Friday 05.28.10: Echo & Club Underground present FROG EYES / MOUNT ST HELEN’S VIETNAM BAND @ echo

Frog Eyes || Mp3

Frog Eyes definitely exist within that definition, the music resembling Wolf Parade but with a greater awareness of space. Paul’s Tomb: A Triumph is less frantic than previous record Tears Of The Valedictorian. It sees them revel in the journey. It also puts the vocals at the core of their sound. Without lyric sheets it’s hard to say exactly what is going on here with the words, strangled as they are in guttural yelps and off beat accenting. It ends up naturally distorting the words. Carey Mercer’s voice is the fulcrum around which everything else happens. The guitars and drums and keys are built around the echoes and the layers, the whoops and stutters. These songs aren’t sung. They’re performed. Mercer lives his vocals, and brings what could be flat indie into vivid, vibrant Technicolor. It might be pretentious to say it, but the performance is almost operatic. – Drowned in Sound

with:
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

8:30pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

Thursday 05.27.10: A & T presents CLUB TRAPHAUS!! with DJs EMYND / THEE MIKE B / DARK ALLEY / WALDO P @ echo

A&T Presents

CLUB TRAPHAUS!!

with DJ’s
Emynd (Crossfaded Bacon)
Thee Mike B (Camo UFO’s)
Dark Alley (Ass & Titties)
Waldo P (@waldorules)

9pm / $10.00 / 18+

Saturday 09.11.10: CLIENTELE / LAY LOW / GANGI @ echoplex

The Clientele || Listen || Watch || MP3

The best of the Bonfires extends the Clientele’s great project: building, through hyper-evocative descriptive fragments and music to match, one of the great imaginary places in pop. The Clientele’s suburb is obviously the product of an English coming of age, but it’s also just dreamily vague enough to mirror the lives of listeners almost anywhere. (Unless you happen to live in one of those William Gibsonish fourth-world megalopolises with no green spaces.) The vibe of Bonfires is strong enough to almost feel the leaves crunching underfoot and smell the smoke cutting through the growing chill in the air, an indie-pop equivalent to Brian Eno’s windswept and stone-solid world-building circa On Land. It’s not an album you can dance to, but it’s one you can live in and with, alone, which is rare enough to be applauded. The band’s steadily curated one of the decade’s great bodies of mood music. In an odd way, it strikes me as almost cousin to Sufjan Stevens’ quixotic attempt to bring each state in the union to life: The Clientele seem to be trying to capture the light and air and meteorological conditions and attendant emotional baggage of each season, with a disarmingly straight-faced grace and wonder that makes it one of pop’s more laudable long-term career moves. – Pitchfork

with:
Lay Low || Listen
Gangi

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

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

Tuesday 06.15.10: WOODSIST FESTIVAL with REAL ESTATE / WOODS / KURT VILE / ABE VIGODA / ART MUSEUMS / THE MANTLES / NODZZ / SUN ARAW / ALL SAINTS DAY / THE BATHS @ echoplex & echo

Real Estate
Woods
Kurt Vile
Abe Vigoda
Art Museums
The Mantles
Nodzzz
Sun Araw
All Saints Day (Katy from Vivian Girls + Greg from Cat Power)
The Baths

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

Click to buy tickets online

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

Tuesday 06.01.10: THE MOTH GRANDSLAM VI @ echoplex

The Moth presents the GrandSLAM, a battle of wits and words – fierce, hilarious, heartbreaking and all points between. Featuring the winners of the past 10 StorySLAMS.

The Moth is dedicated to finding intriguing people to tell inspired stories. At The Moth StorySLAMs, those people find us. On this night, using words as weapons, they word- it-out to determine The Moth’s NY GrandSLAM Story Champion. No notes, no scripts – just pure, old-fashioned, unadulterated storytelling. Fun, fast, furious.

Hosted by Brian Finkelstein

Music by
Alex Burke on the Vibraphone

@ The Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

LIMITED SEATING — ARRIVE EARLY STANDING ROOM TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR

Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm / $17 / 18+

Wednesday 06.02.10: KCRW, BMI and Filter present SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS / SISTER CRAYON / VOICESVOICES @ echo

School of Seven Bells || Listen || Watch

Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream, kids: experimental dream-pop group School of Seven Bells is releasing the follow-up to 2008′s collection of transcontinental trance-jams, Alpinisms (TMT Review). The new album, Disconnect from Desire, is set for a July 13 release on Vagrant/Ghostly International (and Full Time Hobby in Europe). And just in case you’re into such kooky things as laying down all thoughts, surrendering to voids, listening to the color of your dreams, etc., this swirly twirly brainchild of former Secret Machines and On!Air!Library! members will also be playing two shows at Mercury Lounge in their hometown of New York City on June 9 and 10 before heading out into the, you know, Summer Tour Void or whatever. Cosmic. Plastic soul, man, plastic soul.

The album was produced by band member Benjamin Curtis in the band’s home studio and mixed by Jack Joseph Puig at Ocean Way in Los Angeles. “From the start, we knew we wanted to make a record that connected on more of a direct and personal level than we ever had before,” Curtis said. “It’s a complete account of our lives this past year, and it’s crazy how taking an honest look at yourself can tell you the most about the world around you.” – Tiny Mix Tapes

with:
VoicesVoices
Sister Crayon

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

Saturday 05.08.10: SATURDAYS OFF THE 405 with LES SAVY FAV @ The Getty

Les Savy Fav || Listen || Watch

Fridays Off the 405 are now Saturdays Off the 405! The free outdoor performance series is back on Saturday nights this summer with a lively mix of today’s most exciting emerging bands and DJ sets to open and close the night. And starting this summer, parking is free at the Getty Center on Saturdays after 5pm.

Lead singer Harrington appeared on stage wrapped in toilet paper on top of his red-striped shirt. After mumbling something about how he got into an accident, and that the toilet paper reminded him of a tampon, he bounced around stage for a couple tracks before getting bored and jetting over to the stairs leading up to the VIP section, despite not having a cordless mic. He hooked his feet in the bars to make an airplane with his body before finding two foot stools to use as sleds back down the stairs. Over the duration of the show, he then stripped, donned a brown shower curtain for a cloak, duct taped himself to fans, wandered some more into the audience, used someone’s cell phone, put a bucket over his head and constructed a smiley face out of duct tape, peeled a banana and stuck the end of it in a photographer’s mouth, found a straw hat, passed around a large bag of tortilla chips to the audience, and changed into an actual shirt for the encore. While still singing.

Somehow though, I knew opening the show with something like “The Equestian” was going to breed some psychosis from audience members. The furious track begins with Jabour’s heated guitar plucking, and dance anthem songs like “Patty Lee” only carry the crowd into more destructive oblivion. But for all the mad performance jumping jacks Harrington laid on us that night, I’m relieved to know that as a band LSF has some real rock meat underneath the craziness of their lead singer, even if they themselves look bewildered and slightly mortified at times by Harrington. – Tripwire

Getty Center Courtyard
1200 Getty Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049

6pm / FREE / all ages

Saturday 07.31.10: Echo & Grand Ole Echo present ROOTS ROADHOUSE @ echo & echoplex

With:
Dave Alvin & The Guilty Men
Red Simpson
T Model Ford
Pete Anderson
Chatham County Line
The Chapin Sisters
I See Hawks in LA
Leslie & the Badgers
Olin & The Moon
Old Californio
Triple Chicken Foot
Whispering Pines
Amanda Jo Williams
Frontier Ruckus
Speedbuggy

Outdoor Hellbilly Stage:
Killing Casanova
Last Round Down
Old Bull

The seen-around-town BBQ trucks of Q ZILLA and BARBIE-QUE will be serving up their versions of pulled pork, brisket, mac’n cheese and collard greens.

In addition to food and music, local vendors will be on site as well. OLD STYLE GUITAR SHOP will be on site showing off their 70s-wood paneling guitar crafted just for the invent. Plus vintage jewelry and clothes from Le Mondern Trickets and Stuck On Vintage.

The Echo patio will also hold games of bingo with prizes ranging from gift certificates, free tickets, t-shirts and CDs.

Enter at
Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

3pm / $15 / all ages

Tuesday 05.18.10: I Promote Good Bands & The Echo present 60 WATT KID / VOICESVOICES / PIZZA! / TAN DOLLAR @ echo

60 Watt Kid || Listen || Watch

60 Watt Kid started their set beautifully and sweetly, samples of a woman “intrigued by the idea of virtual plastic surgery” lending themselves somehow to the build-up of a wondrous tune. Then they got into a second tune, Dylan Wood looping some “Wipeout” style drums into beautiful, fragile song structures. I realized that I was the only one sitting down. The rousing crescendos that suddenly dissipated into atmospheric delicacy, and the punctuation by guitarist Derek Thomas of what sounded like a child’s xylophone all kept the audience on their toes and quiet as sweaty church mice, even when front-man Kevin Litrow ended a song with “God Bless Patrick Swayze!”

Cutting the set much too short, they wrapped up with their Willy Alexander-esque “American Standard,” an against-type rockabilly tune, wherein Litrow meandered through the audience shouting things at people. They plunked the last few echoey notes, and sadly, the hip-hop CD started its thing once more. As the audience made its way to the lawn, I caught one young man with a Misfits tattoo on his neck tell his girlfriend “These guys were siiiiick!” – LA Record

with:
VoicesVoices
PIZZA!
Tan Dollar

8:30pm / $5 / 18+

Wednesday 05.12.10: EVAN VOYTAS / BELL GARDENS / SUPERHUMANOIDS @ echo

Evan Voytas || Listen || Watch || Mp3

Los Angeles-via-Pennsylvania multi-instrumental singer and home recordist Evan Voytas — sort of a more clean-cut Ariel Pink — creates strange synth-pop/space-disco outings that feel danceable but private and insular. The idea’s explored in the video for his most recent single “I Run With You, Spirit Animal.” The clip was directed by Carlos Charlie Perez, who recently finished the upcoming Vampire Weekend video and shot those tongue-in-cheek promos that showed up on ithinkuracontra.com. You’ll find that playfulness, here as well, after Voytas locates a place to rest his plank of wood while he tries on sunglasses and animal masks. – Stereogum

With:
Bell Gardens
Superhumanoids

8:30pm / $7 / 18+

Saturday 07.03.10: MATES OF STATE / FREE ENERGY / NICK THUNE @ echo

MATES OF STATE || Listen || Watch || Mp3

Mates of State has confirmed the completion the lineup and itinerary of the Summer Crushes tour, a multi-artist traveling spectacle to take place this June through July. The Summer Crushes tour will coincide with the release of Crushes (The Covers Mixtape), an album consisting of covers of songs by some of the Mates’ personal favorites by artists ranging from Nick Cave to Death Cab For Cutie to Girls, whose “Laura” is now available in its Mates reinterpretation as a free download at MatesofState.com.

Crushes… is the first full album recorded and produced by Mates Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner themselves, with a mixing assist from longtime collaborator Peter Katis (The National, Swell Season, Interpol, etc.). Arguably their most vibrant effort to date, every one of Crushes’ ten tracks is equal measures bold choice and affectionate celebration. The Mars Volta’s brooding psychedelic epic “Son et Lumiere” segues seamlessly into an ever breezier re-interpretation of Belle & Sebastian’s “Sleep the Clock Around,” while Tom Waits’ “Long Way Home” is transformed from a sparse ode to tough luck love into an adrenalized anthem, and so forth.

The Summer Crushes tour will bring a similar twist to the Mates of State live experience, as the band’s signature ebullient and uplifting performances will be supported on this one time only occasion by multimedia guests ranging from the unapologetic Philadelphia dance-rock of Free Energy to the humor of Todd Barry (Flight of the Conchords, Lucky Louie, Bored to Death) and comedian Nick Thune (Comedy Central Presents, Knocked Up). The Summer Crushes tour will see the Mates presiding over and holding together this unique roadshow, transforming familiar venues they’ve previously headlined into venues for a virtual traveling variety show featuring live magic, sword swallowers, contortionists, human blockheads and more. In addition, Mates’ own Jason Hammel will serve as the tour’s resident DJ.

with:
FREE ENERGY
NICK THUNE

5:00pm / $13 advance, $15 day of show / 18+

Friday 07.02.10: Echo & Club Underground Presents MATES OF STATE / FREE ENERGY / NICK THUNE @ echo

MATES OF STATE || Listen || Watch || Mp3
Mates of State has confirmed the completion the lineup and itinerary of the Summer Crushes tour, a multi-artist traveling spectacle to take place this June through July. The Summer Crushes tour will coincide with the release of Crushes (The Covers Mixtape), an album consisting of covers of songs by some of the Mates’ personal favorites by artists ranging from Nick Cave to Death Cab For Cutie to Girls, whose “Laura” is now available in its Mates reinterpretation as a free download at MatesofState.com.

Crushes… is the first full album recorded and produced by Mates Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner themselves, with a mixing assist from longtime collaborator Peter Katis (The National, Swell Season, Interpol, etc.). Arguably their most vibrant effort to date, every one of Crushes’ ten tracks is equal measures bold choice and affectionate celebration. The Mars Volta’s brooding psychedelic epic “Son et Lumiere” segues seamlessly into an ever breezier re-interpretation of Belle & Sebastian’s “Sleep the Clock Around,” while Tom Waits’ “Long Way Home” is transformed from a sparse ode to tough luck love into an adrenalized anthem, and so forth.

The Summer Crushes tour will bring a similar twist to the Mates of State live experience, as the band’s signature ebullient and uplifting performances will be supported on this one time only occasion by multimedia guests ranging from the unapologetic Philadelphia dance-rock of Free Energy to the humor of Todd Barry (Flight of the Conchords, Lucky Louie, Bored to Death) and comedian Nick Thune (Comedy Central Presents, Knocked Up). The Summer Crushes tour will see the Mates presiding over and holding together this unique roadshow, transforming familiar venues they’ve previously headlined into venues for a virtual traveling variety show featuring live magic, sword swallowers, contortionists, human blockheads and more. In addition, Mates’ own Jason Hammel will serve as the tour’s resident DJ.

with:
FREE ENERGY
NICK THUNE

8:00pm / $13 advance, $15 day of show / 18+

Friday 07.09.10: ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI / MAGIC KIDS / PURO INSTINCT (Formerly Pearl Harbor) @ echoplex

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti || Listen

Ariel Pink’s best songs are surprising, and there’s a real sense of musical delight on Before Today; the sections sound logical but never predictable, and there are wild bridges and short bits that emerge seemingly randomly but wind up taking the song somewhere unexpected. So “L’estat (Acc. to the Widow’s Maid)” goes from a rollicking organ-led opening section to a catchy call-and-response chorus hook the Monkees might have liked to a short double-time instrumental section to a jubilant coda, and all the while the stitches never show. Songs like “Little Wig” have so many interesting interlocking parts that they can almost feel proggy, despite their relative brevity and tight pop structures.

Since a number of these songs exist in earlier versions on other records, it’s easy to hear how they benefit from Before Today’s more worked-over approach. “Beverly Kills” was a fine song in its original incarnation on the 2002 edition of Scared Famous (it also appeared on last year’s Grandes Exitos comp), but it has so much more power here. Opening with roller-rink keyboards, a popping bass, and car chase sound effects, it feels loose and casual until the falsetto vocals snap into place, sounding suddenly like Philip Bailey on a lost Earth, Wind & Fire jam. The delicate soft rock of “Can’t Hear My Eyes”, also heard twice before in slightly cruder forms, benefits greatly from just a few more dabs of production mousse. It’s a song that wants to be slick, bringing to mind carefully layered singles by Alan Parsons Project, complete with swells of synthetic strings and a smooth sax interlude.

And then there’s “Round and Round”, one of indiedom’s most unifying and memorable songs in 2010, which is barely recognizable from its early four-track incarnation as “Frontman/Hold On (I’m Calling)”. It’s another song of smartly integrated units of melody, any one of which might be built out into a great song of its own, but which together become something astonishing. Its circular bassline doubles with low-chanted voices that build up tension and mystery, a connecting section that opens the song up with a high-pitched plea, and an interlude section with a ringing phone and some jazzy keyboards, all of which build to the massive sing-along chorus. “Round and Round” was mastered at Abbey Road, and not a cent of that cost was wasted. It is endlessly replayable. – Pitchfork

With:
Magic Kids
Puro Instinct || Listen

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

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

Monday 05.31.10: Monday Night Residency – THE LIKE / THE YOUNG VEINS / THE LIVING SICKNESS @ echo

The Like || Watch

Formed in 2001 during their formative mid-teen years, Los Angeles’ The Like have transformed from indie-alt rock kids to a polished troupe of young ladies who create nouveau retro pop-rock with a sassy twist. Rooted in the era of early 60s British pop girl groups, this foursome have a sleek and signature sound that caught the attention of Mark Ronson (he’s producing their new album, due out in June) and The Arctic Monkeys, with whom they recently joined on tour.

Paired up with Zac Posen for the launch of his new line at Target last night, The Like performed a full set for early shoppers and fans. One thing we noticed about their performance, and that we loved to the max…the band goes straight from one song into the next. No banter in between and as the last chord of one song hits, the drum beat of the next one begins. Stylish and seamless!

We can’t wait to hear the album, especially Wishing He Was Dead, which quickly became our favorite song by the girls. It’s got a Doors’ organ vibe meshed with the soulful nature of The Shirelles. – Sheena Beaston

with:
The Young Veins || Listen
The Living Sickness

Plus DJ sets by the best Northern Soul DJs around

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 05.24.10: Monday Night Residency – THE LIKE / DANTE VS ZOMBIES / TIJUANA PANTHERS @ echo

The Like || Watch

Formed in 2001 during their formative mid-teen years, Los Angeles’ The Like have transformed from indie-alt rock kids to a polished troupe of young ladies who create nouveau retro pop-rock with a sassy twist. Rooted in the era of early 60s British pop girl groups, this foursome have a sleek and signature sound that caught the attention of Mark Ronson (he’s producing their new album, due out in June) and The Arctic Monkeys, with whom they recently joined on tour.

Paired up with Zac Posen for the launch of his new line at Target last night, The Like performed a full set for early shoppers and fans. One thing we noticed about their performance, and that we loved to the max…the band goes straight from one song into the next. No banter in between and as the last chord of one song hits, the drum beat of the next one begins. Stylish and seamless!

We can’t wait to hear the album, especially Wishing He Was Dead, which quickly became our favorite song by the girls. It’s got a Doors’ organ vibe meshed with the soulful nature of The Shirelles. – Sheena Beaston

with:
Dante vs. Zombies Tijuana Panthers

DJ sets by the best Northern Soul DJs around

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 05.17.10: Monday Night Residency – THE LIKE / JAIL WEDDINGS / GESTAPO KHAZI / STARF*CKER @ echo

The Like || Watch

Formed in 2001 during their formative mid-teen years, Los Angeles’ The Like have transformed from indie-alt rock kids to a polished troupe of young ladies who create nouveau retro pop-rock with a sassy twist. Rooted in the era of early 60s British pop girl groups, this foursome have a sleek and signature sound that caught the attention of Mark Ronson (he’s producing their new album, due out in June) and The Arctic Monkeys, with whom they recently joined on tour.

Paired up with Zac Posen for the launch of his new line at Target last night, The Like performed a full set for early shoppers and fans. One thing we noticed about their performance, and that we loved to the max…the band goes straight from one song into the next. No banter in between and as the last chord of one song hits, the drum beat of the next one begins. Stylish and seamless!

We can’t wait to hear the album, especially Wishing He Was Dead, which quickly became our favorite song by the girls. It’s got a Doors’ organ vibe meshed with the soulful nature of The Shirelles. – Sheena Beaston

with:
Jail Weddings || Listen
Gestapo Khazi
Starfucker

plus DJ sets by the best Northern Soul DJs around

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 05.10.10: Monday Night Residency – THE LIKE / THE NEW FIDELITY / BLOODBATH @ echo

The Like || Watch

Formed in 2001 during their formative mid-teen years, Los Angeles’ The Like have transformed from indie-alt rock kids to a polished troupe of young ladies who create nouveau retro pop-rock with a sassy twist. Rooted in the era of early 60s British pop girl groups, this foursome have a sleek and signature sound that caught the attention of Mark Ronson (he’s producing their new album, due out in June) and The Arctic Monkeys, with whom they recently joined on tour.

Paired up with Zac Posen for the launch of his new line at Target last night, The Like performed a full set for early shoppers and fans. One thing we noticed about their performance, and that we loved to the max…the band goes straight from one song into the next. No banter in between and as the last chord of one song hits, the drum beat of the next one begins. Stylish and seamless!

We can’t wait to hear the album, especially Wishing He Was Dead, which quickly became our favorite song by the girls. It’s got a Doors’ organ vibe meshed with the soulful nature of The Shirelles. – Sheena Beaston

with:
The New Fidelity || Listen
Bloodbath

plus DJ sets by the best Northern Soul DJs around

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Wednesday 05.26.10: DRAGONETTE / EVAN VOYTAS / WHITE ARROWS @ echo

Dragonette || Listen || Watch

Dragonette is blessed. The laws of logic and music are useless around this band. On their second live date, they were already supporting New Order. Now, on their second album, these Canadian synth-poppers have undergone a complete reinvention.

2007’s Galore was built around the guitar, whilst Fixin To Thrill instantly trumps it by moving on to a mix of processed sounds and synths. Add some new fire in the band’s bellies and retro tendancies, and you are on to a winner.

Time and time again, there are unbelievable moments on this record, the band turning this into an artform over the course of the brisk 40 minutes. Synths are transformed beyond description, the vocals taken to new territory and the beats unapologetic.

The opening title track turns the screw a mere 22 seconds in, the first of many beat-drops arriving without fanfare. They mean business. “Fixin To Thrill” is a mean track, dropping in vocal samples and allowing some dirty synths to do the business. “And the boys. They offer diamonds but they’re givin the quartz.” – Consequence of Sound

with:
Evan Voytas
White Arrows

8:30pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

Saturday 08.28.10: CAP’N JAZZ / ABE VIGODA / THE BLACK APPLES @ echoplex

Cap’n Jazz || Listen
I’ll admit, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from recently-reunited 90s Chicago punk act Cap’n Jazz’s live show. I knew that tickets to their club shows in town have all sold out in a ridiculously short amount of time, and if their their set Saturday night was anything close to typical, I certainly know why. They were phenomenal.

Frontman Tim Kinsella’s vocals are raw and very rough around the edges–bordering on harsh, but with an intensity mirrored by his hypnotic physical performance onstage. Clutching the microphone and screaming into the mic, he often leaned over the edge of the stage into the audience, even falling face-first into it in order to have the audience push him like a domino back onto the stage. It was impressive to watch a set that intense from start to finish–it was as if he put every single ounce of energy he had into every second of his performance during the songs.

The drums (courtesy of Tim’s brother Mike Kinsella) were wild, the bass (Samuel Zurick) was booming, and guitar work (Victor Villareal and Davey von Bohlen) was very tight. The set was full of raw energy, and the audience and band fed off each other in one of those rare, sparkling moments that sometimes happen during live shows that makes people want to go to them in the first place. – Examiner

with:
Abe Vigoda
The Black Apples

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

8pm / $17 advance, $20 day of show / all ages

Tuesday 06.08.10: KXLU presents HEALTH / BEST COAST / INDIAN JEWELRY / GOLD PANDA @ echoplex

Health || Listen || Watch

HEALTH presumably have a saying: if you do something right once, remix, remix again. They did it two years ago with HEALTH/DISCO, which included remixes of HEALTH tracks by Pictureplane, CFCF, Nosajthing, and of course Crystal Castles, whose version of “Crimewave” threatened to be more popular than HEALTH’s original for a short while. In keeping with this tradition, HEALTH have announced DISCO2, to be released June 22 on Lovepump United.

Like the previous remix album, DISCO2 collects reworkings of tracks from the studio album that preceded it (a little gem called GET COLOR [TMT Review]). Crystal Castles and a few of the same guys from HEALTH/DISCO are back for more, but there are also remixes by Javelin, Small Black, Gold Panda, Tobacco, and Salem. The album’s single and opening track, “USA BOYS,” was mixed by producer Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode). And the excitement just keeps coming: HEALTH are topping it off with a US tour, ending with Lollapalooza in Chicago. – Tiny Mix Tapes

with:
Best Coast
Indian Jewelry
Gold Panda

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

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

Saturday 05.15.10: FLYING LOTUS / RAVI COLTRANE / THE GASLAMP KILLER / GONJASUFI / MATTHEWDAVID @ echoplex

Flying Lotus (with live band) || Listen

When global bass music matriarch Mary Anne Hobbs recently told The Fader “Flying Lotus, for me, is like the Hendrix of his generation” it seemed more then an audacious opinion, and with the arrival of Cosmogramma, it’s revealed as a revelation. In the past couple of years, Flying Lotus has grown into the position of being far more than a producer, he has helped materialize a far-reaching strain of musical ideology that has encompassed not only a global family of like-minded artists, but also a nearly infinite palate of planetary (and interplanetary) sonics.

Not only has an entirely new range of sounds been unlocked by our intrepid astral traveler, but every genre touchstone associated with his name has been merged into a self-described “space opera”. Seamless in execution and too wide in scope to properly describe, it is the authentic embodiment of his unique musical heritage. The spirit of his famed aunt, Alice Coltrane permeates the record, notably in the powerful collaborations with relative Ravi Coltrane, bass virtuoso Thundercat and the brilliant harp prodigy, Rebekah Raff.

Certainly these are further reaches into a musical space that Flying Lotus had hitherto been exploring, however other collaborators such as Erykah Badu and Outkast string arranger Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and guest vocalists Thom Yorke and a returning Laura Darlington (featured on Los Angeles’ epic closing track ‘Inifinitum’) help deliver Cosmogramma to dizzying new heights. All this name-dropping, however, is not to detract from the genius of the wizard-like figure behind it all. The most powerful aspect of FlyLo’s output has always been it’s ability to communicate his boundless love and enthusiasm for music in all it’s forms and that is what is boldly on display here.

with:
RAVI COLTRANE
THE GASLAMP KILLER
GONJASUFI
MATTHEWDAVID

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

9pm / $20.00 / 18+

Friday 05.14.10: FLYING LOTUS / RAS G / SAMIYAM / DR. STRANGELOOP / TEEBS / JEREMIAH JAE @ echoplex

Flying Lotus (A/V set) || Listen

When global bass music matriarch Mary Anne Hobbs recently told The Fader “Flying Lotus, for me, is like the Hendrix of his generation” it seemed more then an audacious opinion, and with the arrival of Cosmogramma, it’s revealed as a revelation. In the past couple of years, Flying Lotus has grown into the position of being far more than a producer, he has helped materialize a far-reaching strain of musical ideology that has encompassed not only a global family of like-minded artists, but also a nearly infinite palate of planetary (and interplanetary) sonics.

Not only has an entirely new range of sounds been unlocked by our intrepid astral traveler, but every genre touchstone associated with his name has been merged into a self-described “space opera”. Seamless in execution and too wide in scope to properly describe, it is the authentic embodiment of his unique musical heritage. The spirit of his famed aunt, Alice Coltrane permeates the record, notably in the powerful collaborations with relative Ravi Coltrane, bass virtuoso Thundercat and the brilliant harp prodigy, Rebekah Raff.

Certainly these are further reaches into a musical space that Flying Lotus had hitherto been exploring, however other collaborators such as Erykah Badu and Outkast string arranger Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and guest vocalists Thom Yorke and a returning Laura Darlington (featured on Los Angeles’ epic closing track ‘Inifinitum’) help deliver Cosmogramma to dizzying new heights. All this name-dropping, however, is not to detract from the genius of the wizard-like figure behind it all. The most powerful aspect of FlyLo’s output has always been it’s ability to communicate his boundless love and enthusiasm for music in all it’s forms and that is what is boldly on display here.

with:
RAS G
SAMIYAM
DR. STRANGELOOP
TEEBS
JEREMIAH JAE

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

9pm / $20.00 / 18+

Wednesday 06.16.10: Spaceland Productions Presents JUNIP (Jose Gonzalez, Elias Araya,Tobias Winterkorn) / FERRABY LIONHEART @ Eagle Rock Center for The Arts

Junip || Listen

Singer-songwriter José González charmed us with his chilling, raspy voice on his 2008 album, In Our Nature. Now, González is re-teaming with his band, Junip, a group that originally formed over 10 years ago in Sweden. The band, made up of González (guitar, vocals), Elias Araya (drums) and Tobias Winterkorn (organ, moog), released a 7-inch in 2000. They also self-released an EP titled Black Refuge in 2006.

Though the trio has played together any time their schedules permitted, this year the three musicians are putting all their energy and focus into the band. They will release an EP and a full-length this year, and will also tour a good bit. Fans of González can expect similar music from Junip, albeit with a more fleshed-out sound. You can download a free MP3 on the band’s website. – Paste

with:
Ferraby Lionheart || Listen

@ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts
2225 Colorado Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA 90041

8pm / $15 Advance, $17day of show / All Ages

Saturday 05.08.10: GWENDOLYN AND THE GOOD TIME GANG @ echoplex

Gwendolyn and The Good Time Gang

A smart and raucous delight, the kind of sonic adventure that ranks up there with Marlo Thomas’ classic “Free to Be You and Me,” Harry Nilsson’s “The Point” and anything from the Muppets in their heyday.
~ LOS ANGELES TIMES

The critically acclaimed debut children’s CD, “GWENDOLYN AND THE GOOD TIME GANG” won Los Angeles based songwriter Gwendolyn Sanford an ever-widening base of young fans (and their parents). It’s been reported even her sophomore holiday release “‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ROCKIN’” enjoys year-round play! Now Gwendolyn and her band take it up a notch with “GET UP & DANCE!” an album that’s sure to rock your socks off and get your feet moving.

Songs like “Red Means Stop”, “Run Baby Run”, “Eensy Weensy Spider” and the title track “Get Up & Dance” lend a bit of friendly dance instruction to the first part of the album. The second half is rounded out with new classics like “Sunny Day” and “Sweet Marmalade”. “Bicycle Ride” act as the toddlers’ nod to Queen’s “Bicycle Race”. ”Out In My Garden” lists a myriad of fruits and vegetables and how they’re grown. The toe-tapper “I can Read” encourages listeners to pick up a book and experience a whole new world. “Ode to Pets” and “Snuggle Wuggle” – well, you can pretty much guess what they’re about! Gwendolyn’s success lies in writing songs from a child’s perspective but with the subtle wisdom of an adult.

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

11am / All Ages

Sunday 06.06.10: PART TIME PUNKS with SWEATERS (Single Release Party) / JARED DREAMS OF FAR OUT THINGS @ Echo

Sweaters
Jared Dreams of Far Out Things

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI: Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 05.30.10: PART TIME PUNKS – SMITHS / MORRISSEY NITE with guest DJ JOSE MALDONADO @ echo

Guest DJ:
Jose Maldonado (from The Sweet And Tender Hooligans)

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI: Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 05.23.10: PART TIME PUNKS with GENEVA JACUZZI / SOFT METALS @ echo

Geneva Jacuzzi || Listen
Soft Metals

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI: Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 05.16.10: PART TIME PUNKS with XENO & OAKLANDER + EPEE DU BOIS + FRANK ALPINE + KILLING SPREE DJS SARAH AND RICH @ echo

XENO & OAKLANDER || Listen
EPEE DU BOIS
FRANK ALPINE
KILLING SPREE DJs Sarah & Rich

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI: Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $8 / 18+

Sunday 05.09.10: PART TIME PUNKS – DEPECHE MODE NITE @ echo

DEPECHE MODE NITE for “Dave Day” (aka Dave Gahan’s birthday)

Guest DJs: Ray & Alex [from The Depeche Mode Convention]

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI: Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 05.02.10: PART TIME PUNKS with TITLE TRACKS / VOXHAUL BROADCAST / CATWALK @ echo

Title Tracks || Listen
Voxhaul Broadcast
Catwalk

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI: Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $8 / 18+

Monday 05.03.10: SQUARE ON SQUARE / CUE THE MOON / JUDSON AND MARY @ echo

SQUARE ON SQUARE

Music doesn’t feel so much like a business to Evan Slamka these days, and the Los Angeles singer-songwriter likes it just fine.

With his new quintet Square on Square, Slamka has emerged from three-plus years of personal reflection and creative regeneration that followed the dissolution of Majorie Fair, which released one excellent album (”Self Help Serenade”) for Capitol Records before sinking into the major-label abyss. The music on SOS’s forthcoming five-song EP, “Spectrum of Love,” brims with the same keen melodicism and British Invasion shading as Slamka’s previous work, except now everything — from arrangements to themes — seems larger than life. – Buzz Bands LA

with:
CUE THE MOON || Listen
JUDSON AND MARY

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Thursday 05.27.10: VOXTROT – Goodbye, Cruel World tour / WE BARBARIANS / INTERNATIONAL WATERS / THE FEROCIOUS FEW @ echoplex

Voxtrot || Listen || Mp3

The Austin indie pop band Voxtrot is calling it quits. Next month, the band will embark on a short farewell tour, which they’re calling the “Goodbye, Cruel World” tour, and then going their separate ways. We’ve got the tour dates below.

In a long letter on the band’s website, frontman Ramesh Srivastava lays out the reasons for the band’s dissolution: “The career path of Voxtrot was truly one of long, simmering build, explosion, and almost instantaneous decay. Slowly, I am learning to replace any feelings of regret with positive memories of how amazing the whole thing was, and how it has, in an unexpected way, fortified my character.”

There’s a lot more where that came from, including ruminations on Peter Falk’s glass eye and Fran Healy from Travis. You can read it here.

Voxtrot leave behind one album and several EPs. Many of the band’s members have new projects in the works. Mitch Calvert is in a new band called International Waters, and they’re gearing up to release a 10″ EP called It Felt Like. They’ll also open two dates on the farewell tour. Jared Van Fleet has a solo project called Sparrow House. Matt Simon and Jason Chronis are playing in three bands together: JC & Co., The Black, and Belaire. – Pitchfork

with:
We Barbarians || Listen
International Waters
The Ferocious Few || Listen

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

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

Sunday 05.30.10: GRAND OLE ECHO with DEAD ROCK WEST / FUNERAL CLUB / VICKI HILL / TIPPY CANOE @ echo

Dead Rock West || Listen
Funeral Club
Vicki Hill
Tippy Canoe

FMI: Grand Ole Echo on Myspace

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Sunday 05.23.10: GRAND OLE ECHO with GROOVY REDNECKS / THE CHEATIN’ KIND / ROBERT BLACK @ echo

Groovy Rednecks
The Cheatin’ Kind || Listen
Robert Black

FMI: Grand Ole Echo on Myspace

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Sunday 05.16.10: GRAND OLE ECHO with DAN JANISCH / 50 CENT HAIRCUT / WILLIAM LEE AND THE MONDERN PRIMITIVES @ echo

Dan Janisch || Listen
50 Cent Haircut || Listen
William Lee & The Modern Primitives || Listen

FMI: Grand Ole Echo on Myspace

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Sunday 05.16.10: Spaceland Productions, KCRW & Filter present SEA WOLF / PATRICK PARK @ The Autry

Sea Wolf || Listen || Watch

Taking its name from novelist Jack London’s 1904 seafaring adventure, Sea Wolf has evolved organically from its hermetic origins in Alex Brown Church’s living room into a muscular, full-bodied musical entity with passion to burn. After adopting the sobriquet, Church burst onto the music scene in two-fisted fashion with the EP, Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low, and the subsequent full-length debut album, Leaves in the River, about which Interview magazine observed, “His music is both erudite and unvarnished, a blend of swirling melodies, literary balladry and damaged art-rock composition.”

And now, Church’s singular vision has led to the creation of the eloquent and expansive new album White Water, White Bloom, which not only fulfills the immense promise of the initial musical diptych but conjures up its own cosmology. This is one of those rare and mysterious records wherein, the first time you hear it, you can’t shake the feeling that it’s always been part of the soundtrack of your life. You intimately know its ups and downs, its melodies and cadences, its settings and characters.

with:
Patrick Park || Listen

at The Autry Museum
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, California, 90027

7:30pm / $12 advance, $15 day of show / All Ages

Thursday 06.10.10: THE SADIES / THE LOONS / SEAN WHEELER AND ZANDER SCHLOSS @ echo

The Sadies || Listen || Watch

Canadian country rockers the Sadies, led by brothers Dallas and Travis Good, have joined forces with the Jayhawks’ Gary Louris once more, on Darker Circles. Louris handled production duties last time around and now he’s back for round two, as the Good brothers and their cohorts deliver their characteristic blend of surf guitar, psychedelic rock, and turbo-twangin’ country music. This time around they’re focused more intently than ever before, so watch out for the fretboard sparks flying through the air. – Prefix

with:
The Loons
Sean Wheeler & Zander Schloss

8:30pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

Thursday 05.13.10: LA Record Presents MISSISSIPPI MAN / PEPPER RABBIT / WHITE ARROWS / THE FLING @ echo

Mississippi Man || Watch

First, listening to Mississippi Man’s debut EP, The Snake Oil Salesman, will clear up any doubts of how five West Coast kids from L.A. came to be called Mississippi Man. The album is infused with the feel of old time Southern blues, both in melody and tone, as the band reaches deep into the storied South to pull inspiration. The album starts with a ghostly carnival melody above the atmospheric hiss of an old record. The nostalgia quickly ends as the band enters and the ghostly melody transforms into a quick toe-tapping swing, accented by the shrill but melodic voice that drips into the music with grace. – Performer Magazine

with:
Pepper Rabbit
White Arrows
The Fling

8:30pm / $7 / 18+

Tuesday 05.11.10: SMOG SESSIONS with BRO SAFARI / PABLO HASSAN / STEADY / CITYMAVRICK / KEMST @ echo

POWER OUTAGE MAKE-UP PARTY!

BRO SAFARI
KNICK/EVOL INTENT, DECEAST, LA

PABLO HASSAN
SMOG, LA

STEADY
SMOG, LA

CITYMAVRICK
DUDEFUCKINGHELLYEAH, SB

KEMST
SMOG, LA

POWERED BY MEDIACONTENDER.COM

RSVP @ http://app.championsound.com/1440/events/smog-sessions-may

FMI: smogla.com

10pm / FREE W/ RSVP / 21+

Thursday 04.29.10: ELLE O ELLE 4 @ echoplex

BUST Magazine and Comedy is the New Black present

Elle O Elle 4:The Funniest Females in Los Angeles

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

7:30PM / $10 / All Ages

Friday 05.07.10: First Fridays with THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH / GAMBLE HOUSE @ Natural History Museum

Performances in the diorama hall with The Tallest Man on Earth and Gamble House

Swedish folk singer Kristian Mattson comes to First Fridays as The Tallest Man on Earth with deft guitar playing and a raspy voice that has led many to compare him to a young Bob Dylan. Mattson draws on the legacy of old blues and folk masters to create haunting, intimate songs. Gamble House experiments with gentle, soaring vocals and elements of 60s pop, choral music and “folk psychedelia” that is warm and captivating.

Resident DJ, Them Jeans (a.k.a. Jason Stewart) and headliner, DJ Moonbaby

With musical tastes spanning from hardcore punk to dancefloor-friendly hip-hop, post-rock to ambient electronic, Them Jeans never fails to deliver a set with the perfect mood for the gathering. LA’s own DJ Moonbaby performs as this month’s guest DJ.

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

FMI: Natural History Museum

5:30pm / concert + museum pass= $15, museum pass= $2-$9 / All Ages

Thursday 05.06.10: SPINDRIFT / NURSES / MAGIC MIRROR

Spindrift || Listen || Watch

“A mix of psych-rock and the Spaghetti Western sound of Ennio Morricone equals the perfect soundtrack for your next trip to a ghost town.” -Paste Online

“[Spindrift has] upgraded the master’s spaghetti sonics for the new millennium on its imminent full-length debut The West…” -Wired.com

“L.A.’s leading practitioners of exotic soundscapes, conjuring up dreamy spells that alternately evoke spaghetti Westerns, psychedelia, dusty blues and Old World klezmer.” -LA Weekly

“I’m not quite sure what parallel universe Spindrift’s music belongs in — maybe a post- apocalyptic landscape where art movies are projected across the desert sky while what remains of the flora comes to life, wielding double-neck bass guitars and autoharps. But I’d love to visit.” -Buzz Bands

with:
Nurses || Listen
Magic Mirror

8:30pm / $8 /18+

Wednesday 04.28.10: Rock For Renters’ Rights with MAYAZTEK / LA FOG / CHANGO / CHICANO BATMAN / ALLAN IDES WITH DJ PHATRICK @ echo

featuring:
Mayaztek
LA Fog
Chango
Chicano Batman
Allan Ides with DJ Phatrick

100% of the proceeds go towards keeping Eviction Defense Network

To Purchase tickets, or for more information, please call 213.385.8112 or email info@evictiondefensenetwork.org

7:30pm / $15 / 18+

Thursday 04.22.10: WE BARBARIANS / CORREATOWN / ALL WRONG AND THE PLANS CHANGE / THE COOLING TIME @ echo

We Barbarians || Listen || Watch

So, there’s this We Barbarians album called There’s This There’s That and it has some things I should probably tell you about. For example, in order to review it properly I would have to tell you of all of the comparisons that come to mind while listening to the album, or at least that I’ve gathered from the six times I perused it. Some of the songs remind me a tiny bit of their Long Beach neighbors Cold War Kids while other songs portray elements of War-era U2, with anthemic drum beats and precise, cutting distortion. Other songs make me think echoey, orchestral pop, which can be found on “Trickle Down”. “War Clouds” is a pertinent song asking poignant questions about war and the state of the turbulent world around us… but I’m not going to tell you all of that because I mostly just want to say that it is a really great album and that you should listen to it, and re-listen to it again and again. – IndieRockReviews

with:
Correatown || Listen
All Wrong and The Plans Change
The Cooling Time

8:30pm / $7 / 18+

Saturday 05.29.10: BEARRACUDA @ echoplex

After a very long wait and searching for the best venue for the club, Bearracuda comes to Los Angeles! On Saturday, May 29th we invade the Echoplex for one massive night of furry fun.

Flying down from San Francisco, we welcome DJ/Producer: MATT CONSOLA. Over the last 20+ years, he’s had an exciting career playing memorable events across the country and across the world. Recently, he had the honor of opening for The Pet Shop Boys at The Warfield for their Pandemonium World Tour September 22nd & 23rd 2009.

Joining Matt is our resident DJ at Bearracuda Portland, SAM STORICKS. Sam played our first Bearracuda New Year’s Eve party in 2006 and has been a big part of the club ever since. He also makes guest appearances at our San Francisco & Seattle parties and will be flying down for his LA debut.

Bearracuda is the largest attended bear dance party on the West Coast w/ regular parties in San Francisco, Seattle & Portland. Voted “Best club for queer men” in 2008 & 2009 by the San Francisco Bay Guardian. We’ve got beards, bears, cubs, pups, chubs, beefcakes, furballs and other wildlife!

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

FMI: BEARRACUDA.COM/LA

Join the Bearracuda LA Facebook group!

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

Sunday 05.09.10: GRAND OLE ECHO with DAVE GLEASON AND THE GOLDEN CADILLACS / THE COALS / HAYMAKER / FREAKY MOUNTAIN @ echo

Dave Gleason & The Golden Cadillacs
The Coals (formerly US Mail)
Haymaker

Backporch:
Freaky Mountain

FMI: Grand Ole Echo on Myspace

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Sunday 05.02.10: GRAND OLE ECHO with OLD CALIFORNIO / PAUL CHESNE BAND / THE BELIEVERS @ echo

Old Californio
Paul Chesne Band || Listen
The Believers || Listen

FMI: Grand Ole Echo on Myspace

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Sunday 04.25.10: GRAND OLE ECHO with WIREPONY / THE 1921A @ echo

Wirepony || Listen
The 1921A

FMI: Grand Ole Echo on Myspace

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Sunday 04.18.10: GRAND OLE ECHO with TONY GILKYSON / DIME BOX BAND / CASEY NEILL AND THE NORWAY RATS @ echo

Tony Gilkyson || Listen
Dime Box Band || Listen
Casey Neill & The Norway Rats || Listen

FMI: Grand Ole Echo on Myspace

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Sunday 04.25.10: KiDROCKERS with WARPAINT / HIS ORCHESTRA @ echo

Warpaint
His Orchestra

KiDROCKERS is a concert series that began in January 2007. These All Ages shows are designed to bring families together to experience some of the most engaging and vital artists in indie music and comedy. Artists perform original (not specifically made for children) songs in a manner that is both authentic and kid-friendly. Past artists include Tad Kubler (and members of the Hold Steady), Matthew and Ira of Nada Surf, Ra Ra Riot, Langhorne Slim, The Jealous Girlfriends, Harlem Shakes, Rogue Wave, The Subjects, Looker, Bishop Allen, The Spinto Band, Locksley, Phonograph, Palomar, Pela, Los Campesinos!, Chris Baron and LEVY.

Hosted by Matt Dwyer

Ages 3-13 recommended. Adults must be accompanied by a kid and vice versa.

1pm- 2:30pm / $9 in advance $12 at the door / All Ages

Sunday 04.25.10: ALL IN ’10 – Poker Tournament to benefit The Bridge Program @ echoplex

All-In ’10

Dozens of poker players competing for the All-In ’10 Championship and great prizes.
Be part of the action!

What is All-In ’10?
It’s a Charity Poker Tournament for the Bridge Program. Great prizes for all the top winners. Loads of action and surprises!

How does All-In ’10 work?
It’s simple. It’s like a walk-a-thon.
Register to play for only $25.
Then raise your buy-in.
Ask friends and family members to chip in and sponsor you.
Invite them down to the ECHOPLEX to watch you play.
The minimum buy-in is only $200.
Raise more and you can buy-in at a higher level and reap the rewards!

What kinds of prizes?
New prizes are coming in all the time, so check back here for updates. Visit our full list of prizes to see a complete list and details.

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

Register at: The Bridge Program

12pm / $25 to register, $200 to buy in / 21+

Friday 05.21.10: Club Underground & Echo present FRANCIS AND THE LIGHTS / TEEN INC @ echo

Francis and The Lights || Listen || Watch

Everything about Francis Farewell Starlite, leader of synth-pop throwbacks Francis and the Lights, is insanely meticulous. Sipping on Orangina in his cement-floored Lower East Side apartment one crisp January afternoon, Starlite is dressed neatly in a dark, military-ish overcoat, charcoal-gray pressed pants, and expensive-looking black dress shoes. The bathmat is folded tidily over the tub in the bathroom; racks of clothes hang from the ceiling, still covered in plastic from the dry cleaners. A trapdoor in one corner of the room leads to the basement, where you’ll find a full-blown recording studio with the instruments all ordered just so, including an array of synths with all the white keys painted black. Starlite explains that it’s a songwriting aide: “It helps me break the mold. The difference between black and white keys is that there is no difference.”

This is where Starlite records most of his songs: shimmering, complex nuggets of ’80s-excess pop that call to mind the brainy soul shakedowns of Scritti Politti and the cocktail-jazz fusions of Steely Dan. (Studio obsessives both, too.) Since 2007, he’s released two excellent EPs and one single, a modest output with nonetheless killer highlights, including the tender, falsettoed-out ballad “Strawberries” and the spare future-funk jam “My Goals.” You may not have heard of him yet, but Starlite promises to be one of the year’s breakout successes. – The Village Voice

with:
Teen Inc || Listen

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

Saturday 05.29.10: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 05.22.10: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 05.15.10: FUNKY SOLE with ADRIAN YOUNG’S BLACK DYNAMITE SOUND ORCHESTRA @ echo

with:
Adrian Younge’s Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 05.08.10: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 05.01.10: FUNKY SOLE – ANNUAL JAMES BROWN BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION @ echo

Featuring all JB family productions, rare versions of James Brown sounds & Sole Brother #1 visuals

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 04.24.10: DANCEISM @ echoplex

FELLI FEL [POWER 106]
ROBOT LOVE [DANCEiSM]
PAUL DEVRO [MAD DECENT]
CAROLINE D’AMORE
TEAM EZY

Featuring
Body Paint
Live Kinetic Lighting by DANCEiSM
Artifact01 (v.4)
Photobooth by YoungANDSleek
Roaming by Caesar Sebastian
More Surprises…

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

Buses from USC + LMU.

RSVP @ http://DANCEiSM.COM

9pm / $15 with RSVP, $20 without RSVP / 18+

Tuesday 04.27.10: JULIETTE LEWIS / TAHITI BOY AND PALMTREE FAMILY / 22-20S @ echo

Juliette Lewis || Watch

An air of bemusement seems to follow Hollywood film stars when they embark on a musical career; partially because we’re all wondering why they’d want to, but mainly because most of the output is pretty damn awful.

Fortunately this doesn’t apply to Juliette Lewis who, after five years, two full length albums and numerous tours and festivals, is still going strong. She’s dispensed with the services of previous band The Licks and got a new group together to produce a sound that’s certainly more arty and definitely more adventurous on Terra Incognita.

Hard Lovin’ Woman is a blues piece with a very strong whiff of Janis Joplin to it and the rest of the album drops hints of Patti Smith, Courtney Love and Kim Carnes. Which is fortunate, as all of these suit Lewis’ trademark sultry rasping vocals which did so well in Hot Kiss. – MusicOMH

with:
Tahiti Boy & The Palm Tree Family
22-20s

8:30pm / $10 / 18+

Wednesday 05.26.10: 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 05.19.10: 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 05.12.10: DUB CLUB presents THE MELODIANS / FRANKIE PAUL / YELLOW WALL DUB SQUAD @ echoplex

Dub Club is sorry to announce that Johnny Osbourne will not be performing at the show this wednesday May 12 at the Echoplex. Although we try to be 100% reliable and avoid the “reggae cancellation syndrome” , sometimes it is just out of our control. Sorry again to all who were looking forward to Johnny Osbourne.

HOWEVER…. we still have a great show for you with THE MELODIANS and new addition to the lineup FRANKIE PAUL.

with THE MELODIANS
And FRANKIE PAUL

both backed by Yellow Wall Dub Squad

The Melodians are one of the most beloved groups from the 60s era of reggae. Their song “Rivers Of Babylon” was featured in the film “The Harder They Come” , and is considered a reggae anthem. Their many other hits such as “Sweet Sensation” , “Everybody Bawling” , “Come On Little Girl”  and many more, epitomise the classic vocal harmony sound of the rocksteady style, which has never stopped pleasing generations of fans around the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWLTBP3B1m0&feature=related

Frankie Paul is a legendary dancehall singer and dynamic live performer with hits like “Worries in the Dance” , “Pass The Tu Shung Peng” , and many others. There is also a high probability that there will be surprise guest performers as well. Check out Frankie Paul : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZFCxtq7Lqo

Both artists will be backed by the excellent Yellow Wall Dub Squad band, a group of Jamaican musicians now based out of Oakland. There will be a additional horn section brought in just for the Dub Club show.

At the mixing board for this show will be the dubmaster Scientist. Scientist learned his way around the studio from King Tubby , the father of dub music, and has built his own legacy of classic dub albums. Many of the cuts on Scientists dub albums were Johnny Osbourne songs in their original vocal incarnations , so it makes sense to have him at the controls for this show!

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

9pm / $10 at the door before 10pm, $15 after / 21+

Wednesday 05.05.10: 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+

Tuesday 04.06.10: SARA MELSON / MODERN TIME MACHINES / ANDREW LYNCH / BUTTERFLY CHILD @ echo

Andrew Lynch || Watch

Crafting mordant pop songs in the vein of Randy Newman, Josh Ritter or Jeff Tweedy, Lynch consistently hides fractured characters, twisted narratives, and bittersweet love stories beneath cryptic metaphors and shimmering production. “My Head Around”, an orchestral, mid-tempo rocker moves along so smoothly that it takes the whole song to realize the narrator is not smitten by love but beaten down and blind sided, his head turned backwards to the mistake he is about to make. “This Bird” layers a tale of a man imprisoned who can’t fight his murderous tendencies over catchy, jangly, piano and staccato strings. “The Thrill Is Gone” paints a portrait of a relationship gone sour and the vices we use to hide the truth from ourselves and fool ourselves into staying against a bombastic musical backdrop featuring downbeat guitar and grandiloquent horns and bells.

Sun Incisions is a wonderful album that will reveal more and more upon every listen. Lynch uses unique perspectives and unreliable narrators to create a bittersweet world of insecurities and foibles that seems sentimental, comical, twisted and relatable at the same time. – Radio Free Silverlake

with:
Modern Time Machines
Sara Melson
Butterfly Child

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Tuesday 04.13.10: SMOG SESSIONS with RSD / KELLY DEAN / DJ UNIT / RICKY DEF / KEMST @ echo

RSD Punch Drunk, Tectonic, Black Box – Bristol UK
(aka Rob Smith / Smith & Mighty)
RSD, perhaps better known as Bristol bass and drum music stalwart Rob Smith (one half of respected production duo Smith and Mighty), has been pushing bass heavy rhythms for more than two decades.

Under the moniker RSD, Rob Smith produces fresh, innovative bass music that simultaneously pays dues to his deep soundsystem roots while pushing things ever forward. He remains firmly at the forefront of Bristol’s endlessly inventive music scene. With a staggering discography and a range of projects encompassing dub, drum and bass, 2-step and dubstep, Rob Smith has has his finger squarely on the bass-pulse. From his musical beginnings playing guitar in local roots reggae band Restriction, Rob’s music has always had a strong dub aesthetic.

Forming the, now legendary, production duo Smith and Mighty with collaborator Ray Mighty in 1987, the pair’s early releases on the Three Stripe label were influential in laying the groundwork for both the trip hop and jungle scenes for which Bristol would become renowned. A period of chart success and major label involvement in the early nineties was followed by a return to their underground roots for Smith and Mighty. During this time they worked with Peter D. Rose to release groundbreaking music on their More Rockers imprint.

Rob Smith also went on to collaborate with local roots reggae producers Henry & Louis. This fruitful relationship culminated in 2001 with the release of the fantastic, yet criminally overlooked ‘Time Will Tell’ LP. Smith and Mighty’s addictive 2002 jump-up vocal cut “B-line fi blow” featuring Niji 40 may still be firmly lodged in many listeners’ brains.

Rob Smith has found a new home in 2009, as RSD, comfortably adapting to the rolling, sub- heavy rhythms of dubstep. With releases on respected labels including Punch Drunk, Earwax and Tectonic, RSD’s sound is typified by impossibly heavy soundsystem-testing sub-lines and junglist dub breaks. The irresistible energy of tunes such as 2007′s infectious breaky roller “Pretty Bright Lights”, 2008′s bubbling summer-vibed “Speakerbox” and the speaker destroying dread-fuelled stepper “Jahway” has rapidly cemented them as anthems.

with:
KELLY DEAN
DJ UNIT
RICKY DEF
KEMST

FMI: smogla.com

10pm / $5 before 11pm, $10 after / 21+

Sunday 06.06.10: SUBHUMANS / CROSS STITCHED EYES / A-HEADS / RAYOS X @ echo

Subhumans

Subhumans were, between 1980-85, one of the most prolific and original of the evolving UK punk scene; they were based in Warminster, Wiltshire, [SW England], and the lineup was Dick on vocals, Bruce played guitar, Phil on bass, and Trotsky on the drums. Dick had previously sung for The Mental, who released one EP and embodied the ‘cant-play-will-play’ early punk ‘anyone-can-do-it’ attitude. Bruce had been in the Stupid Humans, also based in Warminster; these two met at an Angelic Upstarts gig in 1980, and when their bands split they got together to form Subhumans.

New songs are being created slowly but surely for another studio release, and a live one will be out in February; released as part of the Live in a Dive series on Fat Wreck Chords, it was recorded April ‘03 in Corona, California during a highly packed-out USA tour, and features 26 tracks that span their entire output and captures the intensity of Subhumans live that studio recordings could only hint at. In August, Queens of the Stone Age recorded and released their version of a Subs song ‘Wake Up Screaming’, and the film director Asia Argento has asked to use Subs music in her adaptation of ‘The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things’.

with:
Cross Stitched Eyes
A-Heads
Rayos X

5pm / $12 / all ages

Tuesday 04.20.10: BEAR HANDS / HOLLOYS / RANDOM PATTERNS @ echo

Bear Hands || Listen || Watch

When the four piece came on stage there was a bit of anticipation in the crowd. I took a peek at the setlist which started with “Slow.”A fitting title because the song indeed achieved its namesake. It was a little something to set the mood, something to prepare the masses (which was mostly filled with punkers for the next group) and something to get the crowd moving – to get the crowd moving in a slow sultry way, the only way to move with the swaying synths.

Everything about Bear Hands just screamed sexy. “Get a Grip” highlighted funky vocals displayed by Dylan Rau to the drug-like wails of Ted Feldman which created a dreamy daze. Not everyone was into the sexiness and some mumbling about them being too mellow for those naysayers. “Can’t Stick Em” brought the house down. It may have started out with faint guitars but it turned into a kick drum tyraid complete with over-driven bass. Rau went from singing to shouting “Go Home” at the top of his lungs.

Perhaps those initial naysayers should have just gone home but they all obviously wanted more once the set ended. A band that successfully takes you in and out of lush haze with vivid shoegaze mixed in is the perfect mix for any indie dance party. – BeatCrave

with:
Holloys || Listen
Random Patterns || Listen

8:30pm / $8 / 18+

Saturday 04.10.10: The Nervous Breakdown & Stories Books & Café present: Some Words and Music with ELLYN MAYBE / STEVE ABEE / RICH FERGUSON / JANET FITCH / 50 CENT HAIRCUT @ Echo

The Nervous Breakdown & Stories Books & Café present:

Some Words with:
ELLYN MAYBE
STEVE ABEE
RICH FERGUSON
JANET FITCH

Plus Music by:
50 CENT HAIRCUT

Hosted by:
Milo Martin and Lenora Zion

6pm / $5.00/ 18+

Saturday 05.22.10: BOOTIE LA with DJ SHYBOY / DJ PAUL V. / R.A.I.D @ echoplex

BOOTIE LA
LA’s monthly mashup bootleg party

Feature set from:
DJ SHYBOY

Resident Bootie DJ:
DJ PAUL V.

Go-go dancing by:
R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance)

Photos by:
DrunkRockers.com

You’ve asked for more Bootie, and now you’ve got it — Bootie LA is now TWICE A MONTH! Special guest DJ Shyboy inaugurates our first “second Bootie of the month” with a special feature set. Resident DJ Paul V. will also be on the decks, spinning all your mashup favorites. And for the Midnight Mashup Show, our own resident dance crew, R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance) will don their trademark gold suits for another show-stopping choreographed 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 regular parties in several cities on four 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.

Bootie’s DJs 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 10 pm, $10 after / 21+

Saturday 05.01.10: BOOTIE LA with LOO & PLACIDO / DJ PAUL V. / DJ SHYBOY / R.A.I.D. @ echoplex

BOOTIE LA
LA’s monthly mashup bootleg party

Direct from France!
LOO & PLACIDO
Rare U.S. set from French “Electronic Popstar Killers”

Resident Bootie DJ:
DJ PAUL V.

Special guest DJ:
DJ SHYBOY

Go-go dancing by:
R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance)

Photos by:
DrunkRockers.com

Direct from France, Bootie is proud to present a rare U.S. appearance by famed French mashup team Loo & Placido. Having touring all over Europe, these “Electronic Popstar Killers” have garnered a well-earned reputation for their sets, where the best of today’s and yesterday’s music is blended in a sort of ‘Back to the Future’ avalanche mix, resulting in a tasty electro/rock/hiphop mixture. And by adding a few machines and keyboard, as well as Placido’s voice, the duo create even more interactivity with the audience, giving a live feeling to their show missing from most typical DJ sets.

Resident DJ Paul V. holds it down, while special guest Shyboy joins him on the decks throughout the night, along with go-go dancing on stage from Bootie LA’s resident dance crew, R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance).

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 regular parties in several cities on four 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.

Bootie’s DJs 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 10 pm, $10 after / 21+

Thursday 04.15.10: DOWN AND DERBY ROLLER DISCO with YELLE (DJ set) @ echoplex

Super excited about this months Down & Derby Roller disco. Its packed full of special guests and as always SKATING*DRINKING*DANCING.

FIRST up we have DJ Nugget in town from Pittsburgh PA. Nugget is a 4yr OG of Down & Derby. He played the first ever D&D and will bring nothing but 8th grade dance jams sprinkled in with dancefloor makeout hits.

Also in town to provide nothing but dancefloor bangers and backward skate jams is our Resident Vegas Down & Derby skate guard, Dj Shred. Shred had played all of our Vegas productions and lately has been commanding over 1,000 skaters in Rain nightclub @ The Palms Resort & Casino.

And I saved the best for last! One of my favorite imported artists, YELLE. This firery little singer songwriter hails from France, sings in French but is universal in the language of bodyrocking! YELLE will be blessing us with a very special dj set fitting for our roller disco!

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

Buy tickets at:

RSVP at www.downandderby.org

9pm / $10 with RSVP / 18+

Tuesday 06.22.10: SEASONS / TENLONS FORT / DEATH TO ANDERS / MAGICK ORCKIDS @ echo

Seasons || Watch

Seasons have the dynamics of psychedelic rock without the grimy cloud of sonic smoke that makes all psych rock sound the same. (You don’t hear the psychedelic influence on the recordings as much as you do seeing them live.) The songwriting itself, conversely, can actually be pretty poppy at times. They have the intellectual curiosity, whimsy, and thoughtfulness of aughty indie rock in the vein of The Arcade Fire. The lead singer is animated but serious and emotional, and still intensely mysterious. There’s seven guys in the band, so the soundscape is crowded and you benefit most from their live set by shiting your ear’s perspective to individual members of the band, then back to the whole spectacular soup of sound. The mutual participation and equity between band members on stage is an enormous part of their identity.

I’ve seen them three times and never left feeling anything other than “Jesus. Whoa.” Their song “Empty Spaceships” liberates repressed feeling, and then leaves one with a an oppressive sense of comfort instead. – Classical Geek Theatre

with:
Tenlons Fort
Death to Anders
Magick Orckids

8:30pm / FREE / 18+

Thursday 06.03.10: BORN RUFFIANS / YOUNG RIVAL / RANDOM PATTERNS @ echo

Born Ruffians || Listen || Watch

Say It, the second full-length from Toronto trio Born Ruffians, comes out June 1, and while it’s still chilly in many parts of the continent right now, the album’s first single, “What to Say,” is a welcome flash forward to summertime — listen to an exclusive stream below.

With a twinkling guitar riff from frontman Luke Lalonde and a lazy “Dock of the Bay” bassline from Mitch DeRosier, “What to Say” is an afternoon delight that laments the difficulties of communicating, especially when alcohol’s involved.

“When I woke up I’m speaking slow,” Lalonde sings. “When I get drunk I’m speaking more / Get too drunk and I don’t speak at all / Get too close to you and I don’t know / What to say.”

“‘What to Say’ is about how much and how little sense we make when we speak,” Lalonde tells SPIN.com. “It’s about the multitude of wrong words and the never-ending search for the right ones. May you choose wisely.” – Spin

with:
Young Rival || Listen
Random Patterns || Listen

8:30pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / All Ages

Sunday 04.11.10: NINE INCH NAILS SCREENING- ANOTHER VERSION OF THE TRUTH @ echoplex

‘Another Version Of The Truth’ brings Nine Inch Nails’ supporters and those on the inside together like never before. – Sphere Magazine.

Another Version of the Truth is a not for profit fan-produced, publicised, and distributed, 3 disc live DVD documenting the Nine Inch Nails Lights in the Sky Tour, which took place across the Americas in 2008. The release has been critically acclaimed, as a project with “no creative limitations” (Antiquiet) that is exemplary of “why those who embrace what technology allows will do just fine moving forward” (Techdirt). It has also gained praise from Trent Reznor, who was “blown away” by the release. The community effort has continued since release, with free screenings taking place across the world – from Moscow to Melbourne, San Francisco to Glasgow. To date, thousands of dollars have been raised for the DEC Haiti fund, the Red Cross, and Hope for Hearts, among other charities.

The Los Angeles screening, taking place at the Echoplex on April 11 2010, will continue this trend. A fundraiser will be held at the event at the event in aid of the Eric De La Cruz foundation, which Nine Inch Nails supported during their 2009 tour. The Hope for Hearts cause is especially pertinent in light of current political events in the USA.

Premium VIP packages (including a commemorative poster, T-shirt, and free copy of the DVD) have already sold out, but early access tickets are still available. There will also be a raffle of NIN merchandise, with all proceeds going to the Hope for Hearts foundation.

The event is also set to include a number of free gifts, DJ sets, and surprises for those who attend.

VIP packages
We are offering 200 of 800 possible tickets to the screening as part of VIP packages. These are two-tiered and guarantee your entrance to the event (if you show up before it reaches capacity). If you do not wish to buy a ticket in advance, we cannot guarantee your entry. Over 600 people have expressed interest in attendance – without it being advertised from KROQ/local LA event lists yet – and we’re capping the event at 800. Here are the packages we are offering:

1) $20 – VIP Access (130 tickets available):
- You will enter the venue first/bypass any lines to get into the screening until the venue reaches capacity (so don’t turn up late!).
- You will be invited to an after party, which may include extra screenings, and other goodies TBA

2) $50 – VIP Premium (50 tickets available):
You will get everything included with Priority Entry AND:
- a screenings poster
- an limited edition screenings t-shirt (brand: American Apparel)
- a copy of the 3 DVD set straight from our in-house distribution team (which you will either receive in the mail or at the screening)
- more goodies TBC

to purchase a VIP package Visit:

(maximum two tickets per session)

Please remember to bring Photo ID so we can issue you with a VIP and/or 21+ wristband

Don’t want to buy a VIP pass but still want to help the charity? We’re also arranging a raffle of DVDs, CDs, vinyl, posters, flyers, and anything else we can get our hands on! (All NIN-related of course). Raffle tickets can be purchased as you enter the venue, and we’ll have a table set up at the back during the show.

Can only spare a few cents? We’ll also have a jar at the bar for micro-donations

We’re also looking into planning some exciting freebies and surprises for you…but you won’t find out about those until you show up!

Also stay tuned to KROQ for your chance to win AVOTT-related goodies and a handful of special passes to the event!

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

7pm / FREE – $50 / All Ages

Friday 05.07.10: Echo & Club Underground Present – HURRICANE BELLS / OBI BEST @ echo

Hurricane Bells || Watch

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it would be like if shopping carts came to life and went after you in revenge of being pushed around so much, you’re in luck. Brooklyn’s Hurricane Bells — aka Steve Schiltz — has conceptualized that idea with his new video, ‘Monsters,’ shot by director Bill Moldt in Syracuse, N.Y.

“Bill has a knack for coming up with great, slightly cracked ideas,” Schiltz, who also fronts the band Longwave, tells Spinner. “He may be a space alien.”

A supernatural video treatment is fitting for the song, which can be found on the soundtrack for ‘New Moon,’ the second film in the vampire-werewolf world of the ‘Twilight’ series. The track didn’t make it onto the debut Hurricane Bells album, ‘Tonight Is the Ghost,’ but it did come to fruition during the same time period.

“‘Monsters’ was written a while back, along with a batch of songs that later became the Hurricane Bells record,” Schiltz explains. “I liked the combination of the kind of catchy little melody with the more sinister lyrics. I recorded it in 2008 and decided it didn’t fit on ‘Tonight is the Ghost,’ so I left it off, and eventually the ‘Twilight’ folks got a hold of it.”

Schiltz has one more interesting tidbit to share: “The car that is attacked by shopping carts in the video is now for sale on the Syracuse Craigslist page. The leader shopping cart is not for sale. Bill is keeping that.” – Spinner

with:
Obi Best

8:30pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

Monday 04.26.10: Monday Night Residency – WALKING SLEEP / RADAR BROS / OBI BEST @ echo

Walking Sleep (Formerly The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra) || Listen || Watch || Mp3

Web in Front favorites the Flying Tourbillon Orchestra have trimmed down their name, while doing nothing to scale back the Lee and Nancy-meets-Scott Walker pristine indie pop for which they are known–the band is now Walking Sleep, and their sound thankfully remains the same. Further, their upcoming debut, Measures, is stunning, and you can hear a few tracks here. – Web In Front

Six-member indie rock outfit Walking Sleep, from LA, are set to release their debut full-length album, Measures, on May 25. I hadn’t heard a thing about them until we received an email with an accompanying mp3 today, and well, I lapped it up. The song, “Final Chapter”, shows tremendous promise for the album as a whole, mixing precious guy girl vocals with hand claps and an upbeat guitar driven background alongside subtle hints of psychedelia. (The female vocalist is Sara Radle, formerly of The Rentals.) The album was produced by Aaron Espinoza, who has previously worked with a KR favorite, Earlimart, among others. – Knox Road

with:
Radar Bros || Listen
Obi Best

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 04.19.10: Monday Night Residency – WALKING SLEEP / THE PARSON RED HEADS / FRANKLIN FOR SHORT / REPEATER @ echo

Walking Sleep (Formerly The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra) || Listen || Watch || Mp3

Web in Front favorites the Flying Tourbillon Orchestra have trimmed down their name, while doing nothing to scale back the Lee and Nancy-meets-Scott Walker pristine indie pop for which they are known–the band is now Walking Sleep, and their sound thankfully remains the same. Further, their upcoming debut, Measures, is stunning, and you can hear a few tracks here. – Web In Front

Six-member indie rock outfit Walking Sleep, from LA, are set to release their debut full-length album, Measures, on May 25. I hadn’t heard a thing about them until we received an email with an accompanying mp3 today, and well, I lapped it up. The song, “Final Chapter”, shows tremendous promise for the album as a whole, mixing precious guy girl vocals with hand claps and an upbeat guitar driven background alongside subtle hints of psychedelia. (The female vocalist is Sara Radle, formerly of The Rentals.) The album was produced by Aaron Espinoza, who has previously worked with a KR favorite, Earlimart, among others. – Knox Road

with:
The Parson Red Heads || Listen
Franklin for Short || Listen
Repeater || Listen

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 04.12.10: Monday Night Residency – WALKING SLEEP / UNION LINE / GOLDENBOY / BIG WHUP @ echo

Walking Sleep (Formerly The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra) || Listen || Watch || Mp3

Web in Front favorites the Flying Tourbillon Orchestra have trimmed down their name, while doing nothing to scale back the Lee and Nancy-meets-Scott Walker pristine indie pop for which they are known–the band is now Walking Sleep, and their sound thankfully remains the same. Further, their upcoming debut, Measures, is stunning, and you can hear a few tracks here. – Web In Front

Six-member indie rock outfit Walking Sleep, from LA, are set to release their debut full-length album, Measures, on May 25. I hadn’t heard a thing about them until we received an email with an accompanying mp3 today, and well, I lapped it up. The song, “Final Chapter”, shows tremendous promise for the album as a whole, mixing precious guy girl vocals with hand claps and an upbeat guitar driven background alongside subtle hints of psychedelia. (The female vocalist is Sara Radle, formerly of The Rentals.) The album was produced by Aaron Espinoza, who has previously worked with a KR favorite, Earlimart, among others. – Knox Road

with:
Union Line || Listen
Goldenboy
Big Whup || Listen

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 04.05.10: Monday Night Residency – WALKING SLEEP / STEVENSON RANCH DAVIDIANS / SONS OF AUGUST / CARSICK CARS @ echo

Walking Sleep (Formerly The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra) || Listen || Watch || Mp3

Web in Front favorites the Flying Tourbillon Orchestra have trimmed down their name, while doing nothing to scale back the Lee and Nancy-meets-Scott Walker pristine indie pop for which they are known–the band is now Walking Sleep, and their sound thankfully remains the same. Further, their upcoming debut, Measures, is stunning, and you can hear a few tracks here. – Web In Front

Six-member indie rock outfit Walking Sleep, from LA, are set to release their debut full-length album, Measures, on May 25. I hadn’t heard a thing about them until we received an email with an accompanying mp3 today, and well, I lapped it up. The song, “Final Chapter”, shows tremendous promise for the album as a whole, mixing precious guy girl vocals with hand claps and an upbeat guitar driven background alongside subtle hints of psychedelia. (The female vocalist is Sara Radle, formerly of The Rentals.) The album was produced by Aaron Espinoza, who has previously worked with a KR favorite, Earlimart, among others. – Knox Road

with:
Stevenson Ranch Davidians || Listen
Sons of August
Carsick Cars

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Sunday 04.11.10: GRAND OLE ECHO Kickoff with I SEE HAWKS IN LA / WHEELHOUSE / MARS ARIZONA @ echo (day show)

I See Hawks in LA

“Southern California is a land of strange, dangerous and beautiful contrasts. A mountain lion prowls outside the tract home bedroom of a teenage girl while she talks, oblivious to its existence, on her cell phone. A rattlesnake slithers across an empty shopping mall parking lot on a hot summer night while the employees count up the days profit and turn out the lights. While paparazzi chase the latest talent free celebrity, a talented, literate bunch of soulful musicians create honest and wise roots music for the ages. I See Hawks are indeed one of California’s unique treasures.” – Dave Alvin

Wheelhouse

Wheelhouse is Brian Whelan calling in every favor in his back pocket. A solo debut ten years in the making, Whelan has combined LA’s rich Americana history with the younger, snottier indie-rock of the city’s present day. As a member of the Broken West, Whelan explored the new(ish) frontiers of the independent music world, and while backing up Mike Stinson, Randy Weeks and Tony Gilkyson learned the ancient art of honky-tonking. Whelan loves the rock ‘n’ roll of Buddy Holly the way most of us love our mothers – don’t miss the chance to catch him live and in person. Band features Broken West leader Ross Flournoy and former Everest members Rob Douglas and Derrek Brown.

Mars Arizona

No, you can’t get there from here. You can stare at the map all you want and you won’t find it. Mars Arizona has a population of two, and is best apprehended with the ears.High Desert is the fourth album from Mars Arizona, the name Nicole Storto and Paul Knowles use when they’re fashioning their brew of country, rock, and roll. As a matter of practice they’re joined by some talented helpers including drummers Billy Block (Frank Black) and Ken Coomer (Uncle Tupelo and Wilco), fiddler Ollie O’Shea (Hank Williams III) and lap steel guitarist Paul Laques (I See Hawks In L.A.), and a host of others.

5:00pm / FREE / All Ages

Friday 04.16.10: MAU MAUS / LEGAL WEAPON / STAINS / SYMBOL SIX @ Echoplex

Mau Maus || Listen || Watch

Everybody knows the Mau Maus. Whether it’s some story of a chaotic back-alley Hollywood show, or dark tales of crimes real or imagined, the Los Angeles punk scene wouldn’t have been the same without Rick Wilder and the nefarious group. Reveled and reviled, taking the raw energy of Iggy and the Stooges and infusing an unhealthy dose of James Brown jive, the Mau Maus sprang upon the emerging Hollywood scene in 1978. After tearing through the Masque and one-time pimp-hang the King’s Palace (as well as tearing through some member changes), the line up of Rick Wilder, Michael Livingston, Scott Franklin and Paul Mars shanghaied the Hong Kong Café, pounded down the Whiskey and uprooted the Mabuhay Gardens. They then proceeded to record the incendiary Robby Krieger-produced Mad Dog sessions, the little-heard, after-hour Paramount tapes and two songs for Hell Comes To Your House Vol. 2. A scene-stealing performance in the OJ Simpson detective movie “Cocaine and Blue Eyes” accented this “Joyride to the End of the World”…

Wilder moved to New York City, Franklin joined the Cramps, Mars toured the world as a front man and Livingston formed… the Livingstons. But now the quartet has reformed to finish off the few survivors left from those fiery days, as well as those brave enough to withstand the flames. Expect a cd of old and new recordings, and some more of those infamous performances (whatever you do, don’t call the cops). Love ‘em or hate ‘em…they wouldn’t have it any other way.

with:
Legal Weapon
Stains
Symbol Six

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

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

Friday 04.02.10: FIRST FRIDAYS with BREAKESTRA / FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS @ Natural History Museum

LIVE FROM FIRST FRIDAYS:

In the diorama halls:
Breakestra
Fitz and the Tantrums

In 1996 DJ “Musicman” Miles Tackett formed Breakestra, a funk orchestra featuring Mixmaster Wolf and an everchanging lineup of local talent. The Los Angeles-based ensemble fuses elements of hip hop, funk and sould to create a unique, infectious sound. Back in LA after playing SXSW, Fitz and the Tantrums’ soulful 60’s inspired style will make you want to jump up and dance.

DJs:
Them Jeans
Cosmic Kids

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

FMI: Natural History Museum

5:30pm / concert + museum pass= $15, museum pass= $2-$9 / All Ages

Friday 04.09.10: DJ Paul V. Presents SPUNK @ echoplex

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away (actually, the early 90′s in Silver Lake) -Queers ‘n queens ’n their cool straight friends descended upon the dance clubs, starving for eclectic and alternative sounds on the dance floor.
The scene and synergy was palpable, exciting, decadent, & fun!

>> WELL NOW, IT’S TIME TO RECLAIM THE DAMN NIGHTLIFE! <<

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

DJ PAUL V. (Dragstrip 66, Bootie LA) & DJ MATT CORNWALL
WILL SPIN THE BEST IN INDIE ALT ROCK ELECTRO BEATS!
Click the link for the SPUNK vibe:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=404640811881

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: AT 12-MIDNIGHT :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

** WIN TICKETS TO THE SOLD-OUT CRYSTAL CASTLES SHOW! **
MONDAY, APRIL 12th @ THE ECHOPLEX!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

PLUS! AMAZEBALLS SHOW WITH THE RIDICIDONK – JESSICA & HUNTER!
Watch – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99tqMp07d3M

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:: Special video premier by NADYA GINSBURG! ::
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nadya-Ginsburg/51649120764

:: Fierce airbrush body tattooing by MARKY MAKE UP! ::
http://www.facebook.com/MarkyMakeUp

:: Sexy bitchin’ photos by ROLLING BLACKOUTS! ::
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:: Your slutatious door-whore – GO-GO EDDIE HIBBS! ::

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*** SPUNK WILL BE A LADY GAGA-FREE DANCE ZONE! ***

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

9pm / $5 til 10:30pm, $10 after / 21+

Thursday 04.29.10: LA Record & KROQ Locals Only present LEMON SUN / LEOPOLD AND HIS FICTION / RED ARROW MESSENGER @ echo

Lemon Sun || Watch || MP3

“As hard-charging brilliant as anything I’ve heard in that venue in the last decade-plus.” Ron Garmon – LA RECORD

“The LA-based outfit is gracious enough to take their listeners with them on this David Bowie-esque journey. Packed with hard driving drumbeats and accompanied with Rob’s strong voice the listener is then rocketed into the abyss of their own imaginations. Not to mention the heavy guitar riffs that seems to resonate and awaken anyone’s soul.” DELI MAGAZINE

with:
Leopold and his Fiction || Listen
Red Arrow Messenger

8:30pm / $10 / 18+

Wednesday 04.07.10: MILES KUROSKY (from Beulah) / PANCHO-SAN / SEXY JAIL @ echo

Miles Kurosky || Listen || Watch

Miles Kurosky’s old band Beulah, was always the one Elephant 6 act somewhat tethered to the earth-writing and delivering relatively straight forward love songs, even as its more mind-expanded peers sang dreamily of kings of carrot flowers and birds with candy-bar heads. The Desert of Shallow Effects is Kurosky’s first solo effort since dissolving Beulah five years ago, and, happily his singular gift for melody-rich pop hasn’t deserted him.

The result is an album brimming with stories of slightly off-kilter characters—such as the n’er-do-well protagonist of “Dead Language Blues,” whose mother calls him “all the time” to see if he’s still “failing … tempted each day by European ways, speed freaks and strays”—and driven by a classicist’s nose for hooks. – Paste Magazine

with:
Pancho-San
Sexy Jail

8:30pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

Saturday 04.10.10: Filter & KROQ Locals Only Present SAINT MOTEL / VOXHAUL BROADCAST / PITY PARTY / MISSISSIPPI MAN @ echoplex

Saint Motel || Listen || Watch

Filter Magazine, KROQ Locals Only, and The International Flying Saucer Bureau (or I.F.S.B.) present WE MAKE CONTACT with SAINT MOTEL at The Echoplex on Saturday April 10th.

Here’s some info about the origins of the first World Contact Day:

***The following is a true story***

In April 1953 an organization known as the “International Flying Saucer Bureau” gathered all its members urging them to participate in an experiment termed “World Contact Day” whereby, at a predetermined location, they would attempt to collectively send out a telepathic message to visitors from outer space. However, days before the 1953 World Contact Day, the head of the I.F.S.B. had a mysterious visit from some officials who scared him so badly he canceled the event and disappeared into the wilderness.

On April 10, 2010 the “International Flying Saucer Bureau” has decided to try another mass telepathic ceremony. Nobody knows exactly what happened with the 1st one but it is rumored that they were onto something – something that Saint Motel plans to discover.

So on April 10th join SAINT MOTEL and be part of history as we all …MAKE CONTACT!

with:
Voxhaul Broadcast
The Pity Party
Mississippi Man

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

8:30pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

Tuesday 04.20.10: FYF Fest Presents EARTH / WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM / LORI GOLDSTEN @ echoplex