LA Weekly

Bad Brains
House of Blues, Sept. 26
By Matthew Flesicher

“The bourgeoisie had better watch out for me. All throughout this so called nation, we don't want your filthy money, we don't need your innocent bloodshed. We just wanna end your world.”

In a just world, the Bad Brains’ “Fearless Vampire Killers” will be playing when the gates of the White House come crashing down and Dick Cheney is dragged onto the South Lawn, stripped naked and beaten unmercifully with his own shoe for all the world to see.

If Wednesday’s House of Blues show was any indication, however, when said day-of-reckoning comes, someone better bring a souped-up ghetto blaster because the Bad Brains won’t be the ones playing it. Not the way it needs to be played anyway.

Photos by Timothy Norris. Click here for many more.

H.R. is fucking irie. In many ways that’s a good thing. Everyone up front by the stage left with their faces intact – not always a given in Bad Brains shows past. But while H.R.’s irie-ness may help prevent any unfortunate, repeat mic-stand assaults, it doesn’t always work for a band trying to reconnect with its revolutionary hardcore roots.

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

!!!
Avalon, Sept. 26
Reviews and pictures by Jonah Flicker

!!! lived up to its punctuation at its Hollywood appearance last night, delivering an exclamatory performance that was equal parts rave, punk, and hippie jam band. The former elements were obvious, as this O.G. of the dance-punk world (I know, that term is so 2002) worked the crowd into a lathered frenzy through tightly wound beats and flippant, loose energy. But it’s the hippie shit that really strikes you, as their live show makes it evident that !!! is a jam band at heart. It’s partly bass player and producer Justin Van Der Volgen’s Shaggy appearance and stoned two-step, causing one to ponder just how many Scooby snacks he’s ingested. But it’s mostly the band’s ability to turn even the most rigid techno into nine-minute excursions of free-flowing improvisation. Frontman Nic Offer’s buoyant showmanship, helped out generously by a backup singer (who I would name if my Google search turned up anything!), hyped up the crowd with pure, unfettered rock maneuvers. At one point, he asked an audience member to grab his nuts, assuring the unlucky participant that they’d only be touching his jeans since his junk was actually crammed high up in the crotch area. I bet Robert Plant never tried to pull that off.

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Immagine In Cornice "Picture in a Frame"- A Pearl Jam Film
By Ryan Colditz
I have been on Pearl Jam overload the past few months. That's saying a lot if you know me. Traveling to Europe to see the band this past summer had been a lifelong dream.

I Did it.
I Loved it.

After returning, I felt like I had conquered my favorite band and there was nothing left to experience with Pearl Jam. Life moved on.

Alas, there was a screening of their new documentary Immagine In Cornice "Picture in a Frame". The movie chronicles the band's five show tour through Italy in 2006. Having the chance to see a Pearl Jam movie on the big screen was something I could not miss. I expected to see the usual faces, concert acquaintances who always show up at the same events. I thought it would be pretty kick back with lots of empty seats. I showed up to a full house, and an amazing film that rivals their 1998 film Single Video Theory. Instead of a run-of-the-mill concert film, the cameras go behind the scenes, showing how each band member experiences touring in their own way. On top of that, great camera work captures exactly what it is to be at one of their shows. An experience always unique from the last.

Check out the movie if you like rock and roll. Check out the movie if you don't know who Pearl Jam is, or think you don't like them. After this film you will see who Pearl Jam is, why they are still making music after all these years, and why fans worldwide will do anything it takes to see them perform.

They are the way bands used to be, when music meant something.
See you at the next show.

Lukin- Acoustic, from Immagine In Cornice "Picture in a Frame"

Ryan Colditz followed Pearl Jam across Europe in June. Check out his blog postings by clickng here

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A little rain fell, but no damage done. Air, whose new one, Pocket Symphony, is their best in a while, played the usually dry Greek Theatre along with Norway's Sondre Lerche and L.A.'s own Sea Wolf. Timothy Norris was there.

Air - All photos by Timothy Norris. Click here for more.

Sea Wolf

Sondre Lerche

Click here for more photos.

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Amazon.com launched their new MP3 store today to go head to head with Apple's iTunes store. In a nice bit of irony the #1 selling song on Amazon was "1234" by Feist, which is popular because it's played in an Apple commercial.

Amazon's songs are DRM-free and 256k which are the big selling points. Also the top 100 songs are 89 cents as opposed to 99 cents on iTunes. Also nice is that Amazon lets you shop by album cost - some at $4.99 and under.

So what's that cheap? Well, lots of two-song singles by Lily Allen and Kanye West, but also several full-length albums by Fela Kuti. What's up with that? Many of Fela's records were made up of tracks 10 to 15 minutes long. If Zombie only has four tracks, Amazon's going to sell it for four bucks - even if it 53 minutes long.

Also in there are several John Coltrane live albums for $2.50 - $4.50.

For a few bucks more you can get the new M.I.A. for $8 or the new Kevin Drew/Broken Social Scene for $9.

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem and Wild Light
Hollywood Bowl, September 20.
By Randall Roberts

There was a moment about three-quarters of the way through Arcade Fire’s victorious show at the Hollywood Bowl last night – I think it was during “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” -- when lead singer Win Butler broke into an awestruck smile. He was looking out into the crowd, this mass of bouncing devotees who knew all the words to all their songs. It wasn’t a huge, toothy smile. Just a little grin of wonder, as though he’d just been whispered some particularly good news, or read a brilliant passage in a novel. I have a general idea of what he was thinking: “Whoa. Oh my god. Whoa.”

Raving about a live Arcade Fire show at this point is like writing about how cute kittens are. We know, we know. It’s like, how many superlatives can you pile on top of one another before the whole thing collapses? So let’s leave it at this. You know that feeling you get when a magical combination of notes transforms into a melody, travels into your ears, hits the sweet spot of your eardrums, passes into your brain and has a massive orgasm in your head? When everything – work sucks, I’m broke, I’m lonely, did I remember to feed the cats?, I think I have to go pee, maybe they need a cellist – vanishes and the music becomes you?

(Photos by Timothy Norris)

Those moments, even under the best of circumstances, usually last a few seconds before epiphany gives way to brainchatter and you’re back on planet Earth. Well, last night was tantric. At one point I stopped, looked up at the sky, and felt totally at one with the universe. A plane was passing overhead. It moved through a thin veil of clouds, disappeared, then reappeared. On another night, or at a different moment, big frickin’ deal. Last night, a plane moving gracefully through the sky was as beautiful as a haiku, seemed designed for the moment. It was an odd, otherworldly sensation, like I was, in Butler's words, “between the click of the light and the start of the dream.” Whoa. Oh my god. Whoa.

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The Bravery
At the Maxim Style Awards
The Avalon, Sept 18th
By Tatiana Simoneon

I always feel bad for bands playing at big sponsored parties, which is ironic considering they make more in 35 minutes than I do in a month (or ten years, if you're Prince). But these days bands can crank out a dozen hits as a one-night soundtrack to a swag-hungry crowd and make more than they do for weeks of touring.

The willing victim tonight was the Bravery, and the venue was the Maxim Style Awards. Now, what exactly they mean by “style” is beyond me, since Maxim's the quasi-upscale, mom-friendly version of a titty magazine. What I expected was a night full of Hollywood’s finest wannabe celebutantes, free-booze-loving members of the press (ahem) and corporate sponsors angling for a larger toehold on a cooler demographic. And boy, was I right.

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Smashing Pumpkins
SDSU Open Air Theatre, Sept. 19
By Carlie Armstrong

As far as southern California nights go, Wednesday night was alarmingly chilly. However, inside the Open Air Theatre, (though technically still outside) the climate was hot and heavy with the dripping excitement of a sold-out crowd. Hellride, a three-piece band containing former Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, lead singer/Minutemen retiree Mike Watt, and renowned guitarist Pete Distefano opened the soon-to-be orgasmic show with a mediocre round of too much distortion and some semi-hokey yelling.


(Photos by Carlie Armstrong.)

Once Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlain, and their new-found Pumpkin additions Ginger Reyes, Jeff Schroeder, and Lisa Harriton stalked on the stage, clad to the nines in full white, there was a complete mood-shift in the audience. Besides the amphitheater had swelled to bursting with its sold-out audience, the excitement circulating the place was starting to boil over into all-out screaming, groping, and feverish sighing.

The Pumpkins are a rare and bonafide act - that's obvious. Their show was musically and audibly without flaw. Everything was synchronized; the pristine outfits, the lights, the heavy guitar swings and tone distortions. Even the setlist was perfect, a concoction of new and old, with Billy setting a boundary lightly between them by proclaiming which happened where, and treating everyone to an acoustic performance of 1979. Other songs which were flawlessly performed during the two and a half hour show included: "Tarantula" (the single from their new album, Zeitgeist), "Ava Adore," "Muzzle," "Doomsday Clock," "United States," "Disarm," "Siamese Dream," and "Perfect."

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Foo Fighters
Secret Location, Los Angeles
By Ryan Colditz

The Foo Fighters were filming live material on Tuesday night for an upcoming appearance on Nissan Live Sets, presented by Yahoo Music. Unlike a normal concert, between songs there was an ongoing Q&A between fans and the band. Only several hundred people were in the audience, which is all the better when you have someone as personable as Dave Grohl in front of a microphone. All of a sudden a rock show becomes and impromptu comedy show. Grohl, playing his usual class-clown role, kept the evening light during downtimes between filming. Adding fuel to his fire, the back and forth banter with drummer Taylor Hawkins became a show of its own. For as hard as these guy work and make music, they know how to have a good time in the process.

Onto the music portion of the evening. Four news songs were performed. "Pretender," "Long Road to Ruin," "Cheer Up Boys" and "Home." "Pretender" has great energy and the song just pounds its way along, like rock and roll used to do. "Home," Grohl's newest slow-song masterpiece, brought the crowed to their knees with the performance. For this ditty, Grohl is on the piano instead of guitar – new territory. The song is simple, but it sucks you in. This being the first live performance of "Home," the look on Grohl's face after the last note was the look of a man who knew this song is a winner.

(Photo above by Matt Sayles of the Associated Press, taken at Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music.)

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Shields
Club Violanie at Roberto's, Chinatown
By Ryan Ward

Every third Saturday of the month, Roberto's in Chinatown becomes Club Violaine and opens their doors in tribute to pre-grunge era shoegaze giants. This past Saturday the honorees were the beloved and astronomically influential Stone Roses.

Surprisingly headliners Shields' were the first to resurrect the Roses' chords, in their swaying cover of "(Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister." The foursome have been corralling quite an ample fan-base (though they like to refer to them as 'friends') and it's no wonder. The positive energy they activate between each other and the audience is quite refreshing.

A liquid fuzz-fest a la My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, their songs manage to capture all of the loud, mod psychedelia of those post-wave, late-eighties pop masterpieces. With hooks galore, the guitars and equally important vocals mesh that is seen very little on the indie/noise scene. In the song "Spin Out" the diving guitar harmony that opens the piece sets up the kind of rock drama that most bands seem to have have thrown out with the trash. Nor has Shields forgotten that there has to be a balance between the slow and the fast. The decibel level delivers too; as the fathers of beautiful eyes-to-the-ground song-craft taught. Can I be so brave as to coin the phrase "pretty loud?" Talk amongst yourselves.

More after the jump

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Canadian indie rockers Wolf Parade and Holy Fuck played a sold-out show at the El Rey Thursday night. Timothy Norris was there and shot it.

Click here for all the photos.

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The White Stripes have canceled their North American tour, including the band's show on the 19th at the Forum. "Health issues" and Meg White's "acute anxiety" are the keywords.

The White Stripes' Myspace page shows dates even stretching through November in Europe have also been canceled.

More news as it becomes available.

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Wired Magazine brings a bunch of futuristic goodies to the Henry Fonda Theater to entertain the folks between sets by Kool Keith and Spoon.

Click here to see a gallery of shots from the concert by Timothy Norris.

Photos by Timothy Norris.

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lucinda Williams
El Rey, September 9
By Tom Cheyney

Lucinda Williams kept a firm grip on her joy during the Sweet Old World night of her ambitious “album-a-night” stand at the El Rey. The dark angel of twang had a good ol’ time, playing with special guests like Jim Lauderdale, Chuck Prophet and E of the Eels, her crackerjack band keeping things more or less together.

The show was not a straight run-through of what Lucinda calls “the forgotten album.” As the mistress of ceremonies, she took time to explain the inspirations behind her songs – her adorable little brother, suicidal poets’ funerals, aggravating but cute past loves – offering disarming, humorous insights into her creative process.

Photos by Timothy Norris. More photos here.

The performances rambled along, more like a rehearsal or a house party, with Lucinda halting proceedings several times to start tunes over. The opening line of “Prove My Love” -- “we all make mistakes some times/and I’ve made my share of mine”-- drew laughter when sung for the second time after Lucinda and the band had skidded to a stop, then restarted the tune.

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kings of Leon
The Greek Theatre, September 7, 2007
By Jonah Flicker

When did the Kings of Leon hire a rock stylist? As they took the stage at the Greek Theatre this past Friday night, the once long-haired, Southern-fried throwback-rockers were sporting a look straight from the boy-band handbook. Maybe I’m a little jealous of their comely visages and coiffed hair, but it was kind of disconcerting to hear Caleb Followill’s soulful, scratchy voice coming from such a pretty mug. I may miss the long locks and dirty jeans, but it’s really about the music, right? And in that department, they delivered. One of the best things about KOL is the way they expand upon the blues and Southern rock that comprises the base of their music into the territory of minimalist post-punk. Maybe this makeover is part of the process.

After taking the stage to some melodramatic opera, the boys launched into the bluesy “Black Thumbnail,” from their new album, Because of the Times, following it up with the wailing “Charmer.” One of the best rock singles of the year is “On Call,” which the band performed near the end of their 17-song set. Built for crowd participation, its simple melodic refrain (“To be there!”) was joyously picked up by the audience, drunk on Friday night, the starry sky, and $10-beers. The blindingly tight “King of the Rodeo” and spirited “The Bucket,” off 2004’s angular Aha Shake Heartbreak (their best), were the work of a band clearly road-tested and comfortable in front of such a big crowd.

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Underworld
Hollywood Bowl, September 9, 2007
By Jonah Flicker

Underworld’s recent appearance at the Hollywood Bowl felt strangely momentous. No devastatingly important events took place onstage. No secrets were revealed. No special guests shocked or awed the crowd. What did occur was an amazing Sunday night show from a veteran electronic act with 15-year-old songs that sound just as urgent today as they did upon their release. The capacity crowd, mostly comprised of O.G. ravers and admirers of ‘90s e-music, clumped together into one writhing organism as songs like the classic, big-synth-undulating “Two Months Off” and selections from their forthcoming album, Oblivion with Bells, filled the night. The passing down of traditions took place as well, as mothers taught their children the age-old ritual of dancing with glow sticks during Underworld’s ebullient set.

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

The Frames
Henry Fonda Theater, Sept. 6
By Mark Mauer

Two crowds showed up to see Dublin's The Frames Thursday night. First there were the die-hards, lining up hours before the doors opened. They're the ones who have followed this band to bigger and bigger venues each time they've come to L.A., from Spaceland to the Troubadour to the El Rey to here. They know all the words, all the stories that get spun on stage preceding live favorites like "Lay Me Down," and "What Happens When the Heart Just Stops."

Then there are the ones who've seen the movie. Once, released in the spring, stars Frames' lead singer Glen Hansard as an Irish busker with no band, no money, and barely one beat up guitar. He meets an equally poor girl, and they write songs and sing them to one another. The movie is as sweet and lovely as anything you'll see, and several months later it keeps playing in theaters and selling records. Meanwhile Hansard - both with and without the Frames - keeps coming back here, growing the L.A. crowd each time.

Photos by Timothy Norris

Read on...

Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

All photos by Timothy Norris

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Shins, The Lashes, Panic! at the Disco, The Frames, Wu-Tang Clan and many more descended on Seattle for three days of music, arts and fun.

Photo by Marcella D. Volpintesta

Seattle Weekly gives you MP3s, pictures, interviews, blogs and more from the weekend's festivities.

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)