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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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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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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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WIZ KHALIFA + SNOOP DOGG @ THE WILTERN

Daiana Feuer — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:51:15 +0000

As high as everyone was—and I mean everyone—at The Wiltern, the chemistry produced between Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg was undeniably potent. With scenes from their new movie, Mac And Devin Go to High School, playing between sets, the two rappers flowed over beats on stage, and welcomed everyone to the party. Khalifa brought his solo material first, the Doggfather himself then did an amazing solo set, and last, but not least, the duo came together, sharing many, many joints, and almost set off the smoke alarms. —Debi Del Grande

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THE KOOKS @ THE MUSIC BOX

Daiana Feuer — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:42:04 +0000

The last time The Kooks came to town, back in June, the band filled the Troubadour with girls screaming over Luke Pritchard. This time around, the boys played two sold out nights at The Music Box to the same screaming girls, but with some added guys in the mix. A riser was added to the front of the stage for Pritchard to run across. This was a smart move as people in the back could actually see the action. The English indie pop group was tight while Pritchard worked the crowd and constantly moved about. Although the spotlight was mainly on Pritchard, Hugh Harris (lead guitar/backing vocals and keys) was a definite standout. —Debi Del Grande

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PIXIES @ THE MUSIC BOX

Daiana Feuer — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:56:22 +0000

If you were on the mailing list of the Pixies, you were kindly rewarded with a link to buy tickets (sans service charge) of an intimate “La La Love You” to be held at The Music Box. Of course, it sold out in minutes. The day of the gig, the band asked for requests via Twitter. What would they play? Showtime came and diehard fans, comedians and fellow musicians packed the house. The quartet with that special chemistry—Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and Dave Lovering came to the stage and opened with “Bone Machine.” But as soon as you could get your groove on, someone missed their cue and abort! No more “Bone Machine” for you. This relaxed tone that made the gig extra special. Right into “U-Mass” they went. Deal announced we were in for a long night and the setlist was 2 pages long. All hail the Pixies! —Debi Del Grande

Setlist:
Bone Machine
U-Mass
Wave of Mutilation
Isla de Encanta
Cariboooouuuuuuuu
Camos
Ed is Dead
There Goes My Gun
Broken Face
Crackity Jones
Dead
Cactus
Velouria
Silver
Winter Long (Neil Young cover)
The Holiday Song
Nimrod’s Son
I Bleed
Dig For Fire
Here Comes Your Man
Hey
No. 13 Baby
Monkey Gone to Heaven
La La Love You
Bailey’s Walk
Mr. Grieves
Gouge Away
Debaser
Tame
Into the White

Encore:
Where is My Mind?
Gigantic

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WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS + ROYAL BANGS + BEAR HANDS @ THE MUSIC BOX

Daiana Feuer — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:11:29 +0000

It’s not every night you get three solid bands in one gig. The long-awaited return of We Were Promised Jetpacks with openers Royal Bangs and Bear Hands at The Music Box proved that it can happen. The last time the Scottish lads of WWPJ performed in L.A. was at The Troubadour two years ago. You could tell most of the crowd at The Music Box was at that show and waiting to hear songs from their debut album These Four Walls. However, Adam Thompson (lead vocals, guitar), Michael Palmer (guitar), Sean Smith (bass) and Darren Lackie (drums) had a new baby to perform, In The Pit Of The Stomach. Although I would have preferred a little more crowd interaction during the show, the band hosted an after party at The Beauty Bar where all were invited.

— Debi Del Grande

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS

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Setlist:
Circles and Squares
Quiet Little Voices
Human Error
Picture of Health
Hard to Remember
Keeping Warm
Medicine
This is My House, This is My House
Backseat
Sleeves
Sore Thumb
Ships
Pear Tree
It’s Thunder and It’s Lightning

ROYAL BANGS

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BEAR HANDS

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WILD FLAG @ TROUBADOUR

Daiana Feuer — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:20:39 +0000

Wild Flag may be a fairly new band (self-titled album just came out), but members Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss have been rocking in other solid bands, including Sleater-Kinney, Autoclave, and Helium. Drummer Weiss has also contributed to Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks and Bright Eyes’ albums. Put these four punk rock professionals together and it was pure magic for two sold out nights at the Troubadour. Eleanor Friedberger came on stage for the last songs of the night. Definitely one of the best shows of the year. Photos by Debi Del Grande

Setlist:

Black Tiles
Boom
Electric Band
Future Crimes
Glass Tambourine
Winter Pair
Nothing
Short Version
Something Came Over Me
Romance
Racehorse

Encore:
See No Evil
Beast of Burden w/Eleanor Friedberger
Do You Wanna Dance? w/Eleanor Friedberger

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TUNE-YARDS + CUT CHEMIST @ THE MUSIC BOX

Daiana Feuer — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:40:33 +0000

Tune-Yards

It only made sense for Cut Chemist to open for Merrill Garbus aka tUnE-yArDs at The Music Box since Garbus will be on his upcoming album. The love was returned when it came time for tUnE-yArDs to perform “Gangsta” off 2011′s W H O K I L L. Cut Chemist came out and threw in some loops and scratches. The evening was about musicians creating sounds that you might not normally hear at a show. Garbus has quite the following now and the tribal sounds were thumping all over the room with fans almost touching the ceiling pogo-style. Photos by Debi Del Grande

Set list:
My Country
Es-so
Powa
Real Live Flesh
Fiya
Bizness
Gangsta
Hatari
Killa
You Yes You
Do you Want to Live?

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