Moses Sumney- Everlasting Sigh
Tonight (3/31) is the last night of Moses Sumney’s residency at Bootleg Theater where he is playing with a few other bands for FREE. Definitely worth checking out.
Apr 012014
Mar 222014
Radars to the Sky- You Take it To Heart
This video of Radars to the Sky is from the Knock and Rock project where bands go door to door trying to get strangers to let them play in their house. In the video above, the band finds a house with a family of musicians and the result is really sweet.
Radars to the Sky are playing El Cid on March 22.
Mar 212014
Kraftwerk- Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk is currently on tour performing “The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8” at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. There are eight 3-D multimedia performances, each highlighting one of their albums. Last night I saw them for the album, Trans Europe Express, but the majority of the show consisted of their greatest hits, including “Autobahn”, “The Model”, “The Robots”, “Tour de France”, “Radioactivity”, “Computer Love” (sampled in Coldplay’s Talk) and “Musique Non-Stop”. Though the majority of their albums were released between 1970 and 1981, their influence on a wide range of electronic music, from the past continuing into today, was evident throughout their performance.
One of the most interesting aspects of the show was witnessing the group’s prescience as cultural observers, as well as musicians. When the lyrics to “Computer World” began flashing across the screen behind the band describing the elements of a “computer world”, it was incredible to see the relevance to present day. Issues of government spying, as well as the computer’s role in “business, numbers, money, people” and “crime, travel, communication, entertainment” in a song written over thirty years ago, never felt so current.
Here’s a video taken by an audience member of “Numbers/Computer World” when Kraftwerk played at the Tate Modern (the visuals are a little off because of the 3-D).
Mar 132014
Boogie Down Productions- My Philosophy
Fresh for ‘88 and 2014, KRS-One is playing at the Gas Lamp in Long Beach-tonight (3/13/14)
Mar 082014
Black English (Formerly NO)- What’s Your Name
NO based out of Echo Park-(now Black English) is playing at the Troubadour tonight (3/8).
Feb 012014
Japanther- Bumpin’ Rap Tapes
Japanther are playing The Lyric Theatre tonight 2/1.
Jan 252014
Jake Bugg- Seen It All
Only 19 years old, and already English artist Jake Bugg has had an album reach number one on the UK Albums Chart (Jake Bugg 2012). His most recent, Shangri La, was released in November last year and was produced by Rick Rubin. He’s often compared to Bob Dylan but there is a lot of variety in his music as well as his influences.
This song is off his self-titled album. He’s playing tonight (1/24) at The Wiltern before moving on to Dallas and then Houston, Texas.
Jan 102014
From the press release:
Phranc, best known as The All-American Jewish Lesbian folksinger, is also a self-described “Cardboard Cobbler,” who fashions cardboard, paper, gouache, and thread into life-size, three-dimensional replications of everyday objects. As a teenager, Phranc attended The Feminist Studio Workshop at The Woman’s Building in Los Angeles, but she traces her obsession with cardboard back to childhood. She says, “From the time I sat in my first refrigerator box submarine, I knew the cardboard sea was for me.” Her first exhibition at Craig Krull Gallery, Phranc of California (Summer of 2011), consisted of hand-crafted beach paraphernalia, such as swimsuits, inflatable rafts, umbrellas and beach balls. For her new exhibition, Winter, Phranc will exhibit painted paper and cardboard snowshoes, ski sweaters, ski pants, lift tickets, and even a shiny new red sled! In these trompe l’oeil re-creations of nostalgic winter items, Phranc remarks upon the reconstruction and idealization of memories.
These whimsical cardboard constructions are great. This show is on view until 1/11/14.
Curious about Phranc’s music?- check out this video-
Nov 122013
Cults- Abducted
Cults are playing at the El Rey Theater tonight (11/12) with SACCO and Mood Rings.
Nov 072013
Mazzy Star- Halah
Mazzy Star has a new album out Seasons of Your Day. My favorite is still their first album, She Hangs Brightly, which the song above is from. The band is probably best known for the song “Fade Into You”, from their second album, which was used in pretty much everything.
They are playing at The Wiltern tonight (11/7).