Throwback Thursday- Mavis Staples

 Los Angeles Music, Music, Throwback Thursday
Jun 172016
 

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.

Throwback Thursday- Sheila E.

 Los Angeles Music, Music, Throwback Thursday
Jun 102016
 

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.

Los Angeles Weekend Planner 5-5-16

 Los Angeles Weekend Planner, Music
May 052016
 

Bleached- Wednesday Night Melody

Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (5/5-5/8/16)-

Thursday

Bleached are playing at the Teragram Ballroom with NO PARENTS and Feels

Writer Lawrence Weschler will be speaking with painter Ramiro Gomez at the Hammer Museum

Beach Slang are headlining a show at the Troubadour

Juliana Barwick is playing at Highland Park Ebell with Mas Ysa

Friday

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals are performing a free show at Amoeba Hollywood

There’s a Prince Tribute at City Hall (free)

Cinefamily is closing their Underground USA film festival with Richard Linklater’s debut film Slacker

Friday and Saturday

The Pancakes & Booze Art Show returns to Los Angeles- $5 gets you free pancakes, along with art, musical performances and more

Friday through Sunday

Hammer Museum along with The Institute for Art and Olfaction and Luckyscent/Scent Bar is hosting the AIX Scent Fair with workshops and panels and a party on Saturday hosted by Zackary Drucker (free)

Saturday

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) is having Feminism 4.0, a panel discussion and launch party for Artillery’s May/June Photography Issue (free)

Grand Park is having Downtown Bookfest with performances, readings, activities and pop up bookshops

Big Freedia, aka The Queen of Bounce, is performing at The Regent

Saturday and Sunday

Echo Park Craft Fair returns to Mack Sennett Studios with high quality local vendors ($10)

RuPaul’s DragCon is at the LA Convention Center with celebrity guests, contestants from Drag Race, panel discussions, and more

Sunday

The Egyptian Theatre is having a double feature for Mother’s Day of Rosemary’s Baby and David Cronenberg’s The Brood

 

Throwback Thursday- Vanity 6

 Music, Throwback Thursday
Feb 182016
 

Vanity 6- Nasty Girl

This song is from Prince’s protégé girl group Vanity 6’s 1982 self-titled album. Denise Katrina Matthews, also known as Vanity, quit Vanity 6 after the first album and went on to record two solo albums and later contributed songs for the film Action Jackson, which she also starred in.

Vanity died on Monday at the age of 57. Prince, who she dated during the time of Vanity 6, recently paid tribute to her at his show in Australia, telling a story about their time together and dedicating the song Little Red Corvette to her.

Throwback Thursday- Chaka Khan

 Music, Throwback Thursday
Sep 032015
 

Chaka Khan- I Feel For You

This song is from Chaka Khan’s 1984 album I Feel For You. Written by Prince (it won him a Grammy), it includes rapping by Melle Mel and harmonica played by Stevie Wonder.

Chaka Khan is playing with Patti LaBelle at the LA County Fair this Friday (9/4/15)