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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
Laura Veirs || Listen || Watch
“Sorry I was cold, I was protecting myself,” Laura Veirs begins, the first line in the first song (“Pink Light”) of her sixth luminous album, in a voice that is clear and pure and vibrato-free with just the hint of a child’s blurry vulnerability at the edges. It sounds personal, confessional, unadorned and yet with the next line the verse turns fancifully metaphoric. “Drifting along with my swords out flying /Tattering my own sails and I tattered yours, too.” It is the first in a salvo of 12 episodes of songwriterly magical realism, set in tidal pools and seagoing vessels and populated with pirates and mermaids and sentient forest fires. - Dusted
8pm / $12 adv, $14 dos / all ages
It feels like we’ve been talking about Indian Jewelry’s sweaty noise-psych forever, probably because their songs are so epic that we feel like they took us on a really intense quest or like, gave us heatstroke. But that’s the best thing about IJ, they make us want to leave the city and drive around, our backs stuck to the car seat and a really smelly dog hanging out next to us. - Fader
With:
Geneva Jacuzzi
The Muslims
Imaad Wasif With Two Part Beast || Listen
8:30pm / $8adv, $10dos / 18+
The Poor Excuses play wordy, rambunctious, groove-heavy indie punk with a freaky edge. - Flavorpill
with:
The Swords of Fatima
Tall Hands || Listen
Life Under Water
8:30pm / FREE / 21+
Nobody (Elvin Estela), has been a fixture in the Los Angeles music scene since the early 1990s, first as a producer for many of the premier emcees at the Good Life Cafe/Project Blowed, and then as a remixer, producer, and important member of the global electronic and indie-rock communities. He has worked with, remixed, and toured in support of the Postal Service, Prefuse 73, The Mars Volta, Aceyalone, Mia Doi Todd, and many others. His releases for Ubiquity and Plug Research have garnered him not only critical praise, but the clout to define and redefine his sound as he sees fit. His productions effortlessly flow from the hip-hop themes of his early career to the psychadelia and rock motifs of his most recent work, and his vast musical vocabulary allows him to deliver with each and every mix. - Mush Records
with:
The Gaslamp Killer || Listen
Caroline || Listen
Jack Tung || Listen
8pm / $8 / 18+
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
The main act began with a Tony Clifton-esque Tim Heidecker singing “Here She Comes” over pre-programmed Casio music. The balcony was erupting in so much laughter, I was sure there was an audience plant. So I was completely startled to turn and find myself face to face with a heavily lipsticked and wigged Eric Wareheim, hobbling through the crowd on crutches. The 6 foot 6 man in bad makeup was a hideous and hilarious sight to behold. We were treated to clips from Tim & Eric’s shows and podcasts , as well as an indulgently long behind-the-scenes with a Gary Busci coked up freakout. The best T&E moments come when they play with all the best tools of the 80s: keytars, spandexs, smoke machines, and lots of bad video effects. - Willemette Weekly
@ Echoplex
enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
8pm / $17 adv, $20 dos / 18+
Their Latin Grammy-nominated Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3 leaned more toward the techno half of their sound, but here Bostich and Fussible get closer to their Norteño side. It’s far from an acoustic album, with loops, vocoders, and synths throughout. But the accordions get turned up higher, the horns become brassier, and acoustic percussion plays a bigger role. The beats still draw more from techno, though traces of Norteño’s polka-bounce remain, as on “Shake It Up.” Some songs lean more toward electronics (“Rosarito”) than others (“Brown Bike,” which includes vocals), but everything is efficient, nothing clocking in even as long as four minutes. They’re not hard-core Norteño–no Mexican corridos about life on the border, say–but definitely closer on the family tree. - XLR8R
9pm / $10adv, $12dos / 18+
with:
Buyepongo
CAVA is back! This sultry Singer-Songwriter and Musician will headline the next ¡Descarga! with her all-star group on April 12th at Echoplex. Tickets are available at the door—$7 before 11pm or $10 after. CAVA’s sound is an eclectic mix of up-tempo world music that seamlessly fuses son, cumbia, salsa, ska and even Japanese Taiko drumming. Her Voice communicates a strong-willed feminine energy that is simultaneously sultry and maternal. She is a charismatic and commanding performer, backed by an all-star band that boasts residencies with Beastie Boys, Ozomatli, Mentiritas, among other musical affiliations. The ensemble features Walter Miranda on Piano, electric- keyboards and bass; Alfredo Ortiz on Drums and Timbales; Franchot Tone on Guitar and Maceo on Japanese Taiko drums. Opening the evening is an up-and-coming five-piece vallenato group, Buyepongo, that hails from East Los Angeles.
Plus Resident DJs Sloe Poke, Mando Fever, Bobby Soul, Loslito, Azul & Mexican Dubwiser spin classic salsa, cumbia, merengue, Latin hip hop, reggaeton, mashups, Brazilian and deep house grooves all night
@ Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
¡Descarga! is a monthly Afro-Latin music gathering for the people. This event is an alternative to the commercial salsa nights that have dominated the LA scene for years. Resident DJs Sloe Poke, Mando, Bobby Soul, Loslito, Azul and Mexican Dubwiser spin classic salsa and cumbia; plus merengue, punta and reggaeton. With live bands gracing the stage at midnight at nearly every show, it has become the taste-making New York to L.A. soiree, running over 5 years strong.
FMI:
www.descargaclub.com
Descarga on Myspace
9pm / $7 before 11pm, $10 after / 21+
I’d never seen Summer Darling before. It only took me about three bars of the first song to fall in love with the foursome. For large portions of their set I felt like I was transplanted to the year 1994, nearly sure my track jacket had transformed itself to an old flannel shirt found at Goodwill. One or two songs reminded me of something like The Promise Ring or early Jimmy Eat World. That’s not to say that Summer Darling is playing in the past because there was something very contemporary about what they were doing. I think ten years younger and played twice as fast, and Summer Darling might be at The Smell instead of The Scene.
There was a lot of band interaction as they played, turning to face each other and look each other in the eyes. What I really loved were the lyrics. They were honest, if not venomous, but still endearing. The words to the songs were sung above, not beneath, the instrumentation and that made for a very intimate set despite the deafening buzz and fuzz. - Classical Geek Theatre
with:
Wait.Think.Fast.
Army Navy
Kissing Tigers
Plus Djs Kevin Bronson + Squaregirls
8:30pm / FREE / 21+
Mia Doi Todd || Listen || Watch
Mia Doi Todd is one of those artists that seem to function not just as creators in their own rite, but as connecting links between other musicians. Through collaborations, she brings together the psychedelic electro of Nobody, the lysergic country pop of Beachwood Sparks survivors, the raga-rock textures of Shankar and the sophisticated jass phrasings of Joni Mitchell. As good as La Ninja is on its own terms, it may be even more important in the way it reinforces the ties between disparate musicians within her orbit. She’s the center of one of the more interesting pop electronic scenes around these days - and this album demonstrates, through the strength of her songs and her willingness to let them out into the world, why this should be. - Dusted Magazine
with:
Karin Tatoyan || Listen
Winter Flowers || Listen
8:30pm / $8 / 18+
The San Francisco outfit, led by Jamie Stewart, are one of the most unique musical acts currently making music. Their brand of challenging and extremely personal music is distinctive and something that only Stewart and co. can do. And with Women as Lovers they have created one of their more accessible and cohesive albums to date.
In many ways, Xiu Xiu has been able to maintain its steady stance as being part of the indie-rock/pop genre and the avant-garde stylists. While this line is often blurred, even by Xiu Xiu themselves, their songs are carefully crafted pop songs with beautiful intimate touches all around. - Delusions of Adequacy
with:
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down || Listen
8pm / $10adv, $12 dos / all ages
Guest DJs THE TEENAGERS! plus
* * * SPECIAL SECRET GUESTS who we can’t announce until Saturday nite! (stay tuned to www.parttimepunks.com for the announcement) * * *
And THE OLD HAUNTS + LILY MARLENE!
Come early and avoid the line…
plus resident djs Michael Stock and Benny Shambles spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop
FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace
10pm / $10 / 18+
resident djs Michael Stock and Benny Shambles spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop
FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace
10pm / $5 / 21+
resident djs Michael Stock and Benny Shambles spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop
FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace
10pm / $5 / 21+
resident djs Michael Stock and Benny Shambles spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop
FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace
10pm / $5 / 21+
with:
Dead Rock West
Jeremiah & The Red Eyes
Bob Woodruff
hosted by Chris Morris and DJ Cuz’n Roy
5pm / FREE / 21+
with:
Dan Janisch
Rich Mahan (from Shurman)
Last Campfire
hosted by Chris Morris and DJ Cuz’n Roy
5pm / FREE / 21+
with:
Tony Gilkyson
Patty Blee
Plus Squaredancing from 3pm-5pm
hosted by Chris Morris and DJ Cuz’n Roy
3pm / $5, FREE after 5pm / all ages
with:
Dave Gleason with Old Californio
Jaimi Shuey
West of Texas
hosted by Chris Morris and DJ Cuz’n Roy
5pm / FREE / 21+
So far, soul and funk of the throwback variety have been dominated by the ladies, but Eli “Paperboy” Reed could buck that trend. The blue-eyed soul sensation and his sevenpiece True Loves delivered a monster set of set of old-school R&B to a foot-loose crowd Thursday night at Club de Ville. The 24-year-old Allston, Mass., native opened with horn-driven burner “Stake Your Claim” from the forthcoming Roll With You, due out in late April on Q Division Records. At his best, the bourbon-sipping, guitar-strumming soul shouter sounds like Wilson Pickett reincarnate, down to the signature punctuating howl. Even the bravado of Pickett’s “A Man and a Half” is rivaled by “The Satisfier,” a scorching burst of R&B bravado. It’s not all high-energy shouting, though, as Reed, sporting a stuffy brown suit and Beaver Cleaver hairdo, deftly cooled the crowd with sweet soul ballad “She Walks.” - The Austin Chronicle
with:
Jail Weddings
The Shackeltons || Listen
Don Cavalli
8:30pm / $8 / 18+
While Longstreth’s initial albums were mostly string-backed folk, he’s now given himself up to rhythm– in his words, his compositions have become more “horizontal” than “vertical.” The horizontal’s great for dancing– an opportunity that arises a few times here– but verticality is still the source of the songs’ tensions. Coffman and Waiche’s coos stack harmonies with Longstreth’s bleat like little car wrecks, and even though the guitars move like a West African dance band or math rock, the songs seem propelled by the constant resolutions of notes rather than the beats themselves. - Pitchfork
with:
No Kids
8pm / $10adv, $12dos / all ages
with:
AAnchors AAweigh || Listen
plus resident DJs spinning the best in Brit / Indie / Soul / Twee / Madchester / Punk / Glam
FMI: ClubUnderground.net
9pm / $5 if 21+, $7 under 21 / 18+
with:
The Quarter After || Listen
plus resident DJs spinning the best in Brit / Indie / Soul / Twee / Madchester / Punk / Glam
FMI: ClubUnderground.net
9pm / $5 if 21+, $7 under 21 / 18+
With resident DJs spinning the best in Brit / Indie / Soul / Twee / Madchester / Punk / Glam
FMI: ClubUnderground.net
9pm / $5 if 21+, $7 under 21 / 18+
with:
Ashbury
Bullet for Dali
Plus resident DJs spinning the best in Brit / Indie / Soul / Twee / Madchester / Punk / Glam
FMI: ClubUnderground.net
9pm / $5 if 21+, $7 under 21 / 18+
plus Resident DJs:
Tom Chasteen
Roy Corderoy
The Dungeonmaster
Boss Harmony
Spinning the best in classic reggae, dub and dancehall
@ Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
(Main Entrance is through Alley)
Los Angeles, CA 90026
FMI:
Dub Club on MySpace
9pm / $5 / 21+
A classic singer known for his huge hit Greetings, Half Pint continues reeling out the hits. As a veteran singer Half Pint sticks to what he knows best, the tried and true formula of classic reggae. On the 16-track album, Half Pint explores various subject matters from liking his best friend’s girl to being on the ‘no stress express.’ Half Pint’s lyrics are all clean and not overly sexual or violent like most songs of today.
The album has a relaxing, mellow feel throughout that washes over the listener. Inviting listeners to come onboard to a musical journey, the album begins with Unity as Half Pint and Jack Maness chants that “we’re all in it together”. My Best Friend’s Girl has an old-time rocksteady/ska feel that makes one want to get up and do a lively jive. - The Jamaica Star
plus Resident DJs:
Tom Chasteen
Roy Corderoy
The Dungeonmaster
Boss Harmony
Spinning the best in classic reggae, dub and dancehall
@ Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
(Main Entrance is through Alley)
Los Angeles, CA 90026
FMI:
Dub Club on MySpace
9pm / $15 / 21+
with Resident DJs:
Tom Chasteen
Roy Corderoy
The Dungeonmaster
Boss Harmony
Spinning the best in classic reggae, dub and dancehall
@ Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
(Main Entrance is through Alley)
Los Angeles, CA 90026
FMI:
Dub Club on MySpace
9pm / $5 / 21+
As scores of aspiring bands around Los Angeles find, life can get in the way of music. Take a year in the life of Radars to the Sky frontman Andrew Spitser: “You graduate from law school, you take the bar exam, you get a job, you’re having a baby, and you think, ‘When the hell am I going to get this done?’ ” he says of his quintet’s “Big Bang” EP, its second release of 2007.
The singer-guitarist and his bandmates — guitarist Seamus Simpson, bassist Martin Avelar, drummer Kenny Kupers and singer-keyboardist Kate Post Spitser, his wife — got it done, all right, five intense volleys of indie rock with arcs back to a time when indie rock was less self-conscious. It’s no surprise that Spitser’s heroes are Built to Spill; the gnarly interplay between guitarists and the time signatures might bring Pavement or Sebadoh to mind. Even allowing for its self-production, “Big Bang” can be big and bold (and tender, when Kate Spitser’s vocals enter the mix), rock whose working-class trappings disguise an essayist’s soul. - LA Times
With:
The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra
The Western States Motel || Listen
I Make This Sound || Listen
8:30pm / FREE / 21+
As scores of aspiring bands around Los Angeles find, life can get in the way of music. Take a year in the life of Radars to the Sky frontman Andrew Spitser: “You graduate from law school, you take the bar exam, you get a job, you’re having a baby, and you think, ‘When the hell am I going to get this done?’ ” he says of his quintet’s “Big Bang” EP, its second release of 2007.
The singer-guitarist and his bandmates — guitarist Seamus Simpson, bassist Martin Avelar, drummer Kenny Kupers and singer-keyboardist Kate Post Spitser, his wife — got it done, all right, five intense volleys of indie rock with arcs back to a time when indie rock was less self-conscious. It’s no surprise that Spitser’s heroes are Built to Spill; the gnarly interplay between guitarists and the time signatures might bring Pavement or Sebadoh to mind. Even allowing for its self-production, “Big Bang” can be big and bold (and tender, when Kate Spitser’s vocals enter the mix), rock whose working-class trappings disguise an essayist’s soul. - LA Times
with:
You Me & Iowa || Listen
Rademacher || Listen
plus special guests
8:30pm / FREE / 21+
As scores of aspiring bands around Los Angeles find, life can get in the way of music. Take a year in the life of Radars to the Sky frontman Andrew Spitser: “You graduate from law school, you take the bar exam, you get a job, you’re having a baby, and you think, ‘When the hell am I going to get this done?’ ” he says of his quintet’s “Big Bang” EP, its second release of 2007.
The singer-guitarist and his bandmates — guitarist Seamus Simpson, bassist Martin Avelar, drummer Kenny Kupers and singer-keyboardist Kate Post Spitser, his wife — got it done, all right, five intense volleys of indie rock with arcs back to a time when indie rock was less self-conscious. It’s no surprise that Spitser’s heroes are Built to Spill; the gnarly interplay between guitarists and the time signatures might bring Pavement or Sebadoh to mind. Even allowing for its self-production, “Big Bang” can be big and bold (and tender, when Kate Spitser’s vocals enter the mix), rock whose working-class trappings disguise an essayist’s soul. - LA Times
with:
The Transmissions || Listen
The Henry Clay People || Listen
Death To Anders || Listen
8:30pm / FREE / 21+
As scores of aspiring bands around Los Angeles find, life can get in the way of music. Take a year in the life of Radars to the Sky frontman Andrew Spitser: “You graduate from law school, you take the bar exam, you get a job, you’re having a baby, and you think, ‘When the hell am I going to get this done?’ ” he says of his quintet’s “Big Bang” EP, its second release of 2007.
The singer-guitarist and his bandmates — guitarist Seamus Simpson, bassist Martin Avelar, drummer Kenny Kupers and singer-keyboardist Kate Post Spitser, his wife — got it done, all right, five intense volleys of indie rock with arcs back to a time when indie rock was less self-conscious. It’s no surprise that Spitser’s heroes are Built to Spill; the gnarly interplay between guitarists and the time signatures might bring Pavement or Sebadoh to mind. Even allowing for its self-production, “Big Bang” can be big and bold (and tender, when Kate Spitser’s vocals enter the mix), rock whose working-class trappings disguise an essayist’s soul. - LA Times
with:
The Parson Red Heads || Listen
Aushua || Listen
The Weather Underground || Listen
8:30pm / FREE / 21+
Gwendolyn & The Good Time Gang
It is very much to Gwendolyn’s credit that her second album for kids, Get Up and Dance!, released late last month, is entirely irony-free. Somehow, though, the songs are eager without turning off the parents. For example, kids will enjoy her exhortation to “bounce and bounce and bounce” (ad nauseam) “around” on the leadoff title track, while parents will smile wanly at the recognition of the fact that this, yes, is exactly how their child moves. But somewhere in the course of the song, the music opens up, adding handclaps and becoming sonically interesting (without losing the kids). The rest of the album is like that, too — the super funky “Eensy Weensy Spider,” the disco freeze-dance of “Red Means Stop,” and the best song never recorded for Grammar Rock!, “I Can Read.” The listing of vegetables “Out in My Garden” is reminiscent — in a good way — of their debut album’s “My Anatomy.” I also appreciate the fact that the album doesn’t end with a typical kids-album-closer slow song, but instead with the peppy “Sunny Day.” It fits perfectly here. - ZooGlobble.com
And:
Ryan Majestic (Magic Show)
@ Echoplex
Enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
10am / $10 for kids and $12 for adults / All Ages
It would be deathlessly simplistic to say that Autechre make dance music, like saying that Vivendi sells compact discs. While it’s true that the English duo’s sound is coincidentally rhythmic, it’d be more appropriate to hail them as the true Sound of the City. Just as 1995’s Tri Repetae perfectly and pristinely captured the paranoid spirit of rapidly gentrifying urban areas—the soundtrack of homeless people pushed east, sodium streetlights casting an aura over rain-slick streets, and a deserted series of districts devoted part-time to factory-made toys, candy, and machine parts—their ninth and latest album, Quaristice, finely etches a glass metropolis with acid both nitric and hallucinogenic. - The Village Voice
@ Echoplex
Enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
9pm / $18 adv, $22 dos / 18+
