Sonic Youth

The '90's returned yesterday for 2 hours, and two encores last night at The Wiltern where Sonic Youth played. Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore and the rest of Sonic Youth rocked the stage with their grungy fuzz noise that increased in volume throughout the show so that by the end of the night everyone went - did it get louder??! I heard one guy in back of me say loudly "Oh my god" cause he was in grunge heaven.

There were no complaints after the show except for the heckler. The "Play Goo" guy. PLAY GOO he kept screaming. PLAY GOO. Play Goo guy was standing right in front of me and looked like he stepped out of Clerks with his stringy hair and foot long goatie that was braided. I am NOT joking. Goo, the title of the 1990 album, and song titled "My friend Goo". I don't think they played it.

Am I a magnet for jackasses at shows? At the Julian Casablancas show I was standing next to a group of Frat boys who kept boo-ing. AND at the Jarvis Cocker show the heckler that kept screaming PLAY PULP was standing in back of me. Why do people go to shows and get so demanding? If you want to hear something specific, go put the album on at home. You go to a show to see the band perform as they are. If you don't like it, please don't go.

But if you are like me and my friends - we really dug the show. My favorite tracks from the newest album, The Eternal are Antenna and Anti-Orgasm.

http://www.myspace.com/sonicyouth

Download:
Sacred Trickster

The National

What makes The National so amazing? Two things. One, Matt Berninger. His vocals are deep and controlled. He happens to be really attractive as well, which doesn't hurt - but he has a way of using his vocals that grabs your attention. Second? Their instrumentals alone are so dynamic. They are what I call anthemic rock. Similar to what U2 does, where the song builds and uses the drums for inspirational and dramatic results.

The Dead Weather

The Dead Weather killed it. Killed it. But then again, does anything that Jack White involves himself in ever flop? He has some sort of magic dust on him that no matter what it is he touches is a instant success.

The Dead Weather, if you haven't heard of them are a supergroup comprised of Alison Mosshart (of The Kills ), Jack White (of The White Stripes and The Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (of Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (of The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes). Jack White & Alison Mosshart take the lead on the vocals. While I am not a Kills fan, Alison can't help but capture your attention when she mimics Jack White's style...or just bops about the stage. The stage is her playground as she climbs, crowd surfs, jumps, kicks and belts it out to the audience.

Jarvis Cocker At The Wiltern

Jarvis Cocker is a rubbery figure. He's built like a Slim Jim with the energy of Gumby trotting around the stage with a force of energy that is hard to match. The funny thing is that he prances around the stage, kicks his legs around, thrusts his pelvis, and swings his arms all about to even the slowest of songs.

Not all of the audience was as thrilled as myself on what I was listening to....or should I say one very belligerent guy. Screaming at the top of his lungs during songs "What is this a funeral? Play Pulp!" blah blah blah. Really? Really? Sure - do we all want to hear a little Pulp? And were we hoping, maybe he would play just one? Maybe Common People or Disco 2000? Sure! Of Course...but Dur, we were not at a Pulp show, we were at Jarvis Cocker - who is not Pulp anymore. No more Brit Pop.

Instead a more mellow side of Jarvis is available for us - but not lacking the energy nor clever lyrics. While his Sheffield accent might be difficult for me to understand when he tells the audience interesting stories about the venue's decor, being on the road and scientific facts about our retina....his lyrics come across clear once a beat backs him.

Truth be told, I wish Jarvis would bring back the Brit Pop days - they were fun...but I do think he is one of a kind, rubbery and what not.

www.myspace.com/jarvspace

Amazing Baby & Phoenix @ The Wiltern

Amazing Baby is getting a strong push from their label, and a spot as the opening band for Phoenix's LA show couldn't have been a better placement for them. They then headlined the Hammer Music night with Band Of Skulls and the PR train keeps chugging away with a live performance this week on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. Not bad for the young Brooklyn band.

Ok. Phoenix. Do they need an introduction? Well, I think they might only because when I mention Phoenix to people I tend to still get a confused look on their face like "huh"? I think, really? People still aren't clued into them? I almost look at them as a mega force already exposed....but I must still be in the minority. I mean...I started hearing about them when Sofia Coppola put them in her movie/soundtrack for "Lost In Translation". She even put them as the court band in "Marie Antoinette"....and well, Thomas Mars, the lead singer is the father of her baby.


So what's the connection other than her loving the band, (as should everyone) with their electronic, synth-pop deliciousness...Well ok so follow this - Coppola, friends with the band AIR, composed the music to her debut film "The Virgin Suicides", (and were also used in the Lost In Translation movie/soundtrack) had Phoenix as their backing back before they released their first album. See how it all connects?

Phoenix's pop energy had the crowd screaming after every song - so much so that every time Mars opened his mouth you couldn't make anything out. They were so tight that my friend looked at me and said "they sound like they are lip-synching", and not in a bad way...they just sounded SO good. They could have played all night, with so many songs not performed...but don't worry - they are coming back to play The Greek with Metric. Now if that isn't a dance party show, well I dunno.

My two favorite parts of the night? Mars taking a rest and lying down on stage while the band played a instrumental piece. Second? When the show ended Michael Jackson came on the loud speaker. No one left their space - it became a dance party. Fun times. Third? Well Phoenix, DUH.

Grizzly Bear

The most notable thing I can mention about the Grizzly Bear show, while they were tight in their performance, is that their lighting guy seriously deserves the applause. A simple set up of the 4 members in a line playing the Wiltern Friday night - but when the lights switched colors and movement, it played up the songs rhythm and flow acting as an additional instrument to the showcase. If you have seen the online video for The Cold War Kids, I've Seen Enough - it was a similar look. Inspiration? Who knows, but I loved it and was vibing on it when the slow songs had me dozing. My favorite song off the new album is Two Weeks. Check out the video here.

Descriptions of the band that were mentioned during the show: Motown, My Bloody Valentine, Fleet Foxes, Crosby Stills & Nash,My Morning Jacket, Tears For Fears.....Now if that isn't a interesting group of band names to describe The Grizzly Bears, well...

Doves At The Wiltern

Last night's show of the Dove's performance in LA was epic. A fan since their first release in 2000 "Lost Souls", I had never seen them live. Their newest album that came out in April, "Kingdom Of Rust" has yet to replace my favorite's from albums past...but I just haven't given it the time it deserves to soak in. Lucky for me and the audience who have stuck around as fans, they played a majority of their older songs, with a encore lasting 4 songs. A set time of 10:15-11:45 at The Wiltern. It was a great live show that upheld my love for them not only as great studio musicians, but amazing live musicians.

The Muslims & The Breeders At The Wiltern

Going to see The Breeders brought back the days of high school...the good moments.

Opening up for them was The Muslims, a San Diego band that formed in '06 and are already in the middle of the line-up at the Wiltern!? An enormous amount of buzz has been developing over SXSW & CMJ for this band and I saw why. While they look like they are 18, they are old enough to have at least completed 2 years of college...making them - what, 21?


Subdued on stage but obviously influenced by The Pixies and The Velvet Underground, I can see this band developing a large fan base.



Who isn't a Pixies fan? Who wasn't around in the early 90's and dissed The Breeders? Haters maybe...grunge was big and it's back. It is. Or maybe Kim and Kelly Deal are trying to bring it back. Still in their old flannels and baggier style jeans, the girls rock. There is no denying after all these years, even after all the band break ups, reunions, and rehab stints - they can really bring it.

The Breeders played a few covers. One from fellow Ohio band Guided By Voices, one from The Beetles, "cause [they're] classy" and one from another Ohio band The Tasties.


While the girls appear to be tough, their voices are so soft and sweet - like their stories. You can tell the sisters really love each other and with that comes teasing. Kim making fun of Kelly and each standing as an audience member in front of each other on stage while they had solos.


It was an entertaining show of Kim talking to the audience through songs like their new "Here No More" a throwback song in the Carter Family style about a heirloom that Kelly has from their mother.

She & Him : Zooey & M. Ward

When She & Him performed a few months ago at the Vista theatre, it must have either been one of their first gigs performing on stage together...or Zooey was just getting used to performing for a live crowd. The show was a sit down show, and one of the only things Zoey said was "thanks", and sorta swayed in her cute way to the songs.

Zooey Deschanel is so fricken cute. With time on the road, her stage performance has gotten so good! I was so proud of her. Performing at The Wiltern last night to a standing/dancing crowd, she hopped around all giddy, and even talked to the audience.

It was a big night for her. Covering a Joni Mitchell song "You Turn Me On I'm A Radio" and debuting 2 new songs, which I assume will be on Volume Two?


I love their nostalgic sound - everything ranging from Smokey Robinson, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, and 60's girl groups.

M. Ward seemed to have less presence than last time, but maybe that is because he is letting her own the stage. The crowd still went cookoo when they sang "You Really Got A Hold On Me".





I can't wait to hear his new album coming out in January! They ended their encore with "Magic Trick".

Goldrush : Mates Of State | Santogold | Ting Ting's

When the ticket says doors open at 6P, you know you are either in a residential community with noise control, or there are a lot of bands that have to play. 5 bands played last night at The Wiltern, and the parking garages were closing at 12:30. That's about 4.5 hours of music, not including band set up/down.

Alice Smith, Low vs Diamond, Mates of State, Santogold, Ting Ting's. Whew. All in that short time? Yes. A mini festival of sorts.

Sometimes I just want to hear one band play 2 hours of music...and sometimes I want their key songs, and move onto the next. Last night was a great mix of musical beats in nice short spurts. I missed Alice Smith and Low vs Diamond. Sorry.
Mates of State. Well...I love them. Love them. Muah. Their harmonies electrocute me. They can do no wrong to me - but I can a few minutes late into their set. The crowd seemed to love them which I was grateful for because it was a semi odd mix with electro/afro/dance music to be paired with. They were rad, but I really did enjoy them a tad more when they headlined a few months ago at The Fonda, only because I could focus just on them and dance my heart out.
Santogold. What a force. Mimicking the stage show of Public Enemy's back up dancers (the Security of the First World, who performed homages to old Stax and Motown dancers with their martial moves and fake Uzis.-allmusic) they might have stolen the show a bit. I was so entranced with their movement, fluidity and presence. Santogold got the crowd going, but she played a few too many slow songs rather than the energetic tracks I am used to. I was really upset that she didn't play "lights out". Wamp Wamp.
The Ting Ting's came on stage last. The last time they came around they performed at Above The Rocks, above The Roxy - quite a difference to be playing The Wiltern and opening up for these other fantastic acts. What I realised when they pumped up the crowd was how young she and her fans are. Bopping around the stage like a little nymph - she brought me back to the days of listening to Le Tigre in college, but with added dance beats. Unfortunately there was a big bright light illuminating her from the back - which looks cool watching, but doesn't serve well for taking photos.

Techinical Difficulties : Vampire Weekend

No longer playing venues like the echo, the Troubadour, The Henry Fonda....no - Vampire Weekend are too big for those places....and so it is. Performing at The Wiltern last night was the middle step for a band...next step The Nokia Theatre?
Well, even with as much touring as Vampire Weekend has had this year, and the sound checks performed prior to the show, Vampire Weekend had technical difficulties and there was a lot of tuning and figuring things out on stage. We're all human and they showed us that shit sometimes happens before a large audience of fans.

The thing about Vampire Weekend is when you listen to the album it is one consistently fun song after another and you don't think how short the tracks are...until you see them live, you start dancing and singing along...and then the song is over. Disappointment sinks in. I wish the songs would go on for one, maybe two more verses to get down to. Wamp wamp for me.

Even with the chaos of what was happening on stage it was a fun show and the audience sang along especially when "Blake's Got A New Face" came on. Fun times. Kate Bosworth was standing by (in white dress above), and worked her way to the backstage to hang with the band. Groupie?