You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January, 2008.
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Sirius Radio
All the cool kids are doing it. Do you want to be left out? So what if it costs hundreds to buy and set up, do you really want to miss out on 90’s rock music 24/7? I thought not. Plus all the cool blogs like Brooklyn Vegan and Aquarium Drunkard sometimes get to have little spots on the indie station Left of Center and play “hip” upcoming or already “arrived” bands such as My Morning Horses Band of Rogue Wave. The only draw back to this is some of the stations, like Left of Center, cycle whatever is popular over and over and hardly give you a good variety throughout the day. That’s ok though because by the 10th time you hear Black Lips you can really realize how they are the worst band in the last 10 years and have successfully tattooed their name on CMJ and Pitchfork’s boners. Their “look at us reinvent what’s been done a thousand times before” falls way short, and with songs like “O’ Katrina” they just shove their dicks hard in asses of failer with attempts to represent some sort of late 70’s punk rock. One of the options for Sirius Radio is it can come portable and record up to an hour’s worth of songs, and thus one has the option to be able to skip around and avoid bands like Black Kids…I mean Lips.
The Parson Red Heads this The Parson Red Heads that, yadda yadda yadda…Monday residency at Spaceland all January…no big deal…KCRW and Indie 103.1 performances within two days of each other a few weeks back…no big deal…some of the nicest people playing some of the best music in LA…absolutely a big deal. For the unfortunate who haven’t seen these young Oregon and what not folk play, you will have a chance tonight for their last residency show at Spaceland. The last three Mondays have brought some great bands along with some great times. Some of the highlights over the course of the month included Flashing Red Lights, Francisco The Man!, Mezzanine Owls, Taylor Goldsmith, and Everest. Tonight we go out with a bang with The Idaho Falls, Papercranes, and The Monolators. There will be a dance contest during the Red Heads set, so bring your work out gear.
PS, Don’t leave the milk at home.
Warning warning stop and listen when red lights flash. This band is one that I believe everyone needs to hear so put your head up the liberty bell and give it a smack because these set of rockers will crack you skull with their rock. Yes, I did just use that analogy. This songwriter and singer for this band, Mack Slevin, writes for 2 other bands, Darci Cash and The Ghost Kings as well. He probably writes a couple songs a week, and is probably writing a song as I type this…which is actually no exaggeration. I’d say he is up there lyrically with Conor and other greats. Though to fully understand Mack’s songs lyrically you might need to get a knife for the onion you’ll have to peel. But that makes it all the more fun to dig in and get the hidden goods. The parts are well thought out and often crafted in a way that isn’t just your typical verse chorus too.
David Bazan has been one of my favorite artists over the last few years, and has been making solid records for years. He started back in the early 90’s playing drums in a band called The Guilty, later changed to Coolidge, and from there has had quite the career. Aside from Pedro the Lion, he also has played drums and sang back-up vocals for Seldom and has also played with Starflyer 59 and released the drum and synth project Headphones, including other solo material.
Dane Sundseth
The Parson Red Heads every Monday night in January at Spaceland
Our favorite Los Angeles band has the Monday night residency at our favorite Los Angeles venue Spaceland for all of January. There’s three more chances to catch them and if the first week was any indication, Monday night is going to be THE night of each week this month.
One of my favorite live bands, Two Gallants, made their US Television debut last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Here’s the video of them peforming the song “Despite What You’ve Been Told” off of their self-titled album that was released in the fall on Saddle Creek.