Sunday 02.07.10: PART TIME PUNKS with LE FACE / THE FRANKS @ echo

with:
Le Face
The Franks || Listen

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI: Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Monday 02.22.10: Monday Night Residency – USELESS KEYS / FREE ENERGY / REPEATER / BOXVIOLET @ echo

Useless Keys || Listen

The foursome’s debut EP, which will be out after the first of the year, is the stuff of late nights and distant horizons, taut and expansive and cinematic and not a little bit Floydian. Its title is “Is the Painting Changing?” — and no matter whether the metaphorical painting is, it’s certain that Bauer, who led the Fugazi-inspired trio the Front until the band broke up on Jan. 1, 2008, has. He calls it a “natural progression,” but it’s more a startling metamorphosis, one that Bauer attributes to the friendship and tutelage of guitarist Michael Regilio.

“The Front was the band where I drank whiskey, turned up my guitar real loud and shouted into the microphone,” he says. “In Useless Keys, I’m actually conscious of the whole package … It’s just maturing, I guess.”

Regilio was a driving force in the underrated L.A. power-pop band the Green and Yellow TV. After their respective former bands disintegrated in ’08, Bauer and Regilio would get together for lessons and jams sessions. “I saw Michael as someone I could learn a lot from — he went to Berklee, and he’s just a much better guitar player than I am,” Bauer says. “We started making demos in his bedroom, but we had no aspirations. He had something going on, I had something going on. … But then his project broke up, and I needed to plunge myself into something.”

The pair hooked up with drummer Rory Modica and bassist Guylaine Vivarat, and from their first show at Spaceland it was evident Useless Keys were a band to watch. Recent shows in New York, including one supporting the Rifles, went well, and they’ve been recording with producer Sheldon Gomberg (Rick Parker’s mix adds to the psychedelic vibe). The quartet is aiming high on its full-length album. – Buzz Bands

with:
Free Energy || Listen
Repeater
BoxViolet

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 02.15.10: Monday Night Residency – USELESS KEYS / AUSHUA / WE BARBARIANS / SCIENCE @ echo

Useless Keys || Listen

The foursome’s debut EP, which will be out after the first of the year, is the stuff of late nights and distant horizons, taut and expansive and cinematic and not a little bit Floydian. Its title is “Is the Painting Changing?” — and no matter whether the metaphorical painting is, it’s certain that Bauer, who led the Fugazi-inspired trio the Front until the band broke up on Jan. 1, 2008, has. He calls it a “natural progression,” but it’s more a startling metamorphosis, one that Bauer attributes to the friendship and tutelage of guitarist Michael Regilio.

“The Front was the band where I drank whiskey, turned up my guitar real loud and shouted into the microphone,” he says. “In Useless Keys, I’m actually conscious of the whole package … It’s just maturing, I guess.”

Regilio was a driving force in the underrated L.A. power-pop band the Green and Yellow TV. After their respective former bands disintegrated in ’08, Bauer and Regilio would get together for lessons and jams sessions. “I saw Michael as someone I could learn a lot from — he went to Berklee, and he’s just a much better guitar player than I am,” Bauer says. “We started making demos in his bedroom, but we had no aspirations. He had something going on, I had something going on. … But then his project broke up, and I needed to plunge myself into something.”

The pair hooked up with drummer Rory Modica and bassist Guylaine Vivarat, and from their first show at Spaceland it was evident Useless Keys were a band to watch. Recent shows in New York, including one supporting the Rifles, went well, and they’ve been recording with producer Sheldon Gomberg (Rick Parker’s mix adds to the psychedelic vibe). The quartet is aiming high on its full-length album. – Buzz Bands

with:
Aushua || Listen
We Barbarians || Listen
Science

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 02.08.10: Monday Night Residency – USELESS KEYS / LIGHT FM / BLACK APPLES / L.E.F. @ echo

Useless Keys || Listen

The foursome’s debut EP, which will be out after the first of the year, is the stuff of late nights and distant horizons, taut and expansive and cinematic and not a little bit Floydian. Its title is “Is the Painting Changing?” — and no matter whether the metaphorical painting is, it’s certain that Bauer, who led the Fugazi-inspired trio the Front until the band broke up on Jan. 1, 2008, has. He calls it a “natural progression,” but it’s more a startling metamorphosis, one that Bauer attributes to the friendship and tutelage of guitarist Michael Regilio.

“The Front was the band where I drank whiskey, turned up my guitar real loud and shouted into the microphone,” he says. “In Useless Keys, I’m actually conscious of the whole package … It’s just maturing, I guess.”

Regilio was a driving force in the underrated L.A. power-pop band the Green and Yellow TV. After their respective former bands disintegrated in ’08, Bauer and Regilio would get together for lessons and jams sessions. “I saw Michael as someone I could learn a lot from — he went to Berklee, and he’s just a much better guitar player than I am,” Bauer says. “We started making demos in his bedroom, but we had no aspirations. He had something going on, I had something going on. … But then his project broke up, and I needed to plunge myself into something.”

The pair hooked up with drummer Rory Modica and bassist Guylaine Vivarat, and from their first show at Spaceland it was evident Useless Keys were a band to watch. Recent shows in New York, including one supporting the Rifles, went well, and they’ve been recording with producer Sheldon Gomberg (Rick Parker’s mix adds to the psychedelic vibe). The quartet is aiming high on its full-length album. – Buzz Bands

with:
Light FM
The Black Apples
L.E.F.

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 02.01.10: Monday Night Residency – USELESS KEYS / SPIRIT VINE / THE ARMS / VERY SPECIAL GUESTS @ echo

Useless Keys || Listen

The foursome’s debut EP, which will be out after the first of the year, is the stuff of late nights and distant horizons, taut and expansive and cinematic and not a little bit Floydian. Its title is “Is the Painting Changing?” — and no matter whether the metaphorical painting is, it’s certain that Bauer, who led the Fugazi-inspired trio the Front until the band broke up on Jan. 1, 2008, has. He calls it a “natural progression,” but it’s more a startling metamorphosis, one that Bauer attributes to the friendship and tutelage of guitarist Michael Regilio.

“The Front was the band where I drank whiskey, turned up my guitar real loud and shouted into the microphone,” he says. “In Useless Keys, I’m actually conscious of the whole package … It’s just maturing, I guess.”

Regilio was a driving force in the underrated L.A. power-pop band the Green and Yellow TV. After their respective former bands disintegrated in ’08, Bauer and Regilio would get together for lessons and jams sessions. “I saw Michael as someone I could learn a lot from — he went to Berklee, and he’s just a much better guitar player than I am,” Bauer says. “We started making demos in his bedroom, but we had no aspirations. He had something going on, I had something going on. … But then his project broke up, and I needed to plunge myself into something.”

The pair hooked up with drummer Rory Modica and bassist Guylaine Vivarat, and from their first show at Spaceland it was evident Useless Keys were a band to watch. Recent shows in New York, including one supporting the Rifles, went well, and they’ve been recording with producer Sheldon Gomberg (Rick Parker’s mix adds to the psychedelic vibe). The quartet is aiming high on its full-length album. – Buzz Bands

with:
Spirit Vine || Listen
The Arms
Special Guests

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Friday 03.12.10: BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB / THE WHIGS / MINI MANSIONS @ echoplex

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club || Listen || Watch

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is set to release their fifth studio album, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, on March 9th (US/Canada). This release signifies the band’s first full-length on their own Abstract Dragon label, in partnership with Vagrant Records and Co-Op Music Group. The band wrote and recorded most of the album at The Basement Studio in Philadelphia, PA – the same room where they wrote and recorded “Howl” as well as some work in their hometown Los Angeles. Beat The Devil’s Tattoo also marks the first album with drummer Leah Shapiro.

The trio is primed to embark on a North American headline tour upon release, kicking off February 26 in Sacramento and culminating at New York City’s Webster Hall on April 8, with a stop in Los Angeles on March 14th at The Echoplex.

with:
The Whigs || Listen
Mini Mansions

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8:00pm / $25 / 18+

Friday 02.26.10: TRANNYSHACK @ echoplex

Trannyshack LA returns, once again at Echoplex, our new home, and our biggest and best venue yet. With a line-up of the most talented trannies on the West Coast, this will be the party not to miss this season. Featuring performances by Heklina, Raya Light, Squeaky Blonde, Lady Bear, Syphilis Diller, Fade Dra, Anna Conda, Fade Dra, Rhea Litre, Alaska Thunderfuck, Phyllis Navidad, and more. Hostess Heklina and partner Cody Bayne promise a night of lipstick smeared madness, and DJ Dave Rape supplies the beats before and after the show. Drop dead diva Barbie Q will greet you at the door….

Trannyshack, San Francisco’s infamous drag performance night club, shocked and delighted packed audiences every Tuesday night at midnight for over twelve years. Defying all expectations, Trannyshack incorporated everything from low brow trash to high brow performance art, and became famous (or, infamous) worldwide as the quintessential San Francisco experience. No visit to the City was complete without a stop at Trannyshack. The club has been featured in Out (which named it one of the top 10 reasons to move to San Francisco), Genre, Instinct, and Paper magazines and won numerous Best of the Bay awards, and was filmed for an independent feature length documentary , titled “Filthy Gorgeous: The Trannyshack Story” . Trannyshack is now branching out it’s empire, with shows in LA, London, Waikiki, Seattle, Portland, New Orleans, and Reno enjoying great success.

@ Echoplex
enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $10 / 21+

Friday 01.22.10: Manimal Vinyl presents A BENEFIT FOR HAITI with NICO VEGA / ADANOWSKY / JENNY O / CORRIDOR / SOKO / PIZZA / LA LADIES CHOIR / MARC RIBOT @ echoplex

with:
NICO VEGA
ADANOWSKY
JENNY O.
CORRIDOR
SOKO
PIZZA!
LA Ladies Choir
Marc Ribot

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

7pm / $10 donation / 18+

Sunday 01.17.10: THE COOL RELIEF – A HAITI BENEFIT CONCERT @ echoplex

This Sunday, January 17th, 2010, Shake The Hand will be playing its part and giving a helping HAND to support the Haiti earthquake relief efforts. With host Devi Dev of KDAY and performers Tiron, Problem, UNI, Diz Gibran, Strong Arm Steady, Blu + Mainframe, DOM Kennedy, Pac-Div, Nipsey Hussle and 1500 Or Nothin, Los Angeles will prove that for one night we can come together in support of a greater cause. We would love for you to be apart of our efforts so please, tell a friend to tell a friend!!!

100% ALL OF PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY

Performers:
Tiron
Problem
UNI
Diz Gibran
Strong Arm Steady
Blu + Mainframe
DOM Kennedy
Pac-Div
Nipsey Hussle
1500 Or Nothin

The Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $20 suggested donation /18+

Friday 02.05.10: First Fridays with YEASAYER / WARPAINT @ natural history museum

with:
Yeasayer
Warpaint

Warpaint’s hypnotic, layered, bass-driven music with ethereal vocals creates an atmosphere that seems to melt and float around the listener. This quartet is not to be missed. Hailing from Brooklyn, Yeasayer’s music is a genre-bending journey into pop, rock, Middle Eastern and African musics, folk, and dub.

Plus DJs:
Ana Calderon
Them Jeans

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

FMI: Natural History Museum

5:30pm / $9 / All Ages

Saturday 01.30.10: DANCEiSM @ echoplex

with:
SonicC [DIM MAK]
ROBOT LOVE [DANCEiSM]
PAUL DEVRO [MAD DECENT]
BONES [GDD]
ASAA [DANCEiSM]

plus:
Body Paint
Live Visuals by DR STRANGELOOP [BRAINFEEDER]
Live Kinetic Lighting by DANCEiSM
Artifact01 (v.3)
More Surprises

Dress Code: FUN + Creative

Roaming by YoungANDSleek – [ http://youngandsleek.com ]
Photobooth by TommyB – [ http://thetommyb.com ]

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

RSVP at www.danceism.com

9pm / $10 with RSVP, $20 without RSVP / 18+

Tuesday 01.26.10: Hollywood East Entertainment & IllRoots.com present CURREN$Y / DIZ GIBRAN / TIRON / HOLLYWEERD / EL PREZ / SPREE WILSON / GRIP PLYAZ / MIKKEY HALSTED / LEP BOGUS BOYS @ echoplex

Curren$y
Diz Gibran
TiRon
Hollyweerd
El Prez
Spree Wilson
Grip Plyaz
Mikkey Halsted
Lep Bogus Boys

@ Echoplex
enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / 18+

Friday 02.26.10: Aquarium Drunkard & Club Underground present THE STRANGE BOYS / CHAIN AND THE GANG / NEVEREVER @ echo

The Strange Boys || Watch

With an expanded line-up featuring Seth Densham and Jenna Thornhill of Mika Miko and Darker My Love’s Tim Presley, Texas’s Strange Boys look to ever so slightly build upon the roots-garage template they’ve constructed over the course of several singles and an excellent debut full-length on In the Red. The Boys have an uncanny ability to internalize a host of increasingly ancient (the ‘60s will turn fifty this year mind you) pop and rock sub-sub-genres and make them sound utterly vibrant in the messed up times of now. And based on the title track/first single, the new auxiliary members seem to have picked up the band’s groove quite handily. – Prefix

with:
Chain And The Gang
Neverever

8:30pm / $8 Advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Friday 01.29.10: Rum & Humble, Echo & KCRW present OUT 4 BLOOD – A Night Featuring Artists from The True Blood Soundtrack with JOHN DOE / CC ADCOCK / JACE EVERETT @ echoplex

The Grammy-nominated ‘True Blood’ soundtrack comes alive in a night of music from HBO’s acclaimed series at the Echoplex on January 29. Reflecting the present-day Southern Gothic atmosphere portrayed onscreen, the soundtrack’s haunting song selections lean toward a large helping of roots-oriented, swamp-flooded, Louisiana-influenced sounds; performed by contemporary and classic practitioners of the genre.

Gary Calamar, music supervisor for ‘True Blood,’ says “I am thrilled that we are able to pull together some of the amazing artists who are on the ‘True Blood’ soundtrack for this very special show. And….we are trying to secure some surprise guests as well. It’s going to be badass !”

Out 4 Blood is made possible in part with generous support from Louisiana Entertainment and proudly recognizes Louisiana’s Year of the Song, celebrating the historic contribution of the state’s songs and songwriters.

with:
John Doe & The Sadies || Listen
CC Adcock
Jace Everett || Listen

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

Saturday 04.17.10: JJ / DELOREAN / BACHELORETTE @ echoplex

jj || Watch || MP3

0101, 0103, 0107, 0108, 0113, and 0115. Since all jj choose to show of themselves is their music, video, and occasional blood-spattered merch, then those Sincerely Yours catalogue numbers represent the sum total of what we know about them. Hell, we wouldn’t even know jj were a “them” had the group’s Gothenburg, Sweden-based, Tough Alliance-owned label not confirmed that. So… they’re mysterious– but not inscrutable: Despite a brief discography that’s already geekily byzantine enough for anybody who ever bought into the legend of Factory Records, jj’s full-length debut is as easy to enjoy as whatever the last CD was you brought home with a giant cannabis leaf on the cover. They’re as naive as they are cynical– or is it the other stupid way around?– and they manage to be pretty, touching, funny, and motivating, in different ways, in all the right places, for nine songs lasting 28 minutes. – Pitchfork

with:
Delorean
Bachelorette

@ Echoplex
enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8:30pm / $12 advance, $14 day of show / 18+

Friday 02.19.10: Echo & Club Underground present FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS (9:30pm set time) / POP NOIR @ echo

Fitz and The Tantrums || Watch

“I like this a lot for very obvious reasons…it’s Dope! It might be song of the week, actually.” – Mark Ronson

“A supercool Motown-style combo in the Mark Ronson/Sharon Jones/mid-period-ABC vein…imagine if Amy Winehouse was blonde, male, and sane, and that’s Fitz” – Yahoo! Music

“You can practically hear the record needle drop on the scratchy 45 when listening to Fitz and The Tantrums, a stylish retro-styled 60’s pop/soul combo” – NBC Los Angeles

“Bringing back all the smooth feel of the Motown golden age with some new bounce. Fitz and his Tantrums are sure to install some smooth soul with a little extra.” – IndieRockReviews.com

with:
Pop Noir || Listen

plus resident DJs spinning the best in Brit / Indie / Soul / Twee / Madchester / Punk / Glam

8:30pm / $8 / 18+

Friday 02.12.10: Echo, Club Underground & Performer Magazine present FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS / SWEATER GIRLS @ echo

Fitz and The Tantrums || Watch

“I like this a lot for very obvious reasons…it’s Dope! It might be song of the week, actually.” – Mark Ronson

“A supercool Motown-style combo in the Mark Ronson/Sharon Jones/mid-period-ABC vein…imagine if Amy Winehouse was blonde, male, and sane, and that’s Fitz” – Yahoo! Music

“You can practically hear the record needle drop on the scratchy 45 when listening to Fitz and The Tantrums, a stylish retro-styled 60’s pop/soul combo” – NBC Los Angeles

“Bringing back all the smooth feel of the Motown golden age with some new bounce. Fitz and his Tantrums are sure to install some smooth soul with a little extra.” – IndieRockReviews.com

with:
Sweater Girls

plus resident DJs spinning the best in Brit / Indie / Soul / Twee / Madchester / Punk / Glam

FMI: Club Underground on Myspace

8:30pm / $8 / 18+

Thursday 01.21.10: DOWN AND DERBY ROLLER DISCO @ echoplex

The Los Angeles event is set apart from Down and Derby parties in other cities by its authentic 70s feel. The resident DJs don’t just spin popular tunes for which the era has become known—they reach into the depths of 70s music to bring partiers the obscure hits that may not be recognizable by most, but are truly indicative of the culture and lifestyle of the era.

Down and Derby, is a retro-inspired roller-skating party created and designed to give attendees a unique nightlife experience. The interactive throwback events combine décor reminiscent of a 70s roller disco with attendees participating through wearing fashion attire evocative of the era. DJs known for pushing the limits of mixing and music production are procured, adding vibrant energy to the event with both underground and popular mixes.

The entry fee is $5 with RSVP, $10 at the door and quad skates of every size will be available to rent for another $5. Guests are welcome to bring their own roller skates to the event.

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

RSVP at www.downandderby.org

9pm / $5 with RSVP, $10 at the door / 21+

Friday 02.05.10: CLUB UNDERGROUND with EBONY BONES / LITTLE RED RADIO @ echo

Ebony Bones || Listen || Watch

“Perhaps thee most chattered about act in London right now, Miss EBONY BONES! is a one of a kind Producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and all-round femme fatale who mixes up post-punk stylings, with pure girl sass. Enlisting her crew of rhythm section and backing vocalists, the EBONY BONES! live experience is one part punk rock show, one part Mardi Gras carnival parade.”
- Time Out

with:
Little Red Radio

plus resident DJs spinning the best in Brit / Indie / Soul / Twee / Madchester / Punk / Glam

FMI: ClubUnderground.net

8:30pm / $8 advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Sunday 02.14.10: PART TIME PUNKS – MY BLOODY VALENTINE NITE with THE MEEK + WEEKEND [from S.F.] + YOUNG PRISMS @ echo

THE MEEK
WEEKEND
YOUNG PRISMS

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 03.28.10: PART TIME PUNKS – SLUMBERLAND RECORD LABEL 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY with HENRY’S DRESS / BOYRACER / THE HOW / GO SAILOR / ROUND RECLUSE / PANTS YELL / SUMMER CATS / DEVON WILLIAMS / NEVEREVER @ echo

HENRY’S DRESS
BOYRACER
THE HOW
GO SAILOR
BROWN RECLUSE
PANTS YELL
SUMMER CATS
DEVON WILLIAMS
NEVEREVER

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

7pm / $15 / All Ages

Wednesday 02.24.10: DUB CLUB @ echoplex

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

9pm / $5 / 21+

Wednesday: 02.17.10: DUB CLUB @ echoplex

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

9pm / $5 / 21+

Wednesday 02.10.10: DUB CLUB presents COURTNEY MELODY / TIPPA LEE @ echoplex

COURTNEY MELODY
with special guest TIPPA LEE
backed by Echodelic Soundsystem

Rough dancehall singer Courtney Melody was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica and began singing from when he attended school. In his early teens he started to work on a local sound system called Black Spider. He started to make a name for himself when he joined the mighty Stereo One sound system, working alongside Lieutenant Stitchie, Ricky Stereo, Boy Blue, Wolfman and Daddy Freddy.
It was Stereo One who released his first 45, an awesome soundboy burial anthem called “Screechy Across The Border”.

Courtney then went to Winston Riley’s Techniques label to voice “How Long Will Your Love Last” and “Exploiter”. These were small hits, but his next effort “Bad Boy” in 1986 propelled this young singer into international dancehall stardom. Courtney Melody then became the hottest artist in reggae music, unleashing a volley of unstoppable dancehall sides such as “Ninja Mi Ninja” and “Tell Dem” for King Tubbys; “Modern Girl” for Robert French; “Put It Down” for Harry J “Downpressor” for Prince Jazzbo; “Rootsman Corner” for Redman; and “Can’t Get We Out” for King Jammy’s. Many of these tunes remain modern-day dancehall classics.
After experiencing a motorbike accident, Courtney was forced to take a long break from the business and little was heard from Courtney throughout the 1990s, with the exception of a superb single for Star Trail called “In The Street”. Riding the “Baltimore” rhythm, this tune proved that Courtney really was a great singer, who given the opportunity and the right rhythm, still produce top quality reggae music.

The 1999 World Clash in New York was a landmark event for Courtney. Japanese sound system Mighty Crown brandished their dubplate special of “Ninja Mi Ninja” which mashed up the dance, helping the Japanese to take the trophy. Tapes of the clash went worldwide and soon every sound had to have their own specials from Courtney Melody. Suddenly his popularity rose and led to Courtney touring overseas and capitalising on his dancehall veteran status.

In 2007 he came out an excellent new album , Serious Business.

We are very excited to Courtney Melody live and direct at the Dub Club, alongside long time Dub Club favorite Tippa Lee, and backed up on the turntables by Echodelic Soundsystem.

@ Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
(Main Entrance is through Alley)
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $10 / 21+

Wednesday 02.03.10: DUB CLUB @ echoplex

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

9pm / $5 / 21+

Wednesday 02.17.10: OLD MAN MARKLEY / PINE BOX BOYS / JOEY BRIGGS @ echo

Old Man Markley || Watch

Not an old man at all, but rather a young, unsigned, nine-member group working in such homespun instruments as kazoo, train whistle, autoharp, and washboard alongside more traditional pickin’ ‘n’ grinnin’ with banjos, fiddles, bass and drums. It’s a hoedown and a throwdown and it’ll keep ya from feelin’ lowdown. -TheKnitLA on LastFM.com

with:
The Pine Box Boys || Listen
Joey Briggs

8:30pm / $8 Advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Friday 03.05.10: THE APPLESEED CAST / DREAMEND @ echoplex

The Appleseed Cast playing Low Level Owl 1 & 2 in their entirety

Low Level Owl is a supernova and a full redefinition of the band, a sprawling two-disc monster that redirects their ambition from the emotional release of their earlier albums into the meticulous conceptions crafted through endless hours of studio time. Overhauling their sound and incorporating a wide mélange of styles, Low Level Owl goes a long way towards emasculating any of their previous hardcore influences by injecting a thoughtful, gentler Britpop jangle and winsome vocals and harmonies. The result is a mix of elements combining the enterprising studio conceptions of Radiohead with touches of shimmering Stone Roses psychedelia knitted together with the conviction and energetic drumming of the early U2, all draped over a monolithic prog-rock conceptual framework.

The technical execution throughout the album is flawless. The rock tracks are spread evenly across both Low Level Owl discs (which are available separately– Use Your Illusion-style– presumably so as to not overwhelm listeners) and are interspersed with instrumental and ambient tracks that act as connective tissue. Josh Baruth’s fantastic drumming is placed in the front of the mix and propels all of the traditional songs. Each of the tracks are awash in keyboards with the vocals generally lying low in the mix, making the lyrics difficult to decipher. These are the only constants through the entire work as Appleseed Cast takes you on a tour through most of the highlights of 90s pop and rock. – Pitchfork

with:
Dreamend || Listen

8:30pm / $13 advance, $15 day of show / 18+

Thursday 01.21.10: MUSIC GO MUSIC / WOUNDED LION / JUBILEE SINGERS @ echo

Music Go Music || Listen || Watch

Despite their mysterious aliases—band members go by Kamer Maza, Gala Bell, and TORG (yes, all caps)—the musicians of this Los Angeles trio sure know how to craft a pop song. Expressions compiles the nine tracks that made up the band’s three 12″ singles into one, unified debut album. And the greatness of those singles still resonates when played together as one whole-album trip. Generally-speaking, Music Go Music play Scandinavian-style pop music that owes perhaps a bit too much to ABBA and, at times, is so over-the-top that it threatens to go completely over the edge. Yet, the music is thrilling and demonstrates as much throughout all of Expressions’ 45 minutes. “Light of Love” deals with the idyllic nature of love through über-melodic tunefulness. “Reach Out” starts out as vaguely heavy pseudo-metal crossed with the sound of late-’70s Heart before segueing into disco beats and a danceable prog-rock groove. And “Just Me” is a glorious sing-a-long of pop bliss that would qualify as a guilty pleasure if you weren’t singing along so loudly. Add to this tales of “torrid starlit bacchanals of wild-eyed delight,” and what’s not to like? Music Go Music has created the perfect pop song, played nine times over. Now bring on album number two. – Under The Radar

with:
Wounded Lion
Jubilee Singers

8:30pm / $8 advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Saturday 01.16.10: FYF Fest presents AA BONDY / NIK FREITAS / WILLY MASON @ echo (early show)

AA Bondy || Watch

When A.A. Bondy retired his distortion pedal along with his Nirvana-inspired indie-rock band Verbena earlier this decade to pick up a battered acoustic guitar and harmonica neck-rack, it wasn’t as dramatic a change as that description might make it sound. Sure, his 2007 solo debut American Hearts was stark and more rooted in folk-blues than screaming riffs, but Bondy still draws inspiration from his career-long favorite topics: religion, death, and religion. The haunting new When The Devil’s Loose finds the Alabama-born troubadour letting a backing band enter the equation, and while Bondy has dialed down the volume, he’s maintained his intensity.

Whereas American Hearts finger-picked its way through tales about Jesus, a plague, and the apocalypse, Devil achieves goose pimples on similar subjects by enveloping them with a subtler, more ethereal approach. The gently rising “A Slow Parade” and reverb-ensconced “False River,” for instance, form odd counterparts by not only reaching out stylistically with more patient guitar lines and markedly bittersweet and bare vocals, but ruminating on the narrator’s lemming-like march into the water and how the survivors deal with the aftermath. When The Devil’s Loose showcases a resolve and relief Bondy’s never evinced before, as if he’s raked his hand through the sands of these spooky songs and transformed the grains that stuck into flawed, captivating pearls. – AV Club

with:
Nik Freitas || Listen
Willy Mason

6pm / $10 / all ages

Saturday 02.06.10: BOOTIE LA with SLASH FICTION @ echoplex

BOOTIE LA
LA’s monthly mashup bootleg party

ALL-DISCO mashup set from:
SLASH FICTION

Resident Bootie DJs:
ADRIAN & the MYSTERIOUS D
DJ PAUL V.

Resident dance crew:
R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance)

“Disco assassins for hire” Slash Fiction hit the decks at midnight, for a special ALL-DISCO mashup set! Henry Slash and Mick Fiction are the DJ duo responsible for rockin’ the dance floor at Chinatown’s Full Frontal Disco parties, celebrating disco decadence in its myriad mutations, both classic and contemporary — only this time, they’ll be adding a mashup twist to their signature sound!

And for the Midnight Mashup Show, resident dance crew R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance) takes over the stage in all their bizarre, gold-suited glory, for another show-stopping dance performance.

Launched in 2003, Bootie was the first club night in the United States dedicated solely to the burgeoning artform of the bootleg mashup — and is now the biggest mashup event in the world, with monthly parties in six cities on two continents. Mixing and matching every conceivable musical genre, era, and style into one big dance party where everyone feels welcome, Bootie provides the soundtrack for the A.D.D. generation.

Resident DJs Adrian, Mysterious D, and Paul V. keep your brain guessing and body dancing with creative song combinations, celebrating — and satirizing — the many different forms of music. And free mashup CDs will be given away like candy!

FREE Bootie CDs to the first 100 people through the door!

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $5 before 10pm, $10 after / 21+

Thursday 04.22.10: Echo & FYF present JAPANDROIDS @ echoplex

Japandroids || Listen || MP3

what makes Post-Nothing such a thrill is the manner in which Japandroids hold absolutely nothing back. As contagious as any of the lyrics, melodies, riffs, or drum fills are, their energy and lack of self-consciousness is every bit as equally lovable. Opening mission statement “The Boys Are Leaving Town” could be seen as a goof on Thin Lizzy, but the response, “Will we find our way back home?”, is delivered with such conviction that between those two lines, “Boys” displays a palpable desperation. Six tracks later, the question is still unresolved– amidst the cyclical thrum of “Sovereignty”, they observe: “It’s raining, OH-OH! in Vancouver/ But I don’t give a fuck/ ‘Cause I’m far from home tonight.”

Where it all comes together best is “Young Hearts Spark Fire”. Almost a flipside to LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends”, it’s thematically similar, trading wistful reminiscence for drunken defiance and pulsing electro for chaotic garage rock. The five minutes go by in a blur, and amidst the guitar heroics and cymbal-bashing, King lets his guard down on Post-Nothing’s key line– “We used to dream/ Now we worry about dying/ I don’t want to worry about dying.” It would be so easy to view this sort of musical and lyrical directness with suspicion, but “Young Hearts” is life-affirming stuff– if only it affirms that, even in these times, life doesn’t need to be as complicated as we tend to make it. – Pitchfork

@ Echoplex
enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8pm / $12 advance, $14 day of show / all ages

Saturday 03.13.10: YOU SAY PARTY WE SAY DIE / WHITE ARROWS / LITTLE RED RADIO @ echoplex

You Say Party We Say Die || Listen || Watch

The new album from Canadian new-wavers, You Say Party! We say Die!, simply titled XXXX, falls right into this realm of new millennium pop culture. Their extremely catchy keyboard hooks, combined with raw guitars and vocals filled with a sort of hypnotic angst, pays homage to the era when MTV played nothing but music videos.

Nothing sets the mood more than the dark opener track “There is XXXX (In My Heart),” lead singer Becky Ninkovic sings a tune of heartbreak so sad over a vibraphone keyboard setting that sends chills down your spine. She swears there’s love in her heart, though (I assume, naturally, that XXXX is supposed to be LOVE), and quite suddenly, over a much friendlier pop riff that could be played in the club somewhere. The drums kick everything up for sure with a rhythmic sort of intensity that you can just imagine people in out-of-style clothes jumping to strobe lights. If John Hughes hears this track, he’ll wish he was still making movies about teenagers dealing with hormones and identity crises. – Consequence of Sound

with:
White Arrows
Little Red Radio

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8:30pm / $12 advance, $14 day of show / 18+

Wednesday 01.20.10: THE ETTES / THE BLOOD ARM / HEAVY YOUNG HEATHENS @ echo

The Ettes || Listen

The Ettes’ “Take It With You” packs two great tunes into a single song. The first opens with raw guitar, rousing handclaps and a simple melody that sounds sweet enough to sing in a schoolyard. Lead singer Coco (a.k.a. Lindsay Hames) channels some of the best bouffanted singers of the ’60s while adding a sleek punk edge. But something’s lurking beneath the caramel sweetness of Coco’s voice: Just when it seems to have settled into a nice groove, “Take It With You” becomes a brand-new song the second the chorus hits.

At that point, like that moment in Grease when Sandy transforms herself from a powder-puff ingenue to a leather-clad badass, the tune bursts into new territory. It’s suddenly an infectious garage-rock song that practically commands listeners to do the twist. In a plaintive and powerful pitch, Coco lashes out accusations: “You know what you want, but it’s gone now / I know I can see in your eyes now / You know and you know and you know” – NPR

with:
The Blood Arm || Listen
Heavy Young Heathens || Listen

8:30pm / $8 Advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Friday 01.08.10: ART FEIN presents THE 24TH ANNUAL ELVIS BIRTHDAY BASH @ echoplex

“Art Fein Presents the 24th Annual Elvis Birthday Bash”

with performances by:
Jimmy Angel
Big Manny
The Blasters
The Buckhenries
Ray Campi
Justin Curtis
Dusk Devils
Hotrod Hillbillies
Lisa Finnie
Groovy Rednecks
Carlos Guitarlos
Skip Heller
Rip Masters
Frank Lee Sprague
South Bay Surfers
Stardust Wranglers
Topa Twisters
Whiteboy James
Fred Willard

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8pm / $20.00 / 18+

Friday 01.08.10: FIRST FRIDAYS with ATLAS SOUND / TUNE-YARDS @ natural history museum

with:
Atlas Sound
Tune-Yards

plus:
DJ Spider

And resident DJ:
Them Jeans

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

FMI: Natural History Museum

5:30pm / $9 / All Ages

Thursday 01.28.10: THE PARSON RED HEADS / THE CHAPIN SISTERS / SOCIAL STUDIES / ALL SPOTS TO BLACK @ echo

The Parson Red Heads || Listen || Watch

“Los Angeles-via-Oregon collective The Parson Red Heads have a real California-ized sound. The bright guitars, the laid-back vocals, the Brian Wilson -esque harmonies all point to the Sunshine State, so it’s no wonder they drifted away from the rain towards the palm trees.

After touring with the likes of Blitzen Trapper and Earlimart in support of last year’s Owl & Timber EP, the psych-folkers are excited to promote their first-ever vinyl release, Orangufang, out April 28th on JAXART Records. “Raymond” from the forthcoming 7″ is an homage to intermittent Parson member, Raymond Richards, who produced and engineered the track. Building around the strong twang-tinged guitar riff, the retro vocals and tight harmonies solidify their California spirit with a languid drawl that is anything but lazy. And the crazy interplay of guitars at the end just sweeten the deal.” – Filter-Mag.com

with:
Chapin Sisters || Listen
Social Studies || Listen
All Spots To Black || Listen

8:30pm / $7 / 18+

Saturday 01.09.10: DRAGSTRIP 66 – HATS ALL FOLKS – GRAND FINALE AND 17th ANNIVERSARY SHOW @ echoplex

Gay, straight, bi, trans or in-between – Dragstrip 66 is your “all-invited” home to unleash all forms of self-expression, decadence, drag, and masquerade – with a totally fun, friendly, no-attitude crowd. The music is an eclectic mix of electro, indie rock, funk, mashups, 80’s, synthpop – anything and everything to get the dancefloor shakin’. Every Dragstrip has a theme as a touchstone to inspire your drag or mode of dress. However, drag is NEVER required, and there’s plenty of folks in totally casual street wear too. DRAGSTRIP 66 is a long-running queer dance club in Los Angeles. (Perhaps the longest running underground dance club in LA?) Co-created by Mr. Dan (aka hostess Gina Lotriman) and DJ Paul V., Dragstrip launched in January 1993, on the 2nd Saturday each month.

AND DON’T FORGET:
Cover is always only $5 if you arrive in full drag or cross-dress!

More info:
http://www.Dragstrip66.com
Dragstrip 66 on Facebook

@ Echoplex
enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $10 / 21+

Saturday 01.30.10: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 01.23.10: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 01.16.10: FUNKY SOLE with special guest J.ROCC @ echo

with:
J.ROCC

plus resident DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Friday 01.15.10: GZA / CURTAINS / DJ DARK ALLEY @ echoplex

GZA

True genius can not be rushed. In the case of the legendary lyricist GZA, time has always been on his side. With Pro Tools, GZA’s latest release and fifth solo album courtesy of renowned indie Babygrande Records, the masterful MC adds yet another lyrically stunning LP to his rich musical catalogue. For the past 15 years, GZA has been stretching the sensibility of modern-day hip-hop with his finely crafted, thought provoking wordplay which he credits to his willingness to delve deep into the written word.

As one of the founding members of the mighty Wu-Tang Clan, GZA’s mic mastery first gained prominence in 1993 with the release of the Clan’s first LP, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Two years later, GZA released his second solo album, Liquid Swords on Geffen Records which went on to sell over one million copies and earn a platinum plaque. Throughout his various projects with the Wu and classic appearances on other member’s side projects, GZA maintained a reputation as a skilled wordsmith with a highly recognizable and authoritative delivery.

with:
Curtains
DJ Dark Alley

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8:30pm / $14 advance, $16 day of show / 18+

Tuesday 01.26.10: OLIN AND THE MOON / THE HENRY CLAY PEOPLE / HAIM @ echo

Olin and The Moon || Listen || Watch

Not to sound too hayseed, but this album’s like beer. Sometimes you cry in it; sometime you raise your glass. The L.A. quintet with roots in Sun Valley, Idaho, have birthed a “No Depression”-worthy recording that, while hardly straying from country formula, tugs at your heart like a prairie sunset. The fivesome’s tidy arrangements help diminutive frontman David LaBrel’s crystalline vocals stand out — he doesn’t have to overplay wistful when he sings “It’s kinda hard to laugh right now / and drinkin’ makes me sick / ‘Cause the first time I saw you / I was in between sips.” – Buzz Bands

with:
The Henry Clay People || Listen
Haim

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Tuesday 01.19.10: OLIN AND THE MOON / DUSTY RHODES AND THE RIVER BAND @ echo

Olin and The Moon || Listen || Watch

Not to sound too hayseed, but this album’s like beer. Sometimes you cry in it; sometime you raise your glass. The L.A. quintet with roots in Sun Valley, Idaho, have birthed a “No Depression”-worthy recording that, while hardly straying from country formula, tugs at your heart like a prairie sunset. The fivesome’s tidy arrangements help diminutive frontman David LaBrel’s crystalline vocals stand out — he doesn’t have to overplay wistful when he sings “It’s kinda hard to laugh right now / and drinkin’ makes me sick / ‘Cause the first time I saw you / I was in between sips.” – Buzz Bands

with:
Dusty Rhodes & The River Band

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Tuesday 01.12.10: OLIN AND THE MOON / ELENI MANDELL @ echo

Olin and The Moon || Listen || Watch

Not to sound too hayseed, but this album’s like beer. Sometimes you cry in it; sometime you raise your glass. The L.A. quintet with roots in Sun Valley, Idaho, have birthed a “No Depression”-worthy recording that, while hardly straying from country formula, tugs at your heart like a prairie sunset. The fivesome’s tidy arrangements help diminutive frontman David LaBrel’s crystalline vocals stand out — he doesn’t have to overplay wistful when he sings “It’s kinda hard to laugh right now / and drinkin’ makes me sick / ‘Cause the first time I saw you / I was in between sips.” – Buzz Bands

with:
Eleni Mandell

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Tuesday 01.05.10: OLIN AND THE MOON / MARNIE HERALD @ echo

Olin and The Moon || Listen || Watch

Not to sound too hayseed, but this album’s like beer. Sometimes you cry in it; sometime you raise your glass. The L.A. quintet with roots in Sun Valley, Idaho, have birthed a “No Depression”-worthy recording that, while hardly straying from country formula, tugs at your heart like a prairie sunset. The fivesome’s tidy arrangements help diminutive frontman David LaBrel’s crystalline vocals stand out — he doesn’t have to overplay wistful when he sings “It’s kinda hard to laugh right now / and drinkin’ makes me sick / ‘Cause the first time I saw you / I was in between sips.” – Buzz Bands

with:
Marnie Herald

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Thursday 01.07.10: RUMSPRINGA / MISSISSIPPI MAN / LINKS / THE SILENT COMEDY @ echo

Rumspringa || Listen || Watch

We at BeatCrave just can’t get enough of this groovalicious Los Angeles based band! We got to know Rumspringa in a recent interview, are bring them to you live with Saint Motel in what is sure to be one hell of a show and are now proudly inducting them into our fantastic BeatCrave Fav Series! Why all the fuss you ask? Well, first of all, don’t ask stupid questions. Secondly, it’s because they are so fun, original and so downright funky you can’t help but feel like you’ve been time warped back to an era when music was less cerebral and more about the soul, man! – BeatCrave

with:
Mississippi Man || Watch
Links || Listen
The Silent Comedy || Listen

8:30pm / $8 /18+

Monday 01.25.10: THE FRENCH SEMESTER / TEAM ABRAHAM / LE SWITCH / WONDERGROUND @ echo

The French Semester || Listen

A sweet and smile-inducing blend of Guided By Voices’ ragged melodic charm with the hushed pop wits of the third Velvet Underground record, the French Semester’s Good Friends Only I Could See churns out one harmonious and guitar-jangled rock/pop gem after another—“Remembering Right Now” being the big winner—with each track’s layered loveliness capable of breaking your heart without so much as breaking a sweat. – Web In Front

with:
Team Abraham
Le Switch || Listen
Wonderground

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 01.18.10: THE FRENCH SEMESTER / MOVING PICTURE SHOW / LIGHT FM / DOWNTOWN/UNION @ echo

The French Semester || Listen

A sweet and smile-inducing blend of Guided By Voices’ ragged melodic charm with the hushed pop wits of the third Velvet Underground record, the French Semester’s Good Friends Only I Could See churns out one harmonious and guitar-jangled rock/pop gem after another—“Remembering Right Now” being the big winner—with each track’s layered loveliness capable of breaking your heart without so much as breaking a sweat. – Web In Front

with:
Moving Picture Show
Light FM
Downtown/Union

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 01.11.10: THE FRENCH SEMESTER / ASBURY / THE MONOLATORS / MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY @ echo

The French Semester || Listen

A sweet and smile-inducing blend of Guided By Voices’ ragged melodic charm with the hushed pop wits of the third Velvet Underground record, the French Semester’s Good Friends Only I Could See churns out one harmonious and guitar-jangled rock/pop gem after another—“Remembering Right Now” being the big winner—with each track’s layered loveliness capable of breaking your heart without so much as breaking a sweat. – Web In Front

with:
Asbury
The Monolators || Listen
Manhattan Murder Mystery

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 01.04.10: THE FRENCH SEMESTER / LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS / THE SPIRES / THE HEALTH CLUB@ echo

The French Semester || Listen

A sweet and smile-inducing blend of Guided By Voices’ ragged melodic charm with the hushed pop wits of the third Velvet Underground record, the French Semester’s Good Friends Only I Could See churns out one harmonious and guitar-jangled rock/pop gem after another—“Remembering Right Now” being the big winner—with each track’s layered loveliness capable of breaking your heart without so much as breaking a sweat. – Web In Front

with:
Letting up Despite Great Faults || Listen
The Spires || Listen
The Health Club || Listen

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Wednesday 01.27.10: REV. PAYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND / THE DONKEYS @ echo

Rev Payton’s Big Damn Band || Listen || Watch

Well, they’re not that big, but they make a damn big sound: featuring the burly, bearded Reverend Peyton on steel resonator guitar and guttural vocal bark – a sort of backwoods Brian Blessed – with his wife Breezy on washboard and his kid brother Jayme on drums, the band bring to their retro-fabricated rootsy Americana an utterly gripping compulsion.

Peyton employs a dervish blend of thrashed chords, bustling fingerpicking and slashing slide interjections, but it’s the post-modern manner of his material that really sets them apart.

Alongside food-themed cuts such as “Mama’s Fried Potatoes” and testaments to the rambling life like “Worn Out Shoe”, are songs which apply antique, vintage treatments to starkly modern concerns, corporate greed “Wal-Mart Killed The Country Store” to the health-insurance anxiety of “Can’t Pay The Bill”.

Even that time-honoured blues staple, the fishing song, gets a dystopian makeover in “The Creeks Are All Bad”, with Peyton advising anglers to throw back their catch “’cause there’s PCBs in the catfish, and mercury in the bass”. But there’s room for a glint of humour too, as in the trailer-park scenario sketched in “Your Cousin’s On Cops”. – The Independent

with:
The Donkeys || Listen

8:30pm / $8 advance, $10 day of show /18+

Wednesday 01.13.10: LA Weekly presents THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND / HOLLOYS / JOGGER / WHITE ARROWS @ echo

The Phenomenal Handclap Band || Watch

The Phenomenal Handclap Band makes music that’s as sprawling and unwieldy as its name: To watch the group on stage is to witness what seems like several bands at once. With eight members — from hipsters and beautiful women to long-haired rockers and what look like everyday office workers — the group has been painstakingly engineered to generate a big, bold sensory overload.

Fortunately, its sound is outrageously danceable, fusing grimy funk with cooing disco, retro rock and sweet pop. The Phenomenal Handclap Band was the subject of breathless buzz well before its self-titled debut came out this month, and its live show makes it easy to see and hear why. – NPR

with:
Holloys || Listen
Jogger
White Arrows

8:30pm / $8 advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Sunday 01.31.10: PART TIME PUNKS – DEPECHE MODE NITE @ echo

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 01.24.10: PART TIME PUNKS with MEMORY + PROTECT ME @ echo

MEMORY
PROTECT ME

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 01.17.10: PART TIME PUNKS with YUMMY FUR [members of Franz Ferdinand & The 1990s] / NEVEREVER @ echo

Yummy Fur
[members of Franz Ferdinand & The 1990s]

Scottish cult legends, THE YUMMY FUR, featuring members of FRANZ FERDINAND and THE 1990S, play their first and only-ever LA show to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of their demise! (And to prepare for the reissue of their entire back catalogue by the fine What’s Your Rupture? label this spring!) This is one of only five shows the band are doing in the U.S., and their first shows in well over a decade.

with:
Neverever [formerly CHAMPAGNE SOCIALISTS]

Guest DJ:
Kevin Pedersen (from WHAT’S YOUR RUPTURE?)

plus resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $10 / 18+

Sunday 01.10.10: PART TIME PUNKS with LOVE GRENADES / WET LOOK @ echo

Love Grenades
Wet Look

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Saturday 01.09.10: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 01.02.10: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Friday 01.29.10: CLUB UNDERGROUND 9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION with THE TENDER BOX / SATELLITE CRUSH @ echo

with:
The Tender Box || Listen
Satellite Crush

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+

Friday 01.22.10: CLUB UNDERGROUND & Echo present JEMINA PEARL (from Be Your Own Pet) / THE CANNONEERS @ echo

Jemina Pearl || Listen

In Pearl’s world, there’s black and white– and maybe some red. Things that suck get what they deserve, whether they’re asshole fans, jerky boyfriends, or simply the notion of growing up. She’s an old-school punk in that there’s little pretense; she thrashes about onstage because she wants to and not because she thinks it looks cool. According to her Ecstatic Peace label head (and Break It Up guest guitarist/vocalist) Thurston Moore, she’s not “out to impress anybody; she [is] just kicking total ass.” He should know.

As far as ass-kicking goes, there’s plenty of it here. Nearly every song is marked with a rough-edged riff from another era, whether it be surf, garage, or girl group. And Pearl’s guttural wail is intact. But there are no straight-up, minute-long goofs, and instead of raging on about pitch-perfect nonsense and suburban malaise, Pearl often turns inward. The self-reflection can be reassuring, as on the fizzy, Dave Sitek-assisted Gemini ode “Ecstatic Appeal”, or deeply troubling, as on the laborious downer “Retrograde”, where voices in the back of Pearl’s mind tell her to “go on, cut a little bit deeper, see how far we can go.” The LP’s best reflective track finds a semi-happy middle ground between those two extremes; “No Good” has the singer lambasting herself for being lazy– “I’ve been trying for so long, can’t get shit done”– with the song acting as a fitful solution to the idleness. – Pitchfork

with:
The Cannoneers

8:30pm / $8 advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Friday 01.15.10: CLUB UNDERGROUND with PSYCHIC POWERS / EVAN VOYTAS @ Echo

Psychic Powers
Evan Voytas || Listen

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+

Friday 01.08.10: CLUB UNDERGROUND with SWEATERS / HOT SAUCE MENTOR @ Echo

with:
Sweaters
Hot Sauce Mentor
if you like members of art brut, the blood arm, and the mighty lemon drops, then you’ll LOVE hot sauce mentor

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+

Wednesday 01.27.10: DUB CLUB @ echoplex

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

9pm / $5 / 21+

Wednesday 01.20.10: DUB CLUB @ echoplex

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

9pm / $5 / 21+

Wednesday 01.13.10: DUB CLUB presents WILLI WILLIAMS with THE EXPANDERS featuring DAVID HILLYARD / LARRY MCDONALD / MR T-BONE / JAH FAITH @ echoplex

WILLI WILLIAMS
backed by The Expanders
with special guests
David Hillyard of the Slackers on Sax
reggae legend Larry McDonald on percussion
Mr T-Bone (from Italy) on Trombone
plus Jah Faith

Willi Williams is best known as the writer and singer of “Armagideon Time,” a beloved reggae anthem once popularized by The Clash, but over his 40-plus year career, he has contributed consistently to the greater body of Jamaican reggae, collaborating with many of the music’s luminary figures.

After recording “Calling” for Coxson Dodd’s Studio One in 1966, Williams’ career grew steadily as he established the Soul Sounds label in 1969 and produced artists including Delroy Wilson, The Versatiles, and the legendary Barrett Brothers (as Rhythm Force), who would later become the engine of Bob Marley’s band.
Through much of his career, Williams split his time between Kingston, Jamaica and Toronto, Canada, where he formed a close association with Jamaican keyboard legend Jackie Mittoo. Mittoo, perhaps the single most influential musician in Jamaican music history, recorded frequently with Williams in the 70s and contributed significantly to Williams’ outstanding album Messenger Man, released in 1978.

Williams voiced the breakthrough track “Armagideon Time” in 1979. “Jackie Mittoo and myself were working on some projects, and we went to New York and met up with Coxson [Dodd],” Williams recalls. “I had a song at the time that was getting good coverage ['Messenger Man']. [Dodd] heard the song and he wanted to do something with me. He mentioned that when we started out in the early days, he didn’t have enough time and ammunition to work with me how he wanted. So he wanted me to go back into the studio.”

Williams’ original recording of “Armagideon Time” has remained a reggae standard and was included on the comprehensive four-disc set, Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music, released by Mango Records in 1993. “Armagideon Time” also found its way back into popular culture via the 1999 Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.
“Armagideon Time” utilized the Studio One backing track known as “Real Rock”,and Willi’s cut of the rhythm helped propel it to become the most “versioned” or recycled in all of reggae history. Punk legends The Clash helped internationalize “Armagideon Time” in 1979 as a b-side to its “London Calling” single and a standard part of its live performances.

Far from being a one-hit wonder, Williams’ reggae career has been substantial and prolific with frequent tours to Europe through the years. His work with singer/producer Yabby You has marked his reputation, as well as his later efforts with dub icon Augustus Pablo. In the 80s, Williams recorded See Me and Natty With A Cause for the London-based soundsystem giant Jah Shaka. In the last few years his classic Messenger Man album was re-released by Blood and Fire records, and many of his early Studio One cuts such as Addis-A Babba have been included on the popular reggae compilations on the Soul Jazz label.

Recently Williams has also overseen the production of Full Time Love, released through M10 Records in France. The set features a live backing band, The Drum Street Crew, and Jamaican keyboardist Bobby Kalphat, another of Williams’ notable musical associates. Full Time Love captures the full-band sound of reggae’s past, but with a contemporary production touch. “When you get that live drum and bass you just hear something that . . . you can’t imitate it with a computer,” says Williams.

For this show at the Dub Club Willi will be backed up by the outstanding local roots band The Expanders , who are known for their devotion to capturing the vintage sound and feel of classic reggae. They will be joined for this gig by an all star cast: David Hillyard plays sax for one of the most popular Ska/rocksteady bands worldwide- The Slackers, Mr T-Bone is the top reggae trombone player from Italy , and Larry McDonald is a legendary reggae percussionist , having played on too many classic albums to count. Joining the band for a few opening tunes on vocals will be the Dub Club’s own Jah Faith, along with a couple originals from The Expanders and some instrumental scorchers from Mr Hillyard+ co. A wicked night of music all around! See you there!

@ Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
(Main Entrance is through Alley)
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $10 advance, $10 before 10pm day of show, $15 after 10pm day of show / 18+

Wednesday 01.06.10: DUB CLUB @ echoplex

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

9pm / $5 / 21+

Thursday 01.14.10: Performer Magazine presents JULIA NUNES (early set time) / DANNY TIEGER / TS AND THE PAST HAUNTS / PARKER MACY BLUES @ echo

Julia Nunes || Listen || Watch (8:30pm set time)

Julia Nunes is from New York State, a songwriter, guitarist, and ukulele player. “She has a voice like no other…” Her talent is just now reaching to the public from websites like YouTube.com and Myspace.com. Her first CD “Left Right Wrong” is available all over the world and on iTunes. All the songs are originals.

Julia’s song, “Into the Sunshine” was featured on YouTube.com. The video has over a million views. Even before she was featured on YouTube, Julia won the Bushman World Ukulele Contest, with her entry, “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child, on ukulele. Bushman is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of performance ukuleles.

with:
Danny Tieger
TS and The Past Haunts
Parker Macy Blues

7pm / $13 advance, $15 day of show / all ages

Wednesday 01.06.10: BRAZZAVILLE / DAVID J / SALT PETAL @ echo

Brazzaville || Listen || Watch

Sometimes the bossa nova/island music of Brazzaville sounds so sweet, strange and delicate, you think your heart is just going to break and little chickens will come out peeping from the egg-like fragments. Then you realize the songs themselves have a jagged edge. The softness of David Brown’s vocals and gentle lilt of the strings and piano are like the sighs one makes when confronted by pain one can never understand: the feeling of being abandoned by the one you love, or the pain of being dumped by the person you just met and fell for, or growing too old to enjoy the promising nowheres of new relationships. The gentle drumming that tempts one into movement is really the sound of rain and soon one is wet and cold. Brazzaville is a Barcelona based band that takes its name from one of the most squalid cities on earth. The group makes seductive music that insinuates like the delightful smell of oleander, and is just as deadly as that flowery perfume. – Popmatters

with:
David J || Listen
Salt Petal

8pm / $8 advance, $10 day of show / 18+

Wednesday 01.13.10: SPACELAND ON ICE with LE SWITCH / NEW WORLD RECORD @ pershing square

Spaceland Productions & Echo present
Spaceland On Ice

with:
Le Switch
New World Record

@ Pershing Square
532 South Olive St
Los Angeles, CA 90013

FMI: Downtown On Ice

7pm / FREE / all ages

Wednesday 01.06.10: SPACELAND ON ICE ORIGAMI VINYL NIGHT with TWILIGHT SLEEP / KISSING COUSINS @ pershing square

Spaceland Productions & Echo present
Spaceland On Ice

with:
Twilight Sleep
Kissing Cousins

@ Pershing Square
532 South Olive St
Los Angeles, CA 90013

FMI: Downtown On Ice

7pm / FREE / all ages

Saturday 01.30.10: BOWERBIRDS / JULIE DOIRON @ echo (Early Show)

Bowerbirds || Listen || Watch

On Bowerbirds’ 2007 debut, Hymns For A Dark Horse, the coupled-up North Carolina duo spun folksy tunes and gypsy rags about the wonders of nature, which made sense—the record was made with singer Phil Moore and accordionist Beth Tacular living in an Airstream trailer in the woods, building themselves a cabin between band practices. Just as fittingly, Bowerbirds’ sophomore LP, Upper Air, is a more intimate affair that finds the pair well nestled in a spare-but-sound set of songs. Most noticeably, the “Go-Earth!” Pollyannaism (which was impressively tolerable the last time around) has been replaced by a flair for verbiage on par with Andrew Bird and Elvis Perkins, the two singers most conjured by Moore’s syllable-stretching and emotive coo. There’s still a line drawn in the dirt between the natural world and civilization, but that divide is explored through narrative on “House Of Diamonds,” and lines like, “You are free from the greed of your culture / you are free from the lust for the luster of the diamond houses in the city’s cluster.” And this isn’t Upper Air’s primary focus: Love is, and on songs like “Ghost Life,” stones, dunes, and oceans are metaphorical fodder used to soften the tougher parts of romantic entanglement. Bowerbirds benefit from a more-is-less dynamic musically, as well. Moore and Tacular break out organ, piano, autoharp, violin, and upright bass, among other instruments (not to mention a killer boy-girl harmony), but all in a successful effort to arrive at a simpler, more measured sound epitomized by the soulful jangler “Northern Lights” and the delicate surge of “Teeth.” Upper Air is a comely album through and through, and certainly one of this year’s high-water marks for the acoustically inclined. – The Onion AV Club

with:
Julie Doiron || Listen

6pm / $10 Advance, $12 day of show / All Ages

Thursday 01.28.09: FRUIT BATS / CITAY / EXTRA CLASSIC / DJ TURQUOISE WISDOM @ echoplex

Fruit Bats || Listen || Watch

Fruit Bats were greeted by a very house when they hit the stage. They opened with a song from 2005’s Spelled in Bones, “Canyon Girl”, and then played a few newer songs, but not before bandleader Eric Johnson asked for permission first, saying “We’ll play some old shit, I promise” and joking that they would “play all four albums in a row, plus a mystery album of your choosing.” After a solid set of newer songs (some of which they also performed during KEXP’s Bay Area broadcast), they pulled out a few revamped classics, such as “Seaweed” (with added harmonica) and “The Little Acorn.” They followed up with a few more new songs that were equally impressive. Behind Eric Johnson’s distinctive voice, a change in style was prevalent in the new music. Although he never gives up the band’s signature pop and twang elements, the songs were a bit more sprawling and mined a similar vein of classic rock as Grand Archives and before that Neil Young. Fruit Bats finished with a couple of classics, including “The Rainbow Sign” and “When U Love Somebody.” It was a great show, and we’re looking forward to the next time Fruit Bats hit town… and to the new album we hope to see later this year! – KEXP

with:
Citay || Listen
Extra Classic
DJ Turquoise Wisdom

@ Echoplex
enter at
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

8pm / $13 advance, $15 day of show / all ages