Mystery Jets charmed LA last Friday with their show at the Troubadour. Dominant Legs opened the night with breezy, upbeat songs that went perfectly with the feeling of summer ending.  Mystery Jets came on stage to an eager crowd just after 10pm and started their set with “Alice Springs,” from their recently released album, “Serotonin.” They quickly created a rapport with the crowd and explained that although they’ve experienced unlucky circumstances such as the loss of their passports, they were very excited to play in LA again.  The Eel Pie Island (London) band joked that if anyone had a special person in the crowd, the next song would be the perfect time to slip a dollar bill in the person’s hand.  The meaning became clear as they started into, “Flake” with lyrics like, “There are kinder ways to say so long than spitting in my face.”

With songs ranging from the danceable 80’s inspired, “Two Doors Down,” to the slow and melancholy, “Behind the Bunhouse,” Mystery Jets delivered a strong performance at their Los Angeles show.

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The Melvins rolled into Los Angeles to unleash tracks from their new album “The bride screamed murder” as well as the classics that made them the godfathers of grunge. The sold out troubadour was jam packed to witness The Melvins bring the house down and keeping your ears ringing at a steady pace. Am amazing show that made many of us feel like it was 1991 all over again.

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We Are Scientists performed at The Troubadour on Friday August 6, 2010. The band played a riveting set that combined songs off their new album Barbara with fan favorites such as “After Hours.” In addition to their fine musicianship, their banter between songs, which ranged from Budweiser’s status as the “King of Beers” to crossing your fingers as a form of contraception thoroughly entertained the sold-out crowd.

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Holy Fuck played the Troubadour on Thursday, June 10. Their tight, focused dance beats and brutal rave ups are an example of the best of new indie electronica. They use crappy Casio keyboards, a film splicer running a  looped spool of 35mm film, and bass and drums to turn out beautiful little instrumental odysseys. They specialize in moving the crowd and they managed to move their feet and spirits all night.

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I’ve never seen the Troubadour so excited. Local Natives, about 4 months into the release of Gorilla Manor, are truly hometown heroes; the show was sold out well in advance. The crowd was alive with screams and yelling from the second soundcheck began until after the encore, where they were joined onstage by tour mates Suckers. The set was colorful and energetic, and they often turned the room into a fancy sing along jubilee.

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When Fuck Buttons take the stage they create a world of layers and layers of textured beats, distorted samples, crushed vocals, and the groans of whatever beasts they hide inside their electronic junkpiles. Then they force you into that world and slowly, ever so slowly, they crush your mind. They are loud, intense, occasionally terrifying and occasionally sweet, and totally satisfying.

Sun Araw did a fantastic job opening, playing West African pop music with a hint of molasses and distortion.

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The Morning Benders last came through Los Angeles as support for Submarines. They were awkward, gangly and exuberant-like an adolescent supermodel and it was hard to tell what they would become. But Big Echo is an album clearly stated in the singular voice of a full grown band, so this time around they sold out the Troubadour as headliners instead. Oh, and they held the place in the palm of their hand for the whole set.

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We Were Jet Packs performing at The Troubadour on February 26, 2010 to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd that sang along en mass.

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Both Signals and The Henry Clay People were opening the evening for Dios but both played excellent sets. Signals have improved trastically from their first few shows in the wake of The Mae Shi when they were still finding their footing and The Henry Clay People seem to be almost ready for the road while wrapping up their follow up record to For Cheap or For Free.

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Lemon Sun represented Los Angeles as the opener for both Hot Rats shows, delivering a rock show with just enough tambourine and guitar noodling to satisfy. Thom Yorke probably has “Telephone” in his head right now, since he and a handful of ’90s rockers were in attendance at Spaceland and Troubadour to support their pals from Supergrass. Hot Rats didn’t move around too much, playing their run of cover songs like a wind-up music box from Clockwork Orange (sans sex and brutality).

[read Steven Carrer's Spaceland show review here]

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