Wednesday 09.03.08: Indie 103.1 Presents CLUB NME with THE HUMAN VALUE / XU XU FANG / THE BLACK PINE

The Human Value || Listen || Watch

This time round things are looking up with the more expansive Push And Pull. This is for those who like their riffs dirty, droney and depraved – think Queens of the Stone Age with Polly Harvey, Karen O and VV taking guest spots.

That’s maybe a little unkind on front woman Turu, who embodies the finer qualities of said few, keeping the album spinning on an inverted axis by juxtaposing feral howls with narcotic hollers.

It bleeds dark souls from these nocturnal creatures, seemingly bred from dangerous liaisons, broken hearts and lonely nights. It swaggers to life with the plough through Pleasant Town, taking a turn for the sinister on Pretty Mouth’s hark back to Bleach era Nirvana. I Don’t Care eases up a little with its noodley harmonies like a finger tracing the rim of a wine glass. – Music OMH

with:
Xu Xu Fang || Listen
The Black Pine || Listen

8:30pm / $5 / 21+

Sunday 09.14.08: FIREBUG / BORN IN DEATH VALLEY / ROB GRAD

Firebug || Watch

” The depth to the band’s writing skills and fearless approach to originality gives a modern touch to the psychedelic and blues based influences of some of the best 70′s rock music.” ” ..The sultry, smoky vocals of Juliette Tworsey nearly hypnotized the audience with not only the sound, but the stories and images conjured by the lyrics as well. Melodic and at times almost haunting. Juliette can deliver a song that can not only move your emotions, but make you give your own life’s decisions some extra thought.” – Chicago Rocks

Born in Death Valley || Watch
Rob Grad || Listen

9PM / FREE / 21+

Sunday 08.24.08: KID INFINITY / LUNA IS HONEY / WHITE AND THE WRITING

Kid Infinity || Watch

with:
Luna Is Honey
White and the Writing

9PM / FREE / 21+

Friday 08.22.08: Sunset Junction pre-party w/ LANGHORNE SLIM / ROBERT FRANCIS / THE HISTORIES

Langhorne Slim || Watch

An unconventional folk and blues singer from Brooklyn (by way of Pennsylvania), Langhorne Slim skillfully infuses his rootsy songs with elements of bluegrass, rock, and country music.

Once known as Sean Scolnick, Slim has got his start touring as a popular opener for the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. A handful of independent releases followed, but Slim’s ascent has begun in earnest with the release of a new, self-titled CD. The disc nicely blends simplicity and eccentricity, reflecting his live-wire stage act. – NPR

with:
Robert Francis
The Histories

9PM / $10 ADVANCE; $12 DAY OF SHOW / 21+

Thursday 08.21.08: MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS / LOWER HEAVEN / MAGIC MIRROR / LINE AND CIRCLE / Zia from The Dandy Warhols Djing all night

Miranda Lee Richards || Listen || Watch

Miranda Lee Richards got her start writing and recording in her hometown of San Francisco, California. She was born into the underground comics scene as her parents, Ted and Terry Richards, were cartoonists and contemporaries of R. Crumb. In 2001 she released her debut album, “The Herethereafter” (Virgin), which garnered strong press in the U.S. and produced a 2 hit in Japan, “The Long Goodbye.” She continued to play local shows and write and record music with producer Rick Parker (BRMC, Ambulance LTD). An appearance in the documentary film (DIG!), a host of consistently strong live performances, and over sixty film and TV licenses has kept her on the radar in between releases. The UK label Sonic Cathedral put out the single “Life Boat” in November 2007 from her newest full length CD, “LIGHT OF X,” due for worldwide release October 2nd, 2008 on Nettwerk Records. She has done collaborations with Tricky, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Tim Burgess (Charlatans) Neil Halstead (Mojave 3) and sang with The Jesus and Mary Chain on their most recent West Coast tour.

with:
Lower Heaven
Magic Mirror
Line and Circle
and Zia from the Dandy Warhols spinning all night

9PM / $8 / 21+

Thursday 11.20.08: Filter Presents Thursday Night Residency – WEST INDIAN GIRL / POOLABOMB / THE POLYAMOROUS AFFAIR / TREMBLEXY / SHAKTI

West Indian Girl || Listen || Watch || MP3

After expanding its head count, L.A.’s hippified West Indian Girl cooked up loose, electronically augmented rock for 4th & Wall, its sophomore album, following a departure from Astralwerks Records. Founders Robert James and Francis Ten fleshed out the group with more keyboards and vocals; huge crescendos on tracks like “Indian Ocean” and “Sofia” owe to said adjustments. With the extra members in tow, the record’s breezy ditties turn bright and ornamental. “Back to You” looks home to Buffalo Springfield, with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pedal-steel flourishes amid acoustic-driven instrumental breaks. James’s vocals trail off frequently before he finishes many syllables, but with lyrics about “running back” to a lover, it’s an apt touch. Also adding to the record’s steady, summery aesthetic is its multitude of guitar tracks. – Miami New Times

with:
Poolabomb || Listen
The Polyamorous Affair || Listen
Tremblexy || Listen
Shakti
DJ Nynex spinning all night

9 pm / $10 adv; $12 day of show / 21+

Thursday 11.13.08: Thursday Night Residency – WEST INDIAN GIRL / MERE MORTALS / KLUM / MONDO DOMINGO

West Indian Girl || Listen || Watch || MP3

After expanding its head count, L.A.’s hippified West Indian Girl cooked up loose, electronically augmented rock for 4th & Wall, its sophomore album, following a departure from Astralwerks Records. Founders Robert James and Francis Ten fleshed out the group with more keyboards and vocals; huge crescendos on tracks like “Indian Ocean” and “Sofia” owe to said adjustments. With the extra members in tow, the record’s breezy ditties turn bright and ornamental. “Back to You” looks home to Buffalo Springfield, with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pedal-steel flourishes amid acoustic-driven instrumental breaks. James’s vocals trail off frequently before he finishes many syllables, but with lyrics about “running back” to a lover, it’s an apt touch. Also adding to the record’s steady, summery aesthetic is its multitude of guitar tracks. – Miami New Times

with:
Mere Mortals
Klum
Mondo Domingo
DJ Pants Off Spinning all night

9 pm / $10 adv; $12 day of show / 21+

Thursday 11.06.08: Filter Presents- Thursday Night Residency – WEST INDIAN GIRL / CASXIO / HEARTS OF PALM UK / ROLL THE TANKS

West Indian Girl || Listen || Watch || MP3

After expanding its head count, L.A.’s hippified West Indian Girl cooked up loose, electronically augmented rock for 4th & Wall, its sophomore album, following a departure from Astralwerks Records. Founders Robert James and Francis Ten fleshed out the group with more keyboards and vocals; huge crescendos on tracks like “Indian Ocean” and “Sofia” owe to said adjustments. With the extra members in tow, the record’s breezy ditties turn bright and ornamental. “Back to You” looks home to Buffalo Springfield, with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pedal-steel flourishes amid acoustic-driven instrumental breaks. James’s vocals trail off frequently before he finishes many syllables, but with lyrics about “running back” to a lover, it’s an apt touch. Also adding to the record’s steady, summery aesthetic is its multitude of guitar tracks. – Miami New Times

with:
Casxio
Hearts of Palm UK
Roll The Tanks

DJ TK disko spinning all night

9 pm / $10 adv; $12 day of show / 21+

Monday 10.27.08: Monday Night Residency – KENAN BELL / THE MORNING BENDERS / WHITE ARROWS / ILO MAR

Kenan Bell || Listen || Watch

Kenan Bell, who was impressive at his release show back in March but still would be considered a work in progress, has seemingly exploded overnight with a band of familiar faces (Monsters Are Waiting, Dynamite Walls, and on this night Josh Klinghoffer and John Frusciante). Spaceland must have been pleased to see the band draw such a good midnight crowd — they’re scheduled to be the resident band in October.
- LA Underground

with:
The Morning Benders || Listen
White Arrows
Ilo Mar

9 pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 10.20.09: Monday Night Residency – KENAN BELL / DISTORTION FELIX / SOUTHERN ORACLE / NOT IN THE HOUSE

Kenan Bell || Listen || Watch

Kenan Bell, who was impressive at his release show back in March but still would be considered a work in progress, has seemingly exploded overnight with a band of familiar faces (Monsters Are Waiting, Dynamite Walls, and on this night Josh Klinghoffer and John Frusciante). Spaceland must have been pleased to see the band draw such a good midnight crowd — they’re scheduled to be the resident band in October.
- LA Underground

with:
Distortion Felix || Listen
Southern Oracle
Not In The House

9 pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 10.13.08: Monday Night Residency – KENAN BELL / RUMSPRINGA / 87 STICK UP KIDS / EL TEN ELEVEN

Kenan Bell || Listen || Watch

Kenan Bell, who was impressive at his release show back in March but still would be considered a work in progress, has seemingly exploded overnight with a band of familiar faces (Monsters Are Waiting, Dynamite Walls, and on this night Josh Klinghoffer and John Frusciante). Spaceland must have been pleased to see the band draw such a good midnight crowd — they’re scheduled to be the resident band in October.
- LA Underground

with:
Rumspringa
87 Stick Up Kids
El Ten Eleven || Listen

9 pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 10.06.08: Monday Night Residency – KENAN BELL / NOAH AND THE WHALE / LINDI ORTEGA

Kenan Bell || Listen || Watch

Kenan Bell, who was impressive at his release show back in March but still would be considered a work in progress, has seemingly exploded overnight with a band of familiar faces (Monsters Are Waiting, Dynamite Walls, and on this night Josh Klinghoffer and John Frusciante). Spaceland must have been pleased to see the band draw such a good midnight crowd — they’re scheduled to be the resident band in October.
- LA Underground

with:
Noah and the Whale
Lindi Ortega

9 pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 09.06.08: TWILIGHT SLEEP / TIGERS CAN BITE YOU / THE SHIMMIES / THE DELTA MIRROR

Twilight Sleep || Watch

Full of movement and feeling with sound combinations ranging from sleek to slightly raw, there is a post-punk vibe to the music that feels like 1983 married to an up-to-the-minute Silver Lake sensibility. A bit of goth and electronica pull from the band’s early Bay Area roots, and founding member Raj Lathigara’s years of training in classical Indian music yields impeccable song structures. The lyrics are Marcellino’s, inspired by sounds she and Lathigara create, and she calls their content “a snapshot of my mind.” The first track, “Night So Lush,” sounds like a handful of jewels scattered on velvet, and blue feathers and rubies are just a few of the graceful images interwoven on “Bluebird (Red Sky).” – Performer Mag

with:
Tigers Can Bite You || Listen
The Shimmies
The Delta Mirror

9PM / $8 / 21+

Monday 09.29.08: Monday Night Residency – DIOS (MALOS) / DEVON WILLIAMS / TOCO & JOMO

Dios (Malos) || Listen

Dios Malos have a sound as big and beautiful as you’re willing to let it be. Consider any one of their songs on its own, and you have a relatively simple concoction. Retro surf and sunshine pop are the basic templates — Dios (Malos) is a world where even heartbreak is rendered in primary colors and ornamented in glittering bells and cheerful whistles. A psychedelic haze floats over much of their work, but it’s a cheerful psychedelic haze.
For most artists, tackling such a variety of styles in one album would be overwhelming at best; at worst, it would invite the sort of stylistic excess that leads to anonymity. Through smart songcraft, a powerful command of pop vocabulary, and skillful track sequencing, Dios Malos deliver an album that expands and grows more complicated with every listen. “Epk” will help you to better appreciate “My Broken Bones”, which will in turn enhance “I Want it All”. As you learn to understand and decode the band’s songwriting decisions, your appreciation will grow that much deeper — and what seemed like simple, straightforward music will become increasingly engrossing.
- Splendid Magazine

with:
Devon Williams || Listen
Toco & Jomo

9 pm / FREE SHOW / 21+

Monday 09.22.08: Monday Night Residency – DIOS (MALOS) / SONADORA / THE BIBLE CHILDREN / PEACHFUZZ

Dios (Malos) || Listen

Dios Malos have a sound as big and beautiful as you’re willing to let it be. Consider any one of their songs on its own, and you have a relatively simple concoction. Retro surf and sunshine pop are the basic templates — Dios (Malos) is a world where even heartbreak is rendered in primary colors and ornamented in glittering bells and cheerful whistles. A psychedelic haze floats over much of their work, but it’s a cheerful psychedelic haze.
For most artists, tackling such a variety of styles in one album would be overwhelming at best; at worst, it would invite the sort of stylistic excess that leads to anonymity. Through smart songcraft, a powerful command of pop vocabulary, and skillful track sequencing, Dios Malos deliver an album that expands and grows more complicated with every listen. “Epk” will help you to better appreciate “My Broken Bones”, which will in turn enhance “I Want it All”. As you learn to understand and decode the band’s songwriting decisions, your appreciation will grow that much deeper — and what seemed like simple, straightforward music will become increasingly engrossing.
- Splendid Magazine

with:
Sonadora
The Bible Children
Peachfuzz || Listen

9 pm / FREE SHOW / 21+

Monday 09.15.08: Monday Night Residency – DIOS (MALOS) / RESIDUAL ECHOES / TOYS THAT KILL / WET CASSETTE

Dios (Malos)|| Listen

Dios Malos have a sound as big and beautiful as you’re willing to let it be. Consider any one of their songs on its own, and you have a relatively simple concoction. Retro surf and sunshine pop are the basic templates — Dios (Malos) is a world where even heartbreak is rendered in primary colors and ornamented in glittering bells and cheerful whistles. A psychedelic haze floats over much of their work, but it’s a cheerful psychedelic haze.
For most artists, tackling such a variety of styles in one album would be overwhelming at best; at worst, it would invite the sort of stylistic excess that leads to anonymity. Through smart songcraft, a powerful command of pop vocabulary, and skillful track sequencing, Dios Malos deliver an album that expands and grows more complicated with every listen. “Epk” will help you to better appreciate “My Broken Bones”, which will in turn enhance “I Want it All”. As you learn to understand and decode the band’s songwriting decisions, your appreciation will grow that much deeper — and what seemed like simple, straightforward music will become increasingly engrossing.
- Splendid Magazine

with:
Residual Echoes
Toys That Kill|| Listen
Wet Cassette

9 pm / FREE SHOW / 21+

Monday 09.08.08: Monday Night Residency – DIOS (MALOS) / RADAR BROTHERS / LEVIATHAN BROTHERS / MARCHING BAND

Dios (Malos) || Listen

Dios Malos have a sound as big and beautiful as you’re willing to let it be. Consider any one of their songs on its own, and you have a relatively simple concoction. Retro surf and sunshine pop are the basic templates — Dios (Malos) is a world where even heartbreak is rendered in primary colors and ornamented in glittering bells and cheerful whistles. A psychedelic haze floats over much of their work, but it’s a cheerful psychedelic haze.
For most artists, tackling such a variety of styles in one album would be overwhelming at best; at worst, it would invite the sort of stylistic excess that leads to anonymity. Through smart songcraft, a powerful command of pop vocabulary, and skillful track sequencing, Dios Malos deliver an album that expands and grows more complicated with every listen. “Epk” will help you to better appreciate “My Broken Bones”, which will in turn enhance “I Want it All”. As you learn to understand and decode the band’s songwriting decisions, your appreciation will grow that much deeper — and what seemed like simple, straightforward music will become increasingly engrossing.
- Splendid Magazine

with:
Radar Brothers || Listen
Leviathan Brothers || Listen
Marching Band || Listen

9 pm / FREE SHOW / 21+

Monday 09.01.08: Monday Night Residency – DIOS (MALOS) / UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO CANDYLAND / MIGUEL MENDEZ / AUDACITY

Dios (Malos) || Listen || Watch

Dios Malos have a sound as big and beautiful as you’re willing to let it be. Consider any one of their songs on its own, and you have a relatively simple concoction. Retro surf and sunshine pop are the basic templates — Dios (Malos) is a world where even heartbreak is rendered in primary colors and ornamented in glittering bells and cheerful whistles. A psychedelic haze floats over much of their work, but it’s a cheerful psychedelic haze.
For most artists, tackling such a variety of styles in one album would be overwhelming at best; at worst, it would invite the sort of stylistic excess that leads to anonymity. Through smart songcraft, a powerful command of pop vocabulary, and skillful track sequencing, Dios Malos deliver an album that expands and grows more complicated with every listen. “Epk” will help you to better appreciate “My Broken Bones”, which will in turn enhance “I Want it All”. As you learn to understand and decode the band’s songwriting decisions, your appreciation will grow that much deeper — and what seemed like simple, straightforward music will become increasingly engrossing.
- Splendid Magazine

with:
The Underground Railroad to Candyland
Miguel Mendez
Audacity

8:30pm / FREE SHOW / 21+

Saturday 09.13.08: THE PIGEON DETECTIVES / LEMON SUN / FREE LIONS

The Pigeon Detectives || Listen || Watch

The leap from playing local toilet venue Josephs well two years ago to this – 7,000 Pigeon fanciers filling their home city’s Millennium Square twice in a row over the bank holiday weekend – isn’t one any old band could make. But it’s precisely the chaotic, often shambolic nature of some of those early live shows that won them fans in the first place so the question, inevitably, is how do they translate that to this big, big stage?
As it turns out, the answer is ‘surprisingly easily’. From the opening notes of new single ‘This Is An Emergency’ right through to their biggest hit ‘I’m Not Sorry’, it’s a test the quintet pass with flying colours. In truth, they’ve been putting in stadium-size performances for some time now, particularly Bowman, who revels in this brighter spotlight. How could he not? There’s more space to run around, a higher ceiling for mic-throwing antics and more bottles of water to be thrown out into the crowd. Perfect. And despite the fact second album ‘Emergency’ isn’t out for another three weeks, the crowd laps up each and every new offering like the proverbial semi-skimmed. – NME

with:
Lemon Sun || Listen

also with:
Free Lions

9PM / $12 ADVANCE; $14 DAY OF SHOW / 21+

Saturday 08.23.08: ELEPHONE / LOQUAT / AFGHAN RAIDERS

Elephone || Watch

“Tenebrous power-pop impressionism gets a serious makeover in this emotional and intelligent release from the Bay Area quintet, Elephone. They manage to balance complex imagery with restrained intensity,
à la Radiohead’s OK Computer. See them now so you can say you heard them when.”
SF Weekly Listen Up!

with:
Loquat || Listen

“Lots of bands mix electronic and acoustic instruments, but few pull it off with the grace—or even the shimmering melodies—exhibited by this San Francisco group fronted by Kylee Swenson.” — San Francisco Chronicle

Afghan Raiders || Listen

9PM / $8 / 21+

Sunday 08.10.08: THE LIEUTENANTS / ROLLING BLACKOUTS / THE POOR EXCUSES / FISHERMEN

The Lieutenants

with:
Rolling Blackouts
The Poor Excuses
Fishermen

FREE SHOW

Wednesday 08.20.08: Indie 103 presents CLUB NME with BLACK FRANCIS / THE BLOOD ARM / BLACK GOLD

Black Francis || Listen || Watch

Lasting only slightly longer than 20 minutes, Svn Fngrs is a joyously lo-fi collection of songs which proves that even his most unrefined efforts have nuggets of purest genius in them. The closer, ‘When They Come To Murder Me’ is a throbbing beast of Americana, all relentless driving drums and a chorus that, although it never hangs around for long enough to get boring. “I was born in a double orgasm,” he grunts, as if to affirm his status as a permanent outsider almost from birth. And, while he’s obviously never fitted flush with any so-called traditional ideas of what is and isn’t pop/rock star, the point is that Black’s still around and still making music better than most of the young bucks out there. It’s a joyous celebration of the fact that he’s been a step ahead of the pack probably since the inception of That Other Band – “When they come to murder me / I’m already gone, bye-bye,” he drawls. Sorry chaps, you won’t catch him.
- Drowned in Sound

with:
The Blood Arm
Black Gold

Dewar’s drink specials: $3 before midnight, $1 after midnight

Resident DJs Dia and guests spinning. No cover after midnight.

9pm / $20 advance; $22 day of show / 21+

Friday 10.03.08: Indie 103 and Web in Front present THE HENRY CLAY PEOPLE (record release party) / THE PARSON RED HEADS / DOWNTOWN/UNION / LE SWITCH

The Henry Clay People (record release party) || Listen || Watch

The spasmodic sagacity of the Henry Clay People can be a little like watching somebody karaoke the encyclopedia, and the L.A. quartet’s spate of shows in late 2007 seemed to augur their rise to bigger stages. The prolific foursome is getting ready for a February residency at the Echo (batten down the fixtures) by putting the finishing touches on a new EP. With last year’s album “Blacklist the Kid With the Red Moustache” just making it into many local music collections, TCHP will have the five-song “Working Part Time” EP ready for the residency. The title track ought to be the anthem for every indie rocker who juggles a day job with being in a band. And, front man Joey Siara says, the band is writing and recording more new material. – LA Times Buzz Bands

with:
The Parson Redheads || Listen
Downtown/Union
Le Switch || Listen

9PM / $8 / 21+

Thursday 09.18.08: SPECIAL GUESTS / THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES / sBACH (Spencer Seim from Hella)

These Arms Are Snakes || Listen || Watch

The ability to equally and successfully blend seemingly unrelated styles is what makes Easter so special, and it’s what makes These Arms Are Snakes a truly gifted band. Because when the smarmy genres and sub-genres are removed, all that’s left is a redefinition of rock music. Bands have been making carbon copies of carbon copies since the 60s and 70s, and aside from the original burst of punk and hardcore in the late 70s and early 80s, rock has most definitely been dead, if not dying slowly and painfully. That’s not to say that there hasn’t been anything good since then, it’s just that nothing or almost nothing has been truly inventive except for maybe Nirvana.

Appropriately titled Easter, These Arms Are Snakes have resurrected and redefined rock music for the new millennium. Without question this is (tied for) the best album of the year, and (tied for) one of the most defining musical releases since Radiohead’s Kid A. – Decoy

with:
sBACH (Spencer Seim from Hella)

9PM / $10 / 21+

Friday 09.05.08: KAV (FORMERLY OF HAPPY MONDAYS) / EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS / ONCE

Kav || Watch

He’s spent the past six months writing and recording new material for his debut solo album, collaborating with everyone from New Order’s Peter Hook to Adam Ficek from Babyshambles. On his forthcoming Blaggers & Liars EP, he touts the sort of electronically enhanced, krautrock-inflected riff rock and high-energy mescal-blues purveyed by Primal Scream on their Vanishing Point and XTRMNTR albums. His EP is an eclectic case in point: the title track has the speed and attack of the Scream in chugging, charging Neu! mode. Lizard King starts off slow and swaggering and features bluesy slide guitar before transforming into a Led Zep-ish riff monster, like The Stone Roses circa Second Coming. Easy is a blues-soaked missive about life’s “chancers”. And Satanic Circus Mask makes you think of the Stones’ Sympathy For The Devil hauled into the digital age by Death In Vegas. Lyrically, Kav veers between the lysergic dementia of Shaun Ryder and the insurrectionary fervour of Bobby Gillespie. – Guardian

with:
Eastern Conference Champions || Listen
Once

9PM / $8 / 21+

Saturday 08.30.08: Oh My Rockness presents OXFORD COLLAPSE / LOVE AS LAUGHTER / IMAAD WASIF

Oxford Collapse || Listen || Watch

Brooklyn’s own Oxford Collapse, following in the grooves of other metro area bands like Radio 4 and the Rapture, does nothing to dispel this semi-true stereotype. The Oxford Collapse’s own brand of bass heavy, dance punk is enough to get even the most snarky Brooklyn hipster dancing in the streets… The exuberance of the Collapse is palpable on “Cracks in the Causeway” (listen), with its high-pitched harmonies of Pace and Rizer’s falsetto yelps and whistles. While the pretty, pensive “Flora Y Fauna” is a bit of a departure from the upbeat melodies Oxford Collapse is known for, it’s a successful break from the dancier tracks. Sounding almost always reflects perfectly on your chest. – SPIN

with:
Love As Laughter || Listen
Imaad Wasif || Listen

9PM / $10 ADVANCE; $12 DAY OF SHOW / 21+

Friday 08.29.08: MERE MORTALS / LSD AND THE SEARCH FOR GOD / THE SWAYBACK / USELESS KEYS

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:
LSD and the Search for God
The Swayback
Useless Keys || Listen

9 pm / $8 / 21+

Tuesday 08.19.08: HIASAKITE / PREVIOUSLY ON LOST / THE NAKED / THE ALBRIGHTS

Hiasakite

with:
Previously on Lost
The Naked
The Albrights

9 pm / $8 / 21+

Sunday 09.28.08: NEIL HAMBURGER / ANDY KINDLER / HEIDECKER & WOOD / TRACY DEAN & JESUS / HARVEY SID FISHER

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
Heidecker & Wood
Tracy Dean & Jesus
Harvey Sid Fisher

9 pm / $8 / 21+

Sunday 08.31.08: NEIL HAMBURGER / PLEASEEASAUR / MORGAN MURPHY / DJ DOUGG POUND

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:
Pleaseeasaur || Listen
Morgan Murphy
DJ Dougg Pound

9 pm / $8 / 21+

Thursday 08.28.08: Indie 103 presents CHESTER FRENCH / SAINT MOTEL / SILVER GHOST

Chester French ||

While their classmates were busy interviewing with Goldman Sachs, singer Wallach and multi-instrumentalist Drummey camped out in their dorm’s basement studio, recording their demo, Love the Future — a collection of pop songs with Brian Wilson melodies, early-Beck humor and synth beats. – Rolling Stone – Artist to Watch

with:
Saint Motel || Listen
Silver Ghost || Listen

Friday 08.15.08: SPINDRIFT (DVD Release Party for “The Legend of God’s Gun”)/ THE MOON UPSTAIRS / THE HIGH SOCIETY

Spindrift || Listen || Watch an Excerpt from “The Legend of God’s Gun” DVD

Truly out-of-sight, the seven-piece band celebrates the outlaw spirit with spooky, tripped-out variations on Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti Western tradition. Live, they swirl and tremble like a lucid dream, banging a gong and shaking their tambourines for rattlesnake effect, jamming until the audience feels engulfed by a sandstorm (of course, it helps if it’s an outdoor concert and the wind is already fierce). Spindrift founder Kirpatrick Thomas (who holds together portions of the band’s East and West Coast factions) recently recorded a soundtrack to Mike Bruce’s bizarre concept film Legend of God’s Gun, which is like the original Ocean’s 11 with psychedelic rockers replacing tony rat packers. Visually schizophrenic, Gun follows a preacher turned gunslinger who travels to Playa Diablo to avenge his true love’s death. Trippy shoot-’em-ups ensue. Go west! – Salt Lake City Weekly

with:
The Moon Upstairs
The High Society

Wednesday 08.13.08: Closed for Filming

Tuesday 08.12.08: Closed for filming

Friday 08.08.08: KARIN TATOYAN / LEARNING MUSIC / ROCCO DELUCA / SARAH NEGAHDARI AND THE SAD SOLIDS (FROM HAPPY HOLLOWS)

Karin Tatoyan

“Think of Tatoyan as a baroque Bjork. If her haunting vocals don’t dazzle you, her odd music will — counterposing, as it does, weird electronics, sound effects and loops with the very organic tones of a French horn and cello. Seeing her is like watching an Escher come to life. Almost-mathematical repetition gives way to chaos; melodies build and build yet resist payoff, like stairways to nowhere” – LA Times

with:
Learning Music || Listen
Rocco DeLuca || Listen
Sarah Negahdari and the Sad Solids (from Happy Hollows)

8:30 pm / $8 / 21+

Friday 08.01.08: WHITE ARROWS / AUSHUA / LOVE LIES SLEEPING / PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

White Arrows

New Yorkers by way of LA, White Arrows are a little-known but catchy, fun, exciting group. Their riffing on new wave, dusty lo-fi exemplified on ‘City Boy’ may leave something to be desired at first, but by around verse 3/chorus 2 they’ll have you in a grasp of excitement as tight as their sweet pop hooks.
Tasteful, haunting riffs bend and twist through ‘The Voyeur’, as Mickey Schiff’s angst-ridden, thinly disguised vocals give a hint of despair, howling “There you go/ walkin’ round with your boyfriend”. But this bittersweet sound is masked gloriously by Evan Koga’s catchy, sweet guitars and their cute, impeccable drums, all mounting up to quite-possibly-perfect alt-pop music! – Einstein Music Journal

with:
Aushua || Listen
Love Lies Sleeping || Listen

plus special guests

Official viewing party for Airborne Toxic Event live on Conan O’Brien – 12:30am in the back bar – FREE.
DJs Dia and Sylvia spinning

8:30 pm / $8 / 21+

Tuesday 08.26.08: THE DELTA SPIRIT Record Release Party / AA BONDY / DAWES

The Delta Spirit || Listen

There’s no guilt associated with my cutting and pasting a portion of the Delta Spirit album bio below to describe the reasons that we think Ode To Sunshine is one of the finest albums to have been released during the 365 days of 2007. Kindly, I was asked to write the piece that became the San Diego band’s official record bio earlier in the year and spending hours with a rough copy of the album – still tacked onto the beginning of one of the songs was a false start where one of the band members freaks out over a spider – gave me the time to appreciate the five-piece for what it is and what it can be. There is more alive in each of these five soulful dudes than there is alive in a plastic ball pit full of innocent little kids at a carnival. They feel free to dream big, to anger over injustices and inequalities and they rejoice in all of the bright, warming things that happen on more of a regular basis than most cynics or optimists give credit to. They’ll give you their own music and they’ll trade you for an album of a live Sam Cooke show that they insist you must hear. It’s music that can change you in the nicest ways, make you a little happier, a little more alive. Cooke sings, “Don’t fight it, baby, feel it,” hence we have Delta Spirit’s Ode To Sunshine. – Daytrotter

with:
AA Bondy
Dawes

8:30 pm / $12 INCLUDES A COPY OF THE NEW DELTA SPIRIT ALBUM “Ode to Sunshine”; $10 for entry only / 21+

Sunday 08.17.08: STEVE BARTON AND THE OBLIVION CLICK / EXTRA / MEGASAPIEN / SIDEWALK SOCIETY

Steve Barton and the Oblivion Click

Barton remains a true foot soldier, pursuing the rock’n’roll mystery. His love affair with Britpop and his knack for tunes that roll off the tongue and from his guitar effortlessly have cemented his status as a lifer. For this thematic homage to time, Barton takes on its passage in crashing waves of sound and verse, from the Hitchcockian (Robyn variety) “Cartoon Safe,” and “Goodbye Oblivion” to “Winter Light” (righteous first-wave art punk). Throughout, Barton maintains his real-deal ties to the road that leads all the way from Memphis. – HARP

with:
Extra || Listen
Megasapien
Sidewalk Society

8:30 pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 08.16.2008: Manimal Vinyl presents THE MUSLIMS / GANGI / PIZZA! / AMANDA JO WILLIAMS

The Muslims

Assured-beyond-their-years San Diego quartet the Muslims will definitely get a lot of attention for their name, but we’re much more interested in the band’s catchy, sorta sloppy and stark post-punk-infused rock ‘n’ roll. They mix a kind of Strokes-y, and therefore VU, detachment and something that bumps in the night like Hell and his Voidoids (or, better yet, Hell and the Heartbreakers doing “Love Comes In Spurts”). You can also hear a bit of the Stooges — not just because the band cites ‘em, along with the Replacements, as an inspiration — and early Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers (see “Future Rock,” “On My Time,” etc). Whatever the mix of forerunners, the Muslims find a way to make it their own — it’s kinda uncanny. – Stereogum

with:
Gangi
Pizza! || Watch
Amanda Jo Williams || Watch

Thursday 08.14.08: CHESTER FRENCH / JEPPE (of JUNIOR SENIOR) / INVERSE

Chester French

While their classmates were busy interviewing with Goldman Sachs, singer Wallach and multi-instrumentalist Drummey camped out in their dorm’s basement studio, recording their demo, Love the Future — a collection of pop songs with Brian Wilson melodies, early-Beck humor and synth beats. – Rolling Stone – Artist to Watch
with:
Jeppe (of Junior Senior)
Inverse || Listen
DJ Quickie Mart spinning all night

Save Money when you order tickets by mobile phone
text Jimmychoos to 467467

8:30 pm / $10 advance: $12 day of show / 21+

Thursday 08.07.08: HOCKEY / ANDY CLOCKWISE

Hockey

A relieved audience swayed through Hockey’s first song before infectious jams like “Too Fake” and “Preacher” turned all the stagnant feet into a full-on dance party. With the singer wearing a baggy, one-sleeved San Francisco Giants jersey and an unflappable drummer donning giant isolation headphones throughout the whole set, the scruffy Northwest natives’ hearty funk influence coerced even the guy in a Bape hoodie to jump around and sing along. And although the room cleared out after a sweat-filled set, their earworm-heavy, self-released album, Mind Chaos, was used as the house music for the rest of the night, ensuring everyone left with a case of repe-tune-itis. – LA Record

with:
Andy Clockwise || Listen

Tim Rogers has CANCELLED due to Visa Issues

Save Money when you order tickets by mobile phone
text Hysteria to 467467

8:30 pm / $8 ADV; $10 DAY OF SHOW / 21+

Saturday 08.02.08: RUN RUN RUN / VOYAGER ONE / BEDTIME FOR TOYS / THE CORAL SEA

Run Run Run || Listen

with:
Voyager One || Listen
Bedtime For Toys || Listen
The Coral Sea || Listen

8:30 pm / $8 / 21+

Friday 08.01.08 @ 12:30 am: Official Viewing Party for Airborne Toxic Event live on Conan O’Brien in the Back Bar

The Airborne Toxic Event || Listen

Official Viewing Party for the Airborne Toxic Even live on Conan O’Brien at 12:30 am in the Back Bar

“Poetry you can dance to…nothing short of amazing.” LA TIMES

“Absurdly rich with talent…Jollett’s baritone could compete with some of the best in Britpop. Live, the group delivers total cohesion and unflappable energy.” LA WEEKLY

“These California art-rockers have written the best arty-stomp since ‘Take Me Out.’” THE FLY (UK)

“In a just and fair world, The Airborne Toxic Event would be indie rock favorites of critics and fans the world over. Maybe, just for a moment, the world will get it right for a change.” POPMATTERS

“Catchy as hell rock that is as smart as its literary allusions.” URB

12:30 am / FREE / 21+

Saturday 08.09.08: GOD’S POTTERY / JESSI KLEIN / NEU TICKLES / KYLE KINANE

God’s Pottery || Watch

“Heavenly. The combination of dark comedy and joyful sincerity works wonders.”
–The Times of London

“The genius of God’s Pottery is that from the pudding-basin cut of Lamb’s hair, to Smallchild’s freakishly fixed smile, to their abominably cheesy banter, the duo remain utterly consistent throughout”
–Metro UK

“If Christianity were always this funny, I’d go to church.”
–The Guardian

“An inventive, brilliantly sustained…not quite like anything else you’ve seen before.”
–The Times Of London

Members Jeremiah Smallchild and Gideon Lamb use their unique blend of music, people-skills and Biblical know-how to inspire all who are willing to listen with open hearts.

with:
Jessi Klein
Neu Tickles
Kyle Kinane

Save Money when you order tickets by mobile phone
text teamjesus to 467467

Tuesday 08.05.08: INTERNATIONAL POP OVERTHROW with KRISTIAN HOFFMAN / 17 PYGMIES / SAUCY MONKEY / IO PERRY / AARON DAVID GLEASON / THE HOLLISTON STOPS

International Pop Overthrow || Listen

with:
Kristian Hoffman
17 Pygmies
Saucy Monky
Io Perry
Aaron David Gleason
The Holliston Stops

8:30 pm / $8 / 21+

Sunday 08.03.08: Aquarium Drunkard pres: NOMO / EL TEN ELEVEN / JESUS MAKES THE SHOTGUN SOUND

Nomo || Listen

NOMO, the alternative Afrobeat collective from Ann Arbor, Michigan march to their own beat, or more accurately, to the beat of four different percussionists. Led by the lanky, baby-faced founder and composer Elliot Bergman, the nine-piece multi ethnic/gender brigade is a mash up of cultural and musical influences. Defying classification to create a free jazz, funk hybrid (think Remain in Light era Talking Heads with the sensibilities of Fela Kuti) the band has old school jazz purists, hipsters, and indie rockers cocking an ear and taking notice. With choice gigs at Bonnaroo and the 2007 Chicago Pitchfork Festival, along with opening slots for Ozomatli and Earth, Wind, and Fire, the road warriors of NOMO warmly embrace any scene or genre that will have them. In an industry obsessed with genre profiling, the band defies categorization, opting simply to attract the uninitiated with freewheeling live shows and an “all are welcome” credo.
- Alarm Press

with:
El Ten Eleven || Listen
Jesus Makes The Shotgun Sound

9 pm / $8 / 21+

Wednesday 08.06.08: Indie 103.1 pres CLUB NME with FILM SCHOOL / THE PITY PARTY / THE MEETING PLACES

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:
The Pity Party
The Meeting Places

plus DJ Dia spinning rock, indie, punk, electro & alternative

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

9 pm / $10 / 21+

Monday 08.25.08: Monday Night Residency – WARPAINT / ASDSSKA / OF AIRE / RADIUS

Warpaint

Fucking gorgeous. That was overheard while Warpaint opened with a bold and utterly beautiful set of post-rock ethereality. Physically, yes, but that’s too obvious. Musically, however, it’s a bit unexpected. While probably well-studied in the art of Blonde Redhead, Jawbox, and Sonic Youth these ladies have a rhythmic feel and style all their own. And although the band may get some heat for the celebrity factor surrounding them (which we’ll avoid mentioning), we can safely say they don’t sound like a “Hollywood” band at all. Thank goodness. – LA-Underground.net

with:
AsDSSka
Of Aire || Listen
Radius

FREE SHOW

Monday 08.18.08: Monday Night Residency – WARPAINT / THE DRONES / DIE PRINCESS DIE

Warpaint

Fucking gorgeous. That was overheard while Warpaint opened with a bold and utterly beautiful set of post-rock ethereality. Physically, yes, but that’s too obvious. Musically, however, it’s a bit unexpected. While probably well-studied in the art of Blonde Redhead, Jawbox, and Sonic Youth these ladies have a rhythmic feel and style all their own. And although the band may get some heat for the celebrity factor surrounding them (which we’ll avoid mentioning), we can safely say they don’t sound like a “Hollywood” band at all. Thank goodness. – LA-Underground.net

with:
The Drones
Die Princess Die || Listen

FREE SHOW

Monday 08.11.08: Monday Night Residency – WARPAINT / MEGAPUSS / RAINBOW ARABIA / CAPTAIN RAGZ

Warpaint

Fucking gorgeous. That was overheard while Warpaint opened with a bold and utterly beautiful set of post-rock ethereality. Physically, yes, but that’s too obvious. Musically, however, it’s a bit unexpected. While probably well-studied in the art of Blonde Redhead, Jawbox, and Sonic Youth these ladies have a rhythmic feel and style all their own. And although the band may get some heat for the celebrity factor surrounding them (which we’ll avoid mentioning), we can safely say they don’t sound like a “Hollywood” band at all. Thank goodness. – LA-Underground.net

with:
Megapuss
Rainbow Arabia
Captain Ragz

FREE SHOW

Monday 08.04.08: Monday Night Residency – WARPAINT / MIA DOI TODD / MOONRATS / TITUS ANDRONICUS

Warpaint

Fucking gorgeous. That was overheard while Warpaint opened with a bold and utterly beautiful set of post-rock ethereality. Physically, yes, but that’s too obvious. Musically, however, it’s a bit unexpected. While probably well-studied in the art of Blonde Redhead, Jawbox, and Sonic Youth these ladies have a rhythmic feel and style all their own. And although the band may get some heat for the celebrity factor surrounding them (which we’ll avoid mentioning), we can safely say they don’t sound like a “Hollywood” band at all. Thank goodness. – LA-Underground.net

with:
Mia Doi Todd || Listen
Moonrats
Titus Andronicus || Listen

FREE SHOW