molinaro’s performances ooze with feeling, as beautiful swells of strings render the need for vocals understandably dispensable. – Pitchfork

with:
Guam

Thursday 02.07.08: BLOOD ON THE WALL / AFTERNOONS

Blood on The Wall || Listen

Unless you never heard the reedy sneer of the Violent Femmes’ Gordan Gano and The Pixies’ Black Francis, or you completely missed the affected phrasing of Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, there’s no denying Brooklyn’s Blood on the Wall’s awkward caterwauls come with ingrained precedents. But with this rumpled revivalist trio the foundation is so strong there’s always a way to craft an accommodating floor plan and accessorize it with soused jangle and splayed arrangements. All the late ’80s college-rawk cast-offs coagulate into an atonal, unhinged, and altogether pleasing condensation of agitated splatter. A somewhat heavier third full-length, Blood on the Wall’s latest still manages to avoid being heavy-handed with its heritage. – XLR8R

with:
Afternoons

Wednesday 02.06.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with UNGDOMSKULEN / MINIPOP

Ungdomskulen || Listen

Ungdomskulen (Frode Flatland, Kristian Stockhaus, Øyvind Solheim) is a Norwegian rock band. Their sound is founded on bass, drums and guitar. Taken individually, the drum beats seem inspired by the city, the bass is syncopated and sonic, and the jazz-like guitar sounds as if it’s possessed by rock demons. And finally, there’s a light but authoritative male vocal on top. Bergen is this young trio’s hangout. These guys love life.

with:
Minipop

Plus DJs Dia & Neil (War Tapes) spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

Dewar’s Drink Specials: $3 before Midnight, $1 after

Friday 02.01.08: First Fridays w/ A-TRAK & KID SISTER @ The Natural History Museum

First Fridays – Dinner, Discussion, Music & More

with:
A-Trak || Listen
Kid Sister

plus Dub Lab DJs:
Frosty
Take

@ Natural History Museum
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007

FMI: http://www.nhm.org/firstfridays/

5:30pm – Tour
6:30pm – Discussion
8:00pm – Music

5pm / Adult $9, students (w. ID) $6.50, Members FREE / All Ages

Monday 02.25.08: Monday Night Residency – Bust magazine presents THE PITY PARTY / THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS / MEHO PLAZA / THE SECRET SIX

The Pity Party

Heisenflei (Drums/Keyboards/Vocals) continues to entrance the audience with her multi tasking duties of instrumentation. Maurice-Richard (Guitars/Vocals) has expanded sonic arsenal at his feet ready to destroy the audience without warning. The Pity Party debuted a new song “The Natural Want” which surprisingly had a hip hop flavor to it that even surprised me. Is their any genre they can’t do? “Houses on The Sun” is another live favorite song of mine with its dark drunk synth bass line and slurring beats. I really hope this song makes it on their debut LP. “The War Between Eight and Four” has Maurice digging deep for squeals from his Fender Stratocaster. “Love Lies” does well to showcase Heisenflei’s vocals and is another track I hope to see in its recorded form. The Pity Party saved its ace in the hole for a new song “Yours, That Works” that pasted off kilter drumming from Heisenflei to Maurice’s dissonant guitars. – Amateur Chemist

With:
Meho Plaza || Listen
Rolling Blackouts
The Secret Six

FREE SHOW

Monday 02.18.08: Monday Night Residency – Bust magazine presents THE PITY PARTY / FILM SCHOOL / LADIES AND GENTS / WHAT MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS

The Pity Party

Heisenflei (Drums/Keyboards/Vocals) continues to entrance the audience with her multi tasking duties of instrumentation. Maurice-Richard (Guitars/Vocals) has expanded sonic arsenal at his feet ready to destroy the audience without warning. The Pity Party debuted a new song “The Natural Want” which surprisingly had a hip hop flavor to it that even surprised me. Is their any genre they can’t do? “Houses on The Sun” is another live favorite song of mine with its dark drunk synth bass line and slurring beats. I really hope this song makes it on their debut LP. “The War Between Eight and Four” has Maurice digging deep for squeals from his Fender Stratocaster. “Love Lies” does well to showcase Heisenflei’s vocals and is another track I hope to see in its recorded form. The Pity Party saved its ace in the hole for a new song “Yours, That Works” that pasted off kilter drumming from Heisenflei to Maurice’s dissonant guitars. – Amateur Chemist

with:
Film School || Listen
Ladies and Gents
What Made Milwaukee Famous || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 02.11.08: Monday Night Residency – Bust magazine presents THE PITY PARTY / TWILIGHT SLEEP / THE HUMAN VALUE / KARIN TATOYAN

The Pity Party

Heisenflei (Drums/Keyboards/Vocals) continues to entrance the audience with her multi tasking duties of instrumentation. Maurice-Richard (Guitars/Vocals) has expanded sonic arsenal at his feet ready to destroy the audience without warning. The Pity Party debuted a new song “The Natural Want” which surprisingly had a hip hop flavor to it that even surprised me. Is their any genre they can’t do? “Houses on The Sun” is another live favorite song of mine with its dark drunk synth bass line and slurring beats. I really hope this song makes it on their debut LP. “The War Between Eight and Four” has Maurice digging deep for squeals from his Fender Stratocaster. “Love Lies” does well to showcase Heisenflei’s vocals and is another track I hope to see in its recorded form. The Pity Party saved its ace in the hole for a new song “Yours, That Works” that pasted off kilter drumming from Heisenflei to Maurice’s dissonant guitars. – Amateur Chemist

With:
Twilight Sleep || Listen
The Human Value
Karin Tatoyan || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 02.04.08: Monday Night Residency w/ THE PITY PARTY / THE HAPPY HOLLOWS / LIGHT FM / RADEMACHER

The Pity Party

Heisenflei (Drums/Keyboards/Vocals) continues to entrance the audience with her multi tasking duties of instrumentation. Maurice-Richard (Guitars/Vocals) has expanded sonic arsenal at his feet ready to destroy the audience without warning. The Pity Party debuted a new song “The Natural Want” which surprisingly had a hip hop flavor to it that even surprised me. Is their any genre they can’t do? “Houses on The Sun” is another live favorite song of mine with its dark drunk synth bass line and slurring beats. I really hope this song makes it on their debut LP. “The War Between Eight and Four” has Maurice digging deep for squeals from his Fender Stratocaster. “Love Lies” does well to showcase Heisenflei’s vocals and is another track I hope to see in its recorded form. The Pity Party saved its ace in the hole for a new song “Yours, That Works” that pasted off kilter drumming from Heisenflei to Maurice’s dissonant guitars. – Amateur Chemist

With:
The Happy Hollows || Listen
Light FM
Rademacher || Listen

FREE SHOW

Saturday 02.02.08: MERE MORTALS / XU XU FANG / THE BLACK KITES / SKY PARADE

Mere Mortals

Mere Mortals sound as if they’re angling for a spot in the Britpop pantheon, nurturing a jangly, neo-psychedelic sound that brings to mind early Primal Scream, Supergrass or maybe Oasis as fronted by a man who smiles at the world rather than sneers. The merry band of do-it yourselfers self-released the all-wheat, no-chaff “Rebel Radio” EP late last year, and several of the disc’s seven songs cracked the specialty charts (which track the amount of airplay on “specialty” shows where the DJs program their own music). German-born, London-reared Axel Steuerwald’s deft songwriting touch makes the Mortals slam-dunks to make Jonesy’s jukebox. Maybe they can make yours too. – LA Times Buzz Bands

with:
Xu Xu Fang || Listen
Black Kites || Listen
Sky Parade || Listen

Wednesday 02.13.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME w/ ANDRE WILLIAMS, THE FLASH EXPRESS

Andre Williams || Listen

Take one part each of grits ‘n’ grease, two parts garage-rock raunch, and all black comedy, now shake! That’s prezactly the hour’s worth of sonic cock-tales that Andre “Mr. Rhythm” Williams served up for the hundred-plus connoisseurs of the bizarre who caught his headlining performance at Spaceland last Saturday night (May 5).
Now 70 years young, Williams has commanded a cult following ever since he followed up his bumptious ’58 R&B hit “Bacon Fat” with “Jailbait,” a cautionary tale of teenage copulation that was banned immediately upon release.
Specializing in talk-sung tales of soul food and the sportin’ life, Williams subsequently grazed the charts with “Rib Tips,” “Pearl Time,” and the life ‘n’ death story of “Cadillac Jack” (“Sho’ was a Mack”), and his “Humpin’, Bumpin’ and Thumpin’!” b/w “The Stroke” is now universally recognized as the”two-sided funk monster!” it always was when the late, great record dealer Mark Edmunds wrote just those words on the sleeve of the Mint-minus copy he sold to my pal T.G. for two-three bucks – hey, Mark bought it for a dime – sometime back in the mid-’80s. – LA Citybeat

with:
The Flash Express
The High Society

Plus DJs Dia & Neil (War Tapes) spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

Dewar’s Drink Specials: $3 before Midnight, $1 after

Thursday 02.28.07: BRITISH SEA POWER / COLOURMUSIC / WHITE DENIM

British Sea Power || Listen

Could it just be a rhetorical question? “Waving Flags”, from British Sea Power’s forthcoming third LP Do You Like Rock Music?, doesn’t offer much doubt about the answer to the album’s title– the Brighton quartet likes rock, thank you, particularly dour, scruffy post-punk with surging U2 and Arcade Fire anthemics. – Pitchfork

with:
Colourmusic
White Denim || Listen