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GOTYE @ EL REY THEATER

Daiana Feuer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:13:17 +0000

With the hit song and video “Somebody I Used To Know,” Gotye (born Wouter “Wally” De Backer) earned himself the hottest ticket in town. But would the Belgian-Australian songwriter be another musician thrown to the indie wolves only to be spit out after a massive hit?

Couples, older folk and many attractive young hipsters packed El Rey in high anticipation as Gotye stood center stage surrounded by his bandmates and a myriad of instruments. Opening with the first single from Making Mirrors, the evening started off with a big punch. The lean and fit Gotye was like a chef on stage, mixing the ingredients of his songs with different spices of indie pop, reggae, and tri-hop throughout the evening. There were songs for dancing, swaying and getting your funk on. As he thanked the crowd with his boyish grin, Gotye announced that Kimbra would not be appearing for “Somebody” as she did on Jimmy Kimmel the night before. However, as Kimbra’s portion of the song came about, several female voices came together to sing the lyrics of the heartbroken girl. This sort of relationship with his audience is an endearing quality of Gotye. Unfortunately, those that came just to hear this song started their loud conversations immediately afterwards. As the last song of the main set approached, Gotye mentioned he wrote the song “Bronte” for a friend whose dog had recently passed away, and the crowd quieted down, allowing something beautiful to occur.

—Debi Del Grande

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WILCO @ THE WILTERN

Daiana Feuer — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:24:39 +0000

Photos by Lindsey Best

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Wilco’s Setlist:

1 One Sunday Morning
2 Poor Places
3 Art Of Almost
4 I Might
5 I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
6 One Wing
7 Rising Red Lung
8 Impossible Germany
9 Born Alone
10 Laminated Cat (Loose Fur cover)
11 Pot Kettle Black
12 She’s A Jar
13 Misunderstood
14 California Stars
15 Box Full Of Letters
16 Standing O
17 A Magazine Called Sunset
18 Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway(again)
19 Dawned On Me
Encore:
20 Whole Love
21 Heavy Metal Drummer
22 I’m the Man Who Loves You
23 Casino Queen
24 Hoodoo Voodoo

ANGELS & AIRWAVES + LE BLORR @ AVALON

Daiana Feuer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:21:53 +0000

Alternative rock group Angels & Airwaves are currently on tour with their latest “LOVE, PART II” and had a recent stop at the Avalon. Vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge (Blink 182) with guitarist David Kennedy (Box Car Racer), bassist Matt Wachter (30 Seconds to Mars) and the recent addition of Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails) on drums are also playing Pomona on February 2nd at The Glasshouse with opener Le Blorr. —Debi Del Grande

Saturday Love
Young London
Surrender
Dry Your Eyes
The Adventure
Everything’s Magic
Anxiety
Valkyrie Missile
Lifeline
Call to Arms
There Is (Box Car Racer cover(
Hallucinations
Secret Crowds

Encore:
We Are All That We Are
The War

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WARPAINT @ SPACE 15 TWENTY

Daiana Feuer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:54:28 +0000

Warpaint played a free intimate show at Space 15 Twenty along with DJ AJ English for the THVM Artists Series Installation. The set included two new songs, a helicopter and flying beer. —Debi Del Grande

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BARRY ADAMSON @ HOTEL CAFE

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:08:59 +0000

all photos by debi del grande

When you work with bands like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Depeche Mode, you get a little recognition. KCRW knew this and booked Barry Adamson at the Hotel Cafe. Touring on his new album I Will Set You Free, this British rocker stood alone on the tiny stage belting out tunes in one of the smoothest voices I’ve heard in awhile. The set was too short—hopefully, he’ll be back.

—Debi Del Grande

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DEAD SARA @ TROUBADOUR

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:05:06 +0000

all photos by debi del grande

The walls at the restaurant next door to the Troubadour must have been shaking because the place was rocking Tuesday night with 98.7 and Bronson Island presenting Dead Sara who has recently been on tour with Bush. What a breath of fresh air vocalist Emily Armstrong is! This girl has chops and range and isn’t posing for anyone. Siouxsie Medley (guitar/vox), Chris Null (bass) and Sean Friday (drums) are all tight and no one is slacking. Even though Dead Sara wasn’t the headliner—this night—the crowd screamed for more.

—Debi Del Grande

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WU TANG CLAN @ CLUB NOKIA

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:00:53 +0000

all photos by debi del grande

Although two main members of Wu-Tang Clan (Ghostface Killah and Raekwon) were not performing, that didn’t stop Club Nokia from being so packed you could barely move. Champagne was flowing, the floor was vibrating and everyone was feeling the beat. Method Man, RZA and GZA were highlights of the evening.
—Debi Del Grande

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PORTLANDIA @ ECHOPLEX

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:57:01 +0000

all photos by debi del grande

What can Carrie Brownstein not do? Co-starring with SNL alum Fred Armisen on IFC’s hit series “Portlandia” and fronting the band Wild Flag are just a few of her accomplishments. With two sold out shows at the Echoplex, Portlandia: The Tour came rolling into Echo Park with comedy sketches, music (including Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles performing “Manic Monday” with Armisen and Brownstein), creative videos and audience participation. Surprise guest appearances from Kyle MacLachlan, Kumail Nanjiani—the waiter in the episode “Around the World in 80 Plates”—and keyboardist Rebecca Cole from Wild Flag and Sleater-Kinney made for a variety show good for any attention span. The crowd showed their enthusiasm when Brownstein mentioned Sleater-Kinney should be making an appearance on the TV series. Catch the show on IFC and Wild Flag at Coachella.

—Debi Del Grande

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M83 @ CLUB NOKIA

Daiana Feuer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:46:42 +0000

all photos by debi del grande

With the sudden rise to popularity from their recent catchy single, “Midnight City,” it was no surprise M83 returned to LA with two sold out gigs at Club Nokia. I first caught them at the Henry Fonda (now The Music Box) in 2008 and then again at Disney Hall so I was excited to see how their live show has progressed. With their critically-acclaimed album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, founder Anthony Gonzalez has taken leaps and risks into new territory and it’s working. A more confident Gonzalez now takes the stage with reckless abandon on guitar and more vocals and the audience was right there with him. Morgan Kibby has also stepped into the spotlight with angelic vocals while swaying at the keyboards. (Let’s not forget the snazzy sax solos and appearance on bass from Beck and NIN alum Justin Meldal-Johnsen.) Kibby mentioned how happy they were playing for such a large audience—just wait until they play Coachella.

—Debi Del Grande

Setlist: Intro / Teen Angst / Kim & Jessie / Reunion / Sitting / Year One, One UFO / We Own the Sky / Steve McQueen / Wait / This Bright Flash / Claudia Lewis / Midnight City / A Guitar and a Heart

Encore: Skin of the Night / Couleurs

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DINOSAUR JR @ THE MUSIC BOX

Daiana Feuer — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:14:46 +0000

The last time I caught Dinosaur Jr. performing was at their main stomping grounds, The Troubadour. Hardcore fan, musician, writer, actor, spoken word artist, and KCRW DJ Henry Rollins was up against the wall rocking out. That’s when I decided I better start carrying around earplugs. This time, at The Music Box, Rollins did a brief interview with the guys before they played their 1988 album, Bug, in its entirety. Rollins was, of course, the perfect candidate to talk with the band, but the audience started getting antsy (they must know how long Rollins can go!).

When the band came back on stage, things got real. Fender master/vocalist/long-white-hair-in-the-face J. Mascis, drummer extraordinaire Murph, and bassit/lo-fi dude/cat lover Lou Barlow completely destroyed the place. Mascis, surrounded by Marshall amps, gave the crowd just the right amount of distortion and noise rock that was craved. The night wouldn’t be complete without “Feel The Pain,” and the group ended with a cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.” —Debi Del Grande

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