Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark- Electricity
This is from OMD’s eponymous 1980 album and was also their debut single.
The band are opening for the Barenaked Ladies at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles along with Howard Jones on Sunday 7/24/16.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros- Man on Fire
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros are playing a free show on Saturday (7/9/16) outside the Annenberg Center for Photography in Century City for KCRW’s Sound in Focus series.
RSVP to get tickets
Alice Bag Band- Gluttony
The above video is from the Penelope Spheeris’ LA punk documentary The Decline of Western Civilization and features the band’s 1980 performance.
Lead singer and LA native Alice Bag just released her debut self titled album this month and is having a record release party on Saturday 7/2/16 at The Echo with Generacion Suicida and Fatty Cake and the Puff Pasties opening.
For more information on Alice Bag, check out her website or this excellent article from Remezcla.
The Roots- How I Got Over
This song is from The Roots 2010 album of the same name and was used on the film Night Catches Us, which The Roots scored.
The Roots are playing at The Novo in Los Angeles with special guests T.I., The Internet, and more on Saturday June 25th, 2016. This is part of the BET Experience, which has numerous paid and free events all weekend at LA Live.
Mavis Staples + Jeff Tweedy- You Are Not Alone (Acoustic)
This song is an acoustic version of the title track from Mavis Staples’ 2010 album, which was produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. The song was also written by Tweedy.
Mavis Staples has had a long career. She started off singing with her father and two sisters in The Staple Singers. They were active in the civil rights movement (her father was friends with Martin Luther King Jr.) and had multiple hits in the 1970′s including the songs Respect Yourself and I’ll Take You There. Her solo career includes recording two albums produced by Prince (in 1989 and 1993), a concept album produced by Ry Cooder, We’ll Never Turn Back (2007), and most recently releasing, Livin on a High Note (2016), which features production by M. Ward and songs written by Nick Cave, Neko Case, and Justin Vernon.
For more information on her life, as well as some wonderful quotes and anecdotes from Mavis Staples herself, check out this Guardian article from this year- https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/12/mavis-staples-i-often-think-what-would-have-happened-if-id-married-bob-dylan
Mavis Staples is opening for Bob Dylan at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles tonight 6/16/16.
Sheila E- The Glamorous Life
This song, from Sheila E.’s 1984 debut album of the same name, was written by Prince. The two worked together most famously in the 1980′s when she sang on his single Erotic City and opened for him on the Purple Rain tour. She also served as drummer and musical director for Prince’s back up band on the Sign of the Times, Black Album and Lovesexy tours. She would continue working with Prince after this period off and on throughout his career. It was announced this week that she will be one of the performers in the Prince tribute at the 2016 BET Awards on Sunday, June 26.
Sheila E. has also worked with other famous musicians including Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, and Ringo Starr. Her father is percussionist Pete Escovedo, Together they will be playing in his orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, June 12th, for The Playboy Jazz Festival.
Trashcan Sinatras- Obscurity Knocks (acoustic version)
This is the acoustic version of Trashcan Sinatras’ biggest hit from their 1990 album Cake. The Scottish band is on tour for their 2016 album Wild Pendulum and are playing at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on Saturday 6/4/16.
Peter Bjorn and John- Nothing to Worry About
This song is from Peter Bjorn and John’s 2009 album Living Thing. They are back and touring with their new album Breakin’ Point, releasing on June 10.
Tonight (5/5/16) the band is playing a sold out show at The Echo in Los Angeles.
Guns N’ Roses- Welcome to The Jungle
This song is from Guns N’ Roses 1987 debut album Appetite for Destruction. The band has recently reunited and will be playing Coachella this weekend (4/15/16) and next. Axl Rose’s serpentine moves, however, will not be present for the show. He broke a bone in his foot and will be borrowing Dave Grohl’s throne from his injury for the performances.
DMX- Party Up (Up in Here)
This song is from DMX’s 1999 album …And Then There Was X and was his most successful single. DMX has had some serious ups and downs over the last decade and a half since this song was released. He had a cameo in Chris Rock’s 2014 film Top Five and guest starred on a recent episode of the sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, but in February of this year he was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a hotel parking lot.
He’s doing better now though, and is on tour making a stop at The Novo (formerly Club Nokia) in Los Angeles on Sunday, 4/10/16 to play a $15 show.