Tag: the griffin

Wand at The Griffin

Wand Secret Show at The Griffin w/ Dreamdecay

It’s not that the shows over the last couple years at The Griffin are “secret shows”, per se.  The Ty Segall and the Freedom Band gig a month ago before Segall’s latest album dropped, had a line stretching around the alley behind the Griffin with a couple hundred fans that didn’t make it in.  I weep for those poor souls.  But “Secret Show” sounds infinitely doper than “unpromoted show”.  This past Monday it was Cory Hanson’s band Wand that ignored the most important rule and defining trait of a secret; Loose Lips Sink Ships and Snitches Get Stitches.  What we got was perfectly populated place of Wand worship and an opening band that ditched the psych rock dogma to create a unique style; PsychCore.  I know, I know- shoot me in the face if ever say that word again! The Religion of Rock n Roll and it’s Testimony at The Griffin Monday night’s at The Griffin are starting to resemble Sunday’s at church. Familiar faces amongst the congregants privy to the message being delivered in the sermon, captivated by the clergy and the message of rock and roll delivered to the flock who revere them. related content: Shannon and the

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Ty Segall at The Griffin

Ty Segall And The Secret Show: A New Tradition in Los Angeles

I caught wind of the secret—and free—Ty Segall and the Muggers show at the Griffin from a Mikal Cronin tweet around 10pm. It turned out being a hushed triumph for the community, the local scene—now largely represented in the hip enclave of working class L.A. artists that arches across Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, and Mt. Washington. Luckily I don’t live too far, otherwise I would’ve just as easily succumbed to the old Angeleno proverb of “I’m staying in tonight.” I’m glad I decided to go, it provided some much needed reenergizing, and highlighted our special moment of L.A. music history. Even L.A. Weekly (that old, tired whore of a culture rag) was sage enough (however contrived) to dub Segall “L.A.’s most prolific and enigmatic rock star”—which would put him in the running for such a tag worldwide—and he doesn’t need ticket sales to prove it. I showed up to the Griffin maybe 5 or 10 minutes late, tops, sauntering to the back of a line that was definitely sizeable for a Wednesday night, and the Muggers were already wellinto their set. This was my view for a good portion of it. As it turned out, never

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Ty Segall Performs as Henry Rollins Observes

Ty Segall and The Birth Defects Play a Gig In a Tiny Room

It was a real treat to attend a secret Ty Segall show this past Monday- you feel privileged to have stepped into some well-guarded party. The show was at The Griffin and I wondered how these other people knew about it? Are they personal friends of the bands?  I could not find any information about the show on social media and I couldn’t help but wonder how long these Mondays at the Griffin are gonna stay a secret. Last night, The Birth Defects and Ty Segall performed in front of a few happy people.  The last time Segall did a show at The Satellite, I was not fast enough to get a ticket. However, I managed to see him with his band, Fuzz at the Troubadour two weeks ago and now, this show at the Griffin!  It was completely unexpected and a lot of fun. Birth Defects started the show a bit after 10 pm and, as they did when they opened for Fuzz at the Troubadour.  They slaughtered the place, raising a monster at each song with their propulsive, raw and very loud sound.  Their album ‘First 8 Mistakes’ was produced by Ty Segall, which explains the connection, and whatever they put

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Mikal Cronin Pops Into The Griffin: The New Clubhouse for Rockers in L.A.

Monday nights at The Griffin are becoming a “thing” but it’s definitely not a thing that “they” want “people” to know about. Hopefully Janky Smooth writing about it doesn’t ruin it but it needs to be mentioned since it’s becoming one of the most interesting days of the week for music in Los Angeles. It’s more of a “friend” thing. Ty Segall and Jason Finazzo have managed to rally their circle to come and have a casual hang on Monday nights and their friendship is rewarded with last minute, surprise shows with the likes of Thee Oh Sees and Shannon and the Clams, just to name a few. Quite often people like Henry Rollins show up and stand in a corner as John Dwyer and company do their thang for a small, room full of people.  This past Monday, it was Mikal Cronin playing a surprise show at The Griffin.   The cool thing about this Monday Night Social that is occurring weekly at The Griffin is that there is no promotion for any of the bands or musicians that play on a weekly basis and that is what makes it fun and casual.  There is very little snootiness in the

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Shannon and the Clams shot by Lester Guijarro

Shannon and the Clams: Case of the Mondays at The Griffin

When mastermind Jason Finazzo (singer of The Birth Defects and manager of The Griffin) began brainstorming with musical genius, Ty Segall, they decided Monday nights will no longer serve as a night of post-weekend blues, but as a night of prodigious talent. With previous acts such as Thee Oh Sees, Wand and The Coathangers making appearances at The Griffin in Atwater Village, it was no surprise that the raw talent of Shannon And The Clams were invited to immerse us in their tasty tunes this past Monday.   Upon entering The Griffin for the first time, I immediately felt as though I had stepped into a different era. With candle lit tables and exposed brick arches, I felt as though I was meeting me mate William Johnson for a few lagers at our favorite pub. I was extremely curious as to how the night would proceed given the context of the genre amongst the seemingly intimate backdrop that surrounded it. To my surprise the room presented itself as nearly empty – something that made absolutely no sense to me considering the extraordinary talent that was to come. In a state of boredom, I decided to walk to the neighboring liquor store

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