A list of recommended L.A.-area shows for the coming week (plus clips for instant gratification). Click “details” for descriptions. More after the jump.
Lali Puna, Our Inventions (Morr Music)
Lali Puna, 'Our Inventions'
On its first album since 2004, Lali Puna rediscovers the serene melodies, husky vocals, and fragile textures that made the group a favorite in the first place.
Grade: A- (via The A.V. Club)
The origin of Jeans Wilder.
Quick bloggy bits from around the L.A. underground (and up). Share ’em.
(all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)
* “I recorded this song in my room, by myself, over the course of a two or three day cocaine and OxyContin binge at the beginning of the year.” – Jeans Wilder
Hand in hand, the way it should be.
It bums me out something fierce to learn that this week’s installment of Calling All Kids will be its last. The Hyperion Tavern-hosted Friday-night hang has been a go-to for lovers of progressive music and cheap ale since it started up 15 months ago. Particularly, those who are involved with the good fight — writers, editors, publicists, artists, promoters, DJs, Dublabbers — seemed to take a shine to the place. Frankly, it felt like home.
So as I was taking a blog-powered trip down memory lane, I realized I’d never posted this little nugget on Funny Ha Ha. It’s really just a news piece about CAK’s one-year anniversary back in January, but since it includes a chat with the event’s creators Sodapop (Shaun Koplow of Anticon) and Matthewdavid (of Leaving Records), it seemed appropriate.
It also serves as a reminder that while the weekly may be called off, there’s undoubtedly more in store for the Calling All Kids name.
Read it here.
A short list of recommended L.A.-area shows for the coming week (plus clips for instant gratification). Click “details” for descriptions. More after the jump.
Rome has got lovin'. Yep, it's what he's got.
Friends, stoners, layabouts — lend me your eyes. Last night I caught the first stop on the Sublime With Rome tour, which just so happened to kick off on a day known within a certain set as “4-20.” If you don’t know, now you know. The air was pungent and the sing-alongs were plenty. A good time was had by all, and you can read about it here, via Spin.
Julian Casablancas sings the Strokes, shot by Erik Voake
For Day Three of Coachella, Spin gave me a mission of breadth over depth. Holding down Sunday’s “Best and Worst Moments” roundup, I weighed in on the following: Julian Casablancas “covering” the Strokes; Phoenix’s unexpected bid for the main stage; Little Boots playing a laser harp; Thome Yorke and Flea dancing their asses off; Rusko destroying the delicate parts of the inner ear; and Deerhunter improvising a Coachella theme song.
Plus: Sunny Day Real Estate confirms its emo status, and the cast of Yo Gabba Gabba! joins King Khan and the Shrines on stage! Read it all here.
Mike Patton, about to blow your house down, shot by Erik Voake
My personal OMG moment came on Day Two of the Coachella festival, when Spin sent me into the pit to cover Faith No More’s reunion set. A longtime member of the cult of Patton, I was flabbergasted when I began what I expected to be a slow approach to the front of the stage, and discovered the path clear. “I can’t fucking believe it,” was a common exclamation from my fellow devotees on the floor, but the crowd filled in eventually as echoes of the Freak King’s cries spread across the grounds. Faith No More slayed. Read all about it.
As on Day One, I contributed a bit to Spin‘s “Best and Worst Moments” feature as well. Click over to read some quick quips and bits on Dirty Projectors, Beach House, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, and Ezra Koenig.
Jay-Z at Coachella, shot by Erik Voake
Jay-Z may run this town (or that town), but Spin Magazine staked its claim on Coachella coverage this past weekend in no uncertain terms. I was fortunate enough to be part of that journalistic wrecking crew, and on Friday, I devoted most of my otherwise fragmented attention to Jay-Z’s incredible set, which included a loving recreation of the New York skyline, and a duet with the wifey that brought down the house. Read about the 30-song set here.
I also covered Street Sweeper Social Club, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Specials for the mag’s “Best and Worst Moments” roundup. Additional text by my old Filter colleague Liam Gowing, Spin Online Editor William Goodman and Deputy Editor Steve Kandell.
Photos by Andrew Herrold, Erik Voake and Matt Kiser.
Charlotte Gainsbourg, shot by Andrew Herrold for Spin
So, I sorta spaced on this. On Thursday, LA Weekly released its annual Coachella issue and yours truly was all up in that ish. (Sorry, the long weekend has taken it’s toll on my creative juices.) While I realize the timeliness of this is a bit… untimely, since the focus is on L.A. artists, I’d like to get the word out.
Herein, you’ll find lots of good text on good performers from good writers like Jeff Weiss, Drew Tewksbury, Wendy Gilmartin and Daiana Feuer. I wrote on DJ Lance Rock, Devo, Edward Sharpe, the Glitch Mob, Mayer Hawthorne, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Julian Casablancas, and Thom Yorke. Dig it.
Chris Writes Things 