Every month I listen to the majority of bands/musicians that play in Los Angeles before deciding which shows to recommend. Songs are then added to a playlist for that month. If there are a lot of good bands, it gets split into two. These are September’s selections.
Bleached- Hard to Kill
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (10/10-10/14/19)-
Thursday
Artist Sadie Barnette and her father Rodney Barnette will be celebrating their shared birthday at ICA LA, with an art talk, DJ, and a performance by Global Street Dance Masquerade- taking place along with her newest project The New Eagle Creek Saloon, a tribute to her father’s bar, Eagle Creek Saloon, the first black-owned gay bar in San Francisco
Downtown LA’s Art Walk returns for its monthly event with lots of galleries in the area staying open late
Snow Tha Product is performing at the El Rey Theatre
Numb.er are opening for Drahla at The Echo
Mega Bog, L.A. Takedown and Spookey Ruben are performing free at Zebulon with Dent May DJ’ing
Friday
ArtNight Pasadena returns for its biannual event with a free evening of live music, performances, and free admission to museums and galleries in Pasadena. There will also be free shuttles to take you around to the various locations.
Hassan Hajjaj: My Rockstars Experimental- Live has the Moroccan phototographer, designer and filmmaker, creating sets and clothes from his portraits and videos- this time for the stage of The Ford and including live performances by musicians Afrikan Boy, Bumi, Simo Lagnawi, Marques Toliver, Gail Ann Dorsey and Omar Offendum at The Ford. My Rockstars Experimental, Volume I was shown at LACMA in 2013.
Adam Melchor is opening for singer dodie at the Hollywood Palladium
Dan Luke and the Raid are opening for The Parlor Mob at the Bootleg Theater
Saturday
Bleached are playing at the Lodge Room with Dude York and Lunch Lady
Psychic Twin is having a free single release party show at Gold Diggers with Drum & Lace opening
Culver City Arts District is hosting its annual Art Walk and Roll, a free festival with live music, food trucks, and more, plus a chance to see all the art shows happening in the area.
If you are in Culver City, head to Luis de Jesus Los Angeles to hear artist Laura Krifka discuss her paintings currently on view at the gallery
2019 Eyeworks Festival of Experimental Animation has three different programs starting at 3pm at REDCAT
Arto Lindsay is playing at Zebulon featuring Rodrigo Amarante, along with Ofir Ganon playing solo/duo with Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear)
Joywave are opening for Bastille at The Greek Theatre
Mereba is performing at the Ford Theatre with We Are King
Sunday
At Fowler Museum on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings, to accompany its exhibition Through Positive Eyes, seven HIV-positive Angelenos known as the Los Angeles Through Positive Eyes Collective will share their photographs and personal narratives (today beginning at 1pm)
The Dead End Kids Club is having its 1st Fall Ball at The Echo with performances by Z Berg, Ryan Ross, Palm Springsteen and Dan Keyes
Highland Park is having its first Oktoberfest at The Hi Hat with music by West Coast Prost, Oktoberfest inspired food and of course, German Bier
Andrew Combs is playing at the Bootleg Theater with Harrison Whitford and Austin Manuel
Monday
Temples are playing at the Echoplex with Trupa Trupa
Kishi Bashi is performing at The Regent Theater with Takenobu opening
The Spirit of the Beehive are opening for Ride at the Teragram Ballroom
Weirdo Night is happening at Zebulon with performances by Dynasty Handbag, Marawa The Amazing, Casey Jane Ellison and Earth Girl Helen Brown
Big K.R.I.T. – Energy
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (10/3-10/6/19)-
Thursday
Porches is performing at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
Artist Hannah Black is giving a free lecture at Hammer Museum
PDC Design Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, SUPERSHOW, featuring the work of Los Angeles-based artists Fallen Fruit (David Allen Burns and Austin Young) is having a reception tonight from 5-10pm
For The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA’s third installment of the Return to Exile series it will celebrate Amiri Baraka’s Jihad Records and The Black Arts Repertory Theatre with a pop-up presentation featuring an audio and ephemera archive of jazz poetics LPs, original prints, and rare books, and culminating in a live read of Baraka’s 1964 play The Slave.
Mercury Rev and Beth Orton will be performing Bobbie Gentry’s The Delta Sweete at the Palace Theatre
Adia Victoria is opening for Tank and the Bangas at the Fonda Theatre
Iron and Wine are performing with Calexico at the Orpheum Theater
Joan Shelley is performing at the Moroccan Lounge
Friday
Big K.R.I.T. is performing at the Belasco Theater
Constitution Happy Hour returns to Hammer Museum with a discussion of the Treason Clause with Loyola law school professor David Glazier and drinks available for purchase
Metro Art is hosting a free screening in Union Station of Song of the Sea with an introduction by artist, animation director and filmmaker, Lyndon J Barrois.
Norton Simon Museum is free from 5-8pm the first Friday of the month and tonight you can see Hitchcock’s Lifeboat as well as opening night of the exhibition By Day & by Night: Paris in the Belle Époque
Vivian Girls are playing with Great Grandpa and Reckling at The Regent Theater
Ruby Haunt are playing a free show at Zebulon with LFZ
Tangerine and Krost are playing along with Kid Hastings at Non Plus Ultra
Seven Saturdays are playing a free show at Gold Diggers with Layton
Saturday
Artist and filmmaker Rhys Ernst will be in conversation with LGBTQ film historian Jenni Olson after a screening of Something Special (aka Willy/Milly) 1986- “a whimsical teen comedy about a teenage girl who wants to be a boy” at Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater ($9)
Roy Kinsey is performing at Gold Diggers
Michael Jang will be signing his photography book Enter the Jang at Arcana Books
There’s an opening party at Fowler Museum for Through Positive Eyes, “a large-scale photography and storytelling project created in collaboration with more than 130 people living with HIV/AIDS”. The celebration includes a discussion with co-curator David Gere followed by drinks and a DJ set. (free)
Cat Scan are having an album release party at The Hi Hat with Traps PS and Susan
Rüfüs Du Sol are playing at Los Angeles State Historic Park with Bob Moses and Lastlings
John Digweed is performing at Exchange LA
Blanck Mass is performing at Zebulon with Helm and Steve Hauschildt
Sunday
CicLAvia returns with Heart of LA, shutting streets to car traffic in Westlake, Chinatown, DTLA, and Boyle Heights.
If you are downtown for CicLAvia grab some mole at La Feria de los Moles in Grand Park
Odd Ark in Highland Park is having an Artist’s Swap Meet in their parking lot
Los Angeles-based artist Analia Saban will be discussing her work with the Founder and Executive Director of The Mistake Room, Cesar Garcia, and her latest edition made in collaboration with Mixografia where the talk is taking place
The “surrealist variety show” The Butterfly Cabinet, curated by Guy Blakeslee is free and happening at Zebulon
Deadbeat Beat- You Lift Me Up
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (9/26-9/29/19)-
Thursday
Bombay Bicycle Club are playing at The Mayan with Blaenavon
Ghostly is celebrating its 2oth Anniversary with performances by Gold Panda, Geotic, Mary Lattimore, Shigeto, and DJ SV4 at The Regent Theater
Pop Up Magazine’s “live magazine show” returns to The Theatre at the Ace Hotel, this time with the theme The Escape Issue in collaboration with The California Sunday Magazine. Performers include comedians Jordan Carlos and Chris Duffy, poet Sarah Kay, photographers Lucas Foglia and Lisette Poole, and more
Nightmares on Wax and Luke Vibert are DJ’ing at 1720
Pacer, Simulcast, and Devon Williams are opening for Stolen Jars at The Satellite
Thursday-Saturday
Lambda Lit Fest Los Angeles celebrates LGBTQ writers and includes tons of free programming throughout the city including performances and workshops. A day long celebration on Saturday at Pico Union Project concludes the programming with a presentation by Tegan and Sara from their new memoir, performances by artists including Phranc, Dynasty Handbag and Tommy Pico, and a karaoke party.
Friday
Deadbeat Beat are playing at All Star Lanes with Gum Country, Shells, and Dummy
Van Nuys Arts Festival is taking place at the civic center with live music, interactive art, a 3D maze, and more- all free
Ty Segall & Freedom Band are continuing their residency at Teragram Ballroom– tonight playing his new album First Taste and his 2014 album Manipulator. DMBQ are opening.
De Lux are opening for Friendly Fires at The Fonda Theatre
Hot Chip are playing with Holy Fuck at Shrine Expo Hall
Saturday
Blum & Poe are screening the LA premiere of Olompali: A Hippie Odyssey outdoors behind the gallery with a performance by folk band The Storytellers (free but RSVP required)
Deanna and Ed Templeton are signing their books at Arcana Books
The 38th Annual Watts Towers Day of The Drum Festival is taking place with free music and dance performances all day
Hammer Museum is having a free opening night party for the new Lari Pittman exhibition, which will include live DJs, drinks, and food trucks, as well as late night access to the gallery
The Berries, Justus Proffit, Alms, and Dummy are playing at The Hi Hat
Sunflower Bean, Ella Vos, and Ximena Sarinana are performing free as part of Tastes & Sounds Fall Crawl on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena
Deadbeat Beat are playing a free show in Long Beach at 4th Street Vine
Tegan and Sara are performing and telling stories to celebrate their new memoir at The Orpheum Theatre
Sunday
Artist Lari Pittman will be in conversation with curator Connie Butler at Hammer Museum to discuss his recently opened retrospective
At ICA LA’s free open house, celebrate new exhibitions No Wrong Holes: Thirty Years of Nayland Blake and Sadie Barnette: The New Eagle Creek Saloon and from 2-3pm artist Nayland Blake will be in conversation with curator Jamillah James
Events continue at Watts Towers Arts Centers Campus with The 43rd Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival
Michael Kiwanuka is opening for Gary Clark Jr. at the Hollywood Bowl
Pond are playing at The Fonda Theatre with Maraschino opening
Every month I listen to the majority of bands/musicians that play in Los Angeles before deciding which shows to recommend. Songs are then added to a playlist for that month. If there are a lot of good bands, it gets split into two. These are August’s selections.
Jess Cornelius- No Difference
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (9/19-9/22/19)-
Thursday
Kilo Kish will be performing free (with registration) at Dr. Martens Studio City Store in Studio City
LACMA CEO Michael Govan will be in conversation with artist Thomas Joshua Cooper at LACMA about the exhibition he co-curated-Thomas Joshua Cooper: The World’s Edge (free but ticket required)
CAAM and Art + Practice are hosting a program on contemporary art writing with panelists- author Lynell George; Carolina Miranda, Staff Writer at the Los Angeles Times; and Lindsay Preston Zappas, founder, publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles (Carla); moderated by Harry Gamboa Jr., artist, author, and educator. (free)
Ex Hex are playing at Zebulon with Seth Bogart (of Hunx and his Punx) and Rose Dorn
Celebrate the work of musician Daniel Johnston (who sadly passed away on 9/11/19) at The Hi Hat with Haunted Summer, Mirrorball, Nick Thorburn, Daniel Brummel, and more, performing covers of his songs with proceeds going to The SIMS Foundation which helps musicians and their families cope with mental illness.
Sita Bhaumik, artist, writer, curator, and co-founder of the People’s Kitchen Collective; Dani Burrows, curator of the Politics of Food series at the Delfina Foundation; John Echevestes, CEO, La Plaza de Cultural y Artes and La Plaza Cocina; and Laura Fried, founding executive director and curator of Active Cultures will be discussing the intersection of art and food at ICA LA before the opening of CURRENT:LA FOOD, their public art triennial in October (free). The panel discussion will be moderated by Asuka Hisa, director of learning and engagement and co-curator, CURRENT: LA FOOD and Danielle Brazell, general manager, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
Daniel Lanois will be performing a free live show with his band Heavy Sun at Amoeba Hollywood to celebrate his work on The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2: Original Soundtrack
Friday
UCLA Film & Television Archive is screening exploitation films all weekend at Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater- tonight they are focused on drugs- She Shoulda Said ‘No!'(1949), Narcotic (1933), and Marihuana (1936) ($9)
Tijuana Panthers are playing at The Regent Theater with No Age, The Hurricanes and Mu$ty BoYz
Ty Segall & Freedom Band are continuing their residency at Teragram Ballroom– tonight playing his new album First Taste and his 2014 album Manipulator. DMBQ are opening.
Jazz quartet Broken Shadows will be performing the music of Ornette Coleman at Zebulon
Lower Dens is playing at the Lodge Room
Kamasi Washington is performing at The Theatre at Ace Hotel
There’s a free screening of Captain Marvel on the fantail of Battleship IOWA located on the LA Waterfront in San Pedro
Flying Lotus is playing at The Novo with Brandon Coleman Spacetalker and Salami Rose Joe Louis
Boogarins are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Winter opening
Odd Nights at The Autry continues with live music, drinks, food, art gallery access, a market and more ($5)
Saturday
Jess Cornelius is opening for Cones at the Bootleg Theater
dublab is joining Bedrock LA in Silverlake to celebrated their respective 20th and 10th anniversaries. The fundraising event will include live performances, DJ sets, sound installations, activations, food trucks, drinks, and more. Performers include Shlohmo, Los Retros, Baths, DJ Koala, Peanut Butter Wolf, and many more
The Los Angeles LGBT Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary at The Greek Theatre with entertainment by Sia, Rufus Wainwright, Jennifer Lewis, Lily Tomlin, Tig Notaro and more
The Black Madonna is headlining a night of DJs at 451 Gin Ling Way in Chinatown
Orchin and Storefront Church are opening for Hatchie at the Echoplex
Sunday
Barnsdall Art Center is hosting an Art and Craft Fair, a nice way to support local artists and check out some art (free)
dublab continues its anniversary celebration at Grand Park’s Sunday Sessions, a free afternoon DJ dance party
Stone Irr is performing at The Love Song with Daniel Talton
Tweens and Total Heat are opening for Sheer Mag at Teragram Ballroom
Blackalicious is performing at The Roxy Theatre with Roots & Tings, and Bukue One
The Intelligence are playing at The Satellite with Earth Girl Helen Brown and VNLVX
The War Toys- 9 to 5
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (9/12-9/15/19)-
Thursday
(Sandy) Alex G will be performing free at Amoeba Hollywood at 6pm
Artist Larry Bell will be in conversation with MOCA curator Mia Locks to celebrate the debut of Bell’s Bill and Coo at MOCA’s Nest (2019), located in MOCA’s sculpture garden at MOCA Grand Avenue (free)
Gouge Away, G*U*N*N*, Justus Proffit, and Entry are playing free at Chewing Foil for a Vans sponsored event which also includes free art and food
The Hollywood Bowl is screening the classic musical An American in Paris with the score performed live by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Explosions in the Sky are performing at the Hollywood Palladium with Sessa opening (or catch them Friday at the Yost Theater)
Charlie Cunningham is playing at The Echo with The Still Tide opening
Joey Pecoraro is playing at the Echoplex with Ian Ewing opening
Friday
Cate Le Bon is opening for Mac DeMarco at The Greek Theatre
Young Jesus and Ada Lea are playing at the Bootleg Theater
LACMA is free after 3pm today (and all weekdays) for Los Angeles residents and stay for the free jazz concert from 6-8pm
Gruff Rhys is performing at Zebulon with Sophia Knapp opening
Jay Som is playing at the Echoplex with Affectionately and Boy Scouts opening
Generacion Suicida are playing at The Hi Hat with Zoloa, Fuga, and Stormhouse opening
Saturday
The War Toys are playing at The Smell with Makeout Reef, Archer Oh, and Los Shadows
Open Arts and Music Festival is taking place in Glendale from 3-10pm with music by performers including Kilo Kish, Nick Waterhouse, and Sister Mantos, public art, an arts market, a Golden Road beer garden and more, all free
LAMAG is hosting a discussion at 2:30pm titled Making a Living as an Artist, with Offal exhibition artists Panteha Abareshi and gloria galvez, moderated by Gas founder/director Ceci Moss
Mar Vista’s mile long music and art walk (Venice Blvd from Inglewood Blvd to Lyceum Ave) is taking place from 4-10pm
18th Street Art Center is hosting a free evening of video screenings, open studios, and performances
Ex Hex are playing a free show at The Getty as part of their Saturdays Off the 405 concert series
Deca and Ehiorobo are performing with DJ Marvl at The Hi Hat
Sunday
Bon Iver is playing at The Forum with Sharon Van Etten
Cake and Ben Folds are performing with special guest Tall Heights at The Greek Theatre
Learn how to make cyanotypes (photo blue prints) in the sun at The Getty’s free photography workshop
The Egyptian Theatre is showing a double feature of The Godfather and The Godfather II
Cafe Tacvba are playing at The Hollywood Bowl with Cherry Glazerr
Oso Oso- Reindeer Games
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (9/5-9/8/19)-
Thursday
Tycho is performing at The Greek Theatre with Chrome Sparks
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is free tonight and they are showing the West Coast premiere of the short films First (2019) and Negative Two (2019) with a conversation between Dominica founder Martine Syms and the filmmakers following the screening
The Getty Museum is having a free screening of Citizen Lane, a portrait of Irish collector of modern art, Hugh Lane
Meatbodies and Morgan Delt are opening for Psychedelic Porn Crumpets at The Regent Theater
Friday
Goon are opening for Valley Queen at the Lodge Room
Ty Segall & Freedom Band are continuing their residency at Teragram Ballroom– tonight playing his new album First Taste and his 2016 album Emotional Mugger. The Orange Man are opening.
The Aero Theatre is having a midnight screening of John Waters’ classic Pink Flamingos
Lia Ices is playing at the Moroccan Lounge with Henry Wolfe
There’s a free dance party at Zebulon with Mogwai DJ’s
Friday through Sunday
Saatchi Art’s The Other Art Fair opens to the public today and runs through Sunday at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica
Classic Photographs Los Angeles is happening through Sunday at ROSEGALLERY at Bergamot Arts Center with photographic art from 12 galleries and dealers
Saturday
Oso Oso are playing with The Sidekicks and Future Teens at The Hi Hat
Ever Present, the free performance series at The Getty returns with a celebration of plant culture inspired by Mort Garson’s 1976 classic electronic album Mother Earth’s Plantasia. The album will be streaming all day in the Robert Irwin designed garden, and performers include New York-based Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, known for composing with plant-based bio data, ambient guitarist Noveller, Florist’s Emily A. Sprague, Lucky Dragons, and Gregg Kowalsky—all performing amid a custom stage installation by Hand & Rose. There will also be presentations, interactive synthesizer work stations, and more.
LACMA’s summer after-hours party Muse “til Midnight returns with DJ sets from Actress, Octo Octa, and Yu Su, a live performance by Julianna Barwick, art activities, access to several current exhibitions, drinks, food, and more
Karen O and Danger Mouse are performing at The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Cinespia is showing the 1982 film Blade Runner at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Tennis System are celebrating their Lovesick record release at The House of Machines with Spare Parts for Broken Hearts and Glaare also performing
Keys N Krates and TroyBoi are performing with Zedd at Los Angeles State Historic Park for the Zedd in The Park event
Janelane, Fur Dixon, and Solvej Schou are performing a free show for Electric Women night at Zebulon
Sunday
Sad Park are playing at the Moroccan Lounge with North Morlan and Goldy
Hater, Sonoda, and The Pantones are playing an early show (5:30pm) at the Echoplex
The Egyptian Theatre is showing all three of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s THREE COLORS series Blue, White, and Red
Joy Again are playing at The Echo with Field Trip and King Nun opening
KOTA The Friend- SEDONA
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (8/29-9/1/19)
Thursday
Sinjin Hawke & Zora Jones are performing at 1720 with Hitmakerchinx and Cedaa opening
Designer Thomas Heatherwick (whose projects include Vessel in Hudson Yards and Google HQ in Silicon Valley) will be discussing “the future of the city, the advent of the virtual realm, and how to create meaningful public spaces that bring people together” with Dezeen editor Marcus Fairs at Second Home Serpentine Pavilion at La Brea Tar Pits (free)
The Music Center Plaza is having re-opening events all weekend- tonight Go Get Em Tiger and The Mullin Wine Bar are hosting a special Block Party with live music by DJ Element, with drinks, food, games, giveaways, and more
Bryan Ferry is performing at The Greek Theatre
The Rare Occasions, White Elephant, Babe Parade, and Primitive Heart are playing at The Factory
The Aero Theatre is showing a double feature of Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and The Magic Christian
Friday
Kota The Friend is performing at the Troubadour with No Suits and Haseeb opening
Ty Segall & Freedom Band are continuing their residency at Teragram Ballroom– tonight playing his new album First Taste and his 2016 album Emotional Mugger. Lamps are opening.
Peach Kelli Pop are playing at The Hi Hat with Small Crush, Blink 183 (covers of Blink 182 w/members of Peach Kelli Pop and Joyce Manor), and Fuss
The Aero Theatre is showing a double feature of Office Space and Clerks
The Courtneys and Ian Sweet are playing at the Bootleg Theater
Saturday
These Days gallery is hosting Runners of The Sun, An Evening of Art & Tarot with artwork by Amelia Rose and free oracle card readings
Pasadena Day Dream Festival is taking place at Brookside at The Rosebowl with The Cure, Pixes, Deftones, Mogwai, Throwing Muses, The Joy Formidable and more playing ($150)
Made in LA Fest is happening over two days at Golden Road Brewing. Today’s bands- Jasper Bones, Pell, Cold War Kids, and Lemaitre
Independent Shakespeare Co. is performing Twelfth Night in Griffith Park tonight (and for the last time of the season on Sunday)
Slaughter Beach, Dog are playing at Lodge Room
The Aero Theatre is showing all three of the original Mad Max films
Sunday
From 2-7pm, Broad Fest, a free afternoon of music, dance, and interactive entertainment, is taking place on The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. There will be music performances, dance lessons, art making and more
Made in LA Fest continues at Golden Road Brewing. Today’s bands- Key LeBlanc, Lauren Ruth Ward, Donavon Frankenreiter, Phantom Planet, and Rob Leines
Maestro of the Movies: The Music of John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl celebrates the famous composer with performances of his music by the LA Philharmonic along with some film clips from the movies (performances on Friday and Saturday as well)
Weirdo Night returns to Zebulon with an evening of performances hosted by Dynasty Handbag
CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop, Annenberg Space for Photography‘s latest exhibition, includes an excellent selection of photos from the beginning of hip-hop until now. Over 75 original and unedited contact sheets are also being shown. These are a great addition to the exhibition and give the viewer added insight into the thought process that went into the final work.
In the center of the gallery, there is an exclusive new documentary short film featuring several of the photographers from the show at work and in conversation. There is also a pop-up record shop featuring rare hip-hop on vinyl.
This exhibition closes 8/25/19.