We’re zooming through August with another big week of concerts.
The week starts off with a blast as the Ruby Friedman Orchestra (www.myspace.com/rubyfriedman) will be shaking up with Bootleg Theater on Monday night with their high-energy show.
Things turn a little quieter on Tuesday night with an excellent showcase at Room 5. The local duo Loch & Key (singer Leyla Akdogan and ex-American Music Club guitarist Sean Hoffman) will be kicking off a string of area shows, including a September Redwood Bar residency (www.myspace.com/lochandkey). Their disc Jupiter’s Guide To Submariners presents a quirky yet beguiling sound that combines a bit of Europe with California. Also populating Room 5 is the talented Boston group GrownUp Noise (www.myspace.com/thegrownupnoise) who craft sophisticated melodic indie rock that’s warm and inviting. “Grey Skies,” a soaring song about depression off their self-titled full length is a fine place to start with the band.
The Grammy Museum hosts an evening with John Mellencamp to celebrate his new offering, the T Bone Burnett-produced No Better Than This, which I reviewed for Country Standard Time. These intimate evenings always provide a great glimpse into a performer, and I have a feeling that Mellencamp won’t be shy up on stage.
Wednesday bring a great big bit of New Orleans to the Hollywood Bowl with an all-star lineup featuring Neville Brothers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs (www.myspace.com/starannakrogstie) swing down from the State of Washington to show off their rugged, earthy rock ‘n’ roll. Their sophomore album The Only Thing That Matters shows that they are a band that matters, with feisty frontwoman Star Anna exhibits some real star quality.
Another impressive young band comes to town on Thursday when the Bay Area Gwyneth and Monko (www.myspace.com/gwynethmoreland ) come to Molly Malones. Their EP Good Old Horse contains a fine, old timey folk sound that doesn’t sound lost in time. You can also catch them at Santa Monica’s Dakota Lounge on the 20th and Altadena’s Coffee Gallery Backstage on the 23rd.
If you are looking to blues by the blue water, head to the Santa Monica Pier for a special Twilight concert with one-time Rolling Stone guitarist Mick Taylor headlining the evening’s show.
It’s a Wainwright night at the Greek on the 20th when Rufus and Martha put on a show, while over at Spaceland, Springfield Missouri’s own Ha Ha Tonka serve up their rugged Midwestern brand of rock ‘n’ roll. Crowded House will be filling Club Nokia that night with their catalog of pop gems, but come early to catch Lawrence Arabia. Their soon-to-be released Yep Roc debut is a truly impressive piece of melodic pop-rock. Coincidentally, the band’s leader James Milne has a side project BARB with Neil Finn’s musical son Liam.
Saturday the 21st holds a pair of terrific shows from which to choose: Celllist Ben Sollee (www.myspace.com/bensollee) brings his soulful Americana to the Bootleg, Texas singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe (www.myspace.com/sjaffe) swings through town again stopping at the Hotel Cafe to showcase her wonderful tunes off her smart and assured debut Suburban Nature, which stands as one of this year's better debuts.
The weekend wraps up in a particularly “crooked” way Sunday with the well-respected Darrell Scott (Robert Plant nabbed him for his new Americana project Band of Joy) will be performed songs from his new double disc A Crooked Road at the Waterfront in Marina Del Rey. Slightly inland at McCabes it will be an evening of eclectic acoustic music from Crooked Still (www.myspace.com/crookedstill), a talented Massachusetts-based outfit who have put several worth-discovering album on Signature Sounds including Some Strange Country, which came out earlier this year.
Showing posts with label Sarah Jaffe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sarah Jaffe. Show all posts
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Go See Hear in L.A.: June 21-27
The start of Summer starts off with one of the hottest – and busiest - weeks of music shows in LA so far. At least when it comes to my concert radar. It's one of those weeks that it is not only difficult to pick the show of the pick but it's hard to pick just the top shop of the night since several nights have more than one show to recommend.
Peggy Sue is a cool, young UK group, led by co-singers Rosa Slade and Katy Young, with an intriguing “folk noir” sound draws upon old and modern elements. Their 6/22 show at Spaceland supports their US debut, Fossils and other Phantoms that’s out on Yep Roc. www.myspace.com/peggywho
The veteran band Blue Rodeo performs at the Mint on June 22. One of Canada’s most esteemed groups for around 20 years, they are still creating their signature harmony-rich country rock as their recent double album The Things We Left Behind proves. www.myspace.com/bluerodeomusic
The Viper Room hosts the all-female quartet, Katzenjammer on the 22nd too. Hailing Norway, they play a lively gypsy folk-rock and I found their US debut Le Pop, which comes up at the end of June on Nettwerk, a kicky listen that should attract them a good deal of attention. They’re also known for using a trunkload of instruments on stage, suggesting that they are fun to see in concert too. www.myspace.com/katzenjammerne
I have been a longtime fan of Josh Ritter, who’s one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation. His new disc, So Runs The World Away, stands as his most ambitious work of his young career. He has a show at the Music Box on June 23, with the talented Carolina Chocolate Drops is opening with their take on old time string music that’s inspired by their African American backgrounds. www.myspace.com/joshritter, www.myspace.com/carolinachocolatedrops
Sarah Borges has been another of my favorite acts in recent years. Her music is a captivating mix of barroom country and rock ‘n’ roll – maybe it’s “punky tonk.” On her last album (The Stars Are Out, Sugar Hill Records), her covers range from NRBQ to Lemonheads and Smokey Robinson. Known for her energetic live shows, She brings her band the Broken Singles to the Mint on 6/23. www.myspace.com/borgesrocks
Last month, Kate Miller Heidke was in town opening for Ben Folds. In my LA Weekly preview of that show, I praised the quirky Australian songtress’ album Curiouser for its lively dance pop music (that) comes colored with a theatrical streak and then twisted up in ‘70s New Wave disco." You have another chance to check out this colorful performer as she returns to L.A. for her own set at the Hotel Café on 6/24.www.myspace.com/katemillerheidke
The 24th also is a night for a special benefit at the Echo that MusiCares is doing for Nashville Flood Relief. The lineup includes such wonderful roots rockers as Syd Straw, Exene Cervenka and Dave Alvin, plus the great Carlene Carter will be performing too. She did a strong comeback album, Stronger, a few years back and her classic album, Musical Shapes was the inspiration for this blog title. For more show info., visit http://www2.grammy.com/MusiCares/NashvilleFloodRelief/
Maryland-bred singer-songwriter Joe Pug might not do anything fancy on his debut The Messenger but it still impresses by being a mature effort from a first timer. He has a show at the Echo on 6/25. www.myspace.com/thejoepug
While legendary indie rock Lou Barlow is the headliner at the Bootleg on Sat. June 26, I want to sing the praises of his opening act, Sarah Jaffe . The twenty-something Texan’s debut full length Suburban Nature caught my ear for its captivating offering of bedroom folk that’s energized with edgy emotionality. www.myspace.com/sjaffe
On the 26th, McCabe’s hosts Greg Brown, a mainstay in the American folk scene since the early ‘80s. Possessing a rich voice and literate story-songs, I always think of him as a Midwestern Dave Alvin. The Iowan, by the way, is married to Iris Dement and is the dad to musician, Pieta Brown. www.myspace.com/folkingregbrown
Last year, Peter Case had heart surgery, so not only is it great to welcome him back to the stage – he has a show that Claremont Folk Music Center on June 26 and one at McCabe’s on July 9 – but it’s also great that his new disc, Wig, is such a wonderfully bluesy, rockin’ affair. www.myspace.com/petercase
The 26th is also the date that the Wiltern will be shaking with the sweet soul music served up by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. They are coming to town supporting their new album, I Learned The Hard Way, and it’s heartening that their old school soul sound is getting a niche in the mainstream. www.myspace.com/sharonjonesandthedapkings
Peggy Sue is a cool, young UK group, led by co-singers Rosa Slade and Katy Young, with an intriguing “folk noir” sound draws upon old and modern elements. Their 6/22 show at Spaceland supports their US debut, Fossils and other Phantoms that’s out on Yep Roc. www.myspace.com/peggywho
The veteran band Blue Rodeo performs at the Mint on June 22. One of Canada’s most esteemed groups for around 20 years, they are still creating their signature harmony-rich country rock as their recent double album The Things We Left Behind proves. www.myspace.com/bluerodeomusic
The Viper Room hosts the all-female quartet, Katzenjammer on the 22nd too. Hailing Norway, they play a lively gypsy folk-rock and I found their US debut Le Pop, which comes up at the end of June on Nettwerk, a kicky listen that should attract them a good deal of attention. They’re also known for using a trunkload of instruments on stage, suggesting that they are fun to see in concert too. www.myspace.com/katzenjammerne
I have been a longtime fan of Josh Ritter, who’s one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation. His new disc, So Runs The World Away, stands as his most ambitious work of his young career. He has a show at the Music Box on June 23, with the talented Carolina Chocolate Drops is opening with their take on old time string music that’s inspired by their African American backgrounds. www.myspace.com/joshritter, www.myspace.com/carolinachocolatedrops
Sarah Borges has been another of my favorite acts in recent years. Her music is a captivating mix of barroom country and rock ‘n’ roll – maybe it’s “punky tonk.” On her last album (The Stars Are Out, Sugar Hill Records), her covers range from NRBQ to Lemonheads and Smokey Robinson. Known for her energetic live shows, She brings her band the Broken Singles to the Mint on 6/23. www.myspace.com/borgesrocks
Last month, Kate Miller Heidke was in town opening for Ben Folds. In my LA Weekly preview of that show, I praised the quirky Australian songtress’ album Curiouser for its lively dance pop music (that) comes colored with a theatrical streak and then twisted up in ‘70s New Wave disco." You have another chance to check out this colorful performer as she returns to L.A. for her own set at the Hotel Café on 6/24.www.myspace.com/katemillerheidke
The 24th also is a night for a special benefit at the Echo that MusiCares is doing for Nashville Flood Relief. The lineup includes such wonderful roots rockers as Syd Straw, Exene Cervenka and Dave Alvin, plus the great Carlene Carter will be performing too. She did a strong comeback album, Stronger, a few years back and her classic album, Musical Shapes was the inspiration for this blog title. For more show info., visit http://www2.grammy.com/MusiCares/NashvilleFloodRelief/
Maryland-bred singer-songwriter Joe Pug might not do anything fancy on his debut The Messenger but it still impresses by being a mature effort from a first timer. He has a show at the Echo on 6/25. www.myspace.com/thejoepug
While legendary indie rock Lou Barlow is the headliner at the Bootleg on Sat. June 26, I want to sing the praises of his opening act, Sarah Jaffe . The twenty-something Texan’s debut full length Suburban Nature caught my ear for its captivating offering of bedroom folk that’s energized with edgy emotionality. www.myspace.com/sjaffe
On the 26th, McCabe’s hosts Greg Brown, a mainstay in the American folk scene since the early ‘80s. Possessing a rich voice and literate story-songs, I always think of him as a Midwestern Dave Alvin. The Iowan, by the way, is married to Iris Dement and is the dad to musician, Pieta Brown. www.myspace.com/folkingregbrown
Last year, Peter Case had heart surgery, so not only is it great to welcome him back to the stage – he has a show that Claremont Folk Music Center on June 26 and one at McCabe’s on July 9 – but it’s also great that his new disc, Wig, is such a wonderfully bluesy, rockin’ affair. www.myspace.com/petercase
The 26th is also the date that the Wiltern will be shaking with the sweet soul music served up by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. They are coming to town supporting their new album, I Learned The Hard Way, and it’s heartening that their old school soul sound is getting a niche in the mainstream. www.myspace.com/sharonjonesandthedapkings
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