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 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 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+

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 02.17.10: 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+

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

Thursday 03.11.10: THE CAVE SINGERS / THE DUTCHESS AND THE DUKE / THE MOONDOGGIES @ echo

The Cave Singers || Listen || Watch

True to their acoustic mantra, they maintain an earthy, naturistic, rootsy feel. Not as in a “twangy country,” but as in, “if Fleet Foxes had more facial hair then they might sound like this.” They even throw in washboards and harmonicas and give a nod to the oft-neglected blues music of the Mississippi River Delta. From even the first listen, it is evident that The Cave Singers has perfected the ghostly, resonating qualities of minimalism that separate it from a hoard of meditative, chai-sipping imitators.

Welcome Joy is somber and sweet enough to be enjoyed on calm evenings, but yet packs enough punch that you won’t be embarrassed if you leave it in your car when you pick up your best buds from lacrosse practice. It is a treasure trove anthology of styles, all led by the powerful, wailing voice of Pete Quirk. His unique vocal blend is perfectly complimented by gentle, throbbing drum pulses and Derek Fudesco’s masterfully rationed guitar work. Each pluck is gentle and deliberate. There are no wasted notes and none of that awful, mindless strumming that saturates contemporary indie music. Each hit of the string is left to resonate, creating a gentle, almost haunting atmosphere.

And the thing is, that The Cave Singers seem to have risen to these levels of greatness overnight. How did they get this good? Washes of warm pigments and wistful, breezy sounds abound. Impressionistic lyrics and smooth guitar interplay float by. This is the perfect album for shooting the breeze or enjoying the outdoors. Songs are warm and inviting, and they maintain that sort of “Sticky Sweet Honey Goodness” that scientists have recently found to be the primary ingredient in the soundtrack to your best summer memories. Welcome Joy is the perfect, earthy balance of the grittiest and the sweetest splendors that the Pacific has to offer. I feel like I would enjoy this record even better if I were a more frequent participator in No Shave November. But regardless, it’s still damn good. – Adequacy

with:
The Dutchess and The Duke || Listen
The Moondoggies

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

Tuesday 02.16.10: Aquarium Drunkard Presents MAGIC KIDS / PEARL HARBOR / DUNES @ echo

Magic Kids || MP3

without doubt rough trade shop’s single of the year so far. the magic kids are a mysterious band of pop pranksters from memphis featuring members of the barbaras and girls of the gravitron. langley school x the beach boys x spector = the magic kids. it’s a joyous vocal-centric song with impressive harmony and old-fashioned instrumentation – one listen and you will fall in love with this baby. total pop perfection. song of the summer? more like song of the year. – Rough Trade

with:
Pearl Harbor || Listen
Dunes

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

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+

Thursday 12.31.09: Club Underground, Hang The DJs & Echo present ROARRRINN NEW YEARS EVE PARTY with THE GROWLERS / MY PET SADDLE / ALEX (AM/FM) / AARON CASTLE / DAN (COSMIC KIDS) & MORE @ echo

with:
The Growlers || Listen
My Pet Saddle

and DJs:
Aaron Castle
Alex (AM/FM)
Dan (Cosmic Kids)
Underground DJS

Photos by:
MATADORYTOROS.COM

Hosted by : Scarlett Casanova & PJ Panda Bear

CHAMPAGNE TOAST & BALLOON DROP!

9pm / $10 advance, $12 day of show / 18+

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 01.30.10: 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+

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+

Sunday 12.20.09: 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE @ echo (afternoon show)

5 O’Clock Somewhere

5pm / $5 / All Ages

Wednesday 03.24.10: CYMBALS EAT GUITARS / BEAR IN HEAVEN / FREELANCE WHALES @ echo

Cymbals Eat Guitars || Listen || Watch

Let’s give some respect to Staten Island, home of Cymbals Eat Guitars. It’s a fledgling indie-rock quartet, but Joseph D’Agostino, its 20-year-old guitarist, singer and principal songwriter, seems like a one-man shop. He fits a lot into his music. The songs on the band’s self-released first album, “Why There Are Mountains,” which served as the basis for Thursday’s set, contain ecstatic passion; wordy, lyrical precision; hazy, drifting instrumental interludes; chiming, mechanistic, clean-toned strumming; wild, dirty, stuttering solos. The sources for his inspiration can be obvious — Pavement, Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr. — but so are his ambition and passion. And with “Tunguska,” a new song played near the end of the set, he’s made that most difficult thing in self-consciously smart music: a ballad, one strong enough to make young women near the stage look at him with big eyes. Seeing the band live drove home the full effect of guileless catharsis: Mr. D’Agostino wears himself out for you. (Like a clutch hitter between swings, he ritually composed himself after every song, wiping down his guitar neck, adjusting his capo, taking a deep breath.) – NY Times

with:
Bear in Heaven || Listen
Freelance Whales

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

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+

Friday 03.19.10: echo & Club Underground present HIGH PLACES / NITE JEWEL / DUNES @ echo

High Places || Listen || Watch

“I Was Born” feels like an especially personal statement from High Places. Mary Pearson loves the bassoon, her primary instrument: She spoke about taking classes and teaching lessons when we did a Quit Your Day Job in early ‘08, but this is the first High Places song to feature the instrument. Rob Barber adds a little straight-up guitar, which reminds you he grew up listening to hardcore, punk, and other guitar-based music. Speaking of growing up, the first-person lyrics involve Pearson remembering the day she was born, thinking about being born again, channeling that moment, etc. That, and they self-directed, shot, and edited the beautifully eerie video of themselves alone and washed out in the desert. Adding to the solitary feel, the “I Was Born” single’s out today without a second track, via Thrill Jockey. – Stereogum

with:
Nite Jewel || Listen
Dunes

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+

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+

Saturday 12.12.09: BUST HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR @ echo & echoplex

At this year’s BUST Holiday Craftacular, you can get gifts−and give back. Get down with BUST all day as you browse the hottest handmade wares from over 50 crafty vendors, including handbags, jewelry, clothing, and cards. And while you’re there, you can donate to the L.A. Regional Food Bank. Just bring canned & non-perishable food and drop it in their bin by the entrance. It’s easy and worth so much! Plus, rockin’ DJs, Two Boots pizza, The Grilled Cheese Truck, sweet treats, raffle prizes, goodie bags for the first 250 attendees, giant raffle giveaway, and more! Door: $2

@ Echo & Echoplex
Enter at
1822 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

FMI: BUST LA CRAFTACULAR

10am – 6pm / $2 / All Ages

Tuesday 12.22.09: LA Record presents LOCAL NATIVES / VOXHAUL BROADCAST / CHIEF @ echo

Local Natives || Listen || Watch

Local Natives are a mustachioed crew from Silverlake who made me feel like I’d stumbled onto buried treasure. I guess other people have discovered this treasure too because they played at SXSW this year, so maybe an unburied treasure, but still—what a great surprise. Their stage presence just oozes band, which only enhances their sweet harmonies and tight instrumentals. Best track of the night was “Wide Eyes” from their new album (only available in the UK currently), Gorilla Manor. – LA Record

with:
Voxhaul Broadcast || Listen
Chief

Bring a canned good for charity and get special gift from band

purchase Local Natives single at Origami and get FREE ticket to show

8:30pm / $5 advance, $10 day of show / 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 12.10.09: DEADBOLT / THROW RAG / MOTOCHRIST / BLAGG DAHLIA (from the Dwarves – acoustic set) @ echo

Deadbolt || Listen

There are few names the conjure up as much fascination in the Psychobilly and Rockabilly music scene as that of the creepy dark San Diego act Deadbolt. The sound of Deadbolt doesn’t just hook, it grabs and clutches. Their signature coined sound Voodoobilly draws a lot from early Dick Dale surf rock, the Greasy Sleazy sounds of The Cramps, and the bombastic yet humorous early era of the late Man in Black Johnny Cash. The act formed in early 1988 with the sole idea of breaking out of the stigma of the Goth and Punk scene in San Diego by creating something truly creepy, funny, entertaining, and balls out rude. The signature breakout album that launched them into Psychobilly fame by many accounts was the heavy and gritty album VOODOO TRUCKER.

This album proves to be a breakout album for the “Scariest Band in the World” because it features some of the heaviest and most complex guitar work the act can muster. Most people overlook surf rock riffs, easily dismissed in the cacophony of keyboard centered club tracks. Deadbolt reveals it to be an altogether ripping different sound that grabs hold and refuses to let go. At the first onset, one cant help but get up and groove as R.A. Mclean and Harley Davidson pull headlong with rock solid time tested guitar work. If your interested in trying something outside of the usual Romantic flair with a biting gritty dark edge, these guys are the ticket. – Fangoria

with:
Throw Rag || Listen
Motochrist
Blagg Dahlia (from the Dwarves – Acoustic Set)

8pm / $10 / 18+

Saturday 12.26.09: FUNKY SOLE 9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH CUT CHEMIST @ echo

Sat DEC. 26th is the Funky Sole 9 year anniversary with very special guest CUT CHEMIST!

That’s right, to celebrate Funky Sole’s 9 years of bringin’ the real deal funk sounds we are happy to let ya know that

L.A. record master & dj supreme- CUT CHEMIST will be doing a very special one turntable,mixer & sampler set!

this will be a rare occasion where Funky Sole has an admission price but at only $5 it’s no question.

No worries though, Funky Sole will be Free again starting on jan 2nd 2010.

We hope to see you all there for another milestone in L.A. dj history!

+ FUNKY SOLE RESIDENTS
MUSIC MAN MILES (BREAKESTRA)

CLIFTON (UNDERGROUND)

@ The Echo
1822 sunset blvd
L.A, CA 90026

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / $5 til 1:30am / 21+

Friday 12.18.09: VERY BE CAREFUL / SERGIO MENDOZA Y LA ORKESTA @ echo

Very Be Careful || Listen

At first glance, Very Be Careful hardly lends itself to cross-generational accessibility. Its five Angelenos part ways with the music taste of most urbane thirtysomething musicians by playing a traditional form of Colombian folk music called vallenato. To the uninitiated, this music, the name of which literally translates to “born in the valley,” sounds like a sun-soaked, country cousin of Colombia’s popular dance music, cumbia. Since 1997, the group has independently released five albums, each filled mostly with cover songs, that channel the sound and texture of early vallenato recordings. Meanwhile, the quintet just finished Salad Buey, its sixth record and first of all original material. This output would make sense for traditional Colombian troubadours or nostalgic Latin Rock stars, but not really for a bunch of guys who are often mistaken for an indie-rock band. Yet, along the way, the group has made fans of artists like Joe Strummer and the Kronos Quartet.

Yet, considering that a fair amount of its audience does not understand Spanish, the attraction to VBC is clear—the beat is undeniable. Which perhaps explains why the proverbial dance floor accompanies each of the band’s performances, be it in a hotel basement or at a street festival, at a cramped club or an outdoor rock festival. Neither setting nor language can hinder Very Be Careful’s ability to set a sea of bodies and souls in motion. And really, what’s more universal than that? – Paste Magazine

with:
Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta

Plus DJs:
Patrick Miller
La Dukesa

Live Silkscreening by HIT + RUN

8:30pm / $10 / 18+

Wednesday 12.16.09: Origami Vinyl and Future Sounds Present LILOFEE (Record Release Party) / TWILIGHT SLEEP / ACID GIRLS / WAR TAPES @ echo

Lilofee || Listen (“Runaway”/ “In Flight” 7″ Record Release Party)

San Francisco based electro rock outfit, Lilofee, are set to release a 7” with Echo Park’s Origami Vinyl and Los Angeles based Future Sounds Records on December 1st. The 7” will feature the single, “Runaway” with a b-side, “In Flight”.

Lead track, “Runaway” hums like Kim Wilde’s “Kids In America” with a mix of Blondie’s rapid-fire lyrics in “Rapture” that fits nicely next to contemporaries like Santogold or MIA. “In Flight” is a dreamy melancholy song of a girl who slowly turns into a bird and flies away, set to a musical backdrop of glitchy, radiating magic.

Lilofee’s music is exactly like the dark German fairy tale it is named after, full of angst and love, dripping with affliction and laced with enchantment. Add to that a serious dance beat, a sprinkle of glitter and some remarkably catchy lyrics, and you have Lilofee.

with Special Guests:
Twilight Sleep
Acid Girls
War Tapes || Listen

Plus Origami Vinyl DJs all night!

8:30pm / FREE for 21+, $7 for under 21+ / 18+

Tuesday 12.15.09: Otik Records and The Echo present A Holiday Tribute To Phil Spector and Toy Drive with THE DAMSELLES / EVAN WAY / THE HI HOS / SWEET LITTLE THINGS plus special guests @ echo

The Damselles || watch

The Damselles are essentially a 1960’s style “girl group” supergroup composed of members of some of the east side’s favorite bands, such as Le Switch, The Breakups, and the Henry Clay People. – Radio Free Silverlake

with:
The Hi Hos
Evan Way (of Parson Red Heads)
Sweet Little Things
plus Special Guests

8pm / FREE with packaged toy, $5 without / All Ages

Tuesday 12.08.09: ISGOODMUSIC presents THE FRENCH SEMESTER / THE SPIRES / THE MONTHLIES / SEASONS @ 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
The Spires
The Monthlies
Seasons

and more

8:30pm / $5 / 18+

Saturday 12.05.09: KiDROCKERS presents THE 88 / FLYING TOURBILLON ORCHESTRA @ echo (day show)

with:
The 88 || Listen || Watch
Flying Tourbillon Orchestra || Listen

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 12.27.09: PART TIME PUNKS – SMITHS / MORRISSEY NITE with Guest DJ JOSE MALDONADO (The Sweet And Tender Hooligans)@ 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 12.20.09: PART TIME PUNKS with SAVAGE REPUBLIC + SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY + THE BEATERS @ echo

with:
SAVAGE REPUBLIC
SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY
THE BEATERS

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

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

Sunday 12.13.09: PART TIME PUNKS with THE SLITS / WEAVE! / PUNKY REGGAE DJS @ echo

with:
The Slits || Watch
Weave!

and:
PUNKY REGGAE DJs Boss Harmony & Roy Corduroy!

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

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

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

Thursday 02.11.10: Grand Ole Echo Presents JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE / JOE PUG / THE HI HOS @ echo

Justin Townes Earle || Watch || MP3

Earle’s sophomore record and third overall release, Midnight at the Movies, his best and most thorough work. It’s as if he extracted the emotional transparency and simplicity from his self-released EP, Yuma, and mixed that with the hints of rockabilly and studio finesse of his debut album, The Good Life. The result is a nearly flawless, organic LP. And he makes it all sound so easy on tracks like “They Killed John Henry” and “Halfway to Jackson,” which mainly revolve around some hurried acoustic finger plucking, with a couple of other non-invasive instruments like a harmonica or standup bass to round it all out. Even Earle’s unexpected take on the Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait” sounds as if Paul Westerberg had written it for this very album. – Paste Magazine

with:
Joe Pug
The Hi Hos

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

Wednesday 12.02.09: BUZZBANDS Presents HELEN STELLAR / KAV / SQUARE ON SQUARE / NIGHTMARE AIR @ echo

Helen Stellar
This trio, long one of L.A.’s under-recognized bands, will play its first proper show in more than a year. They’ve been working on a follow-up to 2006’s “A Prayer to Myself,” which collected their three EPs and was released on Vinyl Films, the imprint of Andy Fischer and Cameron Crowe (The Helen Stellar tune “io (This Time Around)” appeared on the soundtrack to Crowe’s movie “Elizabethtown.”).

KAV
The latest project of Kav Sandhu — former guitarist and songwriter in the legendary Happy Mondays — KAV spent substantial time in L.A. this year recording an album and playing (and DJing) clubs. In March, KAV will release its latest batch of dirty, dancy psychedelia, the “Mr. Nice” EP, titled after the autobiography of Howard Marks and featuring Marks himself.His first U.S. release, “The Shake It Like You Hate It” EP, will also be out in early 2010.

Square on Square
The newest musical venture of songwriter Evan Slamka, SOS has made a big impression in the band’s early club outings with its soaring, anthemic rock songs. Slamka, of course, fronted Marjorie Faire, who made one excellent album for Capitol Records (2005’s “Self Help Serenade”) before the band became a victim of major-label shrinkage.

Nightmare Air
This new trio and its agitated (but somehow melodic) noise-rock is the brainchild of two members of Film School, guitarist Dave Dupuis and drummer James Smith. The band’s first EP is due Dec. 1.

FMI: BUZZBANDS.LA

8:30pm / $5 with RSVP, $8 without / 18+

Tuesday 12.01.09: SWORDS OF FATIMA / NEW ROME QUARTET / LIGHTNIN WOODCOCK @ echo

The Swords of Fatima

The Swords of Fatima began in the blink of an eye following a bellydancing DVD overdose by the legendary Buko Pan Guerra (bass player of Lily and The Ladies and The Black Cat Mafia, banjo player from Shadow in the Nightshade and Les Confidentes). Buko is also known as the “Bad Ass Bitch with a Banjo” (coined by the amazing Sean Carnage). Buko also plays banjo inSun Trash!

Amazed by the astounding gyrations of the one and only Sonia and the incredible drumming of Issam Houshan, she began crafting the beginings of what would become the Flamenco Bollywood Disco Punk sound the band would cultivate into the madness it has become today.

Enlisting the help of Nickei Scott, the Bollywood name for Nicki from Popdefect / Project K / The Shards, the two gestated the band’s sound for a month before turning it loose on the world. With the help of legendary Silver Lake Scenester hater Scott Taylor, the Twopergroup has released it’s first CD: Two Days Two Swords Walk Alone At Midnight on the known universe, and given their stripped down equipment and without the hindrances of pesky lead singers and bass players to get in the way… there’s nothing in the world to stop them!

With:
New Rome Quartet
Lightnin Woodcock

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Thursday 12.03.09: LA Record presents MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND / DIRT DRESS / SPIRIT VINE / ALLAH LAS

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band || Watch || MP3

On Saturday night, Seattle indie rockers Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band captured a rare piece of rock history by becoming the first band in the continental U.S. to ever play on an active volcano. The fact that the quintet played the volcano in which they take their name, Washington State’s Mt. St. Helens, made the performance even more unusual as they treated fans/hikers/mountaineers/park rangers to an hour-long set of brand new tracks and favorites from their self-titled debut.

After signing a few autographs for devoted fans, lead singer Benjamin Verdoes and Co. didn’t waste anytime jumping into crowd favorite “Who’s Asking,” the first song off of their celebrated album from earlier this year. The band’s 14-year-old drummer, Marshall Verdoes, was notably relaxed and didn’t seem the least bit rattled by the mountainous challenge. As his older brother stated in between songs: “Who knew that when Marshall came up with this crazy band name when he was 11, one day we’d actually get a chance to play here?”

As the two Verdoes brothers kept the groove steady, fellow bandmates Jared Price (bass), Traci Eggleston (keys/vocals), and Matt Dammer (guitar/moog) handled the more quirky, esoteric sounds that give MHSVB their signature feel. After finishing the guitar heavy “Masquerade,” Eggleston (who is married to Benjamin) announced to the crowd that the group would be playing two new songs: “George Clark,” an upbeat rocker with a seemingly looping guitar riff and the more delicate “At Night.” Appropriately for the setting, the latter began with the sound of crickets, bugs, and other insect noises, before Price used a rewired telephone receiver as a microphone. – Spin

with:
Dirt Dress
Spirit Vine || Listen
Allah Las

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

Tuesday 11.17.09: WATTS ENSEMBLE / THE BLASTING COMPANY / DANTE VS ZOMBIES @ echo

Watts Ensemble || Listen

Drummer Brian Watson supposedly launched the Watts Ensemble on a dare, waging whether he could not only write cohesive music for 10 or so players, but to also recruit and retain them. In a city as diverse as L.A., Watson knew they were out there, but the real challenge was where to find them. Months of Craigslist ads (seeking those mutually interested in Stravinsky, Devo and the Coltranes), friend-to-friend references and music store leads steadily built an amalgamated mutt of an outfit, but a smart and sassy one too, and tight as a drum – even though, at times, the Charles Mingus influence is overshadowing. Mostly it’s a blast to see and hear a live, knowledgeable ensemble like this on stage. At times the sounds are low – meandering flutes and winds, soothing-to-nonexistent strings, and just one waning refrain the only connection to the larger piece of work. Then, just like that, the bottom and bass rattle back in, motivated by Mingus’ Pithecanthropus Erectus stumble and inspired by the cinematic hues of Taxi Driver’s nighttime drives. – LA Weekly

with:
The Blasting Company || Listen
Dante Vs Zombies

9pm / FREE / 21+

Friday 12.11.09: CLUB UNDERGROUND with THE CAPSHUNS / BIXBY KNOLLS @ echo

The Capshuns
Bixby Knolls

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+

Monday 12.21.09: Manimal Vinyl Residency – MOONRATS / VOICESVOICES / SISTER CRAYON / CORRIDOR @ echo

Moonrats
VoicesVoices
Sister Crayon
Corridor (w/ members of Indian Jewelry)

plus:
DJ Manimal and films all night

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 12.19.09: FUNKY SOLE MEETS PHILLY’S HOT PEAS AND BUTTA @ echo

FUNKY SOLE MEETS PHILLY’S HOT PEAS & BUTTA PARTY SAT DEC 19TH!

KON (of Kon & Amir)

SKEME RICHARDS || Watch (ROCKSTEADY CREW)

MUSIC MAN MILES ( BREAKESTRA/ROOTODWN)

CLIFTON aka Soft touch (UNDERGROUND)

From the east to the west there are a few djs who cannot help but keep those old raw funky soul sounds on REAL VINYL records alive & in the mix.
This Saturday that’s just what’s going down on the east side of L.A. town!

The 9 year running Funky Sole party is meeting up with Philadelphia’s Hot Peas & Butta party for one night of “i don’t know what that song is but it’s sick”.

Funky Sole’s Music Man Miles & Clifton will be going record for record with Philly’s legendary funk djs Skeme Richards & Kon (of Kon & amir’s on track compilations).funk for the folks & Free @ Echo!

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 12.12.09: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 12.05.09: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 11.28.09: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Saturday 11.21.09: FUNKY SOLE @ echo

with DJs:
Music Man Miles
Clifton AKA Soft Touch

FMI: Funky Sole on Myspace

10pm / FREE / 21+

Tuesday 11.10.09: Aquarium Drunkard presents BISHOP ALLEN / THROW ME THE STATUE / DARWIN DEEZ @ echoplex

Bishop Allen || Listen || Watch

Bishop Allen has broken through to a larger audience than any Brooklyn DIY power-pop duo could be expected to, first by landing the twinkly song “Click, Click, Click, Click” in a camera commercial, then by belting out the ferociously catchy “Middle Management” in the movie Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist. The band’s third LP, Grrr…, is designed to appeal to fans of those two semi-hits; it’s a record full of explosive percussion, scratchy guitars, and fragments of melody that bandleaders Justin Rice and Christian Rudder repeat until they wear down listeners’ resistance. Much of Grrr… ventures pretty far into the cutesy—as the album’s title suggests—but more often than not, Rice and Rudder’s strong rock-sense gives Bishop Allen’s songs enough kick to overcome their cloying elements. And the pair have a knack for super-charged ditties like “Oklahoma,” “Rooftop Brawl,” and “Cue The Elephants” that can make any given three minutes of the day feel a lot happier. -A.V. Club

with:
Throw Me The Statue
Darwin Deez

ENTER THROUGH THE ECHO AT 1822 SUNSET BLVD!!
Entrance Fee gets you into both shows at the Echo/Echoplex!!

8pm / $8 / all ages

Thursday 12.17.09: KXLU & Filter present FOOL’S GOLD / THE ENTRANCE BAND / TEARIST / DJ JOSH KLINGHOFFER @ echo

Fool’s Gold || Watch

Fool’s Gold’s repeat-ready single “Surprise Hotel” is a gloriously busy bit of life-affirming Afro-pop that takes no issue with demanding that you take it for a beachside bike ride. The band rotates around Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov and also enlists friends and colleagues that include members of Foreign Born and Glasser. On a self-titled debut brimming with them, “Surprise Hotel” is a whirling dervish of a cut delivered with charm, grace, and maximum two-stepability. Light yet bracing polyrhythms anchor an addictive little high-register guitar line that loops and wiggles on and off the beaten path, perfectly coupled with Afro-funk bass stylings and buttery bilingual coos (yes, Top sings in English and Hebrew). With music this immersed in wide-ranging global and regional influence, you’d fear Fool’s Gold’s music might come over as empty pastiche, but no worries. Worldly and warm without being cloying, “Surprise Hotel” more than surprises: it prevails. -Pitchfork

with:
The Entrance Band || Listen
Tearist
DJ Josh Klinghoffer

8:30pm / $10 / 18+

Monday 11.16.09: Myspace Records presents HELLO ASTRONAUT / TAYLOR WARREN / PERFECT LIKE ME / AERODRONE @ echo

Hello Astronaut

with:
Taylor Warren
Perfect Like Me
Aerodrone

8pm / FREE / all ages

Saturday 11.14.09: Echo and Stories Books & Café present AMIRI BARAKA / NYLAEE @ echo

Amiri Baraka

Amiri Baraka, born in 1934, in Newark, New Jersey, USA, is the author of over 40 books of essays, poems, drama, and music history and criticism, a poet icon and revolutionary political activist who has recited poetry and lectured on cultural and political issues extensively in the USA, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe.

With influences on his work ranging from musical orishas such as Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, and Sun Ra to the Cuban Revolution, Malcolm X and world revolutionary movements, Baraka is renowned as the founder of the Black Arts Movement in Harlem in the 1960s that became, though short-lived, the virtual blueprint for a new American theater aesthetics. The movement and his published and performance work, such as the signature study on African-American music, Blues People (1963) and the play Dutchman (1963) practically seeded “the cultural corollary to black nationalism” of that revolutionary American milieu.

Other titles range from Selected Poetry of Amiri Baraka/LeRoi Jones (1979), to The Music (1987), a fascinating collection of poems and monographs on Jazz and Blues authored by Baraka and his wife and poet Amina, and his boldly sortied essays, The Essence of Reparations (2003).

He has been the subject of numerous documentary films including Mario Van Peeble’s Poetic License for The Sundance Channel and St. Clair Bourne’s In Motion: Amiri Baraka. He has also appeared in dozens of films including, most recently, M.K. Asante, Jr’s award-winning documentary The Black Candle.

with:
NYLAEE

5pm / $10 / All Ages

Friday 11.27.09: Aquarium Drunkard & Club Underground present JAPANDROIDS / SURFER BLOOD @ echo

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

with:
Surfer Blood

8pm / $10 / 18+

Wednesday 11.18.09: Web In Front & KROQ Present RADARS TO THE SKY / LE SWITCH / MARVELOUS TOY / THE HAPPY CASUALTIES @ echo

Radars To The Sky || Watch

In a set also peppered with such ‘classic’ material (some of which will reappear on the new album) as “I Might,” “Zurich,” and “Victoria,” Radars offered a glimpse into their new direction as a band since the departure of guitarist Seamus Simpson in January (Simpson is now working with the excellent Thailand)—dense, insular and bruising, with just as many nods towards complex indie-rock as there were towards hooky new wave.

Opener “Sharpen Your Teeth” began as a dreamy, slow-motion metallic clash of guitars and keys, which unfurled into the sci-fi bounce of the suite-like, multi-part jangle of “As the Nurses Scurry.” A crucial tension in the music of Radars to the Sky is the tug-of-war between epic, long-form art-rock and crushing, melodic indie; with those two opening songs, the band seemed to be signaling a move in the direction of the former. However, they can still detonate a catchy rock ‘n roll tune when the inclination strikes—“The Apple Never Falls” was all slash and burn guitar kinetics, while “Sergeant,” was a series of stop-start grooves and crunching, anthemic hooks, as well as one of the evening’s strongest tunes.

The highlight of the set, though, may have been the closer, “1624.” A driving song of divebomb guitar swoons and rhythmic surges wrapped within a rumbling new wave dirge, “1624” exemplifies the sound of Radars to the Sky as it is today—a band far more interested in grooves, texture and detail, or as Mouse of Classical Geek Theatre put it, they’re playing “indie rock for the indie rocker.” – Web In Front

with:
Le Switch || Listen
Marvelous Toy || Listen
The Happy Casualties

8:30pm / $7 / 18+

Thursday 11.19.09: DAM-FUNK WITH MASTER BLAZTER / KYLE HALL / HAWTHORNE HEADHUNTERS WITH COULTRAIN / JIMI JAMES / FUNKMOSPHERE DJS @ echo

DaM-FunK || Listen (LIVE)
with Master Blazter

As an artist, producer and DJ, Dam (pronounced “dame”) might have resurrected the genre of boogie, which got big in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as electronic instruments and disco smoothed out funk’s grit, but his songs are also influenced by Chicago house, experimental electronic music and the slow roll of ’90s gangsta rap.

The 38-year-old’s compositions are full of blown-out synthesizers, thwapping drum machines and vocodered vocals, all wrapped in a thick purple fog. It’s the kind of stuff that would blare from the stereo of a homemade spaceship. – LA Times

with:
DaM-FunK || Listen (DJ set)
Kyle Hall
Hawthorne Headhunters with Coultrain
Jimi James

Plus Funkmosphere DJ’s:
Billy Goods
DJ Randy Watson
Laroj

8pm / $10 / 18+

Wednesday 12.09.09: Winston Calling: A Rock & Comedy Benefit featuring TIM AND ERIC / BOB ODENKIRK / BRIAN POSEHN / DAVE LOVERING @ ECHO

for Baby Winston Bertrand hosted by Black Francis

With:

Tim and Eric (music set)
Bob Odenkirk
Brian Posehn
Dave Lovering (magic act)

… more to be added!

Save Money and buy a ticket for both The Echo and Echoplex shows for $35

7pm / $20 advance, $25 day of show / all ages

Friday 12.04.09: Club Underground and Echo Present- THE SHYS / CASTLEDOOR / BLACK HOLLIES @ echo

The Shys || Listen || Watch

The Shys have taken the crunchy guitars and heavy, fuzz-filled solos, and added more traditionally poppy group choruses and catchy melodies to come out with gritty rock that is immediately accessible. This record thrives on explosive dynamics. “The Hangman” opens with blazing guitars, only to drop them out completely two seconds later. “Savior” is defined by its pounding staccato drums and guitars, all before a rather melodic refrain of “I feel just like I found my savior.” Both tracks offer drastic musical breakdowns at key points, offering a powerful, calm-before-the-storm quality.The sing-along choruses of “She’s Already Gone” and “Mercy” echo Oasis, proving to be highly catchy, radio-ready rock, though the Shys stand as a grittier, gutsier version. – NPR

with:
Castledoor || Listen
The Black Hollies

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

Monday 11.30.09: SEASONS / DOWNTOWN/UNION / JACK WILSON JR. / REGRETS AND BRUNETTES @ 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:
Downtown/Union
Jack Wilson Jr.
Regrets and Brunettes

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Wednesday 11.11.09: Ninja Tune Presents BLOCKHEAD with DJ SIGNIFY / AMPLIVE of ZION / YPPAH / DERU @ echo

Blockhead || Listen || Watch || MP3 (promo code= ninja20)

Blockhead grew up in downtown New York City. The son of an artist, early on he found his passion was for music. A fan of a whole range of sounds, especially hip-hop, Blockhead steadily built a tremendous collection of tapes and later CDs from innumerable artists. After a brief stint as a rapper, he realized his calling was behind the boards and not on the mic, and from there he began to produce beats.

Since making that decision, he’s been kept pretty busy. Blockhead produced 9 tracks on Aesop Rock’s critically acclaimed album Labor Days. Additionally he produced half the tracks on Aesop’s follow up EP, Daylight. Blockhead has also been working with other indie giants such as Slug of Atmosphere, Murs, Mike Ladd and SA Smash. He also found time to complete a break beat album entitled Blockhead’s Broke Beats, with 10 hard hitting instrumental tracks, which was released on Mush Records, the US home of cLOUDDEAD. And just to prove that he ain’t all about art-rap, Blockhead produced 2 tracks on the newly crowned Skribble Jam Battle Champ, MacLethal’s full-length album. Oh, and the guy does comedy, too. He’s a member of the Party Fun Action Committee who’s hip-hop/comedy debut album was recently released on the legendary Def Jux. And what was the other thing? Oh yeah, exquisite, emotional instrumental hip hop on the one and only Ninja Tune…

with:
DJ Signify
Amplive of Zion
Yppah
Deru

8:30pm / $10 / 18+

Sunday 11.08.09: KIDROCKERS with HENRY CLAY PEOPLE / SILVERSUN PICKUPS @ Echo (Afternoon show)

The Henry Clay People || Listen || Watch

Silversun Pickups || Listen || Watch

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 Seth Herzog & 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 11.01.09: DIA DE LA CUMBIA – CHICOA / CASA DE CALACAS / CONJUNTO NUEVA OLA @ Echo

with:
Chicoa || Listen
Casa De Calacas || Listen
Conjunto Nueva Ola

Plus DJ
Naco Electrico

4pm / $5 / All Ages

Tuesday 11.10.09: 60 WATT KID / BEST COAST / GOWNS / TEARIST @ echo

60 Watt Kid || Listen || Watch (Record Release Show)

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:
Best Coast || Listen
Gowns || Listen
Tearist

Entrance Fee gets you into both shows at the Echo/Echoplex!!

8:30pm / $8 / all ages

Monday 12.14.09: Manimal Vinyl Residency – WE ARE THE WORLD / RAINBOW^ARABIA / JESSICA 6 / LOVING THUNDER @ echo

We Are The World
Rainbow^Arabia || Listen
Jessica 6 || Listen
Loving Thunder

plus:
DJ Goddollars & Guests

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Monday 12.07.09: Manimal Vinyl Residency – POLYAMOROUS AFFAIR / ZAZA / TEARIST / LACO$TE @ echo

The Polyamorous Affair || Listen
Zaza || Listen
Tearist
Laco$te || Listen

plus
DJ Manimal and Films All Night!

8:30pm / FREE / 21+

Friday 11.13.09: Echo, Club Underground and KCRW present BOMBA ESTEREO / THE WALLBURDS @ echo

Bomba Estereo || Watch

Cumbia sicodélica is hardly a genre that overtly appeals to the mainstream. And yet Bomba Estereo, the Colombian duo that merges its country’s folkloric music with electronica, hip-hop and reggae, is turning plenty of heads with its song “Fuego,” the exhilarating lead single from its debut album, “Blow Up,” released in July. With as much swagger as an eight-member rap crew, petite singer/MC Liliana Saumet announces Bomba Estereo’s mission statement over a throbbing beat produced by her creative partner, Simon Mejia, and playfully refers to both Colombia’s burgeoning dance culture and traditional attire in the same breath. Though it’s likely to stay labeled as alternative-and thus remain off the commercial Latin airwaves-radio would do well to take a chance on this song, especially in the post-reggaetón programming landscape. – Billboard

with:
The Wallburds

8pm / $10 / 18+

Saturday 10.31.09: DEAD MAN’S BONES @ echo

Dead Man’s Bones || Listen || Watch

Some records are an absolute void of interesting review angles, forcing us critics to do, like, actual work. Dead Man’s Bones is not one of those records. Fact: Indie dreamboat and RealDoll lover portrayer Ryan Gosling is one-half of Los Angeles band Dead Man’s Bones. Wow! Fact: Dead Man’s Bones’ self-titled debut is a concept album vaguely about supernatural themes, released less than a month before Halloween! Gee! Fact: The vast majority of Dead Man’s Bones utilizes a real-life, full-on children’s choir, recruited from hipster kid academy the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. TILT TILT TILT! Step aside Girls, we’ve got a new backstory winner for 2009.

It’s a credit to the record then that none of these angles turn out to be easy nooses by which to hang the project. The one triggering most alarm bells, of course, is Gosling’s involvement, since everyone knows that movie-star bands tend to range from amateurishly terrible to inoffensively generic. Well, I’ll dispel that preconception straight away– Dead Man’s Bones is a really, really weird record, a project where the musical reference points at least indicate that Gosling and his co-conspirator Zach Shields have record collections that go deeper than an iPod nano.

The other two angles– spooky themes and a kid’s choir– are both symptoms of the record’s most endearing quality, a surplus of ideas and a willingness to combine them in ways that are vibrant, sloppy, and fun. Though the record begins with a pretentious spoken-word introductory track (kind of a necessary concept-album evil) followed by its worst song (the Ambien-overdosed and over-serious “Dead Hearts”), the remainder of the project is slapdash, giddy, and surprisingly dense. Like an old Elephant 6 record, Dead Man’s Bones has a lo-fi warts-and-all feel that’s less lazy aesthetic than charmingly handmade, even more charismatic for it’s unevenness. – Pitchfork

6pm / $20 / All Ages

Friday 10.30.09: DEAD MANS BONES @ echo

Dead Man’s Bones || Listen || Watch

Some records are an absolute void of interesting review angles, forcing us critics to do, like, actual work. Dead Man’s Bones is not one of those records. Fact: Indie dreamboat and RealDoll lover portrayer Ryan Gosling is one-half of Los Angeles band Dead Man’s Bones. Wow! Fact: Dead Man’s Bones’ self-titled debut is a concept album vaguely about supernatural themes, released less than a month before Halloween! Gee! Fact: The vast majority of Dead Man’s Bones utilizes a real-life, full-on children’s choir, recruited from hipster kid academy the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. TILT TILT TILT! Step aside Girls, we’ve got a new backstory winner for 2009.

It’s a credit to the record then that none of these angles turn out to be easy nooses by which to hang the project. The one triggering most alarm bells, of course, is Gosling’s involvement, since everyone knows that movie-star bands tend to range from amateurishly terrible to inoffensively generic. Well, I’ll dispel that preconception straight away– Dead Man’s Bones is a really, really weird record, a project where the musical reference points at least indicate that Gosling and his co-conspirator Zach Shields have record collections that go deeper than an iPod nano.

The other two angles– spooky themes and a kid’s choir– are both symptoms of the record’s most endearing quality, a surplus of ideas and a willingness to combine them in ways that are vibrant, sloppy, and fun. Though the record begins with a pretentious spoken-word introductory track (kind of a necessary concept-album evil) followed by its worst song (the Ambien-overdosed and over-serious “Dead Hearts”), the remainder of the project is slapdash, giddy, and surprisingly dense. Like an old Elephant 6 record, Dead Man’s Bones has a lo-fi warts-and-all feel that’s less lazy aesthetic than charmingly handmade, even more charismatic for it’s unevenness. – Pitchfork

7pm / $20 / All Ages

Friday 11.20.09: CLUB UNDERGROUND with POLLYN / DIVISIBLE @ echo

With:
Pollyn || Listen
Divisible

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 11.04.09: LOW VS DIAMOND / MELEE / VOXHAUL BROADCAST @ echo

Low Vs. Diamond || Listen || Watch

The band, made up of five members from five different big American cities, seem to be kind of like these characters, once they’ve sorted out their personality conflicts, bringing to their songs very stable matter and also enabling it to be interpreted in a way that are completely alive and pulsating all over the place. Oddly enough, Field resembles The Killers’ Brandon Flowers, at times in his vocal delivery, and one tries hard to denounce any sort of suppositions or leaps of definition, but the sound of it – on this self-titled debut – could be exactly what the currently wayward Vegas band were intending when they wrote “Sam’s Town.” This is twistedly how they would have liked it to have sounded – with the punch in the gut of blue-collar American life rolling by the eyes of all those hard-working people who’ve never known them in mirrors without the rings under them, people who might not be getting all of the happiness out of their lives that they’d dreamed up so long ago, but the hardship is holding off fairly well and that’s an accomplishment unto itself. It’s a point in a life’s soundtrack when there’s no need for synthetic sounds – just real piano, real fucking guitar and real, chill-inducing words that settle us into a recounting of a life that ticks loudly, with its triumphs, with its failures and grievances, with its unsustainable pace. Field sings, “Time can’t stop the soul/I became the void you couldn’t know,” during the tune “Song We Sang Away” and it’s an idea – the first part about the resiliency of the soul – that is at the heart of everything the band makes and that unknowable void is what makes it all as enthralling as it is. – Daytrotter

with:
Melee || Listen
Voxhaul Broadcast || Listen

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

Monday 11.23.09: FANFARLO / FREE LANCE WHALES @ echo

Fanfarlo || Listen || Watch

Their upbeat attitude totally infused their music, and then the crowd. It came through in trumpet, melodicas, keyboards, drums, melodic bass and passionate dreamy stories sung by Simon Balthazar. Now, more then a year later, comes Reservoir, the first album from Fanfarlo. It was worth the wait. Lyrically, Reservoir reveals itself with each listen. The opening cut, “I Am A Pilot,” I believe is about Howard Hughes and has these lyrics: If I stay in this room / They’ll remember me for my youth If I stay in this room / They’ll remember me for my youth. If I give it all up / But kid I’m a pilot / It’s all I believe in / You can ride on my back. My adoration for this band grows with every repeat. The melodies are full of emotion and the way the songs hang together is delicate and powerful. – NPR

with:
Freelance Whales

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

Sunday 12.06.09: PART TIME PUNKS with COLD CAVE / NITE JEWEL / DJ TIM BURGESS @ echo

with:
Cold Cave
Nite Jewel || Listen

and:
guest DJ Tim Burgess (THE CHARLATANS)

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

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

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

Sunday 11.29.09: PART TIME PUNKS – FACTORY RECORDS NITE @ echo

with guest DJ Tristes Tropiques

plus resident dj Michael Stockspinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 11.22.09: PART TIME PUNKS – BRITPOP NITE @ echo

with guest DJ Larry (from UNDERGROUND)

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

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Sunday 11.01.09: PART TIME PUNKS with FANCY SPACE PEOPLE / THE BAMBI SLAM / GARBAJ KAETZ @ echo

with:
Fancy Space People
The Bambi Slam
Garbaj Kaetz

resident dj Michael Stock spinning mutant disco * Postpunk * indiepop

FMI:
Part Time Punks on Myspace

10pm / $5 / 18+

Thursday 11.12.09: F*CK BUTTONS / GROWING @ echo

Fuck Buttons || Listen || Watch

Listening to the 7″ version of the opening track from Fuck Buttons upcoming Tarot Sport, I’m tempted to say that the UK noise-rockers learned something in all the time they spent on the road following their excellent 2008 album Street Horrsing. Having caught them a couple of times during that st