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Mike Watt & Dirty Laundry TV: South Bay Slam Fest at Harvard and Stone
Taylor Wong
January 14, 2016
It has been quite some time since I have been to Harvard and Stone specifically for music. Don’t get me wrong, I am there at least once a week because it is by far the best bar with the best bartenders in LA. But ever since Andrew Huggy stopped booking the shows, the nights have been kind of meh. Luckily, Adam Mayes took over the Thursday night bookings and has helped book some amazing shows like the New Years show with Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal. Tonight, we were graced with an epic Dirty Laundry TV show with Mid-Coitus, Mike Watt and the Missingmen, Death Hymn Number 9, and Zig Zags. I unfortunately did not make it for Mid-Coitus due to being misinformed on the start time of the show. I made it to Harvard and Stone and immediately was amazed by the size of the line. I get inside to Mike Watt and The Missingmen already playing and the house was packed to the brim. I fought my way to the front to grab some shots. Oh yeah, if you didn’t catch that, Mike Watt (headliner of the night) played second. Apparently he can do that and
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Ty Segall And The Muggers Play Secret Warm Up Gig at Silverlake Lounge
Taylor Wong
January 6, 2016
“Secret shows” are not a rare thing in LA. Ty Segall seems to have one every few months. Previously, Segall had been booking the secret, Monday shows at the Griffin with Jason Finazzo of The Birth Defects. Last night I had the pleasure of attending a secret show with Ty Segall and his new band, The Muggers. I heard about this show last minute and rushed over to the Silverlake Lounge. I thought I was on time when I got there at 8:50 and got a parking spot right in front of the bar. There was a line of about 10 people so again, I thought I had won. I soon realized the line was a result of the show already reaching capacity from all the ticket sales. Secret shows are never actually a secret here in LA. I got lucky and met a guy who’s girl friend bailed so I bought him a beer in exchange for his ticket. I got in just in time to catch the end of the opening band by the name of “the band”. “The Band”, in fact, turned out to be none other than shredder Charles Moothart’s outfit, CFM and will be joining
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Moogfest Brings Dial Tones Event to Ace Hotel Los Angeles
Justin Cornwall
December 29, 2015
Moogfest, Nosaj Thing and Dublab teamed up Sunday (12/20) night to bring LA “Dial-Tones”. The hour long presentation consisted of quick improvised performances by Nosaj Thing, Emily Kokal (Warpaint), DJ Dodger Stadium, Teebs, D Tiberio, Shlomo and many more. The event was partly to promote Moogfest 2016, who recently released their lineup, along with synthesizer building workshops that were held at the Ace Hotel during the day. Synthesizers (specifially Moog Werkstatt stations) built during the workshops were then later used as instruments for the performance. You may be familiar with the name Moog – but not many people know they were the FIRST to commercially manufacture modular analog synthesizers. And this all got started back in the 1960’s, far before dance music had any type of footing. Robert Moog (1934-2000), behind it all, is recognized as the pioneer of electronic music – his legacy is still in full swing today. Artists including Kraftwerk, Donna Summer, The Beach Boys and many others would not have cornerstones of their sound had it not been for Moog equipment. Nowadays, the Moog Music product lines include everything from bass synth keyboards, to an electric guitar and line of effects pedals, and plans to re-produce the original
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The Bronx And Friends Bring Holiday Chaos to Teragram Ballroom
Danny Baraz
December 24, 2015
For those who spend time thinking about it, the evolution of punk rock is a fascinating progression. From it’s origins of out of tune power chords being banged out as an expression of rage and frustration by a minority of well informed youngsters, to it’s corporate acceptance and well polished image of typical teenage angst, it just won’t die away, as predicted. To me, The Bronx are the apex of the punk rock format. A group of ultra talented and polished musicians with one of the most charismatic frontmen in any genre. I think The Bronx have stretched punk rock to it’s furthest limits with musicality and raw power. Last week, lead singer Matt Caughthran and crew brought their White Drugs Xmas Party to The Teragram Ballroom for two consecutive nights of holiday cheer. Night 1 featured The Bronx spinoff, Mariachi El Bronx and a complimentary set of opening acts and Night 2 featured The Bronx OG format. After seeing Mariachi El Bronx a couple times in 2015, I opted to go see The Bronx for the first time in awhile. Also on the bill was yet another project by Caughthran, The Drips along with San Diego Noise/Grindcore outfit Retox. The
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Fuzz & Thee Oh Sees Bring Holiday Help To Homeless in L.A.
Danny Baraz
December 22, 2015
Moments before John Dwyer and Thee Oh Sees took the stage at The Teragram Ballroom for the Holiday Homeless Charity Event, L.A. Kitchen chief, Robert Egger exclaimed, “If you have something bad to say about L.A. then Fuck You!” This sentence was the punctuation to the announcement of how much money was raised by the two day benefit show that was organized by west coast tour booking behemoth, Panache Booking, in conjunction with Thee Oh Sees. It’s almost as if Egger was making a public reply to a private conversation with someone involved with the show. Seeing as both Segall and Dwyer are Bay Area transplants, it wouldn’t surprise me. No one is harder on Los Angeles than NorCal hipsters. After all, outsiders and Johnny Come Lately’s aren’t allowed to criticize our complex city and all it’s nuance and eccentricities. Only those who are born and raised in the city of dream chasing and head fucking can legitimately disseminate it’s many strengths and weaknesses. Most attendees didn’t give a shit about the plotlines anyway. They were just happy to see Ty Segall’s band, Fuzz and up and comers Wand on the bill alongside Dwyer and his king of indie bands,
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together PANGEA End Tour With A Bang At The Echoplex
Jai Chebaia
December 9, 2015
Since stumbling into the LA music scene a few years ago, I’ve probably seen together Pangea more times than I’ve smoked a cigarette in The Smell alleyway, and I’m not complaining, about either really. There’s something so synonymous with the LA garage rock pandemic and Pangea – half the burgeoning bands you see out want to sound like them, the other half want to embody their punk ass lifestyle. Regardless, whether you’re a fan or not, a together Pangea show is always bound to be crazy. Simply put, there’s too much hook driven, toe tappin, bass thumpin songs for a group of 200 kids not to mosh, and that’s exactly what went down at The Echoplex on Friday night. together Pangea’s debut album, ‘Night of the Living Dummy’, was a lo-fi garage punk masterpiece; with a coherent concept that threaded its way throughout the album, and some of the most original songs I’ve heard in a long time. The band went from releasing their first album on cult label Burger Records, to signing with major label imprint Harvest Records and releasing the ‘Badillac’ LP. Earlier this year, the group returned to Burger with the Phage EP, a slew of six
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Confessions of a Miami Horror Convert From The El Rey
Paige Vreede
December 8, 2015
It was a Wednesday evening and after a day of uni, interviewing a band, and transcribing that interview, the last thing I wanted to do was go to an overly positive, hyperactive pop show. Exhaustion and trepidation aside, I decided to head to the El Rey Theater to see Melbourne-based four piece, Miami Horror play alongside Slow Hands and Queen Magic. With the promise of Red Bull + vodkas compliments of Taylor Wong, and the knowledge that Australians like to have a good time, I figured what was the worst that could happen? Answer: I could walk into an (almost) empty venue and lose all motivation for wanting to be there. The beautiful El Rey theater had minimal stragglers roaming about and a few individuals even occupied the idea of sitting on the dance floor. In all fairness, we did show up before the first act went on, and very seldom do opening acts get the love they deserve, but still, the vast emptiness of the room set the precedent for what I thought was going to be an extremely dull evening. Queen Magic (also Melbourne based), who strikingly reminded me of Freddy Mercury (it may have just been the
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X At The Roxy: Support Billy Zoom
Danny Baraz
December 8, 2015
Since 1977, the band, X has been an unmistakable part of Los Angeles lore and culture. The term punk rock is cast as a wide net but almost all of the bands in the late 70’s wave of west coast punk had their own, highly distinguishable sound and X was no exception. Their twangy, rockabilly brand of rebel music was and is one of the most dynamic of it’s time and the vocal duo of John Doe and Exene Cervenka are amongst the most melodic of the crop that sprouted from that period. It’s no wonder why their shows still sell out whenever they play in town but selling out 4 consecutive nights this past weekend at The Roxy is a testament of the high caliber of their contemporary performances. X got a heavy mortality check in the early summer of this year when it was announced that guitarist and co-founder of the band, Billy Zoom was diagnosed with bladder cancer. This past October, Zoom reported that he was cancer free and X moved to start playing these “Support Billy Zoom” shows immediately. I attended this past Friday’s show, which was night two of four and there was little evidence of
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Gogol Bordello at The Wiltern: Gypsy Punks 10 Year Anniversary Show
Danny Baraz
December 1, 2015
“If you do it yourself it means that you are doing it and loving it and love is the biggest engine in the world. There is nothing bigger, thriving and lasting than a connection with your own passion” -Eugene Hutz There is something that happens at a Gogol Bordello show that is hard to find in most places in the world- a sense of community that doesn’t exclude anyone from the joy that is produced amongst it’s members. This past Friday night, Gogol Bordello’s tour celebrating and commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Gypsy Punks album stopped at The Wiltern in Los Angeles and the amount of joy produced in that room was a bit overwhelming. In a world that sometimes paralyzes it’s denizens with fear of their fellow man and woman, Gogol Bordello and namely, it’s General, Eugene Hutz brought their message of brotherhood back to Los Angeles, along with one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. I have long contended that Fishbone is the best live band of all time. These types of proclamations are not thrown around lightly. So, it’s with great sincerity and thought that I slide Gogol Bordello into the top spot as
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No Parents and Plague Vendor Drop In To The Echo for Joint Mini Tour
Johann A. Ramos
November 30, 2015
No Parents, Plague Vendor, No Win and Melted. Its been a while since I’ve covered a show with a line up that actually made sense – not saying that I don’t appreciate a good diverse line up, it’s just been a while. The Echo was the second stop of a mini west coast tour shared by No Parents and Plague Vendor and it was the perfect fit. No Win is the brainchild of Danny Nogueiras, who you might recognize from his important percussion role in the earlier days of a little band you might’ve heard before- FIDLAR. That is as far as their association goes though because their sound is quite different, less aggressive, a little more sad? Comparing bands is counterproductive in my honest opinion so lets move on.. I found myself wanting to sing along to “After Your Legs” by No Win, even though I had never even heard it, prior to that night. They played a catchy and chill set and prepared for what was about to take place the following sets. The calm before the storm, if you will. As Melted set up, I noticed that there was a “new Sam” on the drums. I later found out that the
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Vince Staples Talks Trash and Spits Fire at El Rey for 30 Days in LA
Danny Baraz
November 27, 2015
I had a thought Tuesday night as I was watching Vince Staples do his thang at The El Rey Theater for day 24 of Red Bull’s, 30 Days in L.A.– right now might be the most exciting time in hip hop since the 90’s. The underground is exploding with talent and style. MC’s are pushing the lyrical envelope and producers are bangin out beats that are generating kinetic enthusiasm from the West coast to the East. The old beefs have been replaced with a collaborative spirit and respect and the result is fucking epic. Long Beach’s Vince Staples is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Staples had no long term plans to ascend hip hop mountain but folks like Earl Sweatshirt and Mac Miller believed in his skills and encouraged him enough to get in the studio. 2 mix tapes, 1 EP and his first LP, Summertime ’06 later, he is one of the most talked about up and coming rappers in the country. And for good reason. If you’ve seen Vince Staples live you know that it’s common for his DJ, Westside Ty to cut the beat, sometimes for an entire verse, as Vince Staples kicks it
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Camp Flog Gnaw 2015: Beats, Beefs and Building Your Brand
Danny Baraz
November 17, 2015
As I entered Exposition Park for the next annual installment of Camp Flog Gnaw, I was consumed by visions of khaki’s and polo shirts. Many attendees resembled prep school students more than the stereotypical image of hip hop fans. There was very little evidence of “hip hop past” and it’s baggy clothing, ironed creases and crisp snap backs. Rapper, producer and entrepreneur Tyler, The Creator continues to create the entire Camp Flog Gnaw world in his own image, with a tireless output and an ever evolving sound and aesthetic, fans are buying in; big time. But to say that it’s “all about the music” would be disingenuous. If the contemporary artists’ financial success were solely based on their music then Tyler wouldn’t be such a standout powerhouse (being the best isn’t enough). With streaming music services and P2P sites making album sales almost irrelevant, acts like Tyler, the Creator and indie bands like The Growlers with their “Beach Goth” festivals are at the forefront of building the new music industry. No, even with artists like Snoop, Atmosphere and Living Legends on the bill, this festival was not about the past. This festival was not about the future. This festival wasn’t
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