Thursday, October 27, 2005

Boo-Over! Sunday

Also tonight

Malcolm Venville photog exhibit!





This one's tomorrow, at Equator Books on Abbot Kinney. The book store rocks - and is totally cute like the one on Vermont in Los Feliz. Why are books so expensive these days? Is it because reading is coming back in style?

LA Weekly art party







After work tomorrow check out LA Weekly's art show. It's at Track 16 @ Bergamot Station, featuring art by numerous artists including Shepard Fairey, FAILE, Winston Smith, Cobrasnake, Glenn Bach, Brian Bress and more. Check the flyer at the link above for more info.

Tonight - Morgan Page at 310 Lounge

Check out Morgan Page tonight at the 310 Lounge. From what I hear he's debuting an ill setup. House music all night long!!

www.310lounge.com/

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Argyle is itchy

Two nights ago I went to a party for soundArt, a non-profit organization that brings music lessons to inner-city schools that can't afford to have a music program ((www.soundart.org). It's a great organization and the people are fantastic. I highly reccomend getting involved with this organization if you can. Anyways, the party was held at the Argyle Hotel on Sunset. Now, all "partying for the poor" aside, the Argyle is a strange place to do-it to-it. It's wierd when people working in music try to dress up and have manners ( I tried for about 35 seconds). The bar is nice. Loads of wood paneling, leather, and fabulous views. It reminded me of Boston...very unlike LA. Is there a hip place to throw a party like this without feeling like you need to adopt a wierd ass "glide" to walk across the room? Maybe I'm going to too many warehouse parties. honestly, where is the fine line between a classy event and a stuffy one?

Monday, October 24, 2005

Bastide?

What is up with this place? I know it's a fabulous restaurant, but does anyone really go there to party??

this week




Tuesday night - She Wants Revenge is playing @ the Troubadour. Not sure if I'll be making it but we shall see. Wednesday night - The Like @ El Ray. They're a female band hailing from LA who are super cute and super talented (Do you like that last sentence? It seems apppropriate). Also on Wednesday nigh is Imogen Heap (of Frou Frou - the big song from Garden State). Wow, beautiful vocals with a breakbeat bassline?? This song was two steps away from a rave. Anyways she's playing at 9 along with singer/songwriter Josh Radin. Josh is an interesting chap and you'll be hearing more about him in the future. Check out www.joshuaradin.com or look up his profile on myspace. So Imogen Heap and Radin just finished the nationwide Hotel Cafe tour. The Hotel Cafe is located in LA on the Cauhenga crawl. Recently renovated, they're known for singer songwriter types and used to be a tiny hole-in-the-wall. Alas, they're blowing up. Look for the lost ragammufin-types outside smoking cigarettes in the rain.

more to come...

Saturday, October 22, 2005

James Lavelle tonight at Avalon




Tonight check out James Lavelle at the Avalon. You may know Lavelle of famed production duo U.N.K.L.E., often heard played by KCRW DJ Jason Bentley on Metropolis. I saw him DJ at the Spyder Club last year. He fuses rock, electronic, progressive, and break beat delivering something for everyone. The Avalon crowd can be a little sketch so wear a crash helmet if you're sensitive to meeting people with dilated pupils waving things that glow in the dark. He's playing with James Holden, alongside Basic LA's Justin Gourley and John Do.

Last night was fun. We passed on Ashley Simpsons' record release party at the O Bar to chow at Leelas Thai in Silverlake. The food is incredible and reasonably priced. Make sure to bring your own booze, as they don't have a liquor license. They'll uncork your libation of choice for a tiny fee of $1 per person, so there's something in it for everyone.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Rondo Brothers, Sons and Daughters, Basic, Oh My






three kick ass shows tonight! The first one is The Rondo Brothers, who are playing at the Echo and are great - the best way to describe their style is hawaiian hip hop. No joke! They're tons of fun. The second show is Sons and Daughters at Spaceland, who totally rocked out on KCRW yesterday morning. I dig them because they've got their own sound, unlike Interpol Jr. For late night it's Basic at King King. All three resident DJ's will be manning the decks, so it's bound to be a good party. These guys throw it down every other Friday and manage to keep the house music fresh and fun. Yeah yeah!!


http://www.rondobrothers.com/
http://www.sonsanddaughtersloveyou.com/
http://www.basicpromotions.com/

Thursday, October 20, 2005

The Go! Team - Tonight



Check out the Go! Team tonight at the Troub. I don't have much to say about them. But I think I've got passes to the VIP room if ya need 'em.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Today in history...

everyone is a DJ. and everyone has a blog.

She Wants Revenge - SPIN Band of the day

I haven't decided if I like this LA band yet. The EP sounds like an Interpol rip off. Maybe I just need to see them live...

October 25th at the Troubadour Los Angeles

Monday, October 17, 2005

keep an ear out for Morgan Page - "Cease and Desist"





House music producer and famed remixer Morgan Page is delivering an underground remix album called "Cease and Desist". To understanding, this record will be the first complete white album in dance music history. I've heard bits and pieces and it's serious. I've also heard that he's working out a hush-hush remix for a pop star we all know "pieces" of - but you didn't hear that from me. ;)


With a true nod to the digital revolution, Morgan delivers 9 bootleg remixes that are being spun by everyone from John Digweed to to the influentials at KCRW. There's also an exclusive live set coming up, which will be amazing considering all the new material he's made in the last year. Page rarely plays live, but when he does it's well worth the wait. Details to come.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Tonight: LCD Soundsystem at Avalon



YEA! Tonight is the LCD Soundsystem with The Juan Maclean at Avalon. I've been looking forward to this one for months. James Murphy of DFA Records is great. Check out the song "Losing My Edge" - this was the breakthrough single a few years back. It's a song about him getting older and not succeeding in the biz after trying for 20 years. Ha! After the show w'ere going to Stones Throw's night at Star Shoes. Their DJ's play the best funk and soul in the city. Get there early.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Tonight: The BBC Sessions @ The Vanguard


DJ, radio jock and musical tastemaker Gilles Peterson plays at The Vanguard with performances by Peanut Butter Wolf, Dwele, The Rebirth, and more. I heard Madlib is going to make an appearance too. LA is full of suprise appearances, although when Beck does it it's hardly suprising. (My new favorite- "suprise cover art ....by Beck!!" from the new KCRW Sounds Eclectico compilation) What's up with the new Vanguard, is it any good? I'm wary of "super clubs". They're sort of circa 2001 if you know what I mean. Saturday nights, Dim Mak hosts a dope party in the VIP area. Look for the cobrasnake poster on the hidden door located on the side of the building. All wariness of the venue aside, this is going to be amazing. Gilles Peterson is at the forefront of everything that's cool, classic, and legendary. Go to this show!!!

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

check out the new iPod


It's amazing - photos, video, music, podcasts, and the promise of televison (don't know how they're going to pull that one off)...but what else do you need??

http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html

(photo courtesy of justjared.blogspot.com)

Zox - the band, not the energy drink


So last night I went to a showcase at the Viper Room. It was a very post-MTV sort of crowd. You know, the type of kids who are shiny but have that telltale ragged edge from experiencing one too many warehouse raves and melancholy shoegazer shows in the 90's. Hence the music was an excellent pairing, similar to a crisp chardonnay alongside a nice white piece of fish. Now that we've pushed teen angst-rock through the mainstream, I feel that there's a college jam band revival on the horizon. I mean think about it - how many 19 year olds want to go see Dave Mattews Band AGAIN? AND pay gazillions of dollars for tickets, parking, and underage consumption (if you can't get away with tailgating pre-game, err rather pre-show).
Zox is the solution. Shiny, jam worthy (yes -there's a guy on the electric violin), and accessible. Heralding from Providence, Rhode Island, I think we're going to be hearing more from these guys. And the industry knows it too - I saw many an agent and A&R person skulking around the outskirts of the crowd. Don't think I didn't see you.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

party party

i dj'ed a work party friday night and it totally went off. for the first time i dj'ed from the iPod. Initially I had a few reservations about the lack of technical ability but most of the songs I had in mind didn't need to be beatmatched - so it worked out great. The only downside is not being able to cue up. You need to know your music library well.

here are a few tracks from my playlist:


King Curtis "Memphis Soul Stew"
Ben Mullins "Big Chill"
Jamie Lidell "When I Come Back Around"
Fussible "Tiguana Makes me Happy"
Jeremy Ellis "Take Your Time"
DangerDoom "Old School feat. Talib Kweli"
Diamond Nights "Attractive"
Putsch 79 "Track 3"
Tegan and Sara "walking with the ghost (morgan page remix)"
Joy Division "love will tear us apart"
The Like "what I say and what I mean"
Grand National "playing in the distance (eliot james remix)"
Victor "go on do it"
Maximo Park "The coast is always changing"
Queen "another one bites the dust"

Thursday, October 06, 2005

The Small Stakes - the works of Jason Munn

For interesting illustration done for various bands from Teenage Fanclub to Sufjan Stevens, check out:

http://www.thesmallstakes.com

His work is very modern, minimal and soft. Art created for the sake of art, rather than art created for the sake of a flyer, if ya knowhadimean.
He puts up new posters every week and they sell out quickly, so don't sleep.

plasma speakers

I don't get it...does the picture change??

Master Chorale - Nov. 6 at Walt Disney Music Hall

Rio Sangre is the first operetic suite from composer Don Davis. Davis is notably known for scoring the music for the Matrix trilogy. This will be the worldwide debut of the performance.

Read more by clicking the link above or copying and pasting below:

http://www.lamc.org/concerts/0506/051106_transform.html

looks very intriguing.

vegetarian friendly restaurants in LA

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Ill Lit tonight

Wed. Oct 5th at the HOTEL CAFE (www.hotelcafe.com)
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
all ages
$7
w/ AM
show starts at 8pm.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Jon Brion discog.

Here's a feature that Pitchfork did on Jon Brion.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/weekly/05-09-06-cinematic-treatment.shtml

Interview Magazine (no link available)

Check out this month's issue of Interview. Fiona Apple interviews Kanye West - they discuss the possibility of doing a few songs with Jon Brion on Friday night at Largo!! Jon Brion is a music producer, whose work ranges from scoring I Heart Huckabees to producing Fiona Apple's album and co-producing Kanye's latest. He does an amazing solo performance every Friday night at the Largo club in LA, in Fairfax Village just south of Melrose. You need to get there early and call ahead if you want a table as it fills up early. Fiona mentioned she has performed there a few times, why hasn't anyone told me!? How fun - it's a tiny venue and would be totally worthwhile.

cool shows this week...

So I haven't been writing in a little while, due to a few days of hibernation. so anyways the point is i'm back and here are some cool shows this week to check out...

TONIGHT - Four Tet and Jamie Lydell @ The Echo - I think it's sold out, but who knows you may have a chance if you go down there. Also Vagenius is playing at The Monmarte. I'm not too down with them but it looks like a good party.

TOMORROW- Neil Cavanagh @ Tangiers (www.myspace.com/neilcavanagh)

FRIDAY - Richard Swift, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The National @ The Troubadour

It's going to be a good week..