Musical selections from bands who would have played in Los Angeles in April 2020 if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 152020
Apr 152020
Most of these bands did not get to play in Los Angeles due to the closure of venues because of COVID-19, however they are all still worth a listen.
Mar 312020
Every week I listen to the majority of bands and artists playing in Los Angeles to decide which shows to recommend for the Los Angeles Weekend Planner. I then create a playlist (or playlists) for that month of the music I liked.
The above are February’s selections.
Mar 122020
Dan Deacon- Become A Mountain
So…a lot of events have been canceled already for this weekend due to coronavirus, including Pasadena’s ArtNight. I am listing events currently (as of this writing) still happening but please follow the links below to the event (and Twitter page if available) to confirm that it is taking place.
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/12-3/15/20)-
Thursday
Zebulon is showing Silver Jew Documentary, a film by Michael Tully documenting two shows by the Silver Jews in Tel Aviv and an afternoon in Jerusalem during their first-ever tour in 2006, 15 years after its founder David Berman began recording under that name. Berman passed away in August of 2019. The film is short but there will also be a selection of Silver Jews and Purple Mountains (his later band) videos. It’s a free event but donations and proceeds from this screening will benefit MusiCares, a nonprofit that has provided more than $60 million in health, financial, and rehabilitation resources to musicians in times of need.
Tamino is playing with Matt Holubowski at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
Dry Cleaning are playing at El Cid
USA Fellow and five-time Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard will be at California African American Museum (CAAM) to discuss his legendary career and his nearly three-decades-long collaboration with director Spike Lee, with Hamza Walker, executive director of the Los Angeles nonprofit art space LAXART, moderating the conversation. (free but register)
Heart Attack Man and Better Love are opening for Knuckle Puck at The Echo
Downtown Los Angeles Artwalk returns for its monthly event with various galleries staying open late
Friday
Dan Deacon is playing at The Regent Theater with Ed Schrader’s Musical Beat, R. Clown, and Sarah Squirm
Pussy Riot are playing at 1720 with special guest Deli Girls
Yves Tumor is performing at the Fonda Theatre with Theophilus London, ECCO2K & Diana Gordon
The New Beverly has a double feature of Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz and Hong Kong action film Big Bullet
The Aero Theatre has a double feature of American Graffiti and The Outsiders
Telefon Tel Aviv is playing with Chasms at Lodge Room
Saturday
Shannon Lay is playing with Boy Scouts at Zebulon
The Strokes are playing at The Forum with King Princess and Alvvays
Burgerama 2020 is taking place at The Echo/Echoplex with a huge lineup of Burger Records bands including The Mummies, Tomorrow’s Tulips, Cosmonauts, Healing Gems, Reckling, Psychic Bloom, The Premonitions, and many more
A bit further afield at Fox Theater Pomona is Minor League Music Spring Fest with a ton of Southern California bands including Sad Park, The High Curbs, Kicked Off The Streets, Makeout Reef, Ignant Benches and more
Love is Gay Fest 2020 is taking place at the Bootleg Theater featuring Polartropica, Lucy & La Mer, WASI, Guppy and Rat Fancy
Double features continue at the Aero Theatre with Out of Sight and Jackie Brown
Sunday
HTRK are playing at the Echoplex with Dry Cleaning and OTZI opening
The Egyptian Theatre has Disarm the Right to Violence!: Recent Mexican Experimental Short Films, a selection of films produced between 2018-2020 in intensive filmmaking workshops at Catedra Ingmar Bergman and Filmoteca UNAM, in collaboration with DocsMX. There will be a conversation to follow with filmmaker Andrea Rodea.
Jazz artist Cécile McLorin Salvant is performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with “her most ambitious project yet, combining jazz and bluegrass in the poignant fairytale Ogresse, a wickedly delicious work about a human-eating monster who lives in the woods”.
Screaming Females are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Alice Bag and Generación Suicida
Mar 052020
Young Guv- Every Flower I See
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/5-3/8/20)-
Thursday
The Paranoyds are playing at the free premiere of the skateboarding/surfing/roadtrip film This Way- A Western Film at 2027 E. 7th Street
Patrick Jagoda, Professor of English and Cinema & Media Studies at the University of Chicago, and Weston Game Lab director Ashlyn Sparrow will discuss a series of the lab’s innovative digital and analog game projects- including games with implications for learning and social justice at Hammer Museum
Black Violin, led by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin), blend classical music with hip hop and will be performing at the Theatre at Ace Hotel
MOCA Senior Curator Bennett Simpson is leading a walkthrough of Seven Stations: Selections from MOCA’s Collection at the Grand Avenue location
The Sea and Cake are playing at Zebulon with L.A. Takedown
The Aero Theatre is showing Ingmar Bergman’s Persona
Friday
No Win are playing at Gold Diggers with On Drugs and Criminal Hygiene
Smokescreens, Venetian Blinds, Massage, and Dummy are playing at Permanent Records Roadhouse
First Fridays is back at the Natural History Museum with performances by Wajatta (featuring Reggie Watts and John Tejada), French Vanilla, and Café Molly; DJ Novena Carmel is joined by Guest DJ Josh Peace in the DJ Lounge; as well as a discussion on the Future of Medicine, and more.
Residency in Inglewood is having an Open House Party with a project by Devon Tsuno in the main gallery and work from Texas Isaiah, Devin Reynolds, Bradley Ward and Yasmine Diaz in the annex, as well as a burger pop up, a DJ, and more
Healing Gems are playing a free rush hour concert (4-6pm) at Union Station
Seratones are performing at the Bootleg Theater with Pet Dress opening
Gold Cage, No Swoon, LMI and Nico Turner are playing at The Smell
Saturday
Artist T. Kim-Trang Tran will be discussing her exhibition at LAMAG
Shannon Lay is opening for Jonathan Wilson at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever (he is also playing Friday with Valley Queen opening)
As part of the Egyptian Theatre’s programming for Noir City: Hollywood – The 22nd Annual Los Angeles Festival of Film Noir, they are showing a triple feature tonight of M (1931), M (1951), and El Vampiro Negro
Thundercat is performing at The Wiltern
Gus Seyffert & Friends are performing at the Bootleg Theater
Boan and Dancing Tongues are opening for Bambara at The Echo
Sunday
The LA Marathon is taking place and the route runs from downtown to Santa Monica, adjust your travel plans accordingly or cheer the runners on
The Annual Festival of the Kite is happening in Redondo Beach
The Aero Theatre is having a free screening of Yung Chang’s documentary This Is Not A Movie about British journalist Robert Fisk’s dangerous career covering conflicts around the world over several decades. A discussion with the director will follow.
Young Guv is playing at Zebulon with Spiritual Cramp
Palehound is playing with Adult Mom after teaching a free workshop on writing a pop song at Junior High
Feb 272020
Every week I listen to the majority of bands and artists playing in Los Angeles to decide which shows to recommend for the Los Angeles Weekend Planner. I then create a playlist for that month of the music I liked.
The above are January’s selections.
Feb 272020
Prism Tats- Big Blue
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (2/27-3/1/20)-
Thursday
Lower Dens are playing at The Roxy Theatre with Ami Dang
Bootleg Theater is hosting Los Angeles College Radio Night with musical guests É Arenas, Fell Runner, Carter Ace, Your Angel, Ryan Pollie and Dylan Meek and Q& A panels with radio DJs
For Freedoms Congress (FFCON) is happening around Los Angeles starting tonight and running through this weekend with artist led town halls re-imagining Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms project: Freedom from Fear, Freedom From Want, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom of Speech. Tonight MOCA is hosting Freedom from Fear- facilitated by Brent Blair with Aloe Blacc, Donna Hylton, and Skipp Townsend, with attendees invited to explore the inequities of privilege and access through an interactive Theatre of the Oppressed performance.
Reckling, Shutups, Niis, and Gustaf are playing at The Factory
Dr. Dog are playing at The Novo with special guest Michael Nau
The first gay country band Lavender Country are playing at Zebulon with Sam Buck opening
Friday
Prism Tats is playing a free early show at Gold Diggers with Dumb Thumbs
Actress Rachel Redleaf (Mama Cass) will be in person to discuss Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood after its screening at the Beverly Cinema
Imperial Teen are playing at Zebulon with The Ballet opening
Anamanaguchi are playing at the Fonda Theatre with Saint Pepsi, HANA, and Cowgirl Clue
Best Coast are playing with Mannequin Pussy at The Novo
Saturday
Artist Farrah Karapetian is hosting An Infrequent Day: Readings on time, timing, loss, and memory at 12pm at Diane Rosenstein Gallery with readings by Martha Ronk, Janet Sarbanes, Gabrielle Civil, Nylsa Martinez, and Anthony Seidman
Artists Catherine Opie and Lawrence Weiner will be in conversation at Regen Projects at 2pm, moderated by Dagny Corcoran (free but RSVP)
The 6th Annual All Day Carnival Celebration for Bob Baker Day is free and taking place at Los Angeles State Historic Park with musical performances, puppet shows, workshops, games, and more
Zebulon is hosting a free night of Live Readings and Music with Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks), Patty Schemel (Hole), and Rob Zabrecky (Possum Dixon) and accompanying music by Midget Handjob, Matt Devine and special guests
Raphael Saadiq is performing at The Wiltern with Jamila Woods
Vacationer is performing at the Bootleg Theater with Foisey. opening
Death Lens and The War Toys are playing at The Smell
Gold Diggers is hosting the Music Videos and Shorts Night Vol 4 (free but RSVP)
Sunday
Public Enemy are playing as part of the Bernie Sanders rally at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Paul Reubens will be telling stories about the making of Pee Wee’s Big Adventure following a screening of the film for its 35th Anniversary at The Wiltern (also Thursday)
Froth are opening for Duster at The Regent Theater
Zebulon is hosting a free screening at 3pm of the music documentary 40 Bands/ 80 Minutes! and the documentary featurette Sean Carnage Parking Lot. There will also be a DJ and a Q&A led by Voyager’s Bret Berg.
Later in the evening Kim Gordon will be playing at Zebulon with Sam Rowell
iLe is playing at the Echoplex with Francisca Valenzuela
Feb 202020
Metronomy- Walking In The Dark
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (2/20-2/23/20)-
Thursday
Hammer Museum is hosting Constitutional Happy Hour a chance to have a few cheap drinks while learning about the US Constitution. This week Loyola Law School professor David Glazier will be discussing the War Powers Clause (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11)
Runnner are playing at The Echo with Beauty Queen
Artist Gala Porras-Kim will be discussing her work and MOCA’s permanent collection with UCLA Professor of Art History and Conservation of Material Culture Glenn Wharton and MOCA Assistant Curator and Manager of Publications Bryan Barcena at the Grand Avenue location
Hip-hop supergroup Czarface (Inspectah Deck, 7L & Esoteric) are performing at Catch One
Little People, Frameworks, and Yppah are playing at The Paramount
Andy Shauf is playing at The Fonda Theatre with Molly Sarle
Pianist Joep Beving is performing at Lodge Room
Friday
Mutual Benefit are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Sonoda and Nicholas Krgovich
As part of the UCLA Film & Television Archive’s John Sayles series, they will be showing Sayles’ film Sunshine State at Hammer Museum with Sayles in attendance for a conversation and book signing ($9)
Here the Birds Burn: A Phantasmagoria Revival, a horror theater performance, is taking place throughout the Victorian era homes at Heritage Square. “Incorporating working authentic 18th & 19th century magic lanterns with hand painted glass slides, along with being joined by fellow period-era theater guests, this immersive performance, set in the 1830s, promises an evening of frightful delight”. (running Thursday-Sunday)
No Age are playing at The Smell with Würm and Milo Gonzalez
HUNNY are playing at the El Rey Theatre with Bay Faction and Michi
Holychild are playing at Moroccan Lounge with Hollander and Tiffany Stringer
Saturday
Metronomy are playing at The Fonda Theatre with Bodega and Faux Real opening
No Sesso will be presenting their performance piece/ runway show “A Vignette of the Renaissance on 24th Street” at WAREHOUSE at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (free)
Not From England are playing at The Smell with Moon Fuzz, Poll Tax Riot and Buddha Trixie
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries is hosting a book launch with editors Allyson Mitchell and Cait McKinney for Inside Killjoy’s Kastle: Dykey Ghosts, Feminist Monsters, and Other Lesbian Hauntings. The contributors to this volume consider the role of lesbian feminist histories and direct-action aesthetics in contemporary queer and feminist communities, particularly the ways in which political artwork can produce new ways of knowing about the past. The book launch will include readings and performances by Deirdre Logue, Nao Bustamante, Kyla Tompkins, Karen Tongson, Jennifer Doyle, and David Evans Frantz, and a pop-up feminist gift shop by Otherwild.
FEELS are playing an early show at Zebulon with Gustaf, Gesserit and Cumgirl8
Sunday
Zebulon has a free screening of Walter Hill’s The Driver (1978) with a performance by Charade to follow
Mamalarky are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Girl Friday and Eyeshadow
The Debbie Allen Dance Academy DADA Ensemble will be performing dances inspired by Cross Colours: Black Fashion in the 20th Century at the California African American Museum (free)
WAREHOUSE at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is hosting a conversation with artist Ivan Morley to launch his new book
Artist Samira Yamin will be discussing work from her exhibition To View A Plastic Flower at LAMAG
Lodge Room’s programming series for Black History Month continues with performances tonight by Lonnie Liston Smith, The Katalyst, and Cut Chemist
Orchin are playing at Moroccan Lounge with Goldcage, Lovergirl, and Drowsy
Feb 132020
Winter- Bonsai
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (2/13-2/16/20)-
Thursday
As The World Berns, a fundraiser for candidate Bernie Sanders, is taking place at the Bootleg Theater with musical performances by Gold Star, Olivia Kaplan, Alex Lilly, Austin McCutchen & The Western Stars, Cornelia Murr, Clinton Patterson, Gus Seyffert and more
Moaning are playing a free (with RSVP) show at Moon Room
Hammer Museum is hosting The How and Why of Political Advertising, with LMU professor Fernando Guerra and campaign strategist John Thomas joining moderator and Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson to break down the politics and law behind campaign spending and advertising.
Poet and educator Shonda Buchanan is speaking at The Broad as part of its lecture series The Logic of Poetry and Dreams
Brazilian artist Sessa is playing at Zebulon with SK Kakraba
Pink Mountaintops, Corridor, KEEN, and Clear are playing a free show at Highland Park Bowl
Friday
Spend Valentine’s Day in Grand Park with a celebration of Lovers Rock with DJ Linafornia (free)
Hammer Museum is having a free screening of the film Moonlight
Bat for Lashes is performing at The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Massage, Starry Eyed Cadet, and Dummy are playing a free show at Highland Park Bowl
Saintseneca are opening for Murder by Death at the Regent Theater
The Aero Theatre is showing Casablanca for Valentine’s Day
Tan Cologne are playing at The Hi Hat with Grant Earl Lavalley and Glances opening
Saturday
Winter are opening for Part Time and Garry Wilson at the Regent Theater with Bryson Cone
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is hosting Brutally Early (it starts at 7:30am)- a free morning of conversations with artists including- Simone Forti, Kandis Williams, Shirin Neshat, Miles Brenninkmeijer, Patrick Staff, Rodney McMillian, and choreographers Gerard & Kelly- hosted by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Klaus Biesenbach (in addition, it begins with coffee and donuts and ends with champagne and ice cream)
As part of The Broad’s Un-Private Collection conversation series, artists Christopher Wool and Kim Gordon will be speaking with critic and curator John Corbett
Artist Joe Sola will be in conversation with author Jarett Kobek (I hate the internet) at Honor Fraser at noon
17 DJs (including Grimes) are performing in 5 rooms for Rhondavous A Lovers Ball at Catch One
If you are a fan of ambient music, Malcolm Cecil will be performing at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church with Cool Maritime and Yialmelic Frequencies opening
Sunday
For the last day of Phillip K. Smith III’s exhibition at Bridge Projects there will be a day of activities including a soundscape by William Basinski, a relaxation workshop, and a tea tasting as part of their Oasis programming (also on Saturday)
Artist Dominique Moody will be in conversation with journalist Lynell George at the California African American Museum
Hammer Museum is hosting the climate justice themed Panic Party, with DJs, cocktails, after hours gallery access, short films, artist activations, voter registration, vegan food and more
Lucy Arnell, Nico Yaryan and more are performing as part of a Benefit for Australia at Permanent Records Roadhouse
All Weekend
StARTup LA Art Fair returns to The Kinney Venice Beach on Friday evening. It is one of the better art fairs as it offers a chance to meet the artists (who take over rooms in the hotel) and buy from them directly
Art Los Angeles Contemporary opens Thursday running until Sunday and has moved to The Hollywood Athletic Club from the Barker Hangar
Spring/Break Art Show is taking place all weekend starting Friday at Skylight ROW DTLA
Felix Art Fair returns to the Roosevelt Hotel (opening night Thursday). Although last year it was free, this year tickets are $25
Frieze Art Fair runs all weekend but only has program tickets (no gallery tent) available for Saturday and Sunday
Feb 062020
Tropa Magica- Disco Queen
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (2/6-2/9/20)-
Thursday
Office Relief: Benefit for Australia is happening at The Roxy Theatre with stars from The Office performing including Jenna Fischer, Creed Bratton, Rainn Wilson and more
Hammer Museum is screening two collections of early video works by Paul McCarthy, Black and White III and Color Compilation, with an in-person introduction by artist Barbara T. Smith (free)
Artist and writer dana washington will be speaking at The Broad as part of their series The Logic of Poetry and Dreams (free but reserve ticket)
Radical Face is playing at the Troubadour with Axel Flóvent
Friday
MOCA Grand Avenue has a free screening of Community of Parting by Jane Jin Kaisen. The film derives from Kaisen’s extensive research on Korean shamanism and her engagement with communities affected by war and division using imagery from North and South Korea, Jeju Island, the DMZ, Kazakhstan, Japan, the US, and Germany. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the artist and Crystal Mun-hye Baik, author of Reencounters: On the Korean War & Diasporic Memory Critique.
Silversun Pickups are playing at The Wiltern with Eliza & The Delusionals opening
Cosmo Gold are playing at Permanent Records Roadhouse
Bombón, Gustaf, and Gesserit are performing at Recess Ops in San Pedro
Saturday
The Egyptian Theatre is hosting two free conversations for Oscar Season- first with this year’s nominated film editors at 10:30am and later with nominated production designers and set decorators at 3pm (both are free but RSVP and remember with the preparations for the Oscar ceremony right down the block, it’s probably best not to drive there)
LACMA and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art are screening Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing followed by a conversation with Turner Classic Movies host Jacqueline Stewart at Cinemark Baldwin Hills
Tender are performing with XYLØ at the El Rey Theatre
Aimee deBeer is playing at Moroccan Lounge with Taylor Belle
Sunday
Tropa Magica (Thee Commons) are playing with Together Pangea and Reckling a bit further afield at La Santa in Santa Ana
Sinéad O’Connor is performing at the El Rey Theatre
Hollywood will be a bit tricky to get to with the prep for the Oscars but if you are local or take the metro you could go see a matinee of All About Eve at the Egyptian Theatre at 1pm
Ley Line are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Malena Cadiz opening
Lodge Room continues its Black History Month music series with Black Jazz Records 50th Anniversary- with performances by Doug Carn, Henry Franklin, Calvin Keys, Michael Carvine, and Jeane Carne
All Weekend
The LA Art Show returns to the LA Convention Center with local and international galleries showing modern and contemporary art
Superfine! Art Fair returns to Magic Box at The Reef (last day for discounted tickets- 2/6)