Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Hollywood Holt Has Officially Arrived

I went to see Hollywood Holt at the El Rey last night to kick off a night of what I hoped would be exceptional music and performances.  Holt definitely delivered on those expectations, but in doing so, he shined over the acts that followed.

Holt came out aggressive and demanding that the crowd participate.  After running out to what he felt like were only a few cheers, he barked at the crowd, told them there response was not good enough, and retreated backstage to enter again.  As he took the stage a second time, a small roar filled the constantly growing crowd and Holt was ready to harness that energy. 

He is active, animated, charismatic and even has a sense of humor on stage.  He is so good at working the crowd as a rapper and charmer that he does not even need a hypeman; his own swagger carries the performance.  He thinks he is fresh, he is not camera shy and he is a handsome looking man.  If Kanye West can somehow become handsome in the eyes of consumers, Hollywood Holt definitely will be.   I wouldn't crown him as the next rapper of the moment just yet, but he has a lot going for him....

The animated performance and personality, the ability to work the crowd between songs and get them participating in songs they don't even know, the chemistry between him and his DJ, his great diction/enunciation in live performance and his general swagger all are necessary ingredients to a successful touring career as a rapper.  If Hollywood Holt continues wrecking crowds like he did last night, it is only a matter of time before he is a household name. 

Holt's performance overshadowed both Chester French and Lady Sovereign.  While neither turned in a bad performance, Chester French just does not look as comfortable on stage as you would've liked to see.  He plays some of his bangers and more popular songs, and girls close to the stage get excited, but something seems slightly off.  The band was decent, but never seemed to have great chemistry.  The way Chester moves on stage he doesn't look like he is having the best time (it is possible that Chester just is not a very good dancer) and he just didn't have the charisma that Hollywood Holt did.  All in all I left Chester's performance thinking I much prefer Chester French on record then in person.  Perhaps it was just an off night for the band, perhaps Chester French is just now getting his live performance down and there is significant room for improvement, but if his performance last night is indicative of what his performances will be like in the future then, unless you like poorly executed live pop or you like seeing Archie Bunker look-alikes, I'm not suggesting people go see him.

Lady Sovereign headlined the show.  The set arrangement was simple and typical for  a rapper of Sovereign's stature; she had DJ Annalyze with her as well as a drummer.  Sovereign worked the crowd from side to side spitting her laid back grimy European flow and she captured the crowd in the beginning.  She played a few bangers that people would want to hear, but as the show wore on and Sovereign did not switch her style much or engage the crowd often, the show seemed to get repetitive. All in all, her performance was decent - but nothing to write more than one paragraph about.

If I could do it all over again, I'd put Holt at the top of the bill.  He has officially arrived and he is awesome.



Tuesday, May 26, 2009

CONCERT BLAST 5/26 - 5/31

CONCERT BLAST


Tuesday May 26th

Morbid Angel @ Key Club

R.I.S.E. @ Dakota Live Music Lounge

Mandy Moore @ Amoeba Music

Robin Trower @ Canyon

Phantom Blue, Lizzy Borden, Meldrum, Lemmy Kilmister @ The Whisky

Seabird @ The Mint

50 Cent Haircut @ The Foundry on Melrose

The Sadies @ Spaceland

Avi Buffalo, Divasedero, Greater California, The Reporter Who Became King @ Echo

Ryan Hiller @ Molly Malones

Voices Voices @ The Smell

Roy G and the Biv @ Silverlake Lounge

Lady Sovereign, Chester French, Hollywood Holt @ El Rey

Dwight Yoakam @ The Tonight Show

Kellin Watson @ Cinema Bar

Jay Nash, Sam Bradley @ The Hotel Cafe

Wednesday May 27th

Sun Kill Moon, Mia Doi Todd @ El Rey

The Prodigy, Destructo, The Glitch Mob @ Palladium

Chris Gelbuda, Philip Sayce @ Molly Malones

Jens Lekman, Tig Notaro @ Echo

Dub Club @ Echoplex

Erick Macek @ Café Muse

DNA, Octopus, The Naked, Gingerjake @ The Viper Room

Oh Darling, Black Apples, The Hard to Get, The Meemies @ Silverlake Lounge

Eric Knight @ King King Club

Neptune’s Favor, Rhythm Nun, Plague of Ravens @ The Scene

War Tapes @ Club Moscow/Boardner’s

Tim Moyer @ Club 705

Sarah McLachlan @ The Tonight Show

Tim Fagan @ Room 5

Allie Moss, Carina Round @ The Hotel Café

Roy G and the Biv, Love Grenades @ Spaceland

Tyler Brytant @ The Mint

Heat, 2 Much, Low Buggit Records, Ever Ready Records @ Knitting Factory

Links, Select Three @ The Knitting Factory (Alterknit Stage)

Chris Murray Combo, Black Square, EV Dub @ Knitting Factory (Alterknit Stage)

Veil Era @ The Mountain Bar

moe. , Days Difference @ The Roxy

The Thermals, The Shaky Hands @ The Troubadour

Lightnin’ Woodcock @ Air Conditioned Lounge (Venice)

Brian Buckley Band @ Dakota Live Music Lounge


Thursday May 28th

Prince @ The Tonight Show

War Tapes @ The Continental Room

Curtis Peoples, Bryan Greenberg, Graham Colton @ Sainte Rocke

Roy G and the Biv @ Prospector

Karrin Allyson @ Catalina Jazz Club

Shetland Poneis, Will Crum @ The Scene

Phil Tallo, No Benefits, Hartbrake Kid, Something Hit, Derailed @ Whisky Go Go

St Vincent, Pattern Is Movement @ El Rey

Jens Lekman, Tig Notaro @ Echo

LOL 2 @ Echoplex (Presented by BUST and Comedy Is The New Black)

Kim D and the Killer Bees, The Mighty Regis @ Molly Malones
The Wooden Birds, The New Trust @ Spaceland

Fleetwood Mac @ Staples Center

You Me & Iowa, Restaurant, The High Strung @ Silverlake Lounge

Nite Jewel, Cave, Jealous, TRS-80, Monster @ The Smell

Jim Hanft, King Washington, The Hanks @ The Hotel Cafe

Passion Pit, Harlem Shakes, Cale Parks @ The Troubadour

Kim Garrison @ The Viper Room

Balkan Beat Box @ Zanzibar

Johanna Sarard, Silverface Champs, The Larks @ Taix

Duress, The Big Bag Theory, Breaking Down, Alestar Digby @ Viper Room

The Human Abstract, Kill The Mockingbird, Vanna, I Wrestled A Bear Once @ The Knitting Factory (Front Stage)

Volumen Cero, Los Hollywood @ Knitting Factory (Main Stage)
The Tartans, Northern Portrait @ Knitting Factory (Alterknit Stage)

Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Henry Clay People @ The Wiltern

Veil Era @ The Mountain Bar

Garaj Mahal, Keri Noble Trio @ The Mint

Robin Trower, Paula O’Rourke @ HOB – Sunset

Just Dave & Friends @ Irelands 32

moe. , Dilana @ The Roxy

My Life With the Thrill Kill Kilt, Lunarclick, Knights of Monte Carlo @ Key Club


Friday May 29th

Karrin Allyson @ Catalina Jazz Club

50 Cent Haircut @ Casey’s

Jay Nash @ Sainte Rocke

Damon Moon and The Whispering Drifters, Living Suns @ Echo Curio

Brightblack Morning Light @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts

King Khan & The Shrines, Mark Sultan (BBQ) @ Echo

Adam 12 (of She Wants Revenge) @ Temporary Spaces

Club Underground @ Echo

Passion Pit, Harlem Shakes, Cale Parks @ Echoplex

Windy & Carl @ Sync Space

Butch Walker, Shovels & Rope, Ponderosa @ El Rey

Bassnectar, Nosaj Thing, J-Boogie @ The Music Box at Henry Fonda Theatre

Bodies of Water, Sam Bradley @ The Hotel Café

Miss Derringer, Riverboat Gamblers @ Spaceland

Tiga, James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem, DFA), Destructo, Mr. White @ Avalon

Japandroids @ Silverlake Lounge

Kevin Fisher @ Molly Malones

Assuming We Survive, Inberst, Allura, Throwing Seven, Sans Eyes, Danny Johnson, Phathom @ The Knitting Factory

Vale, The Eternal, Suffering Luna, Destroy Judas @ The Knitting Factory (Alterknit)

Lykke Li @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever

Animal Collective, Grouper @ The Wiltern

DJ Oggy @ Blue Moon

Graham Parker @ McCabe’s Guitar Shop

The Lisa Donnelly Project, The Cool Table, Pete Loughran @ The Roxy

Vast @ Key Club

KROQ Presents: The Briggs, Time Again, Viva Hate, Majority Lost @ Knitting Factory

Stevie Starlight @ The Good Hurt

Magnus Hitch @ Trip

School of Seven Bells, Black Moth Super Rainbow, James Yuill @ Troubadour


Saturday May 30th

Karrin Allyson @ Catalina Jazz Club

Funky Sole @ Echo (FREE)

King Khan & The Shrines, Windy & Carl @ Echo

50 Cent Haircut, Rose’s Pawn Shop @ Cinema Bar

Chris Botti @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

The Mighty Regis, Bandwagon @ Joxer Daly’s

One Night Only – Phish Tribute @ Paul Gleason Theater

Kelly’s Lot @ Liquid Lounge

Battle Flask @ Surf City Saloon

Bishop Lamont @ HoB - Sunset

Dave Seaman @ Avalon

Ray Prim @ Genghis Cohen

Cindy Bullens @ Getty Center for the Arts

Pretty Boy Floyd @ Knitting Factory

Luckman Jazz Orchestra @ Luckman Theater

Fumosonic, The Ben Wendel Group @ Café Metropol

David Benoit @ Royce Hall

Angel Lebron @ Conga Room

Dane Cook @ Staples Center

DJ Oggy @ Tatou

Langhorne Slim, Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers @ Spaceland

Fuzz-Huzzi @ The Knitting Factory

Eric Corne, Merle Jagger @ The Mint

Paul Chesne @ O’Brien’s Irish Pub

Seizure Circus @ The Cocaine

Rava Yarbrough @ Room 5

Machete, High Symmetry @ On The Rox (Upstairs at The Roxy)

Billy Idol, Dave Mason, Venice @ Santa Monica High School

Peppermint Creeps, Mad Temple @ Key Club

The Flatlanders @ The Troubadour

Kelley James, John West, Miles Fisher @ The Roxy



Sunday May 31st

One Trick Pony, Langhorne Slim @ Echo

Propagandhi @ Echoplex

Karrin Allyson @ Catalina Jazz Club

King Washington, The Janks, Loomis and The Lust @ Scene Bar

Fishtank Ensemble @ Getty Villa Family Festival

Mark Lanegan, Isobel Campbell @ El Rey

Bella Novela @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Curtis Peoples, Bryan Greenberg, Graham Colton @ Largo

Neil Hamburger @ Spaceland

Letha Lungs @ The Airliner Club

Warpaint @ Space 15Twenty

Forgive Durden, You, Me and Everyone We Know, Anarbor @ The Knitting Factory

Derek Jordan @ Universal Bar and Grill

40 Oz. To Freedom @ HOB – Sunset

DJ Quik @ Key Club

Vast @ Brixton

Black Bone Child @ Dakota Live Music Lounge

Marques Wyatt @ Vanguard

We Are Scientists @ Detroit Bar

The Fucking Wrath, Bastard Ass, Hearthrob, Nails, Dogs Holy Life, Bad Lovers, Xibaba @ Knitting Factory (Alterknit)

Private Wasabi, The Split, After the Reign, Unorthodox…@ Knitting Factory (1 pm)



ON THE RADAR

6/1 – The French Semester on Hunnypot Unlimited Radio

6/1 – Pearl Jam @ The Tonight Show

6/3 – 2 Live Crew @ Key Club

6/3 – Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head @ Spaceland

6/4 – Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild @ Club Nokia

6/5 - Kate Voegele w/ Angel Taylor, Amy Kuney @ El Rey

6/5 – Clues @ The Echo

6/5 – Erykah Badu @ Club Nokia

6/5 – Lucybell @ Knitting Factory

6/6 – Holy Fuck @ Troubadour

6/6 – Ziggy Marley @ Club Nokia

6/6 – Gavin Rossdale, Nico Vega @ El Rey

6/8 – Metric @ Wiltern

6/8 – The French Semester, Moving Picture Show, Helicopter Rounds, Beau Laundry @ Dakota Live Music Lounge

6/9 – 6/11 – The Tragically Hip @ Troubadour

6/10 – Crystal Antlers @ Spaceland

6/11 – Balkan Beat Box @ Key Club

6/12 – Del The Funky Homosapien, Mike Relm, Bukue One, Serendipity Project (The Funkman Tour) @ HOB – Sunset

6/12 – The Orb @ Henry Fonda

6/12 – 6/14 – Erotica LA @ LA Convention Center

6/13 - Incubus w/ The Duke Spirit @ Hollywood Bowl

6/13 – DataRock, Casxio @ Key Club

6/14 – Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange, The Elsewhere of X, KZM @ The Roxy

6/16 – Telepathe @ Detroit Bar

6/16 – 6/18 – Art Brut @ Spaceland

6/18 – Matisyahu, K’Naan, Dub Trio @ The Wiltern

6/18 – Busdriver @ Knitting Factory

6/19 – Art Brut @ The Echo

6/19 – Josh Groban @ Hollywood Bowl

6/19 – Todd Rundgren @ Club Nokia

6/19 - Jimmy Herring @ HOB - Sunset

6/19 – Ben Kweller, The Local Natives, The Jones Street Station @ El Rey

6/19 – US Air Guitar Championships @ Troubadour

6/20 – PJ Harvey & John Parish @ The Wiltern

6/20 – MC Lyte @ Knitting Factory

6/20 – DJ Quik feat. Kurupt @ HOB – Sunset

6/20 – The Mae Shi @ Mr. T’s Bowl

6/20 – Dinosaur Jr. @ Detroit Bair

6/21 – Femi Kuti, Santigold @ Hollywood Bowl

6/21 – Chairlift @ Detroit Bar

6/22-6/23 – Wilco @ The Wiltern (Sold Out!)

6/23 – thenewno2 @ Spaceland

6/25 – Wilco @ The WIltern

6/25 – Deastro @ Spaceland

6/26 - Aretha Franklin @ Hollywood Bowl (on sale Saturday at Noon)

6/26 – Bone Thugs N Harmony @ Club Nokia

6/26 - Xavier Rudd @ HOB – Sunset

6/27 – The Zombies, The Yardbirds @ The Spencer Davis Group @ The Wiltern

6/28 – Adele @ Hollywood Bowl

6/28 – Phoenix, Amazing Baby @ Wiltern

6/29 – Ani DiFranco @ Orpheum Theatre

6/29 – Ed Harcourt @ Bordello

6/30 – Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood @ Hollywood Bowl

7/1 – The French Semester @ Silverlake Lounge

7/4 – Deer Tick w/ Dawes @ Spaceland

7/5 – Death Cab For Cutie, New Pornographers, Tegan & Sara @ Hollywood Bowl

7/7 – The Hold Steady @ El Rey

7/9 – Old 97’s w Rhett Miller @ Henry Fonda

7/10 – Andrew Bird, Ra Ra Riot, Heartless Bastards @ Greek Theatre

7/10 – Boyce Avenue, Hana Pestle @ Knitting Factory

7/11 – Tortoise @ Troubadour

7/13 – Beyonce @ Staples Center

7/16 – Cowboy Junkies @ The Wiltern

716 – Germs, The Mae Shi, Spider Problem

7/16 – The Spires, The French Semester @ Echo Curio

7/17 – The Donnas @ Troubadour

7/17 – Ceu @ Roxy Theatre

7/21 – John Butler Trio @ Troubadour

7/21 – Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Augustana @ Greek Theatre

7/29 – Mika Miko @ Alex’s Bar

7/29 – Bedouin Soundclash @ The Roxy

7/31 – The French Semester @ Knitting Factory

8/04 – Bowerbirds, Megafaun @ Echo

8/05 – Dwele @ Key Club

8/07 – Herbie Hancock @ Hollywood Bowl

8/07 – Black Eyed Peas @ OC Super Fair

8/08 – Rock The Bells feat. Ice Cube, Nas, Big Boi, Busta Rhymes, The Roots, Reflection Eternal, Common, K’Naan, RZA, GZA, Raekwon, The Knux, Eyedea & Abilities, Pete Rock, KRS-One, Supernatural, Murs, Chali 2na, Evidence & Alchemist, and others…@ San Manuel Amphitheatre

8/08 – Morris Day & The Time @ Greek Theatre

8/12 – N.A.S.A @ El Rey

8/12 – Dr. John, James Cotton, Buddy Guy @ Hollywood Bowl

8/13 – Eric Krasno & Chapter 2, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk @ Key Club

8/23 – Dave Koz & Friends, Tower of Power @ Hollywood Bowl

8/26 – Cake @ Henry Fonda

8/28 – Ted Leo + The Pharmacists @ Echo

9/02 – Hall & Oates @ Nokia Theater L.A. Live

9/05 – Bob Weir & Ratdog w/ special guest Jackie Greene @ Greek Theatre

9/08 – AC/DC @ Honda Center

9/18 – Pink w/ The Ting Tings

9/24 –Beastie Boys @ Hollywood Bowl

10/4 – Kylie Minogue @ Hollywood Bowl

10/25 – U2, Black Eyed Peas @ The Rose Bowl

10/31 – Steve Aoki, Major Lazer, Diplo, Switch @ The Forum



WORD?!?!?


  • Gangi, who just played their last FREE MONDAY at Spaceland on Memorial Day, is not very good. The critic in me hopes it is the duo’s last appearance at Spaceland, and for any bill that I am going to take my time to attend for that matter. How did that duo ever get the highly coveted Spaceland residency in the first place?!?!? They were absolute garbage. The main MC could barely get the crowd to put their hands up - not even his friends would do it...and this was at the last show of the residency. Their vocals blew. To call their integration of electronic drums (and other effect) into their pop-ish sound mediocre would be an overstatement. I didn’t see one group of people in the crowd who were thoroughly enjoying Gangi’s music. It felt as though half the crowd was there to see Local Natives continue to generate more hype for their machine. They are playing June 19th at the El Rey Theater and hopefully will be well on their way after that. The quintet is certainly talented, as exhibited by their ability to seamlessly move in between each others instruments. The other half of the crowd was most likely there to see Warpaint play after Gangi – word on the street is that Warpaint is not to be missed…unfortunately, I had to leave early.

  • Suburban Nirvana Club had its first ever Multi-Day Concert Event this weekend playing host to Carmel Helene, an up and coming singer/songwriter, on Friday and featuring the pleasure inducing tunes of rising shoegaze immigrant-pop band The French Semester on Saturday. With a well lubricated crowd and no visits from the police, the suburban festival was a wild success.

  • Lady Sovereign, Chester French and Hollywood Holt are performing TONIGHT at Henry Fonda Theatre. This should be a banger folks; in my opinion hip-hop/hip-pop line-ups in L.A. generally aren’t this good from top to bottom. Hollywood Holt is a rising hip-hop artist who hails from Chicago. His performances are charged with energy and he is one of those rare hip-hop openers that is actually should not be missed…so get there early. Chester French is one of Pharrell Williams’ artists whose been popping up more frequently in the music scene, including on several remixes and on Common’s most recent release. Lady Sovereign is the tiny foreign female rapping phenomenon who packs a lot of verbal ammunition in a petite package.

  • What is up with airplanes flying over the beach trailing advertisements for up and coming concerts???? Is that really an efficient promotional expenditure? Doesn’t it cost a lot of money to just have a plane fly over the beach for a few minutes? Do those dollars really translate into that many more ticket sales that would otherwise not occur? I’m not claiming to be an advertising or marketing guru – but I’m down by the Santa Monica beach this weekend when I saw flyovers promoting tickets for Pink featuring The Ting Tings. It just seems a bit too expensive of an advertising push – and I think it has the opportunity to backfire. I generally don’t like seeing those flyover advertisements, let alone the planes that are trailing them, when I am trying to enjoy a clear day of sunshine and the ocean breeze. If I was on the fence about that show, I no longer am.  I wouldn't go unless I were to get a free ticket. Then I’d go. Cause I’ll go see music if it is freeJ

  • Green Day will be playing their first show in support of their new release, 21st Century Breakdown, on June 4th at the Music Box at Henry Fonda. It is a hot ticket; I tried to buy some within 15 minutes of their going on sale and got no love. Green Day won’t play another show for more than a month, so this night should be a real treat for anybody who was lucky enough to get tickets. Speaking of, anybody have an extra?

  • Ben Harper and Relentless7 is playing The Wiltern on Thursday. Their recently released debut album is absolutely fantastic. If you have not had the privilege of seeing these guys in action and you are a fan of rock n’ roll and/or Ben Harper, you must go see this band! Just as a bonus, they’ve got The Henry Clay People opening for them – an LA group that has received a lot of buzz since SXSW.

  • Passion Pit comes through L.A. at the end of the week – rocking Troubadour on Thursday night and Echoplex on Friday (both shows are sold out – if you have an extra or an in at the Troub – PLEASE LET ME KNOW). If you have never heard of PP, check out their exceptional song “The Reeling” from their full length album Manners. FYI, a free remix of it should still be available for download at rcrdlbl.com.


  • Lisa Donnelly has her CD RELEASE PARTY at The Roxy on Friday May 29th. I caught her for the first time a few weeks ago. She has a great vibe going with her band and her voice is pretty. If you’re looking for good tunes, but something that isn’t aggressive L.A. indie rock, check her out.

  • Roy G and the Biv will be in town this week. They’ve made the trek all the way from Texas and hopefully L.A. embraces this fun, hip-hop influenced electro-pop group because I like them and want them to come back. They will be at Silverlake Lounge tonight, Spaceland on Wednesday and The Prospector in Long Beach on Thursday night. Check out “Runnin” or “In My Cards” here http://www.myspace.com/roygandthebiv.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Why Lefsetz Is Wrong!

Normally, I love the Lefsetz Letter and often agree with what Bob has to say, but he is really starting to tick me off with his Streaming vs. Ownership argument.

He calls those of us who defend physical ownership as "those who haven't experienced the future."  That is loaded bullshit.  

Those of us who defend physical ownership are people who understand that music isn't all about the future, but about the nostalgia past music possesses.  Lefsetz is taking a moneyed position, and sure the future of big money very well may be in streaming, and not in physical pressing.  BUT if there was no money in pressing vinyl, why did Radiohead publish IN RAINBOWS on vinyl?  Why does J Dilla post-humously publish on vinyl?  Would these artists still publish CDs?  Would indies publish CDs if it was a loss? 

Maybe the revenue stream is diminishing and labels are investing too much in physical production, but there are loyal purchasers who purchase physical music.   I am one of them.  I hate buying DRM encrypted stuff and I would rather go out of my way to get the physical item.  People count on me to know and have the hot shit when it comes out (if not beforehand) and I didn't buy Eminem's RELAPSE digitally.  I bought it physically, at Best Buy, because my favorite local mom and pop or corporate record shops (Starbucks' Hear Music, where you at?) have mostly closed and I didn't pre-order it and I didn't want to wait several days for it to come in the mail.  

If you go entirely digital and no new physical pressings, what happens to all those vinyl DJs?  What happens to the people that like to possess something physical, even if it is just a disc with digital information?  Why can't labels start selling flash drives with music and extra content?  Can't the fucking industry thinking of a way to keep physical production viable, profitable and hip!?!?!?!  AHEM - FLASH DRIVES!  KEYCHAIN FLASH DRIVES!  CREDIT CARD SIZED FOLD OUT FLASH DRIVES THAT LOOK LIKE BUSINESS CARDS!  ALL SORTS OF FLASH DRIVES!  (Not only are they useful because they can store information too, but you can make them look different very easily)

Nothing can replace the physical possession of music.  True music heads know what I am talking about.  If it goes all digital, people won't have the knowledge of culling through crates or looking at massive stacks of CDs and seeing some wacky artwork.  It is not like you go to a party and pick up the hosts i-pod and scroll through the whole thing.  BUT, you come to my parties and you see all my CDs stacked by the wall, and my autographed CDs on display, and my favorite pieces of vinyl.   We talk music BECAUSE you see music.  The industry can't let that die EVEN IF it is not as profitable as it used to be.  

Lefsetz opines that physical production won't die, but it won't be a profitable medium at all.  He says that you have to get iphones/Sonos or Spotify to truly experience this revolution, and I have to tell you, I have a Blackberry and I stream on Pandora.  Does that mean I am not experiencing the revolution?  I'm witnessing it, I'm just not being fooled into thinking that only streaming is acceptable for a true music head like myself.   My friends think I am a fucking music encyclopedia.  I can tell you what half the songs you are hearing are before your i-phone can figure it out.  BUT, I wouldn't have that knowledge if I only streamed music, and I wouldn't have that knowledge about new music if I didn't continue to buy it and seek it out and own it physically so I can read the liner notes, etc.    

Maybe I am not experiencing the same revolution as Lefsetz, but I am here and I am on the battlefield with the people creating the music.  I don't think they want to see physical production die.  When the musicians of today are 90 years old and their kids have some unimaginable gadget that we can't even think of yet, will they want to show them an old, non-functional computer and say "my music used to play on things like these all over the world"  or would they rather hold up a CD, a piece of vinyl, or a fucking flash drive - something that has a logo, that has character, that can be grasped - and say "millions of people used to listen to this."  I think most musicians would rather have the latter.  

If you're a fan - when you're telling your children or your grandchildren or whomever about the music you used to love, the best concert you ever saw, etc., don't you also want to be able to hold something in your hands and share it?  If there aren't CDs and vinyl, there aren't CDs and vinyl to be autographed.  There aren't those physical pieces that end up capturing and meaning so much more than just the music that is contained within them.  They come to signify a time in your life, an event, an experience, a culture, your musical identity.  

Your musical identity shouldn't be on some companies server that could shut down at anytime.  Your musical identity needs to be where you can access it, no matter what happens.  If the server goes down, if the electricity goes out - those of you who stream are screwed.  Those of you whose i-pods and i-phones are juiced, only have a few hours.   Me, on the other hand, I may have my streaming music, I may have i-pods too, but I've still got a discman with batteries in the drawer just in case shit happens.      

That's my two cents.  If you want to hear Lefsetz's, go to http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 is COMING!!!

It's official.  The release date is set.  Billboard posted it.  AUGUST 11TH, 2009 the infamous Raekwon hopefully makes a return to his near flawless flow on ONLY BUILT 4 CUBAN LINX 2.

With largely unheard of (and disappointing) releases following the original Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Rae is finally making it back to his old form.  It is rumored that Dr. Dre produced a track for the album, as well as the late, great J-Dilla, as well as Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Erick Sermon and others. 

Of course RZA lends his hands to production as well.  A couple of his productions, including the single "New Wu" featuring Method Man and Ghostface, should be on the album.  

FREE MONDAYS

Again, I just want to remind all the readers in the westside area that Carbon, located across from Inn N Out on Venice Blvd., hosts a free Monday night event, FUNKMOSPHERE, where the DJs spin only vinyl. The break dancing and b-boying starts to pick up around 11 pm, so if you are just going for the spectacle (and not the tunes), don't come until then.

If you have not checked it out yet, swing by Hunnypot Unlimited's every other Monday radio broadcast on Monday June 1st to check out The French Semester and meet some people in the industry. Then, once the Hunnypot broadcast ends and the crowd filters out, head over to Carbon with me for a good ol' fashioned boogie-down production.

Other FREE MONDAYS: Key Club; Echo; Spaceland; The Mint and others.

Monday, May 18, 2009

CONCERT BLAST - MAY 18th to 25th

Monday May 18th


Jenni Alpert, Elizaveta @ The Hotel Café

Pete Richard @ The Airliner Club

Other Lives @ Amoeba

Gangi, The Life and Times @ Spaceland (FREE)

The Session w/ Ellie B, Napoleon, Dwight Stewart @ Genghis Cohen

Hoobastank, Staind @ Club Nokia

Juliette Commagere, Robert Francis, Ceci Bastida, Rademacher @ Echo

Manhattan Murder Mystery @ Juanita’s

Lisa Donnelly, Bevin Hamilton @ Hunnypot Unlimited Radio (FREE – Culver City - http://hunnypotunlimited.com/?page=radio )

Golden Animals, Xu Xu Fang @ Silverlake Lounge

JT Ross @ Prince O’ Wales (Playa Del Rey)

Jake La Botz @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Jenni Alpert, Elizaveta, Rebecca Pidgeon @ The Hotel Café

Steel Panther @ Key Club

Jeremy Buck & The Bang @ Sainte Rocke

Margot and The Nuclear So & So’s, Telekinesis, Everything now! @ Troubadour

Blake Periman, Orlando Napier, The Kevin Kanner Quintet & J-Logic @ The Mint


Tuesday May 19th


Stampead @ The Lighthouse Café

David Berkeley @ The Hotel Café

Soulico, Milk and Honey @ Bar Lubitsch

Avi Buffalo, Shiloe, Bobb Bruno @ Echo

Chickenfoot, Davy Knowles @ The Roxy Theatre

Dawn Mitschele @ Room 5

The Decemberists, Other Lives @ Hollywood Palladium

Mike Stinson @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Gange Giri @ Zanzibar

Michael Tiernan @ Molly Malone’s

Allman Brothers Band, Doobie Brothers @ Greek Theatre

Cubensis (Grateful Dead Tribute) @ Marlin Bar & Grill

Youth Group, Nico Stai, Useless Keys @ Troubadour

Derren Raser, Michelle Armstrong, Kaye Reznick, Jay Constable @ Genghis Cohen

Ready The Jet, Jack Wilson Jr, Wt Cassette @ Spaceland

Hool, Cydney Robinson, Horse Stories @ Bootleg Theater

Jon Lovitz @ Canyon

Joe Greene & The Heavy Steppers @ The Mint



Wednesday May 20th


The Detroit Cobras, The Dex Romweber Duo @ Troubadour

Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers @ Greek Theatre

The Walkmen, Morning Benders @ El Rey

Haile Blackman @ Sainte Rocke

Jill Sobule @ Largo

Leslie & The Badgers @ Silverlake Lounge

Jack’s Mannequin w/ Matt Nathanson, Erin McCarley @ The Wiltern

Zee Avi @ The Roxy

Big Sean @ Les Deux

Courtney Fortune @ Room 5

Magnuson @ HOB - Sunset

Ben Folds @ Hollywood Palladium (use promotion code FAIR on Livenation.com)

M83 @ Glass House

Gogol Bordello @ Ventura Theater

Amanda Rogers, The Sketchy Indians, Homesick Elephant, Dustbowl Revival @ Echo Curio

Low End Theory @ Airliner Club

The Mulhollands, Whitey, Darling Buds of May @ Boardner’s

Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction, Street Sweeper @ Verizon Wireless

Beat Killers, Kim Fowley’s Lipstick Orgy @ Knitting Factory

Shane Hines, Bee Hollcraft, David George, The Reverand John DeLore @ Genghis Cohen (Free)

Dub Club @ Echoplex

Dopplereffekt @ The Roxy

BM Linx @ Spaceland

Civalias, Carina Round, Jo Krasevich, Night Candy @ The Hotel Cafe

Chris Mann, Birds Beware, Justin Kredible @ The Mint

Dianne Reeves @ Walt Disney Concert Hall

Purplemelon, Philip Sayce, Amy Heffernan @ Molly Malone’s

Marvelous Toy, Odd Modern, Downtown/Union @ MR. T’s Bowl

Sista Otis & The WSholly Rollers @ Redwood Bar & Grill



Thursday May 21st


Ghost, Glasser, Lichens @ Spaceland

Jeff Roika, Vanya Green, Chioke Dmachi, Julie Christensen @ Genghis Cohen

The Willie Waldman Project (w/ former Doors guitarist Robby Krieger) @ The Mint

The Virgins, Lissy Trullie, Anya Marina @ El Rey

The Valley Arena, UV Lights @ Alex’s Bar

Boomsnake, Breeding Buldings, Messes @ Echo Curio

The French Semester @ Private Indie Club (e-mail thefrenchsemester@hotmail.com for details and info)

New York Dolls @ Henry Fonda

BLK JKS, Hecuba @ Echo

The Fresas @ Juanita’s

The 88 (allegedly playing a special Bob Dylan cover set) @ Key Club

Ninja Academy, Cinderella Motel @ The Smell

Boll Weevil @ Taix

The Pimps of Joytime @ Zanzibar

Evangenitals @ Old Town Pub (Pasadena)

Courtney Fortune, Geoff Peralman, Chet Dixon @ Room 5

Tanner & The Tantrums, Dr. Seahorse @ Viper Room

The Legends of Hip-Hop w/ MC Hammer, Slick Rick, Coolio, Tone Loc @ San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino

The Gimme 5’s @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Manchester Orchestra, Audrye Sessions, Fun, Winston Audio @ Troubadour

Year Long Disaster @ Knitting Factory

Leon Russell @ Canyon

Paul Chesne, Or, the Whale @ The Viper Room

The Charles Owners Quartet @ Lighthouse Café

Cowboy Mouth w/ Dusty Rhodes & The River Band @ HOB – Sunset

Jill Sobule @ Largo

Nino Moshcella @ El Cid

Funeral Party, The Tender Box @ The Roxy

West Indian Girl, Gorgeous Got A Gun @ Sainte Rocke

Appleblim @ Echoplex

Fallbrooke @ King King Club

Restavrant @ Silverlake Lounge



Friday May 22nd


Obits, The Lights, Tijuana Panthers @ Spaceland

Morrisey’s 50th Unhappy Birthday Celebration featuring Sweet and Tender Holligans, A Smiths/Morrissey Tribute, Dj Howie Pyro @ HOB-Sunset

Rifle, Jon Lee, Porter @ Genghis Cohen

Chante Moore @ Conga Room

Freda Payne @ Catalina Jazz Club

The Temptations, The Four Toups @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

Tori Amos @ The Tonight Show

Carmel Helene @ Suburban Nirvana Club (AKA The Hippie Palace)

Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes, Laurnea @ The Mint

Oh No Oh My @ Echo

Adam Freeland, DJ Alex Metric @ Echoplex

Deadmau5, Destructo, Moderat, Tiefschwarz @ Palladium

Nino Moschella @ The Continental Room (Fullerton)

The Kills @ Henry Fonda

Haike d’etat (Aceyalone, Myka 9 & Abstract Rude) @ Airliner

Iration @ Sainte Rocke

Jon Brion @ Largo

Dredg, Torche @ Troubadour

Loomis and The Lust, Son De Madera @ Molly Malones

Taylor Swift, Kellie Picker, Gloriana @ Staples Center

Four Minutes Til Midnight @ Good Hurt Night Club

Orange Tulip Conspiracy @ The Knitting Factory

Chain and the Gang, Jeremy Jay, Calvin Johnson, The Hive Swellers @ The Smell

DJ Oggy @ Blue Moon

Luka Booom @ McCabe’s Guitar Shop

Garry & The Moodswingers @ Rusty’s Surf Ranch

JT Ross @ Hinano Café

Killola, Jonathan Jackson and his ban Enation @ The Roxy

SOJA @ Key Club

The Last Great Hope of the Free World @ Pig N Whistle

Sweet and Tender Hooligans @ HOB - Sunset



Saturday May 23rd


Harriet Schock, Tanya Frederick, Sally Shim, Amanda Rogers @ Genghis Cohen

Sawyer Brown @ HOB – Sunset

The French Semester @ Suburban Nirvana Club (AKA The Hippie Palace – email me at brandon@supergoodmusic.com for details; capacity limited)

Oh No Oh My @ Echo

Nomo, Those Dancing Days @ Spaceland

Winter Flowers, Bex Marshall @ Redwood Bar & Grill

Dredg, Torche @ Troubadour

Quadrance @ Sante Fe Café

Raiz do Samba, Pau Hana @ Sainte Rocke

DJ Oggy @ Tatou

Amy Kuney @ The Hotel Café

Celia Chavez @ Room 5

Cubensis (Grateful Dead Tribute) @ The Blue Café

Lez Zepagain @ Fiesta Hermosa

Nick Daugherty @ The Lighthouse café

Culver City Dub Collective, Pimps of Joytime @ The Mint

Big Sandy!! @ Redwood Bar & Grill

The Dears, Great Northern, Eulogies @ Echoplex

Fischerspooner @ Avalon

Leon Russell @ Brixton

Sawyer Brown @ HOB – Sunset

Corb Lund @ McCabe’s Guitar SHop

Pau Hana @ Sainte Rocke



Sunday May 24th


Flight of the Conchords @ Greek Theatre

JazzReggaeFest JAM DAY Erykah Badu, De La Soul, Leela James, People Under the Stairs, Nino Moschella, Pangea Collective, Mateo, Ayo @ UCLA Intramural Field

Hollywood Stones (Rolling Stones Tribute) @ Sainte Rocke

Part Time Punks – Smiths/Morrisey Night @ Echo

Barrio Tiger @ Spaceland

John LeBlanc @ Echo Curio

The Believers @ Crane’s Holylwood Tavern

Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes @ Café Boogaloo

Paul Chesne @ Venice Whaler

Justin Townes Earle @ McCabe’s Guitar Shop

R.I.S.E.,Mari Rosa @ Fais Do Do

Rookie of the Year, Hollywood Heathrob @ Knitting Factory

Los Duggans @ Alex’s Bar

Gojira, The Chariot @ Key Club

Kerusso @ The Roxy

Winter Flowers @ Redwood Bar & Grill



Monday May 25th


JazzReggaeFest REGGAE DAYMavado, Peetah & Mojo Morgan, Machel Montano, Assassin, Tanto Metro & Devonte, Eljai, Nola Darling, Cherine Anderson, Dan Marcus I, The Dirty Heads @ UCLA Intramural Field

The Meters Experience w/ Leo Nocentelli @ Topanga Days (3 pm)

Jeremy Buck & The Bang @ Sainte Rocke

Juliette Commagere, Chapin Sisters, Jogger, Landy @ Echo

Gangi @ Spaceland (FREE MONDAY)

Steel Panther @ Key Club

Sam Bradley @ The Hotel Café



ON THE RADAR


5/26 – Lady Sovereign, Chester French @ El Rey

5/27 - Prodigy @ Palladium

5/27 – moe. @ Roxy

5/27 - Sun Kill Moon, Mia Doi Todd @ El Rey

5/28 - Ben Harper and Relentless 7 @ Wiltern

5/28 - Garaj Mahal @ The Mint

5/28 – moe. @ Roxy

5/28 – Fleetwood Mac @ Staples Center

5/31 – We Are Scientists @ Detroit Bar

6/1 – The French Semester @ Live on Hunnypot Unlimited Radio (Broadcast out of Culver City)

6/3 – Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head @ Spaceland

6/3 – 2 Live Crew @ Key Club

6/5 - Kate Voegele w/ Angel Taylor, Amy Kuney @ El Rey

6/5 – Clues @ The Echo

6/5 – Erykah Badu @ Club Nokia

6/5 – Lucybell @ Knitting Factory

6/6 – Holy Fuck @ Troubadour

6/8 – Metric @ Wiltern

6/8 – The French Semester, Motion Picture Show @ Dakota Live Music Lounge

6/9 – 6/11 – The Tragically Hip @ Troubadour

6/11 – Balkan Beat Box @ Key Club

6/12 – Del The Funky Homosapien, Mike Relm, Bukue One, Serendipity Project (The Funkman Tour) @ HOB – Sunset

6/12 – The Orb @ Henry Fonda

6/13 - Incubus w/ The Duke Spirit @ Hollywood Bowl

6/13 – DataRock, Casxio @ Key Club

6/16 – Telepathe @ Detroit Bar

6/18 – Matisyahu, K’Naan @ The Wiltern

6/18 – Busdriver @ Knitting Factory

6/19 – Art Brut @ The Echo

6/19 – Todd Rundgren @ Club Nokia

6/19 - Jimmy Herring @ HOB - Sunset

6/20 – PJ Harvey & John Parish @ The Wiltern

6/20 – DJ Quik feat. Kurupt @ HOB – Sunset

6/20 – The Mae Shi @ Mr. T’s Bowl

6/20 – Dinosaur Jr. @ Detroit Bair

6/21 – Chairlift @ Detroit Bar

6/22-6/23 – Wilco @ The Wiltern (Sold Out!)

6/25 – Wilco @ The WIltern

6/25 – Deastro @ Spaceland

6/26 - Aretha Franklin @ Hollywood Bowl (on sale Saturday at Noon)

6/26 - Xavier Rudd @ HOB – Sunset

6/27 – The Zombies, The Yardbirds @ The Spencer Davis Group @ The Wiltern

6/28 – Adele @ Hollywood Bowl

6/28 – Phoenix, Amazing Baby @ Wiltern

6/29 – Ani DiFranco @ Orpheum Theatre

6/29 – Ed Harcourt @ Bordello

6/30 – Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood @ Hollywood Bowl

7/4 – Deer Tick w/ Dawes @ Spaceland

7/7 – The Hold Steady @ El Rey

7/8 – The Volunteers @ Roxy

7/9 – Old 97’s w Rhett Miller @ Henry Fonda

7/10 – Andrew Bird, Ra Ra Riot, Heartless Bastards @ Greek Theatre

7/11 – Tortoise @ Troubadour

7/16 – Cowboy Junkies @ The Wiltern

716 – Germs, The Mae Shi, Spider Problem

7/17 – The Donnas @ Troubadour

7/21 – John Butler Trio @ Troubadour

7/21 – Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Augustana @ Greek Theatre

7/29 – Mika Miko @ Alex’s Bar

7/29 – Bedouin Soundclash @ The Roxy

8/04 – Bowerbirds, Megafaun @ Echo

8/08 – Rock The Bells feat. Ice Cube, Nas, Big Boi, Busta Rhymes, The Roots, Reflection Eternal, Common, K’Naan, RZA, GZA, Raekwon, The Knux, Eyedea & Abilities, Pete Rock, KRS-One, Supernatural, Murs, Chali 2na, Evidence & Alchemist, and others…@ San Manuel Amphitheatre

8/12 – N.A.S.A @ El Rey

8/26 – Cake @ Henry Fonda

8/28 – Ted Leo + The Pharmacists @ Echo

9/05 – Bob Weir & Ratdog w/ special guest Jackie Greene @ Greek Theatre

9/08 – AC/DC @ Honda Center

9/18 – Pink w/ The Ting Tings

10/4 – Kylie Minogue @ Hollywood Bowl



WORD?!?!


  • Napster offers a $5 subscription fee. Trying to compete with other sites, like emusic.com, that charge you a monthly fee and let you keep the music you download even after your subscription expires, Napster is offering you five songs per month with essentially no DRM with the $5 subscription fee. If you would like to read more about it, go to pollstar.com or napster.com.
  • According to several sources, Radiohead are currently recording a new album with producer Nigel Godrich. Don’t know about you, but I’m excited. I’ll post to the blog as I hear more about it.
  • Congratulations to all the USC students that graduated this weekend!