Tuesday 04.29.08: PRIVATE KROQ EVENT

Private KROQ event at 5pm. Doors at 4pm.

The only way in is to win tickets on KROQ.

www.kroq.com

Friday 05.02.08: First Fridays with AKRON/FAMILY / THE DODOS @ Natural History Museum

First Fridays – Dinner, Discussion, Music & More

with:
Akron/Family || Listen
The Dodos || Listen

@ 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 04.28.08: SHE & HIM featuring ZOOEY DESCHANEL & M. WARD / LAVENDER DIAMOND @ Vista Theatre

She & Him featuring Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward || Listen

She & Him is a story of musical serendipity: Two artists, each renowned in their own creative fields, meet and recognize a certain shared nostalgia. The result is destined to be one of the musical highlights of the year.

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward first met to record a version of Richard and Linda Thompson’s “When I Get To The Border” for a movie soundtrack. Immediately struck by one another’s talents and finding an instant rapport, Zooey let slip that she wrote her own songs which she recorded alone at home on her computer. Somewhat shy about anyone hearing these musical morsels she eventually sent the demos to Matt who was instantly impressed. They soon reconvened at his Portland studio to begin work.

Embracing the warm sound of early analog recordings, Volume 1 is more than just a showcase for Zooey’s rich and endearing voice; it’s a distinctive and endlessly charming album. The songs themselves give a respectful nod to the likes of Dusty Springfield, Linda Ronstadt and The Zombies while Matt’s production gives them just the right amount of golden era sheen. Whether Zooey’s channeling Ronnie Spector as on “I Was Made For You” or joining Matt in turning The Beatles “I Should Have Known Better” into a seductive hula guitar duet, the results are always captivating.

with:
Lavender Diamond || Listen

@ Vista Theatre
4473 Sunset Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027

7pm / All Ages

Thursday 04.24.08: CLOSED

Wednesday 05.07.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with THE OOHLAS

The Oohlas || Listen

Is it too early to be nostalgic for the ’90s? This Los Angeles trio certainly doesn’t think so, blurring the diverting vigor of bubble grunge and the ultracool balm of shoegazer into bittersweet guitar pop that’s both absurdly listenable and unapologetically grand. Greg Eklund, former Everclear drummer, plays breezy-to-galing guitar and sings like a bashful Beach Boy on about a third of these three-and-a-half-minute songs. But singer-guitarist Ollie Stone, whose lustrous bleat recalls the Breeders Kim Deal, gives the disc its pervasive sense of emotional fragility. As do her unexpectedly dark lyrics about the absence of God (the up-tempo, ascending “Cahuenga Shuffle”), a depressed companion (the humming, verge-of-explosion “Tripped”) and a friend who we discover committed suicide (the dissonant “Rupert Krikor Chang”). The Oohlas’ contours are warmly familiar, but they cloak some chilly stuff. – Blender

with:
Solarcade

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

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

Friday 05.16.08: RADIO 4 / KENAN BELL / OSLO

Radio 4 || Listen

It only takes a few seconds of “Enemies Like This”, the title track to Radio 4′s new album, to realize that the Brooklyn-based band has returned with all cylinders fired up and with a rejuvenated sense of purpose. Radio 4 have never been ones to shy away from making a loud noise or issuing a firm statement, but on Enemies Like This, they’ve both streamlined and stretched their sound, they’ve cut the fat, trimmed the filler, and focused on the meat that makes the music, not the spices that can bury it. Enemies Like This is the album long awaited by all those who know that, up to now, Radio 4′s strongest impression has been made from the stage.
- Insound

with:
Kenan Bell || Listen
Oslo || Listen

Tuesday 05.27.08: Tuesday Night Residency – GRAN RONDE / CASTANEDA / EVAN SLAMKA (from Marjorie Fair) / ELECTROMAGNETIC

Gran Ronde

Their debut EP, On and On, creates a dark atmospheric sound while still retaining some lightness in both melodies and vocals. On “Trouble (Hide)” and “The River”, lead singer Chris Pearson eerily seems to transform vocally into Robert Smith, making connections to the Cure well warranted. However, tracks like “Retrace” really stand Gran Ronde on their own two feet, with catchy guitar hooks and a more modern feel to it. Overall, an enjoyable collection of songs from a genre that can sometimes feel a little cold, Gran Ronde takes on the current invasion of British sounding pop bands and gives them a good kick in the ass. – Littleradio.com

with:
Castaneda
Evan Slamka (from Marjorie Fair)
Electromagnetic

Tuesday 05.20.08: Tuesday Night Residency – GRAN RONDE / BLOODCAT LOVE / VOXHAUL BROADCAST / SUMMER DARLING

Gran Ronde

Their debut EP, On and On, creates a dark atmospheric sound while still retaining some lightness in both melodies and vocals. On “Trouble (Hide)” and “The River”, lead singer Chris Pearson eerily seems to transform vocally into Robert Smith, making connections to the Cure well warranted. However, tracks like “Retrace” really stand Gran Ronde on their own two feet, with catchy guitar hooks and a more modern feel to it. Overall, an enjoyable collection of songs from a genre that can sometimes feel a little cold, Gran Ronde takes on the current invasion of British sounding pop bands and gives them a good kick in the ass. – Littleradio.com

with:
Bloodcat Love || Listen
Voxhaul Broadcast
Summer Darling || Listen

Tuesday 05.13.08: Tuesday Night Residency – GRAN RONDE / SLEEPERCAR / AUSHUA / THE REPUBLIC TIGERS

Gran Ronde

Their debut EP, On and On, creates a dark atmospheric sound while still retaining some lightness in both melodies and vocals. On “Trouble (Hide)” and “The River”, lead singer Chris Pearson eerily seems to transform vocally into Robert Smith, making connections to the Cure well warranted. However, tracks like “Retrace” really stand Gran Ronde on their own two feet, with catchy guitar hooks and a more modern feel to it. Overall, an enjoyable collection of songs from a genre that can sometimes feel a little cold, Gran Ronde takes on the current invasion of British sounding pop bands and gives them a good kick in the ass. – Littleradio.com

with:
Sleepercar
Aushua || Listen
The Republic Tigers

Tuesday 05.06.08: Tuesday Night Residency – GRAN RONDE / EJECT / THE ROYAL HEIST / ROBOTANIST

Gran Ronde

Their debut EP, On and On, creates a dark atmospheric sound while still retaining some lightness in both melodies and vocals. On “Trouble (Hide)” and “The River”, lead singer Chris Pearson eerily seems to transform vocally into Robert Smith, making connections to the Cure well warranted. However, tracks like “Retrace” really stand Gran Ronde on their own two feet, with catchy guitar hooks and a more modern feel to it. Overall, an enjoyable collection of songs from a genre that can sometimes feel a little cold, Gran Ronde takes on the current invasion of British sounding pop bands and gives them a good kick in the ass. – Littleradio.com

with:
Eject
The Royal Heist
Robotanist

Monday 05.26.08: Monday Night Residency with MEZZANINE OWLS / THE QUARTER AFTER / EXITMUSIC / ASTEROID #4

Mezzanine Owls || Listen

“Working with producer Andy Lemaster (Now It’s Overhead, Bright Eyes, Azure Ray) at Chase Park Transduction has proven to be a winning combination yet again, as there is nothing we can think of that would make these tracks sound better than how they are presented to us. The ethereal “Snow Globe” creeps in and takes the listener on a fuzzed out guitar ride, one that ends far too quickly. “Temporary Health” closes the EP in an eruption, leaving the listener wanting more. As a matter of fact, each of these little gems lasts only about three minutes.
Here’s to hoping a full sophomore album comes sooner than later.”
- The Tripwire

with:
The Quarter After || Listen
Exitmusic
The Asteroid #4 || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 05.19.08: Monday Night Residency with MEZZANINE OWLS / LOVELIKEFIRE / THE HENRY CLAY PEOPLE / ELI “PAPERBOY” REED & THE TRUE LOVES

Mezzanine Owls || Listen

“Working with producer Andy Lemaster (Now It’s Overhead, Bright Eyes, Azure Ray) at Chase Park Transduction has proven to be a winning combination yet again, as there is nothing we can think of that would make these tracks sound better than how they are presented to us. The ethereal “Snow Globe” creeps in and takes the listener on a fuzzed out guitar ride, one that ends far too quickly. “Temporary Health” closes the EP in an eruption, leaving the listener wanting more. As a matter of fact, each of these little gems lasts only about three minutes.
Here’s to hoping a full sophomore album comes sooner than later.”
- The Tripwire

with:
LoveLikeFire || Listen
The Henry Clay People || Listen
Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 05.12.08: Monday Night Residency with MEZZANINE OWLS / WE BARBARIANS / EAGLE & TALON / BLACK KITES/MARTHA DAVIS AND THE MOTELS

Mezzanine Owls || Listen

“Working with producer Andy Lemaster (Now It’s Overhead, Bright Eyes, Azure Ray) at Chase Park Transduction has proven to be a winning combination yet again, as there is nothing we can think of that would make these tracks sound better than how they are presented to us. The ethereal “Snow Globe” creeps in and takes the listener on a fuzzed out guitar ride, one that ends far too quickly. “Temporary Health” closes the EP in an eruption, leaving the listener wanting more. As a matter of fact, each of these little gems lasts only about three minutes.
Here’s to hoping a full sophomore album comes sooner than later.”
- The Tripwire

with:
We Barbarians || Listen
Eagle and Talon || Listen
Black Kites || Listen
Martha Davis and the Motels || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 05.05.08: Monday Night Residency with MEZZANINE OWLS / WAIT.THINK.FAST. / MINIPOP / IN WAVES

Mezzanine Owls || Listen

“Working with producer Andy Lemaster (Now It’s Overhead, Bright Eyes, Azure Ray) at Chase Park Transduction has proven to be a winning combination yet again, as there is nothing we can think of that would make these tracks sound better than how they are presented to us. The ethereal “Snow Globe” creeps in and takes the listener on a fuzzed out guitar ride, one that ends far too quickly. “Temporary Health” closes the EP in an eruption, leaving the listener wanting more. As a matter of fact, each of these little gems lasts only about three minutes.
Here’s to hoping a full sophomore album comes sooner than later.”
- The Tripwire

with:
Wait.Think.Fast.
Minipop || Listen
In Waves || Listen

FREE SHOW

Friday 04.25.08: DANIEL BRUMMEL / THE FRENCH SEMESTER / FOREIGN KEYS

Daniel Brummel

If music has a timeframe, then Daniel Brummel’s “Speak Easy” is timeless. You couldn’t even call it pop music, though at one time, it would have been.

The ghosts of the music-past are, right now, looking down upon this virile 23-year-old with jealousy and suspicion. After all, Brummel is one of the voices of the recently reformed Ozma, Southern California’s best indie-pop secret. “How,” they might ask, “did this happen?”

Anyone who has seen one of Brummel’s quiet, smoky, almost jazzy solo performances has probably thought the same thing once or twice. Brummel himself may still be asking himself that very question. – The Graphic

with:
The French Semester
Foreign Keys

Sunday 04.13.08: THE IVY WALLS / BLUE JUNGLE / WINSTON AND THE TELESCREEN / STAB CITY / ZIPPER

The Ivy Walls

Even if you’re not on the front-lines of the alternative-rock LA/Hollywood scene with THE IVY WALLS, there is still a chance you may have heard them. If you happened to be watching “MTV’S The Real World: Sydney,” you might have been grooving to “Lovers In Hotels” (their latest full-length album and title track). Or perhaps recently, you’ve opened up an indie music magazine and heard their name listed in the ‘top unsigned/unknown bands’ to listen to. But maybe, just maybe, you waited for The Alternakids to blow your mind (I’m going to assume that).

I had known about the band strongly for the past two years, but didn’t get a chance to hear them live and dig on the album until ’07. The album quickly became a hit with my so-called ‘traveling collections’… let me explain. Although I listen to a lot of music at home, it’s a rare treat for an album/band to get to travel in my car or follow me to a workout — being blared on the gym stereo. These select few albums get played more than the 5 pop songs on a music station, so it’s crucial they got the talent to survive. The Ivy Walls have it. They offer that unique blend of alternative indie-rock sound, entrenched in musical obsession. – The Alternakids

with:
Blue Jungle || Listen
Winston and The Telescreen || Listen
Stab City
Zipper

FREE SHOW

Wednesday 04.16.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with THE BILLIONAIRES / AVANGAAD / THE NAKED

The Billionaires

Their closest musical kinship would likely be with New Pornographers. The Billionaires similarly craft addictive guitar-and-keyboard pop with both male and female vocals. They also offer a range of moods and BPMs across the record, from slow and dreamy “I Love You Mother Nature” to the hard riffing “Pass the Bottle”. Most of their material lives right in between, like super-sunny opener “The End of Summer Song”, complicatedly catchy “Eighties Movies”, and pastoral, plucky “Butterflies”. The band even try on some electronic elements on moody, disco-tinted number “Cold Day”.

with:
Avangaad || Listen
The Naked || Listen

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

Tuesday 04.29.08: ROCCO DELUCA / BRETT BIXBY / ED VALLANCE / JINNRAIL

Rocco DeLuca || Listen

I love a ridiculous amount of bands and have been to more shows than I can keep track of, but it is not often that an artist actually blows me away in their live performance to the extent that Rocco DeLuca and the Burden have. I’ve seen them anywhere from small clubs (their performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco is one of the best live sets I’ve witnessed, ever), to community theatres, to record stores and coffee shops, to a crowd of over 17,000 at the Hollywood Bowl. No matter the setting, they do not disappoint; but I do think they excel and musically are best suited for a club, so I was extremely excited to be able to see them at the House of Blues during what is their first headlining tour.

If you have not heard these guys before, the best I can do to describe their style is to say it is a wonderfully fused combination of rock, blues, jazz and folk. Rocco has a unique, wailing style to his vocals and while I’ve heard him compared to anyone from Robert Plant to Jeff Buckley, he is really his own star in the making. – Billboard Mobile Beat

with:
Brett Bixby || Listen
Ed Vallance || Listen
Jinnrail || Listen

TICKET NOT VALID THE KROQ AFTERNOON SHOW

Thursday 05.29.08: Filter Presents PELA / NEVA DINOVA / LADYHAWK

Pela || Listen

Known for their awesome live shows and two well-received EPs, Pela has finally put out a full-length release. It is one of the year’s best. Pela are a self-styled “American” rock and roll band, with Bruce Springsteen, The Replacements, Wilco, and the Hold Steady as guiding influences. That is quite a serious lineage to follow and to compare oneself to. Yet the ambition in those comparisons is more than met by the music, which is charming, humble, passionate, and achingly sad all at once. – Popmatters

with:
Neva Dinova
Ladyhawk || Listen

Sunday 06.01.08: The Neil Hamburger Country Winners Revue with NEIL HAMBURGER

Neil Hamburger with the Too-Good-For-Neil-Hamburger Band

With the Drag City release of his Sings Country Winners album on April 22, Neil Hamburger will make the transition from sadistically awkward stand-up comic to full-blown (albeit humorous) country western crooner. True to its title, the record consists of honest-to-goodness honky tonkin’ music.

To complete the metamorphosis, Hamburger will play a series of West Coast shows in May and June where he’ll be joined by the band that plays on the record. Those players include Rachel Haden, Prairie Prince, Dave Gleason, Atom Ellis, and Joe Goldmark, and between them, they’ve worked with the likes of George Harrison, John Fogerty, Weezer, Link Wray, and…the New Cars. Well, you win some, you lose some. – Pitchfork

Wednesday 05.14.08: Indie 103.1 Presents EFTERKLANG / SLARAFFENLAND / KARIN TATOYAN

Efterklang || Listen

Denmark’s Efterklang, recipients of a rare 10/10 DiS review for last year’s Parades LP (review), are traditionalists only in the sense that they use guitar, bass and drums as cornerstones of the creations they erect, rising from the stage slowly, revealing nuances sweet and affecting with each clutch of so-many seconds. Scattered about these essentials are electronic boxes full of circuit-board wizardry, additional percussion things to swing, whack and shake…Digression terminated, the concluding fact: Efterklang, live and on record, are rarely less than an incredibly moving and inspiring listen. If you’re yet to let them breach your taste defences, watch the bombs explode below ‘til your heart pops in time. – Drowned in Sound

with:
Slaraffenland || Listen
Karin Tatoyan || Listen

Sunday 05.11.08: THE SHOW IS THE RAINBOW / CAPTAIN AHAB / CINDERELLA MOTEL

The Show is The Rainbow

Omaha’s one-man band the Show Is the Rainbow offers something much more meaningful than derivative Devo mimicry—there is a clubby, atomic pitter-pat lurking in his 606, and punk sensibility coloring his production. A cadre of frantic, urgent melodies carries Darren’s spot-on Mark Mothersbaugh warble, and his thumping, clacking tempos will have your toes doing double-time. If the Faint are neo-wave’s spreading, diffuse mushroom cloud, the Show Is the Rainbow is its irradiated Omega Man, prowling the ravaged wasteland for an unspoiled dance floor and a few mutants with whom to shake ass. – City Pages

with:
Captain Ahab || Listen
Cinderella Motel

Saturday 05.10.08: AIR TRAFFIC / SKY PARADE / EAGLE SEAGULL

Air Traffic (from the UK) || Listen

From the initial listen, frontman Chris Wall appears to be the driving force behind the band’s excitably stimulating sound. Apart from his imperative piano work and guitar contributions, Wall possesses some of the most powerfully diversifying vocals I have heard all year. Suitable for both invigorating arena rock and sweeping emotional ballads, the vocals transition themselves amicably between each track. Though the comparisons to Coldplay’s Chris Martin on piano-oriented tracks like “No More Running Away” or the exceptional single, “Shooting Star”, will likely be the most illustrated among critics, likenesses to Sigur Rós’ Jónsi Birgisson or Muse’s Matthew Bellamy remain more subtly effective in nature. “Empty Space”, one of the most touching tracks on the album, is accompanied solely by Wall’s vocals and his distinctive piano-laden melody. Though the track is minimal in production and instrumentation, the sheer power of the melody and lyrical delivery provides for more than enough satisfaction. Wall’s falsetto demonstrated in the hearty chorus reaches a pitch that only falls short to the likes of Birgisson or Bellamy, aided even more dramatically by Wall’s compelling piano usage. – Popmatters

with:
Sky Parade || Listen
Eagle Seagull || Listen

Friday 05.09.08: KCRW & Performer Mag presents – THE PARSON RED HEADS (EP Release Party) / THE MOVIES / MY PET SADDLE / MONAHANS

The Parson Red Heads || Listen (EP Release Party)

The energy on King Giraffe can barely be contained — it’s as if the album can’t wait to blast through stereo speakers. From the bright and shiny beach-party swelters of “Days of My Youth” to the hectic, crashing waves of acceleration and stillness on “Mossback,” The Parson Red Heads tailspin listeners through a joyous mix of early ‘60s psychedelic-inspired rock.

Evan “Parson Parson” Way leads this group of troubadours and writes the band’s upbeat ditties about chilling with family, loving all and enjoying life. In “Forever,” there is a smile in his words as he instructs listeners, “Stand up straight, follow the rules / Don’t do wrong, don’t be a fool / There are things you don’t know.” This optimism comes straight from the music. – Perfromer Mag

with:
The Movies
My Pet Saddle || Listen
Monahans || Listen

Thursday 05.08.08: THE FIGGS / BOBOT ADRENELINE / FRANCISCO THE MAN / JONNY POLONSKY

The Figgs || Listen

It makes sense that one of the Figgs’ best recent songs, “Regional Hits” (included here), celebrates those pop gems that are known only to a select few. For better or worse, that’s been the Figgs’ stock in trade for a decade-plus. And this live set doesn’t even offer all the most obvious shoulda-been hits from their last batch of albums — it’s just the songs they happened to play on a particular night. Whereas their previous live disc (drawn from the same batch of 2005 gigs) was tight and straightforward, this one’s more like the wilder second half of a Figgs show. There’s an impromptu cover, a few sing-along bits, a couple of songs the band had just learned (they’d be on the next studio album, Follow Jean Through the Sea), and a bit of mania when drummer Pete Hayes gets turned loose to sing. The band include, perhaps unwisely, a messed-up version of the Kinks’ “Starstruck” as well as the straight version, which followed. (Just the latter would’ve been fine.) But they know how to snap back into no-nonsense mode, and the rest of this disc attests to their unfailing chemistry and their growing catalogue of catchy songs. Indeed, it’s hard to figure why guitarist Mike Gent’s R&B-flavored “I’ll Bring Kicks” and bassist Pete Donnelly’s sweeter “We’ll Be Doing Time” never became hits somewhere. Score one for the select few. – The Phoenix

with:
Bobot Adrenaline || Listen
Francisco The Man
Jonny Polonsky || Listen

Sunday 05.04.08: TWO SHEDS / PRINCETON

Two Sheds || Listen

Two Sheds, one heart. Johnny and Caitlin Gutenberger are partners in life and the core of the local band Two Sheds, one of Sacramento’s beloved indie outfits. Caitlin is on vocals, with a dreamy style that’s tempered with a bit of twang, and husband Johnny anchors the rhythm section on bass.

The couple are behind an upcoming 7-inch vinyl single that features a new song, “No Place.”

The Gutenbergers first gigged together at a “Crooning Couples” show at Old Ironsides and have since developed a following on the West Coast. Two Sheds has so far been a match made in harmony. – Sacbee.com

with:
Princeton || Listen

Saturday 05.03.08: NINA NASTASIA / DAVID KARSTEN DANIELS / NICO STAI

Nina Nastasia || Listen

Nastasia’s mood-stricken folk-rock fits neatly among her better-known peers, but unlike her other White-backed discs, Run To Ruin and On Leaving, the new You Follow Me grants the drummer equal billing. It isn’t a token gesture: White’s ragged yet jazzy pulse fills every inch of the space Nastasia previously stuffed with strings and piano. Stripped of finery, You Follow Me is Nastasia’s purest, most assured work yet, a raw acoustic set that sweeps sentiment out of dusty corners and slips into sudden whispers as White frisks around and across her stark chords. And when Nastasia’s voice rises from a delicate mumble to a piercing cry, it’s enough to make hearts follow suit. – The Onion AV Club

with:
David Karsten Daniels || Listen
Nico Stai

Friday 05.02.08: NIK FREITAS / DAVID DONDERO

Nik Freitas || Listen

Though a disciple of a path well beaten — organic singer/songwriter wielding riffing guitars and tapping ivories — Nik Frietas carves a niche all his own with lyrically meditative, wistful, and Americana-tinged tunes paying tribute to yet never aping touchstones likes Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and even Ben Kweller. And with Sun Down, Freitas’ third record to date out May 6 via Team Love, the troubadour dives into the frequented genre’s fabric and offers an album that simultaneously evokes sentiments of nostalgia and innovation, especially with the down-home drums and choogling six-string of the album’s title track, and the 12-bar blues of “Sophie.” – Spin.com

with:
David Dondero

Thursday 05.01.08: JR JUGGERNAUT / MOTORCYCLE BLACK MADONNAS / JESSE DELUXE (acoustic set)

Jr. Juggernaut

Los Angeles-based power trio JR. JUGGERNAUT has been delivering rootsy blasts of American guitar rock, coupled with three-part harmonies, since the summer of 2003. The act, founded by guitarist/vocalist Mike Williamson, made its mark in the L.A. music scene by delivering one blistering live show after another, having performed with such noteworthy acts including Drag The River, Alien Crime Syndicate, Tim Easton, Lucero, The Gourds, Two Cow Garage, Tim Barry, Armchair Martian and Burden Brothers. The band’s newest recording and first full-length, Ghost Poison, has already garnered airplay on Indie 103.1 before its release. The 10-song collection offers the expansive breadth of Jr. Juggernaut’s repertoire, from full-throttle guitar assaults to somber melodies, and is the first official release to feature drummer Wal Rashidi and bassist Kevin Keller. Produced by Jr. Juggernaut, engineered by Maria Baglien (Johnny Hickman, The BellRays), and mixed by Sergio Chavez (Motorhead, Velvet Revolver), Ghost Poison showcases Jr. Juggernaut in its finest moment — the present.

with:
Motorcycle Black Madonnas || Listen
Jessie Deluxe (acoustic set) || Listen

Tickets at The Door

Wednesday 04.30.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with KENAN BELL / EL TEN ELEVEN / VALENTINO

Kenan Bell || Listen

A friend recently told me about Kenan Bell, a talented young rapper from LA who recently grabbed attention for his witty sampling of Morrissey’s “This Night Has Opened My Eyes” on his song “Save Your Life.” Being both a Morrissey fan and a lover of hip-hop I curiously checked him out and was pleased to find it both innovative and catchy, and was impressed by his other songs as well. – Live From Hell’s Basement

with:
El Ten Eleven || Listen
Valentino || Listen

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

Saturday 04.26.08: Filter presents THE JOGGERS / THE BIG SLEEP

The Joggers || Listen

With a Cape and a Cane sounds merely like a solid indie rock record on a passing listen; give it a few more spins and you will be rewarded. Absent here are the sophisticated vocal harmonies of the Joggers debut, Solid Guild, replaced with even more copious amounts of guitar. I know– guitars in indie rock, not really a revelation. But it’s where the guitars go that matters: abrasive, thin-toned strings crawl into unexpected places, doubling and echoing each other, racing up and down unusual scales and squealing like spoiled babies. They ape Eastern tones on opener “Ziggurat Traffic” and fake the funk on “Wicked Light Sleeper”; an extraneous screech becomes the foundation to the chorus of “Since You’re Already Up”, and a nervous atonal shuffle turns majestic on “White Madam”. – Pitchfork

with:
The Big Sleep || Listen

Wednesday 04.23.08: Indie 103.1 Presents CLUB NME with HIS MISCHIEF

His Mischief || Listen

His Mischief describes its music on its myspace page as “Spoon playing Queen.” That’s a pretty fair assessment. There’s a lot of similarity to Britt Daniel’s Austin quartet in terms of the band’s ragged whiplash chords and power muttering. Songs like “Shalom! Shalom!” and “Rock Song (Hyperopia)” rip with squelching distortion and spit-stained vocals. The latter has a catchy-as-hell chorus that is equal parts punk and underground. The bunched-up guitar, rip-roaring chords, and bouncing ball bass of “Captain’s Ship” careen to forge a song fit for slow-motion skanking. His Mischief plays indie the way indie should be played: stripped down, raw, and largely incoherent. The guitar sounds like a beaten Fender Jaguar hooked up to a garage sale amp and there’s little in the way of studio refinement on Summer’s Eve. That’s a good thing. There’s a limited catalogue on this EP, but what is there stands firm with solid rhythms and catchy misfit melodies. – Amplifier Magazine

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 04.20.08: LONG HAIR ILLUMINATI RECORDS SHOWCASE

with:
Casket Salesman || Listen
Auditory Aphasia || Listen
Ojos Rojos
Mythmaker
Mongoloid
Ride The Boogie

FREE SHOW

Tuesday 04.22.08: Tuesday Night Residency – ROCCO DELUCA / ANNIE STELA / TRAINWRECK / LUKE PAQUIN

Rocco DeLuca || Listen

I love a ridiculous amount of bands and have been to more shows than I can keep track of, but it is not often that an artist actually blows me away in their live performance to the extent that Rocco DeLuca and the Burden have. I’ve seen them anywhere from small clubs (their performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco is one of the best live sets I’ve witnessed, ever), to community theatres, to record stores and coffee shops, to a crowd of over 17,000 at the Hollywood Bowl. No matter the setting, they do not disappoint; but I do think they excel and musically are best suited for a club, so I was extremely excited to be able to see them at the House of Blues during what is their first headlining tour.

If you have not heard these guys before, the best I can do to describe their style is to say it is a wonderfully fused combination of rock, blues, jazz and folk. Rocco has a unique, wailing style to his vocals and while I’ve heard him compared to anyone from Robert Plant to Jeff Buckley, he is really his own star in the making. – Billboard Mobile Beat

with:
Annie Stela || Listen
Trainwreck
Luke Paquin

Tuesday 04.08.08: Tuesday Night Residency – ROCCO DELUCA

Rocco DeLuca || Listen

I love a ridiculous amount of bands and have been to more shows than I can keep track of, but it is not often that an artist actually blows me away in their live performance to the extent that Rocco DeLuca and the Burden have. I’ve seen them anywhere from small clubs (their performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco is one of the best live sets I’ve witnessed, ever), to community theatres, to record stores and coffee shops, to a crowd of over 17,000 at the Hollywood Bowl. No matter the setting, they do not disappoint; but I do think they excel and musically are best suited for a club, so I was extremely excited to be able to see them at the House of Blues during what is their first headlining tour.

If you have not heard these guys before, the best I can do to describe their style is to say it is a wonderfully fused combination of rock, blues, jazz and folk. Rocco has a unique, wailing style to his vocals and while I’ve heard him compared to anyone from Robert Plant to Jeff Buckley, he is really his own star in the making. – Billboard Mobile Beat

with:
Joshua Morrison || Listen

Tickets at the door

Thursday 04.10.08: THE HIGH SOCIETY / THE TEENAGE FRAMES / ROCKET / BABIL BIJITS

The High Society

with:
The Teenage Frames || Listen
Rocket || Listen
Babil Bijits

Tickets available at the door

Friday 04.04.08: FIRST FRIDAYS with THE WATSON TWINS / CASTLEDOOR @ Natural History Museum

First Fridays – Dinner, Discussion, Music & More

with:
The Watson Twins || Listen
Castledoor

@ 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

Wednesday 04.02.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with TROY THIS / LACO$TE

Troy This

he’s the bastard child of urbanism & digitalism, a mixture of electro soul & amusing pop rock. His music awakes a lot of memories from the “Tape” days & his sex-dosed vocals & original music virtually resurrects moments only Janet Jackson could pull off successfully, like on the TV-Ad-Esque “Hit The Dirt” & Rugrats-theme-like naïve tropical rock “America Dream (Happy Song)” makes the cheesy fashionable again. There’s even a demo titled “Slap Kiss Beautiful Later” that could easily be mistaken for a “Michael Jackson & Darren Hayes” early unreleased duet session! But don’t get carried away with the comparisons here as it’s just merely a point out to a style or an era, ‘Troy This’ music has that ambiance that makes you feel familiar with his tracks when listening to, like you’ve been playing it since you were a kid & that’s rare. – Ohhcrapp.net

with:
Laco$te || Listen

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

Tuesday 04.29.08: SHE & HIM featuring ZOOEY DESCHANEL & M. WARD / LAVENDER DIAMOND @ Vista Theatre

She & Him featuring Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward || Listen

She & Him is a story of musical serendipity: Two artists, each renowned in their own creative fields, meet and recognize a certain shared nostalgia. The result is destined to be one of the musical highlights of the year.

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward first met to record a version of Richard and Linda Thompson’s “When I Get To The Border” for a movie soundtrack. Immediately struck by one another’s talents and finding an instant rapport, Zooey let slip that she wrote her own songs which she recorded alone at home on her computer. Somewhat shy about anyone hearing these musical morsels she eventually sent the demos to Matt who was instantly impressed. They soon reconvened at his Portland studio to begin work.

Embracing the warm sound of early analog recordings, Volume 1 is more than just a showcase for Zooey’s rich and endearing voice; it’s a distinctive and endlessly charming album. The songs themselves give a respectful nod to the likes of Dusty Springfield, Linda Ronstadt and The Zombies while Matt’s production gives them just the right amount of golden era sheen. Whether Zooey’s channeling Ronnie Spector as on “I Was Made For You” or joining Matt in turning The Beatles “I Should Have Known Better” into a seductive hula guitar duet, the results are always captivating.

with:
Lavender Diamond || Listen

@ Vista Theatre
4473 Sunset Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Saturday 04.19.08: BODIES OF WATER / ELF POWER / FLOWERS FOREVER

Bodies of Water || Listen

Los Angeles’ Bodies of Water pummels past many more obvious/awesome points of comparison during the course of this preachtastic album– their reverent throat-throng approach evokes a Monotheistic Spree, their anthemic exponential subchoruses harken back to that first New Pornographers record, and their rousing, art-pop-rock-alyptic ambition suggests an Arcade Fire sparked by a burning bush. And after you accept the wall of vocals into your heart, you’ve still got to deal with arrangements equal parts Ennio Morricone, Godspell, classic punk, and Ben-Hur soundtrack. Pretty much relentless, this stuff, helped along in tone by a sleeve photo of a celebrant accidentally busting someone in the face while throwing out a joyous arm. – Pitchfork

with:
Elf Power || Listen
Flowers Forever || Listen

Friday 04.19.08: PRE / THE MAE SHI / MICHAEL VIDAL (of Abe Vigoda)

Pre || Listen

“I sometimes feel I might puke [from] moving so much… but when I feel that, I try to push myself harder,” says Pre singer Akiko Matsuura, discussing her convulsive stage act. “It’s an amazing feeling to push yourself as far as you can go,” adds guitarist John Webb. “When you wake up the morning after a show with cuts, bruises and whiplash, you know that you achieved something special.”

Pre have definitely done so on their debut LP, Epic Fits (Skin Graft). Recorded in a pizza storage unit (“The faster we played, the warmer we stayed!” claims Webb) in their home city of London, the album is like a high-speed escalator in which each track tops the manic energy of the last. As Matsuura breathes Boredoms-style fire, the band rips out blinding post-punk that evokes the Fall at 78 RPM, or Erase Errata in a fist-fight with Lightning Bolt. – Paper Thin Walls

with:
The Mae Shi
Michael Vidal (of Abe Vigoda)

Thursday 04.17.08: THE WESTERN STATES MOTEL / HELLO DRAGON / FLASHING RED LIGHTS / HAPPY STARS

The Western States Motel || Listen

Writing, producing, and recording under the name the Western States Motel, California native Carl Jordan’s work is the musical equivalent of that mint on your pillow at the end of the night: low-key, unexpected, and sweet. Mixing shimmery summer sounds with unlikely introspection, Jordan’s songs call to mind the smooth sounds of bands like the Shins and Grandaddy. The mellow “Rows of Homes” trots along effortlessly, the poppy instrumentals a perfect foil to Jordan’s Stephin Merritt-esque deadpan. – Spin.com

with:
Hello Dragon
Flashing Red Lights
Happy Stars

Tickets available at the door

Tuesday 04.15.08: ROCCO DELUCA / BRYAN SCARY / WYOMING

Rocco DeLuca || Listen

I love a ridiculous amount of bands and have been to more shows than I can keep track of, but it is not often that an artist actually blows me away in their live performance to the extent that Rocco DeLuca and the Burden have. I’ve seen them anywhere from small clubs (their performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco is one of the best live sets I’ve witnessed, ever), to community theatres, to record stores and coffee shops, to a crowd of over 17,000 at the Hollywood Bowl. No matter the setting, they do not disappoint; but I do think they excel and musically are best suited for a club, so I was extremely excited to be able to see them at the House of Blues during what is their first headlining tour.

If you have not heard these guys before, the best I can do to describe their style is to say it is a wonderfully fused combination of rock, blues, jazz and folk. Rocco has a unique, wailing style to his vocals and while I’ve heard him compared to anyone from Robert Plant to Jeff Buckley, he is really his own star in the making. – Billboard Mobile Beat

with:

Brian Scary || Listen
Wyoming

Sunday 04.27.08: NEIL HAMBURGER / ANDY KINDLER / FANCY SPACE PEOPLE / THE FUXEDOS / MACK LINDSAY

Neil Hamburger

If Neil Hamburger wasn’t the Funniest Man in America, why would the record company keep letting him make so many albums? Can’t answer that question, can you? No, it’s beyond dispute, he is the funniest. End of debate. Don’t even mention Jack Kevorkian, Neil is waaaaay, waaaaaaaay more side-splittingly hilarious, and he’s a much bigger bummer. And he’s got a million of ‘em – why, if one of his jokes falls flat or makes you groan or feel like gagging, or say the next 80 or 90 “gags” don’t exactly make you howl with uproarious laughter, just wait, because Neil will pounce with just a killer, killer line that will make you pee in your pants and nudge the guy next to you so he spills his drink (and when he hits you, that’ll be funny too). You’ll be glad you shelled out your money and chose to spend your time, on a Sunday night, no less, with America’s funny man, Neil Hamburger. – LA Weekly

with:
Andy Kindler
Fancy Space People
The Fuxedos
Mack Lindsay

Wednesday 04.09.08: Indie 103.1 presents CLUB NME with SOFTLIGHTES / THE BILLIONAIRES

Softlightes || Listen

Ron Fountenberry is one of those insanely multi-talented human beings. Once his creative mind starts working, something magical happens. Armed with pen and paper wonderful drawings appear. Give him a video camera and a feast for the eyes will erupt. Hand him a musical instrument and wonderful melodies will flow. Ron once was the front man of a band called The Incredible Moses Leroy. Their second and and final album was titled The Incredible Moses Leroy Becomes the SoftLightes. That was 2003. Fast-forward a few years. Ron has found new musical partners, Kristian Dunn, Tim Fogerty and Jeff Hibshman, and together they have become the SoftLightes. Their debut album, Say No To Being Cool – Say Yes To Being Happy, is the technicolored culmination of Ron’s musical evolution. SoftLightes blend joyful pop experiments with a dizzying array of instruments, sounds and textures. Say No To Being Cool – Say Yes To Being Happy is a celebration of child-like wonder, play and beauty. – Insound

with:
The Billionaires

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

Monday 04.28.08: Monday Night Residency – JOHNATHAN RICE / NATE GREELY / DAWN LANDES

Johnathan Rice || Listen

“We’re all stuck out in the desert and we’re gonna die”: Right from the jump, Scottish-American Johnathan Rice lets you know that he has moved to L.A., where he composed this classic SoCal singer-songwriter album. Sarcastic, not that hopeful (the protest song protests protest songs), full of coyotes, wildfires and wistful looks back at what might have been, this is an impressive set for anyone, let alone a 24-year-old with just one previous release. He duets with his boo, Jenny Lewis, on “The End of the Affair,” and he channels the Byrds on “What Am I Gonna Do?” before the chiming chords turn into Pixies-ish prickiness. – Blender

with:
Nate Greely
Dawn Landes || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 04.21.08: Monday Night Residency – JOHNATHAN RICE / JONATHAN WILSON / JOHNATHAN P SPARAGUS / AMNION

Johnathan Rice || Listen

“We’re all stuck out in the desert and we’re gonna die”: Right from the jump, Scottish-American Johnathan Rice lets you know that he has moved to L.A., where he composed this classic SoCal singer-songwriter album. Sarcastic, not that hopeful (the protest song protests protest songs), full of coyotes, wildfires and wistful looks back at what might have been, this is an impressive set for anyone, let alone a 24-year-old with just one previous release. He duets with his boo, Jenny Lewis, on “The End of the Affair,” and he channels the Byrds on “What Am I Gonna Do?” before the chiming chords turn into Pixies-ish prickiness. – Blender

with:
Jonathan Wilson || Listen
Johnathan P. Sparagus
Amnion || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 04.14.08: Monday Night Residency – JOHNATHAN RICE / THE HEAVENLY STATES / WHISPERTOWN2000

Johnathan Rice || Listen

“We’re all stuck out in the desert and we’re gonna die”: Right from the jump, Scottish-American Johnathan Rice lets you know that he has moved to L.A., where he composed this classic SoCal singer-songwriter album. Sarcastic, not that hopeful (the protest song protests protest songs), full of coyotes, wildfires and wistful looks back at what might have been, this is an impressive set for anyone, let alone a 24-year-old with just one previous release. He duets with his boo, Jenny Lewis, on “The End of the Affair,” and he channels the Byrds on “What Am I Gonna Do?” before the chiming chords turn into Pixies-ish prickiness. – Blender

with:
The Heavenly States || Listen
Whispertown2000

FREE SHOW

Monday 04.07.08: Monday Night Residency – JOHNATHAN RICE / NIK FREITAS / PIERRE DE REEDER

Johnathan Rice || Listen

“We’re all stuck out in the desert and we’re gonna die”: Right from the jump, Scottish-American Johnathan Rice lets you know that he has moved to L.A., where he composed this classic SoCal singer-songwriter album. Sarcastic, not that hopeful (the protest song protests protest songs), full of coyotes, wildfires and wistful looks back at what might have been, this is an impressive set for anyone, let alone a 24-year-old with just one previous release. He duets with his boo, Jenny Lewis, on “The End of the Affair,” and he channels the Byrds on “What Am I Gonna Do?” before the chiming chords turn into Pixies-ish prickiness. – Blender

with:
Nik Freitas || Listen
Pierre De Reeder

FREE SHOW

Sunday 04.06.08: Classical Geek Theatre presents RADEMACHER / LE SWITCH / EL OLIO WOLOF / TIGERS CAN BITE YOU

Rademacher || Listen

Some exciting local talent has sprouted recently, ranging from the madcap home-taped micro-hits of Reid May to the icy boy-girl-boy-girl indie drawl of Rademacher. The latter group has been self-releasing EPs since 2004 and building a following on tour sojourns with the Joggers and Man Man, with whom it shares some melodramatic vocal quirks and occasional shambling moments. Though the licks and cadences from its valley elders are impossible to miss, the band still creates a brutally contemporary sound, and its onstage panache recently led Billboard magazine to recognize its “potential to break into the big time.” – SF Weekly

with:
Le Switch || Listen
El Olio Wolof
Tigers Can Bite You || Listen

presented by Classical Geek Theatre

Thursday 04.03.08: Isgoodmusic.com presents – CRAFT CLUB / FISH CIRCUS / NIGHTFUR / MICHAEL MAZOCHI

Craft Club

Perfectly defining the powerful drive and energy of today’s do-it-yourself indie rock spirit,” C.R.A.F.T. Club, a trio based out of Los Angeles, are drawing a lot of attention with their unique style of music and charismatic stage presence. Stephen Smirke’s melodic vocals and guitar collide seamlessly with the electronic-synth bass and lead keyboard harmonies of Clara Ko. Tying it all together is the driving “in-the-pocket” style drums of Will Holliday. Mixing up some of the elements of late sixties British pop, nineties grunge, and 80′s synth pop, C.R.A.F.T. Club have developed a refreshing original style of their own. C.R.A.F.T. Club’s 2007 self-titled debut album on KNA Records was produced by the accredited engineer Jason Wormer, who has worked with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Neil Young, Beck, Robert Plant, and countless other top acts. – LA Weekly

with:
Nightfur
Michael Mazochi and The Widows
Fish Circus

Presented by www.isgoodmusic.com

Tickets at the Door

Friday 04.04.08: LIGHT FM / THE MUSIC LOVERS / THE FLYING TOURBILLION ORCHESTRA / GOOD ON PAPER

Light FM

Light FM is a huff of cosmic dust from a planet far, far away. Lead by Josiah Mazzaschi, the crackpot mastermind behind the legendary Chicago unit Motorhome, this hypnotic array of perky zingers are fueled by maddening keyboards and gooey electro-pop that combines for a sizzling salvo like The Cars crashing a surprise party for Devo. Light FM’s sparkly new EP Save The Drama is the quintessential fuse of 80′s synth-pop, disassembled and rearranged in the 2007 digital age with all of the glamour and celebrity of the smoking hot stars in Los Angeles as its supernatural backdrop. – The Tripwire

with:
The Music Lovers || Listen
The Flying Tourbillion Orchestra
Good on Paper

Tuesday 04.01.08: ABBOT KINNEY / ROCCO DELUCA / THE MEEMIES

Abbot Kinney

with:
Rocco DeLuca || Listen
The Meemies

Tickets available at The Door

Saturday 04.12.08: Aquarium Drunkard presents SCOUT NIBLETT / HERMAN DUNE / WILDERNESS

Scout Niblett || Listen

In a world swamped with pithy singer-songwriters, flogging the dead horse that is the love song, Scout Niblett is a breath of fresh air. Laced with sugar and lethal toxins, obviously. Like Cat Power’s early material, ‘This Fool Can Die Now’ sits just the right side of the fence that divides individuality and musical accomplishment. Which isn’t to say that she, or any of her accompanying musicians can’t play / sing / whatever. The Concept is Queen, here, though, and usually manifests itself in an array of gripping and unusual lyrics. Well, ‘unusual’, if you want to sit her in a room with KT Tunstall or Kate Nash and do a contrast and compare exercise.

She yelps and howls, unreservedly, un-self-consciously: womanly and wild. Parallels drawn with Kurt Cobain are deserved, if a little unnerving. Entire songs riff around a single lyric and chord change, emotions are drawn out in the most simplistic of manners. ‘This Fool Can Die Now’ is a laidback and charming affair and the presence of the likes of Bonnie Prince Billy on vocal duties lift it from any potential doldrums it occasionally threatens to dwell in. – Contactmusic.com

with:
Herman Dune || Listen
Wilderness

Presented by Aquarium Drunkard

$8 adv, $10 dos

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

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