OUT TO SEE: COCO MORIER AND GRACE WOODROOFE
One way I come across new bands is via my favorite bands. I follow (stalk) my favorite bands around venues and check out the other bands on the schedule (or if I can’t make it, I’ll still check out the websites for the bands playing that night). Eastern Conference Champions is the perfect example of this strategy working out brilliantly.
This strategy proved successful in April while I was catching The Child and Lucy Schwartz.
Coco Morier via The Child. I just recently did a write-up on The Child so I won’t spend too much time on them. I will say that The Child quote of the night came from the audience when one guy said, “They’re from Germany.” (. . . I get it.) After The Child, Coco Morier took the stage. She came on stage with a wedding veil and garter mixed in with a school girl get-up. She had my attention. Add in a fog machine, pom poms, disco ball and stuffed animal and the result is an entertaining stage show. She is also skilled at multi-tasking as at various times she needed to run over to stage right to control the fog machine. I say she needs a stage hand to help out with the fog machine so that she can keep those of us in the audience dancing the whole set away without interruption!!!
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Coco Morier comment of the night: “It feels like there is an earthquake happening up here on stage”
Grace Woodroofe via Lucy Schwartz. A few nights later, Lucy Schwartz was doing an 8 p.m. scheduled set. I rushed over directly from work. I’m happy I rushed over, because her set was primarily made up of new music. I happened to take a look at Lucy Schwartz’s printed set list. I couldn’t help but notice: a.) the header of the set list, which read, “Brilliant Set List, for Awesome Band!” b.) the time length of each song was listed.
Lucy Schwartz comment of the night: “I can’t tell if that’s a song from church or from the depths of Hell.”
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The find of the night was at 11 p.m. when Grace Woodroofe took the stage (it was her April residency). I wasn’t sure what to expect. My initial impression (first impressions can be so so wrong) was that I was in for a Hotel Café style singer-songwriter: wonderful and on the softer side of the musical spectrum. Why? Lucy Schwartz was teamed up with her. Her fashion style and Aussie accent just made me think of a laid back individual. Now she does have some songs that fit perfectly with the Notes from Vivace stereotype of the Los Angeles singer-songwriter, but I quickly realized that my first impression was just wrong. The very first song; yes, for the very first song, she knocked out a rock ‘n roll tune that along with her husky-style vocals forced me to take a step back. Wow.
Grace Woodroofe comment of the night: “Thank you for coming out on a Monday night. No one goes out in Los Angeles on a Monday night or a Friday night.”
Comment of the night 2 (from the audience) that perfectly sums up Grace Woodroofe: “Rock ‘n Roll is back.”
Side note: Both nights occurred at the Bootleg. I love the Bootleg. It doesn’t necessarily look like much from the outside, but the inside is spacious and I love the minimalism feel. I don’t remember the exact date when I first saw a show at the Bootleg. I just remember seeing the venue popping up on various music sites that I follow. I decided to head over one night and I continue to do so. The door guy, the ticket gal, and everyone else there are great.
Note: Grace Woodroofe is is playing Harvard & Stone tonight, May 16th
OUT TO SEE: THE CHILD at EL CID
The Child. Here is a little random history from me that might first seem unrelated, but is related. I was a late arrival to a band called Rocket. A friend of mine randomly mentioned to me that he planned to check out their residency night. I told him I’d keep it in mind. I did keep it in mind and went to catch their set – twice. Lauren Rocket was the lead singer of that band. They went on hiatus (they’re still on hiatus) soon after those nights. I noticed a tweet from Lauren Rocket that she was joining a band called The Child. My first thought was, how in the world is someone supposed to do a Google search on The Child and actually find that band name? (I just did that as I started the first draft of this Intraffik post. They’re the seventh listing. What do I know, apparently nothing.)
Recently, The Child played El Cid. Now El Cid has a special place for me. This is where I once had a bet with a friend regarding who could best handle two straight days and nights of music during Sunset Junction at El Cid. I won, hands down. I also spent numerous nights at El Cid during 2007 and off and on for a couple years after that. This was my first visit of 2012.
The Child has an electronic sound with catchy tunes such as (more…)
IN PHOTOS – A MUSIC “PHOTO ESSAY”
If you are a frequent visitor to Intraffik, you know that I’ve been on a movie review kick. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped checking out the Los Angeles music scene. Here’s an “In Photos” essay to update you with some of my “past” nights out . . .
Silverlake Lounge:December 5
Sabrosa Purr
Useless Keys
Light FM
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Bootleg: December 11
Eliza Rickman
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Three Clubs: December 14
The Child
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Bootleg: December 15
Gothic Tropic
Eastern Conference Champions
Happy Hollows
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