BB and SIRIA RECOMMENDED: THE ROBOTANISTS … EVERY MONDAY ALL MONTH LONG @ SILVERLAKE LOUNGE
The Fold, Filter Magazine, Overhead Records & Wild Tonic.com presents…
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Our friends of ROBOTANISTS (http://robotanists.com or http://facebook.com/robotanists) will be performing EVERY MONDAY IN FEBRUARY in celebration of the release of their forthcoming NEW ALBUM, PLANS IN PROGRESS (official release date Feb. 15th), and now you have no excuse for not checking them out! If you need further motivation, we’ll be there for at least a couple of the shows checking them out and Del (Deltron3030 and Syffal.com) will be their guest dj tonight!
All shows are free (ages 21 and up) and take place at:
Silverlake Lounge
2906 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
If you aren’t familiar with them yet and need a preview, here’s a video preview of their song “On/Off the Ledge” from their forthcoming Plans in Progress and also here’s their video for “Exiled State of Mind” from their last release Shapes and Variations that our other friends Byron Turk (www.byronfever.com) and Jessy Plume (www.jessyplume.com) made for them (shot at Area11) earlier in the year.
Here are their line-ups for the month:
2/07
DEATH KIT * http://www.facebook.com/deathkit
TWILIGHT SLEEP * http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twilight-Sleep/14117470125
LANTERNS (San Diego) * http://www.facebook.com/pages/LANTERNS/75570203413
+ Special Guest DJ SHUT YOUR FUCKING FACE AND LISTEN (a.k.a Del LeFevre – check out his new site at http://syffal.com)
+ A live light installation by DAN GRAYSON * http://Yes-Means-Yes.com/
FEB 14th
OH DARLING * http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oh-Darling/7935272980
KISSING COUSINS * http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kissing-Cousins/51337431990
+ special guests
FEB 21st
LIGHT FM * http://www.facebook.com/lightfm
HANDS * http://www.facebook.com/handssounds
THE SECRET LANGUAGE * http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Secret-Language/142370822482838
FEB 28th
ENDLESS HALLWAY * http://www.facebook.com/endlesshallway
WAR TAPES * http://www.facebook.com/wartapes
SKULL TAPE (featuring Brad Breek or the Mae Shi) * http://www.facebook.com/skulltape
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR…
TO SUGGEST OR TO COMPLAIN?
“If you have time to whine and complain about something, then you have the time to do something about it.“ ~Anthony J. D’Angelo, The College Blue Book
Living by the old adage of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” is a nice thought however, if we all abide by that what kind of world will we live in? Perhaps a Pleasantville, settled in uniformity and no fear of the unknown—I’m sure it’d be nice for a day or two of a week to live in a world where everything just fell into place at all times not having to worry about what tomorrow held. Yes, a perfect existence, perfect that is until the misery of the well-known and the same day in and day out routine caught up to us. I much prefer the one that starts with, “If you don’t have anything constructive to say…”
Fortunately for us, we don’t live in a world where what we can do is limited (so long as it is on the right side of the law of course), and we live in a city that more than most facilitates and encourages the left brain thinking as much as that of the right and time and time again presents us with the opportunity to put that thinking into action. So those of us that are creative create and present it to the subjectivity of those that may or may not appreciate it. I have been lucky with many of my endeavors and have a great support system and I give thanks for that, but in turn I am also supportive of those around me not in return or because I feel like I have to as much as because I want to.
I rarely write pieces of this nature. Not because of any uncertainty in where I stand on issues, nor fear of backlash, not even due to my well known diplomatic clear thinking disposition. If I had to pick a reason or two, for the most part it would come down to the fact that I can usually understand and justify the viewpoints and actions of most (so long as they are not being harmful to others in the process) even more often, though it comes down to the fact that I don’t feel compelled enough to voice any opinion at all, at least not via a public platform. Aside from all of that, I am usually too busy with my own projects.
This weekend’s FYF Fest is the cause for this moment of reflection. While there are many who will be quick to point out that it was a disorganized disaster in the operations department and be even quicker to express their disgust at where this event fell short, there are just as many who will be quick to express how blown away by some of the performances by the artists who took the stage in the sweltering downtown heat. (more…)
Local Natives and The Monthlies
Two Recent Local Band Addictions.
I have certain band addictions when it comes to the local music scene. There’s the long time addiction to The Mulhollands and Automatic Music Explosion. There’s the more recent addiction to IO Echo. And now I’m developing two new addictions: Local Natives and The Monthlies.
Local Natives, a Monday night at Spaceland. I first came across Local Natives during their February Silverlake Lounge residency based on the advice of a friend. I enjoyed their set. I loved their vocal harmonies and swayed to their melodies. I went back the following week to catch their set again. I wanted to share my new music addiction with some of my friends, but it took awhile to do so. I knew Local Natives were playing around town multiple times a month, but nothing really ever worked out for me — a number of times they were last minute additions to a schedule or they played on nights where I had a conflict. My schedule aligned with theirs when they were opening for Castledoor, which had June’s Monday night residency at Spaceland. So I sent out an e-mail blast to a handful of friends and was able to convince three of them to come on out and sample Local Natives.
The one comment I get whenever I tell people about this band is: isn’t that a bit redundant, Local Natives? I have to agree. Of course, I didn’t come up with the name so I can’t answer the question.
Some notes about the night:
When I arrived at Spaceland, the floor was a mess with party favors. The first band must have been interesting.
(click on images to enlarge)
Local Natives didn’t have their violinist. That was disappointing. I later learned that the violinist will join them at least part of the time during their upcoming August residency at Spaceland. (Yes, readers have a chance to see them at Spaceland each Monday of August.)
There was a nice fan base for Local Natives lined up alongside the stage. They danced like crazies. And they made sure they held spots for their friends who took off to get drinks from the bar.
As for the residency band, Castledoor, they have an interesting two keyboard set-up. That night was the first time I’d seen Castledoor. As they were making their way onto the stage via the stage door to start their set, a friend of mine said, “There’s the castle [pointing to the stage] and now they’re coming in via the door. Castledoor.” Okay, so maybe we are a bit dorky at times. Towards the end of their set Castledoor handed out free CDs of a Bob Dylan cover they did during their set – they’d made a recording the previous night.
It was a steam room in Spaceland. I’ve been to Spaceland enough times to know that it gets hot inside, but that night seemed especially hot. (Of course, as I write this in my apartment around 10:30 p.m. in late July, I’m sweating through my t-shirt.)
Afterwards, I hung outside with some friends at the valet while one waited for her car — a brand new (used) car. I took a photo of my friend next to her new car. Her old car was in constant break-down mode. Flat tires. Clutch. Congratulations to her on her new (used) car.
Here is the video for “Airplanes Split” by Local Natives
The Monthlies, at Silverlake Lounge. For about a week there, I was sick. I was fully out of commission for two days and then spent about five days on that borderline where you’re no longer on death’s door, but you know if you push yourself too hard you’ll just head back in that direction. I mentioned to some friends that I was amazed at how much time I had on my hands during that one week period. My Monday thru Thursday nights are usually spent in the following manner (edited, of course): exercise a couple nights, catch a band or two, watch some television, read a chapter or two from a book and then write these lovely columns in between all of that other stuff I just mentioned. So during my week of illness I found myself with all this free time. I didn’t feel like I should exercise or go out so I just sat around the apartment wondering what I should do with all my free time. I do love to read, but there is only so much reading I can do in a night. And with no 24 or Lost on television, turning on the television seemed like a waste of time. I do have to admit my apartment needed(s) some cleaning, but that felt like it belonged in the don’t-push-yourself-too-hard category.
When I got my health back, I was feeling a bit of cabin fever. So on a Wednesday night, I went out and did my exercise routine and then I headed off to Silverlake Lounge to catch The Monthlies. My first encounter with The Monthlies occurred when a friend (same friend who suggested Local Natives) suggested checking out a local spot. The reason wasn’t to see The Monthlies, but they were the first band of the night and I found myself really liking them. I figured I should check them out one more time to see if I really did like them or if it just happened to be my frame of mind that night. I enjoyed them just as much the second time around.
Some observations from Silverlake Lounge. The Monthlies had some technical difficulties at the start. The bass player’s amp went out. He said he’d had it since 8th grade. Someone yelled out, “You’re leaving behind your adolescence years.” When he also mentioned that this had never happened to him before, someone else yelled out, “Guys always say that.” There was a small crowd at Silverlake Lounge, but a good 20 people or so were there specifically to see The Monthlies. There was even a group from Germany (I hope that if they ended up writing a blog that they mention how great the local music scene is in Los Angeles; this is a totally indirect, and now direct, reference to plug two earlier columns I wrote regarding my Vancouver trip). As their set ended, they asked if they could play an encore for their friend Alex who was sitting close to the stage. The stage lights went crazy during the encore, which surprised and amused the band – especially the guitarist. One of their friends was in the back, having fun with the light switches. All told a beautiful set.
Here are The Monthlies with their video for “Hip Girl”
(Note: not all photos were taken on the nights highlighted.)
NOTES FROM VIVACE – Out to See: The Shakers
I’m plugging my friend’s band. A friend of mine joined a new band called The Shakers. The band only has a handful of gigs under its belt – though they did travel as far as Philadelphia to play one gig. I missed every one of their earlier gigs. One of their gigs (or perhaps it was two) was off in Venice so an easy excuse on my part was that it was just too far away. On a recent night; however, they played at the Bordello, which is much closer to home. So off I headed to see my friend play in her new band.