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Ariel Pink and Black Lips Bend Minds at The Teragram Ballroom
Danny Baraz
October 7, 2015
When Ariel Pink and the Black Lips announced their co-headlining tour a few months back, I thought to myself, is there a better fit for two groups with heavy rock and roll eccentricities to be sharing a bill? Are there another two acts out there that can match each other in the perceived excesses of the rock and roll lifestyle? I couldn’t think of another Los Angeles venue I would rather see them than The Teragram Ballroom. The last few times I have seen either of these acts has been at big festivals so the warmth and perfection of sound and acoustics of the Teragram was a nice change. The sound of the two bands couldn’t be more different. The Black Lips with their sleazy garage rock vibes are the screeching, string bending beatniks who are both the paupers and princes of the punk/garage rock resurgence. Ariel Pink, our modern day Syd Barret. He rolls his third eye at your very existence as he puts romance and taboo into a contemporary context, accompanied by swirling organs and fuzzed out psychedelic guitars that have to pass through the very well populated pedal board that act as tonal gate keepers. The Black
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HiFi Rockfest: Good Times, Bad Turnout at The Queen Mary
Danny Baraz
October 6, 2015
People have been proclaiming the genre of Punk (in it’s most classic interpretation) to be dead for over 30 years now. Certainly they must be referring to the movement more so than the music because it seems like every time you turn around, there is a new punk festival brewing a lineup of classic bands with fascinating and improbable lineups. Hi-Fi Rockfest is the newest festival dedicated to dusting off crusty old punk legends and propping them up on a stage to perform to varying degrees of success. Hi-Fi Rockfest was organized by the trio of punk powerhouses DC-Jam Records, Dying Scene and D.O’B. Sound. I wasn’t all that interested in seeing a Jello Biafra-less Dead Kennedy’s but I was SUPER stoked to see The Sonics for the first time. Just 24 hours prior to the frenzy of the Super-Blood-Full-Moon, the celestial satellite hung brightly over the Long Beach Harbor and the Queen Mary. I arrived later than I wanted to Queen Mary Park where the festival was being held. Aside from The Sonics, I was way more interested in seeing bands playing earlier in the day like Downtown Brown, Year of the Dragon and True Rivals. And Luicidal is
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Disclosure at The Sports Arena: Seizures, Car Crashes and Beer Stashes
Taylor Wong
October 3, 2015
It was about two years ago to the day that Disclosure did two back to back, sold out shows at The Fonda in Hollywood. A couple nights ago, Disclosure kicked off their European and American tour here in Los Angeles at the LA Sports Arena. Not only was it their first show of the tour but it was also the first ever stadium concert. I was lucky enough to be invited over to shoot archival photos for the Coliseum and Sports Arena, once again. The call came in about an hour before the doors opened. I was over near LAX while my camera was all the way over in Hollywood and rush hour had just started. I raced home to grab my camera, well aware I would never make it for opening act Lion Babe. I made it to my apartment just in time, even after watching a car hurling down the street, crashing right into a storefront. I ran into my apartment, got my camera gear in order and step out the door locking the door behind me. Oh, what’s this? My car keys are now locked inside my apartment? At this point I have come to terms with
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Mosquitto and Sand Babes at Footsies: The Soundtrack for my Blackout
Taylor Wong
October 2, 2015
Sunday night I made my way over to Footsies after downing half a bottle of tequila. Mosquitto and Sand Babes were set to play in the small dive bar in Highland Park. The bar was filled with familiar faces and unfamiliar faces, alike. Every one was beautiful and under the influence of something, mostly whiskey but others maybe had a little extra something, something. I only managed to put down 1 more beer during the course of the show. Actually, I take that back I was in some alley at some point drinking whiskey out of a brown paper bag with Mosquitto before their set but I’ll get back to that later. The night started pretty early with Ned Casual DJ’ing some tunes for the early arrivals. Around 11pm Sand Babes went on. At least I think it was 11, like I said the night’s a little blurry for me. They had the room packed with girls grooving to their, well, groovy tunes. I even caught myself wiggling around during their set. After Sand Babes I met up with Kevin Compton of Mosquitto and at that point that half a bottle of tequila had hit me. We made our way
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Shannon and The Clams Debut “Gone By The Dawn” at The El Rey
Jai Chebaia
September 26, 2015
Retro rock band Shannon and The Clams are no strangers to Los Angeles. The Oakland band has dropped three previous albums in the garage rock mecca, so when they returned last Wednesday night to mid-city hipster haven the El Rey for the record release of their 4th album, they were welcomed with warm arms and adoring fans. Opening for the headliners were fellow bay area band Cool Ghouls, who’s LP, “A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye”, was in my opinion one of the best albums of 2014. Consequently, watching these guys was incredible, especially on such a big stage, with even more impressive sound to match. However, what makes Cool Ghouls more unique than most garage bands, is the fact that ALL of them can sing, and not just belt out a few notes – they can fucking sing. This means not only are the harmonies crazy, but also each individual voice when alone, brings something different to the song, both emotionally and tonally. The crowd was a little thin to begin for the touring band, but there was no shortage of happy-go-lucky dancing. At times the band would break down into straight-up country punk, which by the way
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The Coathangers and Birth Defects End Tour in Southern California
Danny Baraz
September 25, 2015
The first time I saw The Coathangers was at Burgerama in March. Some bands just stand out and you know when you see them for the first time, that you’ll be seeing a lot more of them. Thursday night at Los Globos was the second to last stop on the current leg of their tour with the Birth Defects. L.A. promoter, Blundertown added Feels to the bill. All three bands were in prime form. I was able to catch up with The Coathangers at Riot Fest in Chicago. They were the first band that played on Day 1 and we spoke to Crook Kid and Minnie Coathanger just after their set. I got a little tongue tied and at the time, I blamed it on the lack of notes and not enough preparation but after saying hello to them just before their set last night, I realized that I get a little tongue tied around bad ass women who can play the fuck out of their instruments and write kick ass songs. I tried to relay some information and ended up coming off like a total dick!!! It’s true. I’m a male groupie but since I don’t put out so I’m
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Entering the Void at L.A. Psych Fest 2015
Brent Smith
September 24, 2015
‘The unspeakable is the true domain of being.’ –Terence McKenna For lineup snobs, the 4th annual Los Angeles Festival of Psychedelic Music and Art may not have compared to the recent bills of Levitation Austin or Toronto earlier this year, or even Levitation France for that matter, which synchronistically went off on the same weekend. Nevertheless, for a homegrown spectacle, L.A. Psych Fest was a wildly intimate affair. It also served as yet another euphoric instance in today’s mushrooming psychedelic revolution happening everywhere from L.A. to Denver to Boston and beyond. If you weren’t in the crowd this weekend decked to the nines in glitter mascara and your old tie-dye, you definitely missed out. L.A. Psych Fest definitely started off on the right foot, with sick performances that first night at the Regent Theater by Jennifer Castle, Green Gerry, Mr. Elevator & the Brain Hotel, Night Beats, and epic crowd-pleasers The Budos Band on the main stage. The Echo proved to be the more fitting venue, as the fest really caught its momentum during a manic second day, headlined by instrumental giants Earthless. I personally couldn’t wait to finally see JJUUJJUU and Moon Duo live for the first time (and
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Radkey Play The Echo and Make Me a Believer
Taylor Wong
September 23, 2015
It has been about a month since I have been out to cover any thing and I was jonesin’ for a good show. FYF was my last assignment and that is entirely too long. I was sent out to The Echo, one of my most frequented and favorite venues to check out the brothers, Radkey. I got there right when the doors opened like a freshman at Junior Prom. The month away from shows had me acting like a newbie. Since I got there early, I grabbed a beer and sat down as I took in my surroundings. As I sat there I took a deep breath of the musty venue air. The venue was quite empty, “but that’s ok since it’s still early”, I thought to myself. Gentle Pony took the stage first. This duo had a sound that I would describe as a grown up Cherry Glazerr. This band was the perfect start to the evening as Steve and Lena both thrashed around the stage from start to end of their set. The odd thing was that this was probably the largest the crowd ever got during the course of the entire show. The next band up was Prettiest Eyes. A 3-piece band that had its own horny cowboy. This
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Janky Smooth at Riot Fest Chicago 2015: A Drunk History
Vanessa Burgundy
September 22, 2015
By Vanessa Burgundy This was my Riot Fest hat trick and they do always say that “third time’s a charm”. Let it be known, Riot Fest, you have always been positively charming, however; this year, you were downright enchanted. Day One: I had a bit of a late start, missing favorites like Mariachi el Bronx, Fishbone, and garage-girl-group The Coathangers. Danny caught up with them in our Riot Fest Video Recap but got there just in time to catch classic New York, rock band Living Colour. This years Riot Fest was already off to a better start than the previous year, with a smooth, no-wait, check-in and entry but also a gorgeous day. I actually didn’t even know that the entirety of field at Douglas Park resembled a bowl of pudding until I got kicked off the stage later that night during No Doubt’s set. Thanks Gwen. I got to my perch on the side of stage during Living Colour’s set. Once the god awful sound issues were worked out, Living Colour were amazing and I couldn’t find any difference between now and 88 except a few scattered greys in the dreads and fro’s. Impressive. Conveniently, our buddies, Eagles of
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Liberation vs Romance: Le Butcherettes and “It’s My Party” Last Thursday in LA
Danny Baraz
September 21, 2015
By Danny Baraz The impact of women in music is not only starting to reveal itself but the term “the gentler sex” is going to have to be retired. This past Thursday night out on the town in Los Angeles proved two things- Artistic women like Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes can decimate the stereotypical image of the role of women in society and that we can still celebrate the art and the emotions that originated from one of the most classic eras of American Sexism. That dreamy, swept off your feet part of the classic patriarchy. At 6pm on September 17, 2015 at Amoeba Records on Sunset Blvd, a lead singer of a band that originated in Guadalajara Mexico in 2007 left an indelible mark on passengers traveling east on the number 2 metro line bus during rush hour and in my psyche. Well, at least my psyche. The passengers of the bus didn’t seem too thrilled. I found out, last minute, that Le Butcherettes were playing an in store performance at Amoeba and I rushed down there immediately. When I arrived I saw lead singer Teri Gender Bender, her guitar sized ukulele and drummer Chris Common in
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Destruction Unit Record Release at The Teragram Ballroom
Brent Smith
September 17, 2015
Arriving at the Teragram Ballroom on 7th Street, dodging traffic, skate rats, and the regular stream of Monty Bar freaks, I dipped under the sleek, neon blue marquee, through the main doors, and into the archway of the foyer where Destruction Unit release party event collaborators Critical Resistance had a table amongst all the merch. I was just in time to see the opening acts spew death metal and summon the Devil in guttural tongues. It was the record release party for Destruction Unit’s long-awaited album of concussive rhythm and psychedelic overdrive Negative Feedback Resistor (Sacred Bones Records). In a word? Shit was lit. There were lots of freaks and aliens, but not as many as I expected. Or maybe it was just a perception thing, since the Teragram is deceptively big for only having a capacity of 600. There always seems to be tons of room whenever I’m there, while being intimate at the same time. The Teragram is little sister to New York key players The Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom, and got its name from owner Michael Swier’s late wife “Margaret” spelled backward. It’s hardly a planted flag for New York, rather it’s among the few venues
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Passion Of The Weiss 10 Year Anniversary at The Echo
Paige Vreede
September 13, 2015
The Echo was transformed on Sunday when prolific music writer, Jeff Weiss, held a ten-year anniversary party for his blog, Passion Of The Weiss. The event was far different from the indie shows that are typically hosted at The Echo. From 4pm to 2am, rappers from all over the country came almost as quickly as they went off The Echo stage, spitting lines over fat beats. The lineup included both already established and up-and-coming artists, as well as three “secret guests”. Gone were the beards and tattoos normally associated with The Echo and in came the overuse of cologne and the term “pimp.” I am not a hip hop head but I have big respect for Jeff Weiss. I walked into The Echo and felt like I walked into a scene out of 8-Mile. People were swaying and head bobbing slowly to the beats that were pumping through the sound system. The atmosphere was intimate and full of energy. Jeff Weiss, who is editor of Passion Of The Weiss, a columnist for Pitchfork and LA Weekly, and co-host of hip-hop podcast Shots Fired, organized a lineup full of stupendous talent. Dr. Millionaire, Red Ferguson, Kweku Collins, Jordan Raf, The Outfit
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