Go See Hear in L.A.: July 5 - 18

I’m going to a special double issue of Go See Hear as I don’t know if I would have a chance to get to it next Sunday. I’ll try to be a little more concise so I don’t make it too long.

Rockabilly Filly Rosie Flores returns to SoCal for a show at the Coffee Gallery Backstage on July 6. She was a fixture in the LA roots rock scene from the late ‘70s through the ‘80s.

I have really been enjoyed the new Steel Train disc, which is simply a terrific bolt of energetic rock. They play the El Rey on July 6.

If you are going to the big Sugarland-topping Go Country concert at the Greek on July 8, please get there early enough to see Will Hoge, who is a fine singer-songwriter.

Over at the Echoplex on the 8th with strong pairing of the Euro-poppy Au Revoir Simone and the haunting spare songtress Alexa Wilding (I enjoyed her new, self-titled EP)

Peter Case rocks it hard on his new Yep Rock disc Wig!; it’ll be interesting to see how he plays it at the cozy McCabe’s – a place I’ve seen him play some great shows.

Another fine singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier plays McCabe’s the next night.

On July 10, The Getty series Saturdays Off The 405 has the Dawes in performance.

Former Bad Liver Mark Rubin comes to the Grand Ole Echo on the 11th with his new duo Fat Man and Little Boy.

The Mynabirds land at the Hotel Cafe on July 12. Led by Laura Burhenn, the 'birds debut, What We Lose In The Fire, We Gain In The Flood rates as one of my top albums of 2010, with its gorgeous take on Southern soul rock.

The Kings of Leon will reign at the Hollywood Bowl on July 12 and the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater July 14.

Ben Lee has a free show at the Santa Monica Pier July 15 as part of the Twilight Dance Series.

Shelby Lynne returns to town for a night at McCabe’s on the 17th. She put on a dynamo of a show at the Roxy back in the Spring.

Jeremy Messersmith has a gig at the Mint on the 17th. I’m intrigued by what I’ve heard of his quiet, lo-key tunes.

The Danish artist Kira arrives in L.A. with a gig at the Silverlake Lounge. There are some really hard-hitting rock tunes on her album. I particularly like “Riders of the Freeway.” She’s someone to keep an eye on.

The Philly band, Drink Up Buttercup bring their quirky, arty, quasi-psych-y rock to Spaceland on the 18th. They recently released their debut Born & Thrown On A Hook on Yep Rec.

The Hollywood Bowl hosts couples night on the 18th. With a trio of duos that KCRW would be proud of (in fact, it’s part of KCRW’s World Festival). The lineup features The Swell Season, She & Him and The Bird and the Bee. All talented act but I wonder if it might be too much of a good, but lushly dreamy pop, thing.

Also quirky, but more poppy – the New Pornographers have a pair of shows at the Henry Fonda Theater 7/19-20,with the Dodos opening.

The 19th also find the poppy duo Kaiser Cartel at the Hotel Café and then opening for the Grand Archive at the Echo on the 20th. KC have their sophomore disc, Secret Transit, out.

AMA Conference countdown

The Americana Music Conference is now less than a week away so the countdown has really begun in earnest (as in Tubb) for me. My panel (A is for Americana) starts off the morning on Thursday and I’ve been looking over the daily schedule. A number of other panels and workshops have caught my eye, and like the musical showcases, it will tricky to get to all of them. For example, following my panel on Thursday morning, Rosanne Cash will be doing her Keynote Interview but overlapping with that is an Artist Development panel focusing on Sarah Borges, a singer I’ve been a big fan of. Another Thursday highlight looks to be the songwriting workshop with Mary Gauthier and Darrell Scott. One of the cool things of the conference for me is to get an up-close listen to musicians talking about their craft. Chip Taylor will be holding one of these sessions on Friday and Will Kimbrough has one of Saturday. Looking over the listings, it just reminds me what a wealth of interesting events the conference has.

Americana Music Festival - Countdown to Kickoff

The Americana Music Festival is now less than a month away, and I will be returning after a several year hiatus.
While the festival is turning the big 1-0, its award ceremony has only been around for 8 years. This year, the AMA will be celebrating the lifetime achievements of bluegrass progressive Sam Bush, western swing revivalists Asleep At The Wheel and ace producer Jim Rooney, who has helmed works by John Prine, Iris DeMent, Nanci Griffith and more.
The evening showcases offer an array of interesting Americana acts – and of course it’s own share of logical dilemmas. For example, who to see midnight on Wednesday night – Raul Malo, the Deadstring Brothers or Charlie Robison, all artists I’ve written about but never seen. Or what about Saturday night, when Webb Wilder, Buddy Miller and the trio of Nanci Griffith, Mary Gauthier & Elizabeth Cook are all performing at different stages.
So there will be quandaries like those to resolve as well as just seeing how my legs and general stamina holds up.