Go See Hear in L.A.: Oct. 11-17 - Danielle Ate The Sandwich to Hoodoo Gurus

Danielle Anderson goes by the stage name Danielle Ate The Sandwich (www.myspace.com/danielleatethesandwich), so it’s not surprising that her music is quirky and eclectic. However, The intriguing uke-playing singer-songwriter can also be soul-searching and heartfelt – she’s something like those low-budget indie films chronicling twentysomethings’ lives but more charming than pretentious. You can find Danielle at the Hotel Café on Monday the 11th.

David Olney (www.myspace.com/davidolney) is a one of those singer-songwriter better known to his peers than the general public. He’s been recording albums over nearly 30 years and draws together various Americana strands – folk, rock, country, blues and even standards (he covered “I Only Have Eyes For You” on his last album) into something quite special. A sagacious, witty storyteller, Olney is something like John Prine with a bit more of an old school rock ‘n’ roll soul. He’ll be at the Coffee Gallery Backstage on the 11th and the Cinema Bar on the 13th.

The Ottawa-based quintet the Acorn (www.myspace.com/theacorn) is a band well worth digging up. On their CD, No Ghost (Bella Union) they reveal themselves as a really cool mix of woodsy-meets-city indie rock. While they aren’t at the anthemic state of fellow Canadian The Arcade Fire, the band’s music has a strong visceral pull. They are appearing at the Echo on Oct. 13.

Shadow Shadow Shade (www.myspace.com/shadowshadowshade) has created a lot of buzz around town (since the days when they were known as the Afternoons) and listening to their debut disc it is clear that they are deserving of all the praise. A swirling of colorful rock ‘n’ roll with patches of psyche., prog and other fuzzy guitar rock, SSS falls somewhere between the Flaming Lips and MGMT. “Say Yes” stands out as a rousing triumph while “Your Perfect Wilderness” is a rich Dark Forest rock exploration. Their 10/14 show at the Echoplex should be quite the record release party.

The Legendary Shack Shakers (www.myspace.com/legendaryshackshakers) will bring their rip-roaring redneck-a-billy to Spaceland on 10/14 behind their latest offering Agridustrial. The band’s new guitarist Duane Denison comes from Hank III and Jesus Lizard, so expect the Shack Shakers to raise more of a racket.

Baltimore-based, Merge Recording artists Wye Oak (www.myspace.com/wyeoak), who are basically the duo Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack) returns to town with their cool soft/loud sound that has a bluesy bottom and a freak folk-rocky topside. They share a bill with ex-Pedro The Lion frontman David Bazan at Spaceland on Oct. 15.

Armed with her comical, twangy bluesy tunes (her latest CD is entitled Donald Trump’s Hair), Kacey Jones (www.myspace.com/kaceyjonesmusic) comes from Nashville to Coffee Gallery Backstage on Friday night for her only Southern California show for the year.

Vincent Minor (www.myspace.com/vincentminor) celebrates his recently released self-titled album with a gig at the Bootleg Theatre. His cleverly composed, Tin Pan Ally-ish tunes suggest Rufus Wainwright without the operatic aspirations. Seek out his delightful ditty “Late Night Show” to get a good taste of what he’s all about

Hoodoo Gurus (www.myspace.com/hoodoogurus) hit the Viper Room on Oct. 17. These Aussies have been cranking out some wonderful garage rock-y music for many years. Tunes like “I Want You Back,” “What’s My Scene” and “Bittersweet” are a joy to hear any day. This Aussie outfit is still going strong as their latest Purity Of Essence (released earlier this year) amply proves.

Go See Hear April 18-25

This week offers another super week of shows.

The top choice for the week is the Shelby Lynne show at the Roxy on Thursday April 22 with Findlay Brown as the opening act. Lynne has a terrific new album that just came out, entitled Tears, Lies and Alibis – which gives you a good sense of what she’s singing about. It’s one of my top albums of the year for so. Come early to see Findlay Brown, a young British crooner whose currently disc, Love Will Find You, a lovely set of retro pop that evokes Roy Oribson and Chris Isaak.

Also that night, Trampled by Turtles brings their revved up bluegrass tunes to the Mint. Their new disc, Palomino, was a real eye-opener for me. The fine local country-rock outfit Old Californio also is on the bill.

Colorful Art Brut frontman Eddie Argos has a fun side project: Everybody Was in the French Resistance…Now! - in which he has created cheeky “answer songs” like “Think Twice (It’s Not Alright” and “Hey It’s Jimmy Mack.”

Ex-Toad The Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips, who is currently part of the all-star Americana ensemble, Works Progress Administration, has a show at McCabe’s on April 23, with the Irish band the Guggenheim Grotto opening (I really liked their tune “Her Beautiful Ideas”) off their Happy The Man disc.

Saturday, April 24, brings several interesting options: the Black Prairie, which contains a trio of Decemberists, creates dark acoustic-based sound that suggests a gypsy mountain music done for a David Lynch soundtrack. The band, whose debut is out on Sugar Hill, shares a bill at the Bootleg with trio of fabulous female singers, the Living Sisters; I caught their delightful set recently at Amoeba Records.

Baltimore-based, Merge Recording artists Wye Oak (basically the duo Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack) forge an interesting soft/loud sound that has a bluesy bottom and a freak folk-rocky topside. Their show is at Spaceland.

The beloved Nanci Griffith brings her sweet voice and impressive catalog of tunes to the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills on the 24th too.

Josh Rouse has a weekend stay at Largo. The traveling troubadour now resides in Spain, which is evident from his latest effort, the Yep Roc-released El Turista, which is a cool, bilingual affair of laidback tunes backed with some world rhythms.

Rounding out the weekend, Peter Himmelman will serve up some of his smart, tart tunes at McCabe’s on Sunday, April 25.